Which cooking pot / pan

[beachlover]

OK. I have been surveying the enormous number of cooking pots and pans I have collected, from a small stainless zebra to a cast iron frying pan and huge great aluminium pots.
If you were stuck on a desert island, with the choice of only one multi purpose pot or pan, which would you take?

 

[Ogri the trog]

If you were stuck on a desert island, with the choice of only one multi purpose pot or pan, which would you take?

Well if recent experience is anything to go by,
I'd go for a medium sized cast iron Dutch Oven. I just got hold of one of these and its just so versatile, baking, boiling, frying, it covers the whole spectrum.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[beachlover]

I am so pleased you said that
Its the one pot I don't have, but I have been thinking that a large muti-purpose pot is the real answer if it can fit in the bottom of a rucksack and hold other stuff. The weight might well be worth the multiple functions it would perform.

Well if recent experience is anything to go by,
I'd go for a medium sized cast iron Dutch Oven. I just got hold of one of these and its just so versatile, baking, boiling, frying, it covers the whole spectrum.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[running bare]

excuse my ignorance but what does a dutch oven look like????

tom

 

[beachlover]

excuse my ignorance but what does a dutch oven look like????

tom

Have a look here, about half way down the page.
http://www.trekdirect.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Other_Cookware_53.html

 

[Gill]

hi does anyone know where to get a quality cast iron dutch oven in the uk,not potjie though ,i purchased one of these some time ago and have tried it several times at home and always the food turns a not so edible blackish/brown colour which i have been unable to eat yet , seemingly this is down to inferior casting(or does anyone know how to remedy this problem).i like the look of the lodge brand from the us,but it is expensive to ship because of the weight.surely there must be a importer of quality dutch ovens here.

 

[beachlover]

is this any good?

http://www.unbeatentracks.com/pots.htm

hi does anyone know where to get a quality cast iron dutch oven in the uk,not potjie though ,i purchased one of these some time ago and have tried it several times at home and always the food turns a not so edible blackish/brown colour which i have been unable to eat yet , seemingly this is down to inferior casting(or does anyone know how to remedy this problem).i like the look of the lodge brand from the us,but it is expensive to ship because of the weight.surely there must be a importer of quality dutch ovens here.

 

[anthonyyy]

A wok.
(I was not allowed to post the above message because it was too short, so I am writing this)

 

[beachlover]

A wok.
(I was not allowed to post the above message because it was too short, so I am writing this)

Thought about that, but then have to drill holes in three sides for hooking it up over a fire and the handle is a real b***er for packing unless you chop it off and use a pot holder / grip off something else

 

[running bare]

aaa haa now i know what you mean . sounds a very versatile utensil. thanks

tom :You_Rock_

 

[anthonyyy]

Thought about that, but then have to drill holes in three sides for hooking it up over a fire and the handle is a real b***er for packing unless you chop it off and use a pot holder / grip off something else

THe thing about a wok is that it is versatile and uses very little fuel. You can carry it outside your rucksack, but you have to put up with everyone asking you why you have a wok.
I'm not sure what the ideal system is for cooking with a wok outdoors. I found a really small wok (about 8 inches) which happens to fit nicely on my trangia copy.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Ho Hum, this took off pretty quick,
Beachlover - there was a slight change of tack there, from desert island to fitting it into a rucksack and carrying the weight. The big thing about a lump of cast iron, irrespective of its versatility is that its a big lump of cast iron - it'll be very heavy, will dig into your back, will wear hole in your rucksack and be very heavy.
That said, I hadn't contemplated an aluminium one.

Gill, have you "seasoned" yours? It almost sounds as though it is rusting during the cooking cycle, mine came with a recommendation to clean it thouroughly then warm it up and coat the inside with oil/suet/lard etc and bake it in the oven for a few hours. The surface is said to absorb the oil and seal it against corrosion. Thereafter, never wash it with detergent, just wipe it clean with a cloth or paper towel, or use hot water and salt for really stubborn stains. As to where I got it, you'll all call me crazy, but I saw it while on holiday in Australia, bought it there and brought it home in the luggage price was about £12 probably about 5 litres capacity.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[Graham_S]

given the choice, i'll take my 14cm zebra billy.

 

[beachlover]

Ho Hum, this took off pretty quick,
Beachlover - there was a slight change of tack there, from desert island to fitting it into a rucksack and carrying the weight. The big thing about a lump of cast iron, irrespective of its versatility is that its a big lump of cast iron - it'll be very heavy, will dig into your back, will wear hole in your rucksack and be very heavy.
That said, I hadn't contemplated an aluminium one.
Ogri the trog

What I really meant I guess was a multi-purpose cooking pot for more than a quick days wander in the woods. the weight is only a side issue, because if it's a good piece of kit then I would sacrifice other bits and carry it.
Your point about the legs is an important one tho.
Does the Iron one take a lot of looking after in the field, as I would imagine the aluminium one would be more practical from that point of view?