Stainless or not?

[Gary]

Now that the link between Ali and Altizimmers (sp?) has been disproven i find myself liking Ali cookware more and more. The swedish army mess kit being one good example so the question is weight for weight what is better and why.

This set of Ali pots and pans cost half the price of most stainless kits, they have bail arms and so are great for use over the camp fire, the large pot takes 6 pints the smallest 2 (total of 12 pints in all three) the lids can be used as a frying pan, plate and mug respectively. And it weighs next to nothing, in fact the whole kit weighs a few grammes less than a 14cm zebra.

So what do you think is better and why?

 

[Squidders]

I prefer stainless myself... I don't know why but I do.

I think it's less prone to things sticking to it.

 

[Gary]

Thats your cooking Joe - but good point, personal preference has a lot to to with it too I guess.

 

[Doc]

I vaguely remember from 'The New Way of the Wilderness' the author suggesting Aluminium for everything except the frying pan - where he advised steel to reduce sticking.

'New' in this context refers to fifty years ago of course...

Does aluminium distort with prolonged use over a fire? My Swedish army kit hasn't so far, but usually its used on the trangia burner.

 

[Tony]

I really do think that the stainless is easier to clean, the main thing that Ali has going for it is weight. It's not as tough, although probably tough enough. I think i'm right in saying that SS distributes heat a bit better as well.

 

[Viking]

I really like the trangia duossal pots, it has the best of 2 worlds aluminium on the outside and stainless on the inside and it does not weigh much.

 

[khimbar]

Stainless steel is shiner and prettier than aluminium.

 

[Viking]

Stainless steel is shiner and prettier than aluminium.

I dont want my kit to be new and shiny

 

[Squidders]

So, there you have it Gary... Stainless is easier to clean, cooks more evenly, looks better and is stronger...

...but it's heavier.

Your choice innit.

 

[khimbar]

I don't want my kit to stay new and shiny. I want it to start new and shiny so that every dent, chip, stain and burn is a memory.

 

[zambezi]

Stainless, Aluminium? Pah! Titanium is the way to go!

 

[khimbar]

Titanium? Pah. Call yourself a bushcrafter? I whittle mine or make clay pots.

):

 

[jamesdevine]

A you beat me too it.

I prefer SS for all the reasons given above, but I do love my Ali Swedish Army trangia and fires are restricted it is the billy of choice.

Regards,
James

 

[Lithril]

Personally its Stainless for me, as before much easier to clean conducts heat better and for me its "nicer" to use - also if you're on a stove you're less likely to burn a whole in the bottom of it (yep thats been done before). Titanium is defiantely better in terms of weight and strength - although has dire heat conducting properties.

 

[Andy]

for non stick it has to be cast iron

I use what's cheap and handy. I don't really mind if it's steel or alu

 

[Gary]

I vaguely remember from 'The New Way of the Wilderness' the author suggesting Aluminium for everything except the frying pan - where he advised steel to reduce sticking.

'New' in this context refers to fifty years ago of course...

Does aluminium distort with prolonged use over a fire? My Swedish army kit hasn't so far, but usually its used on the trangia burner.

You might be right there Doc, although I guess it also depends on what/how you fry - I have one of those little wok things that is badly warped and thats stainless.

So the general concesus is stainless is more hygenic - why?

Cooks more evenly - over an open fire? where we generally/mostly boil water? I rarely cook a meal in my pots and on those occations I have I generally sit watch the pot, play with the fire and stir to contents! Also added to this is the question of shape, i/e a large flat surface say a frying pan will heat up and more evenly much quicker than a deep sided billy can so whats better there?

Toughness probably goes with weight - so swings and round about there.

As for caste iron ......... pack horse time me thinks!!

 

[george]

Especially with Trangia's you need to be careful how you store Alu pots. The aluminium can oxidise and you can get pitting that makes a perfect home for bacteria.

Make sure they are cleaned immediately and put away dry - dont store your trangia with meths in the burner and preferably store them opened up with the parts seperate.

I recently dug out my mini trangia that had been put away for a couple of months - it must have been damp or not totally clean when it went away cos 2 of the pots are unusable now - covered in grey oxide with pitting in the base of each.

I've seen similar on several occasions.

George

 

[Gary]

Good point George - I usually dry my pots stainless and ali over the fire after use just to make sure they are dry. Regardless of hygiene issues I dont like putting anything wet back in my pack!


Interesting thread so far though.

 

[zambezi]

Seems to be an inexorable mountain of evidence building for Titanium in this thread.... ):

 

[Andy]

If someone gave me Ti pots I wouldn't complain. But the price puts it out of my budget. Ti doesn't make for good pots anyway. the conductivity is worse then either SS or Alu