Cubleader,

Second Sarbar's observation. I used them for years, and didn't want to go without. We didn't have the disposable plastic bags, so mine lived in a horribly wet, dirty, stinky military waterproof bag. I can't really account for my good health after that.

But today, though unlike others, I pour the food out of the Ziplock and into the boiling water in my pan, instead of the other way around, I very rarely have anything sticking to the inside that I cannot wipe out with my tea bag. And for sanitation, I depend on the fact that the next time I use the pot, I'm going to boil water, killing whatever remains.

On the rare occasion that I need to scrub, I have a cut-down square of the green plastic scrubbing sheets (weigh's virtually nothing). I carry this for the outside of the pan (I use Esbit) but it spends a whole lot more time in it's other use; insulation under the pot while the pot is in it's cozy (my fleece cap).

Best, jcp