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Camping Cookware
When you camp in the great outdoors, you
need cooking equipment. Although you can
bring pots and pans from the kitchen, that
may not be the best choice. If it has to
go into a backpack, your kitchen wear might
be too heavy and bulky. And even if you are
just carrying them from the car to the campsite,
do you really want to risk damaging your
good pots and pans while cooking outdoors?
A lot of people purchase a separate
set of
cookware just for camping but
what to buy
depends on the type of camping
you do. Here
are things to consider:
- Camping cookware is made in a variety of
materials from the traditional over-the-fire
cast iron to the newer titanium. Each has
its advantages.
- Cast iron is extremely rugged and cooks evenly
but is very heavy.
- Aluminum is much lighter but dents/scratches
easily
- Stainless steel is tougher and more dent/scratch
resistant but may not conduct heat uniformly
- Titanium is very light and tough but is expensive
- More important to the backpacker than others,
multiple uses of an item means fewer items
and less weight to carry. Look for pot/pans
that can serve as mixing bowls and lids that
can be used as plates. Interchangeable handles
or pot lifters instead of regular handles
are a good idea.
- You can buy cookware in sets or as individual
pieces. Sets can be the basic plate, cup,
skillet, and pot ensemble up to the gourmet
sets with coffeemakers and outdoor ovens.
Advantages to buying a set are the items
are made to “nest together” for compact storage
(and may even include space for a camping
stove) and are usually less expensive than
buying individual pieces. However, the sets
may not include specific types of cookware
you need/want for the meals you will be preparing,
so you may want to supplement the cooking
set or just buy items you want individually.
Other features to consider are nonstick coatings
for easier clean-up, insulated handles so
you don’t burn yourself on hot handles, and
lids for each pot/pan for quicker cooking
and less fuel consumption. |
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