Disposable plates/cutlery versus washing up ...

[CluelessNewbies]

This is the current dilemma in my head.

With a wife and 2 kids, do i really want to waste quality time washing up after every meal when I'm away??

Is using throw away pates and cutlery just a ridiculous waste of money, or is it actually worth it!?

Does as anyone else do this? or is it me being super lazy and wasteful!?

its the closest thing i could think of other than having a dishwasher fitted in the van Any thoughts?

 

[VicMallows]

Even worse than eating from plastic plates and drinking out of plastic cups. As for plastic cutlery!!

 

[00buzz]

we use the disposable bacofoil trays in the oven to save on heavy duty washing up......but plates and cutlery aren't much of a hassle......cadac always ends up at the site washing up facilities

 

[Lynnybobs]

I prefer proper plates and cutlery as its not that much hassle to wash them but I do prep some meals in advance in foil takeaway trays to save on too much cooking and washing up of pans.
Stuff like lasagne or shepherds pies or meatballs in tomato sauce - then just pop them in the oven and dish up with a side salad or a bit of veg all chucked in one pan and job done.
If the weather is good we use the cadac and just have the one pan to clean.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Camping to perhaps a slightly lesser extent caravanning forces us to be more economical with the way we use resources like power and water. For me that was part of the fun, how can we maintain a standard of living but with less martial.

I've never entertained the idea of using disposable plates and cutlery for camping or caravanning, but with the benefit of hind sight, I still wouldn't.

I can remember plenty of occasions both under canvass and when eating alfresco outside the tin hut, when wind would have blown paper plates all over the place. Plastic knives and forks are rarely strong enough to safely skewer that wayward sausage.

Washing up is something we may not particularly like to do but with everyone helping it doesn't usually take too long.

The alternative of throwing everything away really riles me, and teh cost!

Caravanning should of course be fun, after all what else would be the point for a holiday, but does having fum mean we have to be wasteful?

 

[DrZhivago]

... is using throw away pates and cutlery just a ridiculous waste of money, or is it actually worth it!?.... Any thoughts?

I see it as a ridiculous waste of earth resources, at a time when we are meant to be re-using things. That is apart from the ambience they give of a greasy take-away snack cabin.

 

[sgtangel]

I suppose its the old saying of "horses for courses" i.e if it suits you, that`s fine

I have to agree with some of the other comments though, plastic cutlery / paper plates - its all a bit too lightweight for regular use - a one off - yes, but a 2 week trip, perhaps not.

and although I am not one for being overly "save the planet" (I do my bit) it does seem a bit OTT in terms of wastage / recycling etc.

One of the reasons we moved to a caravan from camping was to be able to sit down and have a proper family meal in comfort, and a wee bit of washing up at the end is worth it IMO

 

[Mel]

I can see your thinking here...but it's not very kind to the planet; and if you caravan as much as you are going to want to, it won't be kind to your wallet.

Taking pots to the pot wash on some sites can be a great way to chat with other campers and it is a great excuse to get away from the OH, kids, dog etc.

We try to be cooking and washing up smart by making curries, chillies, cottage pies etc at home and freezing in oven proof or microwaveable containers. Take these away with us. Then all the washing up from prep of these dishes is done at home. Easy cooking/warming on the van, just need a bag of microwaveable rice or veggies, and then all you have is your plates and cutlery and the container the food came in to wash up. One wine glass can last all evening ( with refilling).

Cadac is good as well. Not much to wash up.
Mel

 

[Mogwyth]

In a word no.
.
Its a waste of resources. Its not good for the environment., its a waste of money assuming you use two bits of cutlery, a plate/bowl and a cup each per meal and three meals a day, that's 48 items at 10p each that's nearly a fiver a day and they are not nice to eat from, we don't even use disposables for parties.

We use our cadac a lot for cooking too, the paella dish is great fro a one pan full English Oh's solution to washing up (she does it as I cook), is for us to eat out :lol:

 

[KeefySher]

My brother and sister in law, who are both chefs by profession, but seldom cook these days, at Christmas buy the Marklie Sparklie Xmas dinner in foil trays (Turkey, spuds, veggies, stuffing etc), pop in the oven, serve on paper plates with plastic cutlery. Throw everything straight in the bin, job done.

In the caravan we use the Ikea Ofstat tempered glass tableware with metal cutlery. As there is a rule of no solids in the washing up in the caravan sink, any food left on the plate must be eaten before another meal is served to you. A quick wash in soapy water, leave to drain, job done.

 

[Martin24]

Oh good grief, 5 of us plus visitors so often clearing up after 7 or more. I'm not bothered about the environmental grounds, nothing to worry me in my lifetime

But.......please there is no need to let standards slip just because you're away in the caravan. Would you seriously use plastic cutlery and paper plates at home for anything but a 5th birthday party? :evil:

 

[Anseo]

I hope that the OP will not take my comment too unkindly.

Me, I don't like washing up, but what a small effort to avoid being a contributor to polution and waste.

Our children (and hopefully theirs) may thank us for such a tiny effort as 'washing the dishes'.

Anseo.

 

[KeefySher]

But.......please there is no need to let standards slip just because you're away in the caravan. Would you seriously use plastic cutlery and paper plates at home for anything but a 5th birthday party? :evil:

As my post afore yours, YES, Xmas Dinner from Marklie Sparklie

 

[chrisn7]

When abroad we never wash up in the van but at the communal areas - you never know who you are going to meet, so it can be social as well. Plus, there's lots more room.

In the UK, not the same appeal if its dark/raining. As others say, proper glasses, cutlery but we do have some high quality melamine that just goes on an on without staining and is almost non-stick when it comes to washing up

 

[Raywood]

We did try this a good few years ago but found it impractical. You either go for the very cheap plates which are very thin and not user friendly or better ones which gets very expensive and plastic cutlery is often not up to the job. Even then you might still find you have cooking utensils to wash up anyway.
I am afraid we work on the theory we wash up when we need to rather than after every meal which works with just two of us although possibly not if you tour with a family. Frankly though the time taken is not that long, so the lost leisure time is not that great, and you could even take it in turns to wash up to spread the load.