Other than having to clean it up after a meal, is there any additional downside to using a quart sized Ziploc Twist n Loc container for freezer bag cooking instead of individual ziploc freezer bags? Was thinking about using this for re-hydrating my meals and then packing the meals in lighter bags and fewer of them.

Was also thinking I could use the container as a bowl, mug and as a steripen container.

Just the weight.

Haven't done the math yet, but I'm figuring that it would replace the bowl/mug I was going to take and would allow me to take bags that are lighter than freezer bags and/or fewer bags (8 days worth), so the weight would be roughly a wash.

Some people do use those yes. Nothing wrong with it at all!

They work great and are cheap. Weight wise they are not bad for what they are either!

Thanks for the input. I guess my other concern would be in bear territory do I need to worry about the residual odors attracting a bear that might come to examine it and potentially crush it, rendering it useless for the rest of my trip?

I always bear bag any gear which has ever touched food.

Yes, always bear bag the container. It will eventually absorb odors and further...I only leave out pots that I boil water in (no cooking). I don't worry about my pot but my mug and spoon + cozy go in my Ursack at night.

I suspect those are heavier than these:
http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/ContainersSmartSnapSeal.aspx?SizeName=Medium%20Bowl
Which I have used for years as my bowl/reconstituting container. I've used other brands as well, they all work. About 1.5 oz for the 3-cup size. Cleaning is a piece of cake - just put in a little water, swish it around and drink it.

In my experience, those containers are not water tight. I would readily adopt them as a standard part of my setup if they were because I sometimes make meals that involve soaking for a couple of hours on the trail before eating them. Right now I use bags for those meals and a cottage-cheese type container for my bowl when in camp. They stack nicely.

"cottage-cheese type container"

Yes, or the 15-oz plastic margarine tub (about 0.4 oz weight).

--B.G.--