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cyclones30
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02/09/2019 12:31PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Now that we've taken a few trips post-college, we're slowly upgrading gear. I'm pretty happy with where we are in general but there's always something here or there I wonder.

Today's debate....what you all like to cook fish or anything else in that doesn't work well in a pot. We've always taken a cheap foldable handle non-stick pan because that's what we already had leftover from my dad or who knows where I got it. Similar to the one in the picture. It's light, cooks fish and other stuff on stove (or less often fire) just fine.


Should I be looking to upgrade? I love cast iron for car camping or at home...but I can't bring myself to put it on my back in a pack multiple times a day. Cast aluminum? I'd say a majority of the time we're using the current pan, it's on a single burner stove, but we have done whole lake trout and other things over fire. (which is why rubber coating on the handle is gone)
 
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OCDave
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02/09/2019 12:44PM  
My most used and best valued is my 12 cm IMUSA cup. Less than $5 and infinitely useful.

My most cherished and versitile are my Frybake pans. I prefer my Alpine Deep for Groups of 3 or less. My Expidition is only for large groups.
 
02/09/2019 12:45PM  
I worried about the weight of cast iron also. But a couple years ago, I made the switch. And now I am ready to move from 10" to 12". Man-up and carry the weight.
 
cyclones30
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02/09/2019 12:49PM  
bobbernumber3: "I worried about the weight of cast iron also. But a couple years ago, I made the switch. And now I am ready to move from 10" to 12". Man-up and carry the weight."


I think if we did more of a basecamp, cook a lot of complicated things, etc I'd be all for it. But we like to single portage and get some miles on travel days...plus it seems to me it would take a bunch of fuel just to get a big cast iron pan up to temp on a stove.

Now that I think of it more, we tend to use our pots a fair amount either for boiling water for dehydrated meals or making things in there like pasta, soup, etc. We really only use the pan for cooking fish and............................................not sure what else at the moment?
 
02/09/2019 01:24PM  
We use a pan similar to your picture for biscuits and scrambled eggs. To fry fish we use a pan from the cook kit that has straight sides and is about 2 inches deep. We use a 4 inch high pot to boil water and / or cook my home dehydrated meals.
 
02/09/2019 01:24PM  
I use the same one you do with the folding handle...mine's a total beater and is used primarily for fish. It's light and does the job, so I am not changing...like you I want to go light and cover some ground.

Cast iron? Maybe basecamping. Otherwise, no way.
 
wvevans
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02/09/2019 10:06PM  
I really love my Fry-Bake . I am glad i spent the couple extra dollars. Multi use and easy to clean. I cant find a better pan.
 
cyclones30
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02/09/2019 10:24PM  
wvevans: "I really love my Fry-Bake . I am glad i spent the couple extra dollars. Multi use and easy to clean. I cant find a better pan.
"


Interesting, I just looked them up. Looks pretty cool, you have the lid to turn it into an oven? We've never taken biscuit mix or anything, but we do pancakes in our current pan in the picture. (adds food to the list of cooked in the pan)

They're cast aluminum? Spun is what it says on the site...
 
HayRiverDrifter
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02/09/2019 10:57PM  
How is the Fry-Bake pan for making over easy eggs? Do they stick?
 
straighthairedcurly
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02/09/2019 11:32PM  
OCDave: "My most used and best valued is my 12 cm IMUSA cup. Less than $5 and infinitely useful.

My most cherished and versitile are my Frybake pans. I prefer my Alpine Deep for Groups of 3 or less. My Expidition is only for large groups."



Thanks for the recommendation. I have been trying to find a simple fry pan that has a lid for top fire baking. This looks like it is worth the money. I hate my cheap flip handle "non-stick" fry pan.
 
wvevans
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02/09/2019 11:53PM  
cyclones30: "
wvevans: "I really love my Fry-Bake . I am glad i spent the couple extra dollars. Multi use and easy to clean. I cant find a better pan.
"



Interesting, I just looked them up. Looks pretty cool, you have the lid to turn it into an oven? We've never taken biscuit mix or anything, but we do pancakes in our current pan in the picture. (adds food to the list of cooked in the pan)


They're cast aluminum? Spun is what it says on the site..."


Thats right. Very lite. And the baking possibilities are endless. My kids loved making pizzas when they younger. I bought a blemished pan to save some money.
 
