I have been looking for a fry pan, the perfect fry pan. It doesn't appear that what I want exists.
What I'm looking for is basically a smaller version of the square aluminum one piragis sells. There are lots of square aluminum fry pans out there but most have the grill ridges in the bottom.

What's your favorite pan?

My favorite is the one Piragis sales. I like it so much I called the owner and ordered a 2nd one without the handle for doing Dutch oven or bigger meals. Didn't need two handles, and it saved some money.
I wish they would have made the griddle the same size as the frying pan, this would have worked perfect as a cover.

A 10" or 12" cast iron fry pan. Works great on a campfire or a box style Coleman stove. So many people hate these because of the weight. The benefits outweigh any negatives. Easy cleaning, even heat distribution, holds the heat longer, cooks foods better all for a extra pound of weight. You can buy these just about any thrift store, because everyone wants teflon pans.

Yes, I wish they would make that piragis pan smaller, and with a cover!

I have a square aluminum pan that is about 15", I used it daily when I was guiding for a living but it's a bit large for most trips I do now.

It's funny watching someone pick it up. They are bracing for extreme weight and are surprised by how light it really is! You'd Never guess it's aluminum looking at it since it's entirely stained black. I love it, it's just too big!

I did some research and ended up purchasing a Fry-Bake Pan. Have used it a few times, but can't give a full review as of yet. Perhaps someone else uses these also and could chime in with info. Light weight, fairly large aluminum pan without a handle. Either purchase their pliers style pot gripper or utilize one you already have. I like it so far.

I've had a couple wonderings about the packing of a fry pan.

Does anyone pack it into their barrel or somewhere else?

If in a barrel, how small must it be to fit through the opening of a 60 liter?

The 10" GSI Hard Anodized Aluminum Dutch Oven might do. Fry, stew, bake. It is 3 lb 11 oz.

quote billconner: "The 10" GSI Hard Anodized Aluminum Dutch Oven might do. Fry, stew, bake. It is 3 lb 11 oz.


"

I own one of these and love it.

I borrowed a Guch Russ fry pan from my wife and she never got it back. You need to come up with a lid( on the 8 inch a Revere lid fits perfectly.) The long wooden handle unscrews easily for easy canoe country transport. Thick die cast aluminum is great for fish fries and baking or bannock. E-bay Guch Ross pan selection

A complete piece-of-crap aluminum pan with a brown exterior, an inferior teflon coating and a plastic (!) handle, that I bought at Goodwill for maybe $1.

Have used it for 16 years now. Handle shows some scorching, teflon coating is compromised, pan is black. Screw holding on handle needs tightening once every 5 years.

Best frypan ever. Have used it for everything including shoveling sand, beating horse flies, as a pack reinforcement so sharp objects are contained, and as a tent anchor when buried in muck or sand--the handle has a hole in its end...bury the pan end, and voila--and even as a makeshift hat to keep rain off...was out, got caught in a shower with no rain gear, slipped the pan into a mesh gear bag with the handle poking out toward the back, slipped the mesh bag over my head and cinched the cord around my neck. Perfect! Looked very intelligent, too.

It's actually a thin pan but that's good, because it can be bashed back into perfectly flat shape if it gets biffed.

Love it! Maybe it's a Wear Ever, or something equally ridiculous.

quote mschi772: "I've had a couple wonderings about the packing of a fry pan.


Does anyone pack it into their barrel or somewhere else?


If in a barrel, how small must it be to fit through the opening of a 60 liter?"

I've got this 12" pan and it fits perfectly at the top of the barrel. I sewed a pouch for it so other items don't get dirty from the soot on the outside of the pan. It's cheap and I've had it for close to 10 years. Great for frying fish or any other cooking over the fire or stove.


Frying Pan

quote billconner: "The 10" GSI Hard Anodized Aluminum Dutch Oven might do. Fry, stew, bake. It is 3 lb 11 oz.


"

This is as close as I know of of what your looking for. I like martens idea a lot.

We started out waaaay bigger, however, our current frying pan is the 8" MSR. This pan is fine for 2 people, nest with MSR LW pot set, weighs 7 oz., fries fish, pancakes, etc. We have larger heavier pans we have taken in the past but, for us it's overkill and not worth the extra pack weight. So many variables here it's a very individualist choice.

And the search goes on for the "Holy Grail" of fry pans. Used lots of different shapes, sizes, materials, none have ever been "just right". I WILL find mine, one day at a garage sale or thrift store etc, and the sky will shine and the angels will sing and walleyes will jump straight out of the lake already filleted and battered into it, and it will be good. Then I will rest.
CB

Let us know what you find.

Well, my favorite is the 9" GSI. Probably will last as long as me, but not what the OP was asking for.

quote Bumstead: "I did some research and ended up purchasing a Fry-Bake Pan. Have used it a few times, but can't give a full review as of yet. Perhaps someone else uses these also and could chime in with info. Light weight, fairly large aluminum pan without a handle. Either purchase their pliers style pot gripper or utilize one you already have. I like it so far."

+1! I have both the large and small with lids.....use them as fry pans and Dutch ovens.....lightweight and indestructible! If we are doing a travel trip (vs. basecamp) with a lot of portages, we leave the cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens home and use the fry bake pans......

Mike

quote Moss Tent: "A complete piece-of-crap aluminum pan with a brown exterior, an inferior teflon coating and a plastic (!) handle, that I bought at Goodwill for maybe $1.


Have used it for 16 years now. Handle shows some scorching, teflon coating is compromised, pan is black. Screw holding on handle needs tightening once every 5 years.


Best frypan ever. Have used it for everything including shoveling sand, beating horse flies, as a pack reinforcement so sharp objects are contained, and as a tent anchor when buried in muck or sand--the handle has a hole in its end...bury the pan end, and voila--and even as a makeshift hat to keep rain off...was out, got caught in a shower with no rain gear, slipped the pan into a mesh gear bag with the handle poking out toward the back, slipped the mesh bag over my head and cinched the cord around my neck. Perfect! Looked very intelligent, too.


It's actually a thin pan but that's good, because it can be bashed back into perfectly flat shape if it gets biffed.


Love it! Maybe it's a Wear Ever, or something equally ridiculous."

Yep. Haven't used mine as a hat, but mine was cheap too.

Stopped at shopco today, they had t-fal cookwear on sale for 40% off, picked up a 10" pan for $14, not exactly what I've been looking for but it will fill a need.
I took the handle off and will make a replacement. Needs a lid so I may make one of those too.

Well it got a new handle today. I kinda like my new pan so far!

quote BnD: "We started out waaaay bigger, however, our current frying pan is the 8" MSR. This pan is fine for 2 people, nest with MSR LW pot set, weighs 7 oz., fries fish, pancakes, etc. We have larger heavier pans we have taken in the past but, for us it's overkill and not worth the extra pack weight. So many variables here it's a very individualist choice."

I was looking for a MSR blacklite replacement and got the newer version MSR 8 inch. I think I'm going to like it.

quote Lotw: "
Well it got a new handle today. I kinda like my new pan so far!"

how does the teflon coating hold up to an open fire?

Peter!!!!

Pan worked great this weekend but just as expected the handle
Got extremely hot. I will be making one from phenolic.

cast iron is one of my favorites
I have a 10" that gets used for groups and I have a 4" and 6" that I use for solo trips. A true multi tasker

Love our Woody Dutch Oven from Piragis. 7 lbs. is light for a dutch oven and both sides make a great fryer.

Woody's Dutch Oven

Something like this might be useful:

10 inch aluminum fry pan