Gold & Silver Forum - Best Thermoses?

Gold & Silver Forum (http://goldismoney.info/forums/index.php)

- Survival Prep (http://goldismoney.info/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=141)

- - Best Thermoses? (http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=396040)

Someone I know buys plastic water bottles every day and brings them to their job.

I've finally convinced them that the bottles are unhealthy.

They still want to have some water on-the-go.

What is the best lightweight thermos they should get that will be healthy and carry the same amount of water?

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saoirse (Post 1848673)

Most natural foods stores sell stainless steel water bottles. Depends on the size you need.

Re: Best Thermoses?

Is stainless steal the best way to go? It'll be free of chemicals, right?

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saoirse (Post 1848703)

Is stainless steal the best way to go? It'll be free of chemicals, right?

It will be as free as possible, after a good washing. All plastics leech. Ceramic may be better, but is, of course, subject to easy breakage.

Re: Best Thermoses?

this is pretty good...i use something similar

Re: Best Thermoses?

Careful. Got some that were lined...like the cans of the best beer in the whole wide world!!!!!

Re: Best Thermoses?

Stanley Thermos, accept no substitutes.

http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/172141/200.jpg

Re: Best Thermoses?

I'll second the Stanley Thermos, as good as it gets.

Re: Best Thermoses?

The one within arms reach is a Stanley. It is the old-fashioned heavy two-quart model. It has been banged around and is dented, but it works like a champ. I also have a pair of the 1-quart wide mouth bottles and a smaller version of the one next to me. The old Stanley bottles last; the only issue is scrubbing them clean. I like having no glass liner to break; did that once.

I like the Stanley brand; however, they are no longer made in Tennessee. They are now made, like most everything else, in China. They seem to work, but I wonder about the composition of the steel.

Re: Best Thermoses?

I'd prefer to get something not made in China; something from somewhere with decent standards.

In addition to Stanley, can anyone recommend any others?

Re: Best Thermoses?

Most of the Nissan Stainless bottles are made in Japan; they are supposed to be good but I have no personal experience.

I would hit some local yard sales and watch the "for sale" ads for an older Stanley.

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-son (Post 1848712)

this is pretty good...i use something similar

Nalgene is surrounded in controversy concerning estrogen mimickers.

Re: Best Thermoses?

I've used the <a href=http://www.kleankanteen.com//> Klean Kanteen </a href> for a couple of months and really like it.

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLV>GLD (Post 1850424)

Nalgene is surrounded in controversy concerning estrogen mimickers.

Those estrogen mimickers are exactly what has prompted this effort, ever since listening to this podcast: http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=395989 my colleague and I do not want to ingest anything stored in plastic.

Basically we're looking for lightweight metallic (or ceramic [do they male such things?]) thermoses to carry water, coffee and tea (each in a separate thermos).

Would "mugs" be more appropriate in some instances? And if so, again, which would be the safest.

Re: Best Thermoses?

+1 on the Stanley. I got one of the USA made widemouths years ago and it was not easy to find. Here's some info on thermos cooking:

Quote:

SAVING MONEY WITH
A THERMOS BOTTLE

By Kurt Saxon

Many subscribers write that they will eventually buy all my books but they can't afford them at this time. Many are students on limited allowances. Some are on Social Security or pensions. Others are on Welfare, as I was after an injury, when I got $86.00 per month in l969. I paid $50.00 for rent and had only $36.00 left for food and incidentals. Even so, I ate better than before. Prices were indeed lower then but, surprisingly, the costs of the more basic foods have hardly changed.

For instance, 60 pounds of hard red winter wheat, the highest in protein, minerals and vitamins, averages $8.00 (240 breakfasts at 4 cents each). Brown rice, also higher in nutrition than white, costs $14.00 for 25 pounds. Also 200 servings since rice swells twice as large as wheat. These are bought in bulk at any feed and seed store.

Wheat and rice are the staple foods of billions and, if prepared my way, will fill you up, give you boundless energy; and cost nothing, if you consider that the saving in gas or electricity will offset their purchase prices.

I do not mean that wheat and rice, plain, is what I am asking you to live on. When is the last time you have eaten a potato plain? I am simply suggesting you process all your food in inexpensive, energy-saving ways and eat better than you ever have for less than $10.00 per week. Then you can not only afford all my books but many other things you have wanted but had to do without because most of your food budget goes to pay others to do what you should learn to do for yourself.

The thermos and the dehydrator are first steps in eating better for so much less. As a Survivalist, you will have to understand food preparation or you might as well eat, drink and be merry in the short time you have left.

A great factor which makes this practical and easy to understand is that since it is by a man, it is basic, gut-level and moron-simple. You won't even need to open a cookbook.

