Hey everyone, I’ll apologize in advance if I’ve overstepped any rules by asking a question that isn’t directly related to this forum, but while googling I came across this subreddit and thought who better to ask, and I feel that my needs align with what you guys have experience with.
I’ve been looking for a food container that is sealable, durable, light, and able to use on a hotplate on a locomotive. As a train driver, I move around all over the country and have to use public transport to get to and from locations to work trains. So whatever I need day to day I have to carry with me in a rucksack and I spend a lot of time away from any sort of conveniences and usually at night. Not too dissimilar to camping!
I’m in need of something I can put either cooked/raw food in that won’t leak in my bag, but will also allow me to cook/heat up on a hotplate and reseal once I’ve finished eating, so as to not make a mess in my rucksack with food residue (Cleaning isn’t really an option as I’ve no access to water, other than my only water bottle which I can’t really use). Preferably, it needs to be light as I’ve got to move around with it all day, jumping on and off trains.
I’ve seen some metal meal prep containers with lids that I’ve thought of using with a camping pot gripper, but I feel there might be something better out there that you guys could recommend. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I use Pyrex Freshlock containers, but they may be too heavy for your purposes. I also have some Oxo containers where the bottom is plastic, and they have the same style of lid that seals perfectly and has a flip down snap on all 4 sides. I use a Hotlogic which is like an insulated lunch bag with a heating plate in it, I’m not sure if a proper hot plate would be too hot for plastic bottoms if not they would be a lighter option. I learned about the Hotlogic from a flight attendant so scoping out their sub may have some tips as well!
It’s a little pricey compared to most camping cook pots, but for your needs it looks like this is almost exactly what you’re describing? Vargo Bot 1L sealable pot
Wei said:
It’s a little pricey compared to most camping cook pots, but for your needs it looks like this is almost exactly what you’re describing? Vargo Bot 1L sealable pot
I have seen these on this forum before, I’ve read the lid thread can be a bit of a problem. I’ll have to do some research. Thanks!
Kinda sounds like you want canned or dehydrated. I have to think you have peers you can talk to. You can buy mylar backed bags that are rated for boiling water pretty cheaply, so have a small pot for boiling water and then add said water to the prepared bag containing food to cook or heat your food. You can just throw the bag away after. Cooking with plastic isn’t my preference though. You can also buy bulk MREs by the case or pallet at prices that aren’t too awful as well
@Emory
Other guys tend to either not use the hotplate and eat cold food or bring monumental amounts of cutlery and cooking gear in a separate bag which I’m not a fan of. I don’t really like the idea of dehydrated food or carrying around additional water for boiling. What I’m after is to just reheat leftovers or cook something simple that I can carry and cook in the same container. Thanks for the info anyway, I’ll check it out!
I have a friend that works for Union Pacific. They move Canadian Pacific power on the roads inside the US. He mentioned that the CP power has hotplates for tea or food, while the UP and BN units don’t. He believes that it may be a union requirement for Commonwealth rail workers. The same friend carries a JetBoil in his grip. The stove and fuel cannister are stored inside the vessel, with room for a collapsible french press and ground coffee or tea. When they get pushed to a siding to clear a path for a Z train, or some other incident causes them to sit idle, he breaks out his pot and has enough hot coffee to refill his thermos in five minutes. And it repacks quickly. I just got my own for road trips. It is slick.
Hosercap Stainless Steel Lunch… These are great and have met my needs,trying to get away from single use containers and plastic. They are able to be heated over almost everything, including open flame. Word of caution, pop at least 1 corner to vent while heating. I’ve even set these under the hood to use radiant engine heat to heat my lunch while on the road.
Why not insulated food containers to cook at home and stay warm throughout the day? Otherwise wet wipes/a ziplock and a collapsible pot for re-heating food you keep in a normal clip top box. Eg sea to summit detour range E- just seen you’re in the UK vango do a much more reasonably priced collapsible pot for cooking just not as light weight