Metal Camping Cookware

Tips for Choosing Metal Camping Cookware

When you begin your search for camping cookware, you need to have an idea of what your needs will be. Do you usually get to your campsite by car or RV, or do you typically spend time hiking a long trail before you get to your chosen spot? If you will be walking any distance, you will want to consider the weight of the cookware you will be carrying.

How many people do you typically camp with? If you and your family like to go camping together for your vacation, you will want to purchase a larger set of camping cookware; if you camp alone or with a friend, you won't have a need for so much equipment. By focusing on your actual needs, you can avoid spending money on unnecessary items. Next, you will need to decide which items are the best for meeting your needs. Look at the advantages and disadvantages of the four most common types of metal camping cookware, and then decide for yourself what will be the best.

Aluminum

There are a few key advantages to using aluminum camp cookware:

• It is usually the least expensive
• Aluminum is very lightweight
• It conducts heat well so food is less likely to burn

There are also some disadvantages:

• It dents easily and therefore, isn't very long lasting
• Aluminum can react with the acids in foods
• Foods tend to stick to an aluminum cooking surface, making it difficult to clean

Aluminum is probably a good choice if you do not camp very often or if you are new to camping and may not be ready to spend a great deal of money on a new-found pastime.

Stainless Steel

The advantages of stainless steel cookware are:

• It is more durable than aluminum and therefore won't dent as easily
• It will last longer than aluminum cookware

Disadvantages include:

• It is more costly than aluminum
• It is heavier to carry if you are hiking
• Stainless steel doesn't conduct heat as well as other materials

Titanium

The advantages of titanium cookware are:

• Titanium is very lightweight
• It is also very durable and will last a long time

However, the disadvantages include:

• It is an expensive cookware material
• Titanium doesn't seem to conduct heat as well as some other materials. If you use it for cooking, be sure to keep an eye on your food and cook over a lower heat to prevent burning.

Cast Iron

Cast iron cookware has been around forever and many swear by it in their home kitchens. The advantages of using cast iron for you camping cookware are:

• It is the best material for evenly distributing heat so your food will cook evenly
• It is very durable and can last for generations

Disadvantages include:

• Cast iron is very heavy; you won't want to lug it around in your backpack
• It needs to be properly seasoned and cared for in order to work optimally
• It takes a bit longer for cast iron to heat up
• Hot cast iron can crack if it is submerged in cold water

A Word about Non-Stick Cookware

The one advantage of non-stick cookware is that it is easy to clean up. However, anyone who uses non-stick cookware in their kitchen at home can tell you that the coating scratches easily. Once it is scratched it won't work very well, sometimes leaving pieces of the coating in your food. Another disadvantage is that non-stick coatings are only available on certain materials.

Seasoning Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron is probably the best known metal camping cookware. You may even own some pieces that have been in your family for a very long time. Properly seasoned cast iron will develop a carbon coating that works as well as a non-stick coating, but it can last forever.

It has been said that soap is a big no-no on cast iron, but that idea came from a time when caustic lye was used in making soap. Today's gentle dish detergents are not likely to do much damage.

Dishwashers, on the other hand, are not good for your cast iron so always clean it by hand. Often just wiping it out with a paper towel after use is all that is needed. Otherwise, rinse your hot pan with hot water and scrape of any food particles if necessary. Do not use a scouring pad or you may damage the surface you created during the seasoning process.

There are different methods to curing, or seasoning, your cast iron. Here is an idea of how to season your cookware so it will last a lifetime:

• Wash your new cookware well and dry it thoroughly
• Heat your oven to 300 degrees
• Coat your piece of cookware with lard and place in heated oven for about 15 minutes
• Pour out melted grease and place back in the oven for two hours
• Repeat this process several times to form a strong coating that is baked in to the surface of your cookware

Some also suggest:

• Use a thin coat of vegetable oil or mineral oil instead of lard
• Allow it to air dry for two or three days
• Bake in a 500 degree oven for an hour; be sure your windows are open because it will probably smoke
• Repeat several times

Conclusion

Now that you know the basics of each type of cookware, you can make an educated decision on which type of camping cookware is the best kind for you.