Rs130754
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02/10/2019 08:55AM  
HayRiverDrifter: "How is the Fry-Bake pan for making over easy eggs? Do they stick?"


On my first trip ever I used ova easy and re-hydrated hash browns and sausage to make a breakfast bake. I used tent stakes and a small fire underneath and a twiggy fire on the top. I didn't have any sticking that I couldn't scrub out quickly. I did add a dollop of leaf lard that I had made during the winter though so that helped keep everything from sticking.

I am glad I ponied up for the Fry Bake. I bought the seconds and could not see anything wrong with them. I went with a deep alpine and expedition. I brought both for our first two man trip and we only ended up using the alpine. Doing it again I would just get the deep alpine since I have yet to use the larger expedition.
 
02/10/2019 09:22AM  
I've brought the cast aluminum pan from the Boundary Waters Journal for group trips. It works similar to cast iron without the weight. I would recommend.

Cast Aluminum 12X12 pan

I bought this one a couple years ago for my solo trips.
MSR Alpine Fry Pan

I love this one. It's stainless steel with a cast aluminum bottom. I seasoned it like they say and nothing will stick to it and it's hard to burn things. Here's a review that I copied. I feel the same. "I've had this in my pack for 20+ years and it never disappoints. Excellent heat distribution, and cleans up amazingly well for a pan without non-stick coating. The removable handle is great for packing but is very secure and tight fitting when in use. Absolutely love it."
 
02/10/2019 10:02AM  
I have collected quit a bunch of cooking gear over the years, from the boundary waters 12 x12 fry skillet , to a assortment of cast iron, and everything in between. What seems to be the best is a old blue speckled enamel skillet that is probably 40 years old. I think it came from a garage sale. I think I paid 2 bucks for it. For some reason it cooks fish and potatoes “perfectly “.
 
MidwestFirecraft
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02/10/2019 12:17PM  
If you use enough oil the Heavy cover titanium fry pan works well. 6.2 ounces, 8 inch diameter.
 
Ohiopikeman
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02/10/2019 12:32PM  
I'm a huge fan of the Boundary Waters Journal cast aluminum fry pan. If you are going to be frying fish, this pan is perfect for the job. It will cost you a couple of extra pounds in your pack, but it will be some of the best additional weight you could possibly carry.

If you are not frying fish on your trip, go for one of the nice lightweight round pans like the MSR stainless steel version.

Dave
 
Savage Voyageur
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02/10/2019 05:43PM  
We base camp so weight is not a problem. 12” cast iron pan is my go to pan.
 
02/11/2019 06:25AM  
A good anodized pan works good and somewhat non stick. I never had as good of luck with cast aluminum vs cast iron. I cook on cast iron every day. Coated non stick I didn’t use over the fire. The bwj frypan is what I would use for a big group and just figure it out. Cast iron well seasoned works great, so I think I never gave my cast aluminum a chance to get seasoned enough. I bought an eight inch msr pan that works real good for my solo or two guy kit.
 
BuckFlicks
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02/11/2019 04:40PM  
The folding handle non-stick pan you have is very similar to the one I have, if not the same one. It's worked fine for near 20 years. We don't do a lot of cooking outside of boiling water, though - so it's had very light use. Occasional frozen meatballs, usually some hot dogs, maybe burgers, and then some foil chicken packs and taco seasoning for chicken tacos (was very good.) If I was more adventurous in terms of cooking in the outdoors, I'd probably look in to something a little more versatile.
 
02/11/2019 05:02PM  
I bought & brought a Lodge 10.5" CI pan for last year's BWCA trip w/my kids and while we never caught any fish to fry in it the pan worked great for keeping the hash browns contained while pancakes were cooked on the griddle. If you like to cook on the fire for some of the time I'd say it's worth overlooking the weight.
Prior to that I used the frying pan lid from my GSI cook it, but it's pretty much limited to use on a camp stove.

Older cast iron is a little thinner & lighter weight, if you have access to any. Personally, I'd go with the heavier modern iron for camping and save the collectible pieces for home use.
 
Deanrs
Guest Paddler
  
02/12/2019 06:46AM  
If you like cast iron but not the weight, check out carbon steel pans. Many of the benefits of cast iron but much less weight. Three good options below including Lodge.

https://kitchenettejen.com/best-carbon-steel-pans/
 
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