A Cast Iron Skillet Should Not Be Your Only Camping Skillet
March 31, 2011
By Gus
Cast iron skillets are great for camping, legendary even, with a history that goes back to the early pioneers, but they should not be your only camping skillet. There are some camp foods that are better cooked in a non-stick skillet.
The two best features of cast iron cookware, for camping, (other than the lure of tradition), are its durability and heat distribution properties. You can’t get much tougher than a cast iron skillet. If you are fortunate, you might be using one passed down from your parents or even grandparents, and it’s hard to find a better piece of cookware for getting even heat from the dancing flames or hot coals of campfire cooking. Every good campfire cook should have at least one in their camping cooking gear, but they should also have a non-stick skillet. It’s a rare camp cook that can dish up a batch of eggs-over-easy from a cast iron skillet.
Cast iron enthusiasts will swear that a well-seasoned cast iron skillet is just as “non-stick” as a Teflon-coated skillet, and that they can cook anything in their skillets just as easily as you can in a Teflon skillet. While both statements are true, there are a couple things to take into consideration.
First, even a novice camper has probably heard about the need to “season” cast iron cookware before it’s used. The more seasoned the skillet is the better it is to cook with, but getting a cast iron skillet to the non-stick stage takes a lot more than just one or two preparation seasonings and a few sessions over a campfire. Depending on the type of food you cook, and how often you use it, it could take two or three dozen, (or more), meals before your skillet even gets close to non-stick status. Then there is the problem that just one instance of misuse or improper cleaning could destroy that hard-earned cooking surface.
Secondly, sometimes using a cast iron skillet is a case of just using more tool than you really need. As great as they are for breakfast meats and steaks, and those fantastic 1-pot skillet camping meals, it is so much easier to use a smaller non-stick skillet to whip up some omelets or sauté a few onions.
Check your camping gear, if you don’t already have one, you should consider adding a 9” or 10” non-stick skillet to your cookware collection. Just make sure it is a thick heavy-duty one. You can see some examples of what should be in your camping cookware in the article; Campfire Cooking – The Basic Pieces You Need
.
Gus
Campingwithgus.com
Popularity: 20% [?]
The secrets to a great family camping trip
March 18, 2011
The number one secret is flexibility. It is good to make plans but the fun part about camping is adventure. All members of your family remember the camping trip for years to come.
Some of my fondest memories of childhood were family camping trips and campouts with my Boy Scout Troop. I look back to those times with fondness. I hope to instill the love of the outdoors with my young sons.
A lot of the issues families face could easily be averted if the spent more quality of time together. As I get older I realize the importance of sharing my love and respect for our earth.
Camping is a great way to build bonds and teach life’s great lessons. The world we live in is an awesome world to explore. There is not any better way to explore it than while camping.
One of the best things about camping is it is extremely affordable. You do not need any expensive gear. Of course you could spend as much money on camping gear. But if you look around your town at yard sales and second hand stores you will find just about everything you could need.
Camping is a great way to get back to the basics. When you go camping turn off your cell phones, lap tops, iPods, and all other electronics.
Let Mother Nature provide the entertainment. Do not forget the smores. Check out Family Camping Blog for great tips to make your next trip a great camping adventure.
John Gaddis
http://www.familycampingblog.info
Popularity: 19% [?]
eNews & Updates
Sign up to receive the latest breaking news, as well as all of your other favorite headlines!
Polls
Loading ...
