Manhole Cover

[johnnytheboy]

So I heard that round man hole covers ground to a shallow concave are the goto cookware for cooking group meals over an open fire!

This I have heard but never seen! I quite fancy the idea, anyone seen this on any trips around the world? Any suggestions how to get the project started?

Also would it be safe to cook on a manhole cover? Any nasties in the metal?

 

[bopdude]

I have never seen or heard of it and wouldn't want to eat off something that has had just about every kind of crap literally on and through it, if you want that type of shape look up Cadac Skottle Braai.

 

[Robson Valley]

In the gold fields of Ballarat, Victoria, I have seen a 36" sheet steel wok over a fire pit.
If it hadn't been for the handles, I would not have known what it was for.
The ends of an oil drum have greater culinary appeal than any sewer capping.

Four real cooking fires. Three smaller woks and a grill. Woks have the versatility and the economy.

 

[66jj99]

For one beautiful moment I thought this was a classifieds post.

 

[sunndog]

So I heard that round man hole covers ground to a shallow concave are the goto cookware for cooking group meals over an open fire!

This I have heard but never seen! I quite fancy the idea, anyone seen this on any trips around the world? Any suggestions how to get the project started?

Also would it be safe to cook on a manhole cover? Any nasties in the metal?

In other news the word 'gullible' isnt in the dictionary

 

[Jared]

I suspect this is a method of opportunity. ie manhole covers are more easily/cheaply obtainable than anything else.

First thought giant paella pans. Can get some pretty big diameters.

Other than that, if it's a permanent outdoor cooking arrangement then thick mild steel plate, and use it like a plancha/griddle

Pic from http://www.paellaworld.co.uk/products_list.php?category_id=2

 

[Nice65]

So I heard that round man hole covers ground to a shallow concave are the goto cookware for cooking group meals over an open fire!

This I have heard but never seen! I quite fancy the idea, anyone seen this on any trips around the world? Any suggestions how to get the project started?

Also would it be safe to cook on a manhole cover? Any nasties in the metal?

Liking the idea, and there wouldn’t be a problem with the iron, it’ll be a basic ductile steel. But grinding to concave? That’s a project for sure. I can’t really see how you’d do that, even a big disc grinder isn’t designed to give any sort of finish to the metal. Are you meaning it’s usage to be a griddle iron, or more of a pan?

Struggling to get the “why” of this when there are easier options. It sounds very hobo cooking, and possibly a busted leg for the poor guy who didn’t get fed, but fell down a manhole.

 

[Janne]

Is it the 1st of Apri? Grinding a manhole cover?


Check out ’Muurikka ’ and have a peek on their griddle pans!
I want one of those, a large one!

 

[Keith_Beef]

I have never seen or heard of it and wouldn't want to eat off something that has had just about every kind of crap literally on and through it, if you want that type of shape look up Cadac Skottle Braai.

The Skottel Braai looks very much like a paëlla pan.

A manhole cover would be made of cast iron, be very thick and heavy, and you'd need to do a lot of grinding to get rid of the moulded lettering and texturing. And there would also be a hole in the centre, where you'd put a hook to lift the cover...

Much better to get yourself a bit of thick mild steel or cast iron sheet, like the squares that are put as temporary covers when the road or pavement is being dug up, and then beat that to a gently dished shape.

 

[bopdude]

Hmmm, they seem to have changed the design, they used to be much more bowl shaped when I had mine.

 

[Fadcode]

Surely using a manhole cover as a cooking dish would give you serious problems, how would you hang it over the fire with the weight of it, you would need a big fire to make sure it got good and hot, and cleaning it, these manhole covers are not smooth metal things, and of course carrying it.more trouble than what it,s worth.

 

[Janne]

I think the OP heard or read wrong.

 

[johnnytheboy]

wow that was a lot of posts quickly

I heard this from Swedish hunters, they seen the idea in South Africa and decided it was a good idea, they use this to cook group meals at lunch time on Swedish hunts where the hunt lunch is in a fixed location, they cook pyittipanna? Maybe someone can confirm that meal, unsure!

It’s maybe specific to this group of hunters? I take it from the responses that it’s not a thing anyone has seen around the world!

 

[Robbi]

The Skottel Braai looks very much like a paëlla pan.

A manhole cover would be made of cast iron, be very thick and heavy, and you'd need to do a lot of grinding to get rid of the moulded lettering and texturing. And there would also be a hole in the centre, where you'd put a hook to lift the cover...

Much better to get yourself a bit of thick mild steel or cast iron sheet, like the squares that are put as temporary covers when the road or pavement is being dug up, and then beat that to a gently dished shape.

If you can beat a road plate into a dish, i'd be very impressed

 

[Laurentius]

So I heard that round man hole covers ground to a shallow concave are the goto cookware for cooking group meals over an open fire!

This I have heard but never seen! I quite fancy the idea, anyone seen this on any trips around the world? Any suggestions how to get the project started?

Also would it be safe to cook on a manhole cover? Any nasties in the metal?

There are manhole covers and there are manhole covers, some of the cast iron ones weigh about 25 kilos!

 

[Keith_Beef]

If you can beat a road plate into a dish, i'd be very impressed

I'll have a go at it, one day. I'll need to make myself a bloody big hammer, first.

 

[bopdude]

wow that was a lot of posts quickly

I heard this from Swedish hunters, they seen the idea in South Africa and decided it was a good idea, they use this to cook group meals at lunch time on Swedish hunts where the hunt lunch is in a fixed location, they cook pyittipanna? Maybe someone can confirm that meal, unsure!

It’s maybe specific to this group of hunters? I take it from the responses that it’s not a thing anyone has seen around the world!

It's just a hash, literally just a hash of whatever you have to chuck in, I do a corned beef hash with potatoes and mixed veg, love it.