How do you measure water?

[scott burgeson]

I am just curious what tricks everyone uses to measure water for cooking.

I used to have a nalgene that was marked but dropped that in favor of a lighter platy.

I use the platy during the day to hold my flavored drinking water so I don't want to have to chug what is left to use it as a measuring cup.

Do you have a good way of marking your pot?
Do you just guess-ta-mate it?
Do you carry a measuring cup?

–scott

[CW]

I'm a guesstimator.

[John S.]

Chris, do that too much and you'll grow hair on your palms. Oh wait…that's something else.

[Aaron Zuniga]

I just dumped the 2 cups of water in my Firelite 900, and marked the water level with a permanent marker inside the pot. If for some reason i need less, i have a mark to estimate from. If you wanted to get crazy with it, you could make a mark for 1, 1.5 cups, which would cover most meals on the trail. NO measuring cup, or extra gadgets needed=)

[Sam .]

I know about where 12 ounces is in my 550 mug. I guess from there.

[Steven Evans]

I just guess aswell….

But, I remember denis hazelwood had a pretty neat idea…

Ahh, it's here.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/16329/index.html?skip_to_post=123058#123058

Alternatively, you could mark the handle of your spoon and fill the pot up to the line required.

[Tad Englund]

Here are 2 good threads on the subject:

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/14190/index.html?skip_to_post=105539#105539

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=16329

[Casey Bowden]

Scott,

I made my own measuring cup out of a plastic water bottle. When not in use, it holds my alcohol stove, matches, 'cough syrup' measuring cup (which I use to measure out my alcohol), etc.

[Hikin’ Jim]

I carry a Snow Peak Ti Sierra Cup. It has metric (ml) and English (oz) markings. I use it as a measuring and drinking cup. I also can use it as a small pot (for a cup of tea) with an alcohol stove on day hikes. I use Al foil for a lid. It also works as a scooper (to fill my Camelbak) when I encounter shallow streams — which is pretty often in So Cal.

[Denis Hazlewood]

Go to the MYOG Thread and search for "Marking your Ti Pot".

[Unknown abc]

If you use a Camelbak as your primary water container like me, it shoudl have marks on it that show how much water you have in it. Just hold it in the air while water comes out of the drinking tube into the pot.

[Mike Clelland]

I use the grandma technique. I just add some water and say, "That's about right." (a guestimator)

I usually air on the runny side, and add some instant mashed potatoes to thicken up any remaining water.

If I DO pour any water off after cooking pasta, it goes in my mug. Then I add a mix of:

* tomato powder
* soy sauce
* hot sauce

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

(those items are in my NOLS ration bag)

And then I enjoy it as a hot drink.

[Ryan Zahynacz]

My mouth filled can hold about 100 ml… so I just use that to get close to the desired volume.

[Cayenne Redmonk]

I try to use too little water so I can dilute it to the right consistency and chill it at the same time, but basically just guess based on what looks right. If I add too much I add some instant potatoes to thicken it up.

[Jared Cook]

My trapper mug is 2 cups to the brim. So roughly half is a cup, a 1/4 is half a cup… Basically I run it as a ballpark figure. Generally a smidge too much or too little isn't going to affect your boil in a bag meal that greatly.

[EndoftheTrail]

For sensitive chemistry experiments — I would measure properly… but for cooking/drinking, eyeballing is more than good enough.

Hint: Prior to trail — in the unhurried comfort of your own home – pour half, and then one cup of water into your pot and familiarize yourself with the waterline(s). It's not difficult.

[Greg Bohm]

I had the same issue/question and found this:

http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/71

Works great as a multi-function item where I measure water to rehydrate my meal and then make my drink in the cup. This cup works great for hot water and I have no problem holding hot coffee with my bare hands. Also, I really like how it collapses to minimize pack space.

Only caveat is to get one of the darker colors to make the marks easier to see.

Regards,
Greg

[Brian Barnes]

comment removed… redundant! (should have read the entire post first)

[scott burgeson]

great ideas. I think I am going to mark my spoon or my pot. I will have to see how easy it is to scrap the inside of a grease pot.

Does permanent marker really stay on the inside of a pot? I am assuming you used a sharpie.

–scott

[Mike Clelland]

You'll need to scratch it. A sharpy won't work.

What about pouring water into the pot and measuring it against your fingers? THe little folds along each didget are all about equal…

[scott burgeson]

What an excellent idea! I am horrible at estimating a level when it is in the pot and have ended up with very watery food to many times. I can remember a level on my finger with out a problem.

I don't have to mark or scratch anything and won't have to carry another item.

–scott

[Brad Groves]

I'm with Mike on this one. Error on the side of a little runny, because you can always mix in instant potatoes and thicken it up a bit… and add flavor! Incidentally, I've also noticed that my pots seem to develop a bit of a waterline after a while; you can tell where it's normally filled to a boil.

[Millette Jones]

I use this mug from Walmart ($1.50) for measuring and for hot/cold drinks. I cook and eat out of my Snow Peak 600 but like to have something else to drink out of. Also use this to mix up a quick protein drink mid-day.

[jim bailey]

Enertia trail foods sells individual meals in a fairly durable/reusable plastic meal bags with 8oz to 16oz increments stamped on the side.

Folds flat/rolls up & weights.25 oz, works great for measuring water/dry foods but not eating out of multiple times. Gunk tends to build up in the bowl folds and durability is lessened by multiple spork/spoon jabs.

Would definitely recommend using if you need fairly precise measurements.

Good luck

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Look, ya gotta drink coffee, tea or hot chocolate outa sumthin', sumthin' that WON'T burn yer lips in the process. Right?

Well virtually every store that sells some kind of camping equipment has those green, brown, etc. plastic cups W/ a small "hook" type handle that holds exactly one cup and has markings inside in 1/4 cup increments.

What in the name of Heaven is wrong with that cup? Been using one for decades. Why try to drink from a hot, lip-burning metal "pot/cup" to save a silly 1 oz.? I mean really, UL guys, this is getting crazy to leave a very light plastic drinking/measuring cup at home.

Eric

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