What to boil water in while camping? An expert guide for 2023
Our guide on what to boil water in while camping
When you are camping, you may need to boil your water for coffee, cooking, or to make sure it is safe to drink.
But what should you use to boil your water in?
In this blog post, we will explore some of the different options that you have for boiling your water while camping.
We will also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each option so that you can make the best decision for your needs.
Keep reading to learn more!
Considerations
A question that many campers have is “What to boil water in while camping?”
While it might not seem like a big deal, there are some things to consider before deciding what you want to use.
Is the fuel for your stove safe to use with your cookware?
For instance, many materials are not safe to use over an open campfire flame such as aluminum and tin.
This is because the high temperatures of a campfire can lead to off-gassing from these items.
Offgassing means that harmful chemicals are leaching from the cookware into your water or food.
Other materials such as stainless steel and titanium are safe to use over a campfire so long as the cookware is designed for this purpose
What you will be cooking in your water?
If you are boiling water for freeze-dried meals, then your cookware does not matter as much
However, if you will be cooking with fresh vegetables and meats, then having good quality cookware is an important consideration
How many people do you need to boil water for?
It’s important to know how many people you will need to boil water for so you know whether you need a small or large pot.
What to boil water in while camping?
There are many different options that could work, but some are better than others.
Bring a saucepan or pot from home
The easiest option is to take any saucepan or pot you have at home.
While it may seem like common sense, make sure to bring a lid if the pot you are bringing has one.
This will be invaluable when it comes to cooking pasta or rice and will also boil your water faster.
Camping cook pot
The biggest advantage of using a cook pot while camping is its versatility.
You can make the same amount of water you would usually make at home and put it directly on your stove.
The sides are usually quite high, which will make stirring easier. Also, most cook pots come with a lid, which can be used for cooking things like oatmeal or grits that need to simmer slightly.
We use the 24oz Stanley Cook Pot that is made of stainless steel for boiling water and cooking food on a stove or campfire.
Camping Tea Kettle
Most camping tea kettles are designed for easy pouring and tend to have a handle that will stay cool to the touch even when filled with boiling water.
They are usually made of aluminum, which can be used on any stovetop.
The biggest drawback is that because it isn’t as high as a pot, stirring food inside it could be very difficult.
We use the Redcamp Kettle that is made of aluminum if we are just using it for boiling water for coffee etc on a camping stove.
Camping Mug
As long as you have a camping mug with you, it will be fine to use for boiling water while you are camping.
This is the perfect option for saving space if you just want boiled water for tea or coffee in the morning.
We use the Toaks titanium mug for boiling water on our stove for a morning cup of energy. The handles also fold in to save space in your bag.
Recommended accessories
Camping stove
Jetboil Flash
The Jetboil Flash is a great choice if you want a small and compact stove. It’s perfect if you are going backpacking or you just don’t want to take lots of large items with you when camping.
Gas ONE GS-3400P
The Gas ONE single burner stove is the perfect little stove for boiling water while camping.
Boiling water is one of the most important aspects of making camp food.
It also gives you a hot drink to warm up with as well as offers a way to sterilize your dishes and utensils by dipping them into the pot or pouring some onto an individual item.
You’ll need at least two pots for this task—one large enough for cooking vegetables, pasta, rice, beans etc., and another smaller size that will fit inside the larger one without touching its sides so you can safely bring it up to boil.
The best materials are stainless steel or aluminum because they don’t react chemically with salt in foods like cast iron does.
Aluminum is lighter than stainless steel but doesn’t offer much heat retention in comparison.
Interested in more guides? Why not check out our other cookware articles:
