I did a quick search and didn't really find any thing on this. So, here goes.
1. Do you all spoon pack small amounts into small containers?
2. Do you buy the small bottles of say.. Mustard, Mayonnaise, relish and so on for the outing you are doing. Then chuck them when done?
3. Or.... Grab some when at the gas station and go with that?
Your thoughts and more, please.
~Bill.
Hey Bill - unless you're super strapped for space, I'd just buy reasonably small-sized bottles of the various condiments you prefer and then take 'em home after camping, where you can finish them off or use the next time. I've found that to be the simplest, least expensive, and least wasteful for condiments, whether using a regular cooler or 12v fridge.
To answer your points individually:
1.
Do you all spoon pack small amounts into small containers?
- I've never found this to be helpful, personally, for condiments. Makes for messy containers to clean afterward, too, often wasting precious water in camp. Though I do like to use small, square or rectangular, resealable containers with full open tops like the
Ziploc 1/2 cup 8 pack you find at the grocery or on Amazon for stuff like bacon grease, small leftovers, cut up peppers & onions, and things like olives and other items from opened jars and cans that are wasting space if half-full. The 1/2 cup size are only around 3 inches square and maybe 2 inches tall. I like the small square containers because they use space far more efficiently than round ones and I can put a mess of them into otherwise unused corners in my fridge. I've become much more efficient this way and have found I have far less that goes to waste. They're easy/quick to clean and easy to nest together and store when empty. I use a couple diff sizes and use them a lot. Also handy for taking along on day hikes.
2.
Do you buy the small bottles of say.. Mustard, Mayonnaise, relish and so on for the outing you are doing. Then chuck them when done?
- Yep, I buy small bottles of certain things like relish and jam and mayo, and have found over the years that even though perhaps a tad bit more per ounce cost-wise at the time of purchase, I waste less in the long run because I don't end up with out-dated or cruddy bottles I have to throw away. So, actually less-expensive in the long run.
No, with the small bottles I don't chuck 'em at the end of a trip if not empty. I keep them for next time, or give them to another camper if I'm not going to use it soon. It's actually another way having a 12v fridge helps me save money. I really hate throwing away anything that is still useful. Costs too much, too. Adds up to a lot of waste in food and pesos over time.
3.
Or.... Grab some when at the gas station and go with that?
- I used to do this, a lot, and would grab extra condiments and even the better quality plastic spoons and forks from places like Wendy's. I've come to realize, though, that while it might be quicker and easier for us as consumers, it only serves to add a shitload to trash in the end, and I always had a bunch of tiny packets going to waste in some baggie somewhere. It also raises costs for the businesses we take it from, which in turn results in higher prices for food.
This is one of those "Well, it's just me and just this one time..." sort of justifications for many of us. Even if only 1% of all campers and travelers think this, it still adds up to a lot of extra expense for businesses and one hell of a large increase in amount of waste heading to landfills.
As for buying a case of condiment packages, unless you have a restaurant to give them to after camping, I'm betting a lot of it would go bad or be past a best-by date before you ever got through a case. I still dig up old condiment packages every once in while in odd places from past camping stashes that has gone bad and just shake my head as I throw it away. So, no more condiment packages for me.
