Cleaning your titanium camping cookware is easy… if you’re just boiling water or whipping up a quick pasta dinner.
But things can get a little more sticky (literally) if you are cooking ‘real food’.
Maybe you forget to add extra liquid, or you use a bit too much heat… or you just get distracted and forget to stir. Whatever the reason, the result is the same – a rock-hard layer of burnt food on the bottom of your pot that is nearly impossible to clean.
In fact, we’ve heard of people literally throwing their titanium cookware away because they couldn’t get it clean after a cooking mishap.
That’s why today’s blog is all about how to clean titanium camping cookware. We’ll cover the best methods for simple to hard-core cleaning jobs so you can keep your titanium cookware in tip-top condition for life.
A disclaimer before we begin...
The cleaning methods we’re sharing today are intended for pure titanium cookware. Although some of the methods are suitable for all camping cookware, some of the techniques we’ll share today may not be suitable for all materials.
The Best Methods for Cleaning Titanium Cookware
Titanium Cleaning Method #1: Soap and Water
What you’ll need:
- Soap (we recommend wilderness wash or castile soap)
- Dish cloth, sponge or non-scratch scourer
- Water
Best for:
Easy clean up jobs where you don’t have a lot of residue on the pot.
How to clean titanium with soap and water:
Unless you’ve never washed the dishes in your life, chances are you know how to wash using soap and water.
Still, here are some extra tips for making the most of this method:
- Harsh chemicals aren’t great for your titanium cookware or the environment, so opt for a gentle soap, such as wilderness wash or castile soap.
- Wash your titanium cookware soon after you’re done with it, before the food residue dries completely. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to remove.
- After you’ve cleaned your titanium pot, wipe off the water with a tea towel or soft cloth and then place it in a dry, well-ventilated place to air-dry for another 10 minutes or so before packing it away.
Titanium Cleaning Method #2: Boiling Water
What you’ll need:
- Soap
- Non-scratch scouring pad
- Wooden spatula
- Water
- Heat source (eg. fuel stove or campfire)
Best for:
Caked on food residue that’s hard to remove.
How to clean titanium with the boiling water method:
First, use the wooden spatula to scrape out any excess food that’s in your titanium camping cookware. Then fill the pot or pan with water, add some soap, and bring to the boil over low heat. Keep it simmering on low for a few minutes.
Turn off the heat and allow it to cool down until the water is warm (but not hot enough to burn you), then get scrubbing. Alternate between using your spatula to scrape at the food residue and going in with your scouring pad until it’s all removed.
Titanium Cleaning Method #3: Baking Soda Paste
What you’ll need:
- Baking Soda
- Dish cloth
- Non-scratch scouring pad
- Water
Best for:
Removing soot, tarnish or persistent food residue.
How to clean titanium with baking soda paste:
To make your job easier, try to get as much of the food and dirt off as possible before you begin so only the really tough marks remain.
Start by making the baking soda paste, mixing equal parts of baking soda and water together to form a thick paste. Use a damp cloth to spread this over the target areas of your titanium pot, then leave it for 15-20 minutes. This helps break down the bonds holding burnt food to the titanium surface.
Then go in with your damp non-scratch scouring pad and scrub, scrub, scrub, adding extra baking soda if needed. It may take a few rounds of this to get your titanium cookware pristine again.
Titanium Cleaning Method #4: The Campfire
What you’ll need:
- A hot campfire
- Long tongs or a stick
- A rock or sandy spot nearby (to put the hot titanium pot afterwards)
Best for:
The absolute worst case scenario when you have a thick, caked on layer of burnt food and nothing else has helped.
WARNING: This method should only be tried as an absolute last ditch attempt when all else has failed. This method is NOT suitable for other metals apart from pure titanium and should NOT be used for titanium cookware with non-stick coatings or silicone handle covers. Proceed with caution.
How to clean titanium by putting it in the campfire:
First up, we should tell you that this method can cause your pot to warp slightly and become discoloured. This shouldn’t affect the functionality, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Get your campfire burning really hot. Then, using long tongs or a stick, place your titanium pot upright in the centre of the fire, directly onto the coals. After a few minutes, the smaller, thinner parts of the metal should begin to turn blue, white or purple. Gradually the rest of the pot will begin to show these colours as well.
After about 15 minutes, remove the titanium pot from the fire and place it on a heat-proof surface such as sand or a rock and allow it to cool down.
Once it is cooled, take a look inside and you should see that the food residue has burnt away to a fine charcoal or carbon. You can now wash this out with water or use baking soda paste to buff away the black marks.
Now you know how to clean your titanium cookware!
Now you know the top four ways to clean your titanium camping cookware. Each of these methods is effective for different situations, so you can alternate between all four as needed.
But remember, just because your titanium cookware is virtually indestructible doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take care of it. Treat it well, try not to burn food in it, and your titanium camping cookware will be with you for a lifetime of adventure.