First the thermos. There are three kinds but only one is practical. Forget the cheap, plastic ones lined with Styrofoam. These might cook oatmeal and white rice but do not have the heat holding power you need. Silvered glass thermoses are fine, but a bump will break them. Also, since you are going to do actual cooking and will use a fork to remove the contents, they will not hold up.

The only practical cooking thermos is the Aladdin Stanley. It is lined with stainless steel, is well insulated and will keep steaming hot for up to 24 hours and holds a quart. It is also unbreakable, with a lifetime warranty. It costs $22.00 at Wal-Mart or can be ordered through any sporting goods store. It would save you its price in a few days. If you have a family, get two or three.

Most foods cook at 180 degrees or more. We are used to boiling, which is 212 degrees, and foods do cook faster, the higher the temperature. But if time is not important, cooking at a lower temperature is even better as most vitamins are not broken down. Thus, if you cook at a minimum heat, you save nutrition.

A great factor in thermos cooking is the saving in the cost of energy. Whereas it would take about two hours to cook whole-grain wheat or nearly an hour to cook brown rice. Thermos cookery takes only five minutes to cook anything. So it is indeed possible to save as much in energy as you spend on the food. You can imagine the convenience of thermos cookery in camping, which would save on wood, weight of food carried, and no food odors to alert bears or enemies.

Thermos cookery is also an advantage to anyone living where he is not allowed to cook. There are no cooking odors to tip off the landlord.

First, you need the thermos. Then you need a heat source. If you are in a non-cooking room, buy a cheap, one burner hot plate from your local Wal-Mart, Target, Sears etc. You will need a one quart saucepan. You will also need a special funnel to quickly pour the pan's contents into the thermos, plus a spoon or fork to help the last of the food into the funnel.

To make the funnel, cut off the bottom four inches from a gallon plastic milk container. If you do not buy milk or cannot find an empty container, go to your nearest laundromat. You will find in the trash receptacle, an empty gallon bleach bottle. Use that the same as the milk container but wash it until there is no more bleach odor.

The first step in thermos cookery is to fill the thermos with water up to the point reached by the stopper. Empty the water into the saucepan and make a scratch or other indelible mark at the water's surface inside the saucepan. This will allow you to put just enough water in the saucepan, as too much will leave food out and too little will give you less cooking water.

Just to test how the cooker works, start with four ounces of wheat. You do not need to buy 60 pounds. You can buy two pounds from your health food store for about $.80 This would give you eight meals at 10 cents each.

In the evening, put four ounces in your saucepan, plus a half-teaspoon of salt to prevent flatness, even if you intend to sweeten it. Fill to the mark with water. (If you have hot water, let the tap run until it is hottest. Tests have shown that less energy is used in using hot tap water than in boiling from cold.) Bring the contents to a rolling boil, stirring all the while. This will take from three to five minutes.

Then quickly, but carefully, swirl and pour the contents into the funnel and help any lagging matter from the pan to the funnel and into the thermos. Cap firmly but not tightly, shake and lay the thermos on its side, to keep the contents even.

Next morning open the thermos and pour its contents into the saucepan. With four ounces of dry wheat, you will now have at least 3/4 pound of cooked wheat and about a pint of vitamin and mineral enriched water. It has a pleasant taste. Drink it.

You can now put milk and sweetener on it or margarine, salt and pepper, etc. If you can eat the whole 3/4 of a pound, you will be surprised at how energetic you feel for the next several hours. An added bonus is its high fiber content.

Having tried the four ounce portion, you might next use eight ounces. This will absorb most of the water. It is unlikely that you could eat a pound and a half of cooked whole grain wheat. You can either divide it and eat the other half for supper or if you are a family man, make it the family breakfast food to replace the expensive brand.

If you have children, get them into the act by fantasizing they are Rangers on a jungle patrol.

For lunch, prepare a few ounces of hamburger or other meat chopped finely, plus chopped potatoes and other vegetables the night before. After breakfast, put these and the right amount of water in the saucepan and prepare as usual. At lunchtime you will have a quart of really delicious stew. Since nothing leaves the thermos in cooking, as contrasted to the flavor leaving stew cooking on the stove, you can understand the better tasting, higher vitamin content of thermos stew.

Lunch and possibly supper should not cost you more than 25 cents if you study the article on the dehydrator. Jerky and dried vegetable stew is good and costs little.

The brown rice dishes could also be either a main course or desert. Brown rice has a much greater swelling factor than wheat so four ounces of rice will pretty much fill the thermos. You can put vegetables and meat in it to cook or try a favorite of mine. It is four ounces of brown rice, 9 cents; one ounce of powdered milk, 10 cents in a large box; two ounces of raisins, 22 cents; one teaspoon of salt; some cinnamon and four saccharine tablets. Cook overnight. This is 46 cents for 1 1/2 pounds of desert.

