I realize this topic has been discussed at length on here. I'm interested in a frying pan for a group of 4 or more. I want to cook on fire/grill grate along with being able to use the pan on my dragonfly in case of bad weather. Ive looked into the BWJ 12 inch frying pan. Its a little heavy at around 3 pounds and idk if it's big enough. I found this cast aluminum skillet on Amazon. It weighs 2 pounds 7 oz. I would somehow cut the handle off to make it more portable and to save weight.

Thoughts? 12 inch cast aluminum skillet

I have never used cast aluminum. How easy is it to clean?

Thanks

I really like the BWJ pan, I just got it so I haven't used it yet. I really like the ability to remove the handle.

The Dragonfly has a pot support diameter over 7 inches. I have often used my 10 inch plain aluminum GSI Dutch Oven on it, the DO weighs 3lb 8oz with lid.
With a bit of care a 12 inch will work fine. I'm a gear tweaker and would not hesitate cutting both handles off and grinding the nubs smooth to the pan. Use a regular pot gripper or 2 for a handle.
The pan you linked is no-stick ceramic coated, should clead easily. Even my al. DO is easy to clean, nice thig about no coating is I can always get home and wire brush/grind the pot clean.

butthead

Best way to clean that aluminum it is with just environmentally friendly soap?

I have gloves with so I dont need the handle on the pan and it will be easier to pack and weigh less. I can put plates, cookware can nest in the pan is the theory at least.

I have a aluminum do as well we have brought on previous trips but we do more frying than cooking. Fish, steak, chicken etc. I realize the d.o. can cook everything but for our needs for a lot of trips a bigger pan will work.

When handling a pan with gloves rather than a handle, watch out for areas of the glove that get a lot of grease build-up over time. Not only does it totally eliminate the insulating properties but it also enhances the nasty finger-burning experience. Been there.

For the price, and for just a few extra ounces, you are much better off with the BWJ square cast aluminum fry pan. It has more surface area, holds more, and I find it is much easier to scoop up the food with a spatula. I've been using one for 30 years and wouldn't take a canoe trip without it. Season it and treat it just like you would cast iron.

"_blank"> BWJ fry pan

quote CanoeKev: "For the price, and for just a few extra ounces, you are much better off with the BWJ square cast aluminum fry pan. It has more surface area, holds more, and I find it is much easier to scoop up the food with a spatula. I've been using one for 30 years and wouldn't take a canoe trip without it. Season it and treat it just like you would cast iron.


"_blank"> BWJ fry pan "

What is the benefit of this over the pan I linked? I realize ppl love the bwj pan, but idk if its big enough to cook full meals for 4 ppl at once. The bwj pan is 2 inches tall, the one i linked is 2.4 inches so roughly the same height. And the bwj pan is almost 1.5 pounds heavier.

I am just curious to your reasoning. I have read nothing but great reviews on the bwj pan but like I said, idk if its big enough to cook for a group. I would love to bring my cast iron skillet but at 6lbs its a no go bc we arent base-camping.

I think the problem is that the BWJ fry pan is popular and commonly used by forum members, but nobody here has any experience with the Little Griddle that you linked to. I do know that the BWJ fry pan is made in northern Minnesota and the Little Griddle is made in China, for what it's worth.

I agree there must be a reason everyone on this site loves the bwj fry pan. Does the GSI 10 inch dutch oven allow you to use the top as a fry pan if you flip it upside down?

Also can you use the top upside down on a dragonfly?

It is the same weight as a bjw fry pan so I am torn between the two.

