What can you use in the wilderness for a pot or pan to boil water in?

Question

lets say you are a sole survivor, and you make a fire. But you are surrounded by contaminated water. what things in the wild can one use instead of a pan.

Answer 1

Just about anything that can hold water, and not melt. A felt Hat, a piece of hide, (animal skin), anything that will hold water, and not MELT. You can suspend it over a fire. The water in it, will keep it from burning through, as long as you don't get it too close to the fire. Or you can put water in a container, (again, anything that won't melt), Heat up some rocks, and put them in the container of water, to heat it up. You may have to do this several times, before the water boils.

Answer 2

You've hit on a really difficult problem.

Well, if you have a good fire, but no container that is fire proof, one alternative that will work is to make a container from clay or clay-rich mud and fire it in your fire until it becomes a ceramic. This is not likely to be a quick solution if you have never tried it before. The first fired-clay pot is likely to crack and it may take a few attempts to get it right. You can also line a hole in the ground  with clay and then build a fire in it to harden the clay. Then it might be possible to boil water by filling the ceramic-lined hole with  water and dropping very hot rocks into it.

Glass bottles will work if you heat them slowly enough to keep them from breaking. There is a supposed method for boiling water in a plastic bottle which I have never tried.

Apparently it works if the bottle is sealed.

www.yikers.com/video_how_to_boil_water...

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Thermodynamic...

www.metacafe.com/watch/885543macgyver_...

This source suggests it is possible to boil water in a flammable container such as a paper bag, as long as the heat and embers only contact the wet part of the paper. I've never tried this, but it sounds plausible.

http://www.renmorescouts.ie/resources/Sc...

More realistically, you may have to find other sources of pure water. In the desert water can be obtained from various cacti. Barrel cacti are often kicked open by wild horses and burros just to get a drink. In jungle settings quite a few plants have enough water in them that breaking them open can be a source of safe water. Fruits and berries are likely to be a safe source of water. In a mountain setting you may have to find a spring or ice and snow. Condensation from dew can be used as a source of clean water in some places.  Then there is rain, which can be caught with leaves.

Another method of cooking that is used in some primitive situations that would help with dehydration problems, is to build a deep fire pit, cover the hot coals with rocks and then add edible plants, meat, or fish covered and wrapped in large leaves. The food gradually cooks and will have enough water in it when cooked to supply you.

http://www.thesalmons.org/lynn/pit.html

Answer 3

turtle shell