With some experimenting, you can become an expert in thermos cookery. If you are single and live alone, you could, conceivably, eat nothing except what you cooked in a thermos. But if you are married, and especially if you have children, don't push it. Even with the economy of this system, it's not worth alienating your family. If your wife doesn't like it, challenge her to make the food tastier and think up some thermos recipes. You might also tell her the advantages of thermos cookery.

For one thing, she would spend much less time in the kitchen. What with the expected brownouts, she could do all the cooking in five, ten, fifteen minutes, depending on how many thermos bottles she used. Another important factor is that, especially during the heat waves, the home would not suffer the added heat from the kitchen. This would also cut down on the air conditioning costs.

A tip you may not have known is that the pilot light in a gas stove not only raises the temperature in the kitchen but also accounts for a fourth of all the gas burned in the stove. Matches are much cheaper. Turn the pilot light off.

Be sure to get SURVIVOR Vol. 1 for a full course on inexpensive but tasty and nourishing food, plus sprouting for green vegetables, soy milk, tofu, etc.

http://www.kurtsaxon.com/foods005.htm

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Thomas (Post 1848983)

Stanley Thermos, accept no substitutes.

http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/172141/200.jpg

I endorse the Stanley products thirdly, if you want a heavy but indestructible bottle. Otherwise, look for thinner stainless steel at a natural foods store.

Re: Best Thermoses?

:bear_w00t: Bad luck owning a Stanley thermos...the three I've owned eventually leaked something terrible,plastic stopper cracked or split,hot coffee good for about 4 hours...no thanks.

Thermos brand makes a better stainless steel thermos...I own two...one is 10 years old,beat all to hell,and still going strong after almost constant daily use.Hot coffee good for about 12 hours...no complaints.Both made in USA.

Nissan SS thermos ?
Yep...own one.
MIJ ? You bet
Built like a tank...probably the Lexus of thermos bottles.
Cost almost as much too. :>)

Nope...not flaming the older USA made Stanley SS thermos...they tended to last forever.
Avoid the newer made in China models...expect about a year's service out of one before it craps out.

:bear_w00t::bear_w00t::bear_w00t:

Re: Best Thermoses?

Here's what seems like a pretty good deal on a "Nissan" thermos:

Amazon

I think I may pick one up myself... they also have buy3get1free promotion going on as well...

Re: Best Thermoses?

My old wide mouth stanley is tough as nails, but I agree on it not keeping coffee hot long, which would detract from cooking value.

I may add a couple of nissan wide mouths since thermos cooking sounds like a great idea.

Pre-heating the thermos with a boiling water fill extends its time of staying hot.

Anything but wide mouth is ridiculously difficult (nearly impossible) to clean food out of. Get a good spatula and a bottle brush for wide mouth clean up. A good wash plus boiling water pre fill should keep thermos cooking sanitary. I carried a hot lunch (the wife's great stew or soups) in my wide mouth sometimes years back.

Re: Best Thermoses?

I like the Stanley and I can vouch for their lifetime warranty service should you ever need it. I had one lose vacuum and called them up. They asked for the model number and sent a replacement to my door. Absolutely no hassle.

Re: Best Thermoses?

Had a Stanley for shooting since I was a kid, and my dad was teaching me to shoot. Took some very hard beatings, but it's still going!

Re: Best Thermoses?

Wow, now that is a testament! He's been shooting his thermos for decades and it is still going!

oh.. wait..

:)

Re: Best Thermoses?

Thanks for the info.

Any thoughts as to "mugs" ?

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndreaGail (Post 1850432)

I've used the <a href=http://www.kleankanteen.com//> Klean Kanteen </a href> for a couple of months and really like it.

I like the Klean Kanteen myself. Its rock solid and keeps water cold for a long time. Just add ice if necessary!

TAB

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TruAuBug (Post 1857744)

I like the Klean Kanteen myself. Its rock solid and keeps water cold for a long time. Just add ice if necessary!

TAB

No Leeching?

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLV>GLD (Post 1853058)

Wow, now that is a testament! He's been shooting his thermos for decades and it is still going!

oh.. wait..

:)

You probably could shoot the thing, it's lasted through the years that well! Chucked in the back of a Land Rover, rattled around speedboat floors, dropped more times than I can count - still watertight and works as well as the day it was bought... BTW when I learnt to shoot it was on .22, so you might get away with a glancing hit and keep it in working order. :biggrin:

Re: Best Thermoses?

Are any stainless steel mugs coated with any chemicals?

Or is it safe to drink from them all?

Re: Best Thermoses?

I just found this link to a site that compares stainless steel water bottles.

Does anyone disagree with its findings?

http://gogreentravelgreen.com/green-...tle-smackdown/

Re: Best Thermoses?