The temp rating of the pan you link to is only 525°. You can get spots that hot using a Dragonfly real fast. One chip or scrape in that coating and it will start to snowball and you will have a $50 anchor. That pan looks fairly thin as well. Go with the proven and highly recommended. A ceramic coating isn't going to take the beating in a pack, or in camp, well at all. Drop it and it's likely over. You could probably drop the BWJ pan off a roof and it won't hurt it. I don't have a BWJ pan, but I am a chef with over 30 years of experience.

quote Birdknowsbest: "Does the GSI 10 inch dutch oven allow you to use the top as a fry pan if you flip it upside down?
Also can you use the top upside down on a dragonfly? "

No, the GSI DO lids lift handle interferes with the Dragonfly burner bell. You'd need to raise it a bit off the pot stands.

butthead

BWJ pan gets my vote for all reasons listed above. The extra weight may well pay off (as well as no coating) especially "over the coals". I'm just more confident it will LAST. My gut feeling.

quote butthead: "

quote Birdknowsbest: "Does the GSI 10 inch dutch oven allow you to use the top as a fry pan if you flip it upside down?
Also can you use the top upside down on a dragonfly? "

No, the GSI DO lids lift handle interferes with the Dragonfly burner bell. You'd need to raise it a bit off the pot stands.



butthead"

thank you. I was hoping i could fry on it

I bought one of the BWJ pans a few years ago and still like it better than anything I've ever used, except cast iron. I use mine at home about 4 times a week so it stays well seasoned. To clean it I simply put some water in it, set back on the campfire and boil the heck out of it, put the pot scrubber in the water and work it around with the spatula, dump the boiling water out the but some clean water in and bring that to a boil, swish it around and dump, ready for the next meal. I don't use the handle that came with the pan because the first time I tried to dump the pan the handle slid from the center to the edge and I nearly dropped a pan of boiling water on my leg, I bought a gripper pot handler from [I think] Prigasis and it works much better and saver, my son preferes a midsized ViceGrips, which works well just don't leave them clamped on while your cooking. FRED

Been doing a little browsing lately and found a couple more options not mentioned. No experience with either brand . Just a possibility.. One is cheap. The other pricey. search IMUSA Dutch oven (knob could be replaced with a SS eyebolt) . OR a Banks Expedition Fry Bake Pan.

quote Birdknowsbest: "

quote CanoeKev: "For the price, and for just a few extra ounces, you are much better off with the BWJ square cast aluminum fry pan. It has more surface area, holds more, and I find it is much easier to scoop up the food with a spatula. I've been using one for 30 years and wouldn't take a canoe trip without it. Season it and treat it just like you would cast iron.



"_blank"> BWJ fry pan "

What is the benefit of this over the pan I linked? I realize ppl love the bwj pan, but idk if its big enough to cook full meals for 4 ppl at once. The bwj pan is 2 inches tall, the one i linked is 2.4 inches so roughly the same height. And the bwj pan is almost 1.5 pounds heavier.


I am just curious to your reasoning. I have read nothing but great reviews on the bwj pan but like I said, idk if its big enough to cook for a group. I would love to bring my cast iron skillet but at 6lbs its a no go bc we arent base-camping. "

One benefit is that a 12' square pan has more usable surface area than a 12" round pan. that also accounts for the extra weight.

I get the appeal of foods coming off of these heavier material pans and their high sides, but I just think that their main advantage is deep frying in lots of oil. For us, those recipes can be saved for trips on which we're not carrying everything such distances.

Of course, it's not a 1-burner stove option, but at 1 lb 12.7 oz, Coghlan's 16.5 x 10 Non-Stick Camp Griddle has served our groups of 8-9 quite well for many years over the fire: ribeye, bacon, eggs over easy, chicken breasts, pancakes, walleye, French toast...
$17.20 on Amazon today.

Thanks. I am just trying to figure out if the bwj fry pan is worth the weight. We will have a small fry pan as part of my cooks set but not big enough for 4 ppl.

As mentioned the Fry bake looks like a great contender. I really like that its only 19 oz and you can get a top for it and use it like a mini d.o.

Anyone else here have experiences with this pan? I did a search on the forum and only found one person who had used the 8 inch for a solo mission. It seems its just what I am looking for.

10.5 inch fry bake pan