backpacking cookware Helpful Hints for Choosing Outdoor Cookware When camping, the type of cookware you have can make a meal very enjoyable or it can make it a disaster. Understanding the various type...
backpacking cookware
Helpful Hints for Choosing Outdoor Cookware
When camping, the type of cookware you have can make a meal very enjoyable or it can make it a disaster. Understanding the various types of cookware advantages and disadvantages will help make your outdoor cooking a memorable experience instead of one to avoid. Cooking outdoors is much more demanding on your cookware than cooking at home with your kitchen cookware. As we all know a well fed camper makes a happy camper. Your outdoor cookware should be versatile and tough. An important factor is to store it in plastic containers, this way it's always ready to go when you are. No worries in forgetting an important piece of cookware this way.
The type of camping you do will depend on what type of cookware you will need. Like your home cookware, outdoor cookware comes in many types of sets and types of materials from which to choose.
Titanium is a popular metal that is durable and extremely lightweight and will last a long time if taken care of which attracts backpackers and hikers. This material also heats quickly which in turn requires less fuel consumption. Because of this, one should pay close attention to food preparation as food will burn quicker. In addition, this cookware is a naturel non-stick metal and will require less water or oil for cooking. The biggest disadvantage of titanium is it cost more than other cookware.
Aluminum cookware is about the cheapest outdoor cookware there is. This cookware is lightweight and conducts heat evenly which makes simmering foods easier without scorching. However, this metal will break down slowly by cooking acidic foods. In addition, aluminum dents and scratches easily. If aluminum is your choices of cookware then try the anodized aluminum which is just as strong as stainless steel, yet it is lighter, cleans easily, and conducts heat just as well as pure aluminum does.
Stainless steel cookware is what can be found in most homes. Stainless steel outdoor cookware is most popular with the car camper and family camper that is not concerned much by the weight. The reason being this metal is strong, durable, cleans easily, and does not scratch very easily. However, when cooking with stainless steel cookware one should pay close attention to food cooking for this metal does not distribute heat evenly. An option for this outdoor cookware is to purchase a set that has the outside aluminum bottom which will distribute heat more evenly.
Backpackers mostly use sets of cookware that are light weight and pack inside of each other. This way the only space that is taken up is the size of the largest pot. However, some canister stoves pack inside of a pot and the lid serves as a frying pan, so there is no need for additional cookware. The car camper and family camper have more options when selecting outdoor cookware. These type campers can purchase individual pieces to fit their specific needs or purchase different size sets that will fit the needs from small family's to large groups.
Article by Larry West
About the Author
My wife and I started camping four years ago. It started when our neighbors invited us to the Keys for a weekend getaway. We knew right away that camping would become part of our lives and that camping is one of the best ways to enjoy the great outdoors. The best part of camping for us, is cooking on an outdoor camping stove and eating at the picnic table. Besides this, what better way to meet new and exciting people than by way of camping.
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Aluminum Dutch Oven
If you've been cooking over a campfire or on a camp stove for a while, you've probably heard of (and perhaps have first-hand knowledge of) the superiority of cast iron. Cast iron heats evenly and holds heat very well, making it a superior cooking material in the Dutch oven department. Because you can cook at low temperatures and because it holds heat so well, it's a lot more forgiving for things like cooking over a campfire or even on a camp stove. What about the aluminum Dutch oven, though? Is this as good as a cast-iron Dutch oven?
Pros and cons
While the cast-iron Dutch oven is a superior cooking device, it's also about three times heavier than the aluminum Dutch oven. Although this may not be much of a problem for short hikes (or if you're not backpacking), that consideration goes out the window if you are hiking for long distances. In that case, an aluminum Dutch oven beats cast-iron because it's so much lighter, and will do the job just fine.
Cooking with an aluminum Dutch oven versus cast-iron
If you haven't cooked with an aluminum Dutch oven before, give yourself some practice before you take it out on the trail. Aluminum is much, much less forgiving when it comes to cooking, because it doesn't transfer heat as well and doesn't hold it as well, either. Therefore, the aluminum Dutch oven is much more "finicky," and is going to require a lot more finesse than a cast-iron Dutch oven will. Give yourself some time to learn how to cook with an aluminum Dutch of before you try cooking with it out in the boonies.
What about aluminum in your diet?
You may be one of those people who avoids cooking with anything aluminum-based, simply because radical science has found aluminum deposits in the brains of Alzheimer's patients; as the thinking goes, aluminum in the diet may contribute to or even cause these aluminum deposits and therefore may be a factor in whether or not you develop Alzheimer's disease.
In truth, whether or not those aluminum deposits come from aluminum cookware is debatable, although it may be a good idea to avoid it whenever you can. In this case, it's generally true that taking a "moderate" attitude is key. You may not be able to entirely avoid using aluminum cookware on the trail, for example, but you can certainly use cast-iron and other generally more acceptable materials in your cookware off the trail. But the bottom line is, it's up to you. You'll need to "weigh" whether or not the weight of cast iron (and its fragility relative to aluminum) is doable, or whether you can put up with an aluminum Dutch oven and other cooking devices for the short term.
Doing both?
You can also decide to buy an aluminum Dutch oven specifically for backpacking, and then choose cast-iron cookware for more moderate camping trips, like those taken at established campgrounds. If you have to carry a Dutch oven with you everywhere you go, chances are you'll consider the aluminum Dutch oven superior no matter its shortcomings. At the same time, if most of your camping is done in environments where you can transport most gear by car, they cast-iron Dutch oven is probably a better choice versus the aluminum. Use both and choose the best Dutch oven material for each particular situation, and you'll come out ahead in the long run.
About the Author
Welcome to Quality Dutch Ovens, inside you will discover an amazing selection of low priced and excellent quality aluminum dutch ovens.
Tags: backpacking, backpacking cookware, backpacking cookware guide, backpacking cookware reviews, backpacking cookware set, backpacking cookware titanium, camping, cooking, food, gear
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