For the best advice, I'd go to the expert, Navin R. Johnson.

Re: Best Thermoses?

We cook in two of the newer made in china stanley thermoses. Non-wide mouth. We tried the wide mouth stanleys, they are not only smaller (holds less) but they don't keep it warm overnight either. I attribute this to the larger stopper not being as efficient as the rest of the thermos (and the smaller the stopper the better the efficiency). Our small mouthed thermoses keep it VERY hot overnight. It is so hot still I have to let it cool in the morning for breakfast. (we cook wheat in them when we don't have porridge in the crock pot). We don't really have a problem cleaning them out. After pouring them out we just fill with water, swirl, and dump. Usually gets it all on the first attempt, never had to do it more then 3 times to get everything out.

I'd recommend it! Nice cheap breakfast, and like the article says you definately can feel the energy! We normally eat the 1/4 cup like was called for in the cooking article. (we sprout our wheat first though before cooking)

Gold & Silver Forum (http://goldismoney.info/forums/index.php)

- Survival Prep (http://goldismoney.info/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=141)

- - Best Thermoses? (http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=396040)

Re: Best Thermoses?

What is the best option if you want to use a straw.

Aren't straws also susceptible to leeching chemicals?

Are there any healthy straws out there?

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saoirse (Post 1862001)

What is the best option if you want to use a straw.

Aren't straws also susceptible to leeching chemicals?

Are there any healthy straws out there?

Buy a foot of 1/8" copper pipe. It will last a lifetime and you'll save the environment.

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/coppertubing.html

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Stater (Post 1862108)

Buy a foot of 1/8" copper pipe. It will last a lifetime and you'll save the environment.

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/coppertubing.html

Copper pipe will leech if it comes into contact with the wrong food products. I'd suggest a gold pipe instead. A ten inch segment of .999 pure will be safer, just don't squash it. If you are worried about durability, just get a really thick gold pipe.

:coolbeer:

Re: Best Thermoses?

Hi Saoirse,
Did you say you are looking for the 'best drinking mug of all time' ? As for design, I cannot say, but as for materials:
http://www.ejmahony.co.uk/images/silv2L.jpg
[picture of a silver mug]

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNocturnalEgyptian (Post 1866070)

Actually: yes - I was wondering if silver / sterling silver would make for a good mug.

I imagine the properties would be healthy, no?

Re: Best Thermoses?

I kicked the plastic water bottle habit myself...

Tried steel water bottles but them things get too dang hot.

Leave it in the vehicle while running errands and sometimes I cant even hold it as its so hot.

I ended up finding a great glass water bottle to use.

You have to buy a bottle of Voss Water then reuse the bottle.

I bought a whole case at this place below and have glass water bottles for days.

.375L is the size I use.

http://www.aquamaestro.com/innerview.asp?catid=33

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saoirse (Post 1867505)

Actually: yes - I was wondering if silver / sterling silver would make for a good mug.

I imagine the properties would be healthy, no?

Silver, even sterling, is extremely healthy to drink and eat from. I don't think you even "need" to wash your silver mug - just rinse it.

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvestor (Post 1866108)

http://www.uscanteen.com/PolishedSta...-idv-61-2.html

Stainless, 17oz or 24oz capacity, $30

http://i25.tinypic.com/dqkuaq.jpg

I have a small metal flask like that which I fill with clean water and essential oils. Going to the county fair? Bring your flask with water, fennel, idaho tansy, mint. Sweet tasting and gets you cooled off FAST from just one sip! Best part? Just refill that metal flask - that taste of the 3 drops of essential oil you just drank? It will linger for as long as you keep refilling it with water. In this way you can enjoy being dosed continually all day without the need to carry any oils. As you add water, the taste will keep coming back strong as ever.

Putting alcohol in the flask and drinking then alcohol will completely remove any traces that the essential oils were there.

Everyday we choose to dose ourselves - thousands of times.

I make sure I put some crazy left-fielders into my bloodstream.

I seem to be better for it. [Read: LUCKY]

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saoirse (Post 1867505)

Actually: yes - I was wondering if silver / sterling silver would make for a good mug.

I imagine the properties would be healthy, no?

Yes healthy.
will fight germs.

Just for a thought

Think of silvers heat transfer

It will conduct hot and cold to your hand and
anything else it is into contact with..

Imo not good for a mug.

Boil some water and then hold a sterling silver spoon in it
the heat will conduct to your fingers and soon you can not
hold it. Hot

Re: Best Thermoses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNocturnalEgyptian (Post 1867866)

Putting alcohol in the flask and drinking then alcohol will completely remove any traces that the essential oils were there.

Is it OK to skip out the water and oils part? :biggrin::beer: