Transporting condiments and ingredients

[randomblue]

Hi again all!

Sorry for my never ending list of questions!

I just came across these travel condiment bottles and it got me wondering about the best way to transport food/ingredients when touring. For example I plan to take sugar for porridge, some flour for pancakes and thickening soups/sauces, spices, oil for cooking etc but traditional packaging in most cases is unsuitable for travelling - eg paper bags of flour, heavy glass bottles of spices, leaky oil bottles.

So what does everyone use to store foods/liquids in while touring? Obviously lightweight and watertight/waterproof are key and you can obviously buy expensive purpose made items for the job but does anyone have any budget alternatives or tips and tricks they've discovered while touring?

One I found was this which would be handy for things like rice or cous cous so long as there's nothing sharp nearby in the pannier that could stab a hole in the bag itself!!

[Vorpal]

I mostly use zip type freezer bags. They have the advantage of sealing well, being cheap and reusable, and flexible when it comes to packing. I often put several bags of foodstuff together in a larger bag, though. I don't really carry condiments or sugar, though I do carry coffee and some spices. I tend to premix spices them so I don't have to have lots of different containers.

The freezer bags are sturdier than normal food storage bags. They cost a little more, but it's worth it in leak prevention.

[hufty]

My staples (porridge oats and milk powder) get their own Exped drybag each - I just pour the oats/milk powder directly in. Teabags go in with the milk powder in a separate freezer bag. Other stuff that isn't moisture critical goes in a freezer bag or carrier bag as necessary. If it comes in a jar, bottle or whatever I would probably only buy it if I can consume it all that night. In the past I have carried one of those pump action cooking oil sprays that you can get but would probably just manage without.

[Sweep]

The plastic small jars with screwtops which ovaltine comes in are handy, especially if your mum devours the stuff. Me, i never touch it. Not sure if they still do it but Sainsburys cheapo peanut butter used to come in small plastic jars - handy for putting small bags of stuff in.

[willem jongman]

Small bottles for olive oil, shampoo, washing up liquid etc are important and many leak. Nalgene sell a set of mixed sizes that are prefect: they really do not leak and are of far better quality than the made in China no-name stuff. The GSI bottles may be good as well - it is a reputable brand. For marmelade I use a screw top jar from a German Laboratory plastics manufacturer. The size is perfect, and it saves rather a bit of weight for almost no money. Tea and coffee go into plastic zip top bags, and herbs and spices as well. Fuel (meths in my case) goes into a special bottle (Trangia plastic bottle in my case - meths and aluminium do not go well together) fitted in a Bikebuddy case, underneath the downtube. Wine goes in a Platypus wine bag.
Willem

[Dean]

I add the sugar to the porridge in advance, and fill up on the little sachets you get in cafes and on trains.

[axel_knutt]

I use Ziploc sandwich bags for just about everything from sandwiches and other food to waterproofing maps, wallet, and a bar of soap. The only liquids I carry are Persil and shampoo, which are both in old Uvistat sun cream tubes which have nozzles that unscrew. I buy milk in 500cc cartons and use it all at once.

[DaleFTW]

Zip bags and Nalgene bottles (Olive oil, chilli powder/flakes, powder milk).

[DaleFTW]

I add the sugar to the porridge in advance, and fill up on the little sachets you get in cafes and on trains.

And this. You can get about thirty in the average sized fist.

[slowpeddler]

+me for freezer bags but I also use the small bottles from Muji for washing up liquid etc/ cream cleaner/ cooking oil for my Trangia. These small bottles easily last a fortnight. Fuel is in the Trangia bottle.

I also measure out 4 instant coffees for each day and use the nalgene bottles others recommend here. I never use milk or sugar and if I want a sweetener I use Canderel tablets but quite enjoy black coffee as it comes.

For cooking I only carry dried pasta/curry powder/ packet soup from Aldi or Lidl. You can buy onions or eggs anywhere on the planet.

A few years ago I pedalled down the Burgundy vineyards and ended up at Santenay. I sat at the pavement restaurant and looked at the menu. I passed on the 95 euro meal and worked my way down the list until I got to the 25 euro coq au vin which was the lowest item on the menu. Add 3 glasses of wine at 6 to'8 euro a glass and my last day was quite pricey. I pedalled back to Beaune for the bike bus and promised myself to only self cook in France from then on. (not quite, pedalling in Paris last year I ate at lunch-time near the grand boulevards for 9 euro with a glass of wine but even the French find their restaurants expensive. No wonder all the Moroccan and Tunisian joints are full)

[toekneep]

We use the Nalgene bottles too. I mix up herbs and spices rather than carry them separately to reduce the bulk. Most sauces end up with paprika, coriander and a bit of chili powder in so just put them all in the same pot. (Or any other combination that takes your fancy)

[Dean]

I bought some of these:

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/practical/LB119.html

Mainly I wanted something to protect my passport (they don't like getting wet, DAHIKT), but they'd be ideal for carrying odd bits of food such as flour or spices in small amounts.

Not a cheap option, of course, but pretty lightweight.

[randomblue]

Thanks for all your replies and suggestions! I'll definitely look into the bottles you all suggested for oil and the peanut butter or ovaltine jars too!

With the ziplock bags you all use, are they the type that have a physical zipper on the top or the ones where you just pop them together along the lines at the top? Had a look when I was in the supermarket this morning and while I had assumed you all meant the ones with the zipper, I noticed both types are labeled as ziplock? Not sure if that is just a weirdness in the French labeling or which would be the better option? I feel like the ones that pop together might be better as they seal all the way along?

[Sweep]

I add the sugar to the porridge in advance, and fill up on the little sachets you get in cafes and on trains.

Passing on a tip I saw online maybe here (take a bow if it's you) there's also the fairly extensive, if basic, range of handily-pre-packed condiments available for grabs in Wetherspoons. The places are so cavernous no-one is really going to mind and do of course have a drink.

If you suddenly have an urge for a sachet or two of ketchup/dodgy mustard and a nice real ale, they even have a POI file you can download to your GPS

[toekneep]

If you suddenly have an urge for a sachet or two of ketchup/dodgy mustard and a nice real ale, they even have a POI file you can download to your GPS

Wow, we often go to Weatherspoons when touring and collect some condiments but I didn't realise they did real ale in little sachets too. Brilliant.