Trying to lighten the cookware

So I've realized I need to lighten the cookware, .....way to much cast iron.
What do you folks take that gets the job done, yet don't take two men and a boy to load and unload.
I'm thinking more tinware and less cast iron but what tinware?

Sticks for cooking meat is light. Simple meals that can be cooked in one pot.

A squirrel cooker is an awfully handy item to have in the box that cooks a variety of items on it. Corn boilers are handy and light too.

Also if it just me, I can cook most meals on a rolled steel folding handle skillet that's way lighter than a cast iron skillet.

Having a chuck box that I made to keep all my cooking stuff together and organized was also a great idea.

Two men and a boy? That's at least 3 items if cookware

Thanks for the responses. I'm gonna follow your advice and start reducing the weight of the cookware ASAP.

Moleman said:

Thanks for the responses. I'm gonna follow your advice and start reducing the weight of the cookware ASAP.

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You need to tell us what you want to cook!

Big difference between a lone fellow who treks with the smallest Potje and has decided (rightfully so) that this is too much iron...



And the guy who is cooking and baking and for several folks, eh? Two men and a boy can unload a LOT of stuff. but that doesn't mean there are not more than three mouths to feed.

You need, Copper and Tin, and perhaps a French, Steel skillet

You want a "pouring pot"". You can find these at Westminster Forge, and other places. They look like a pot with a spout BUT they have an internal half-wall that allows the pot to serve as a strainer, so you can boil potatoes, turnips, carrots, broccoli, any chunky veggie, and one man can handle pouring off the water. They also sever as a cookpot or as an excellent coffee pot..., or hot water kettle if folks want hot water for tea, cocoa, instant oatmeal (hey kids don't always put up with authentic) or rinsing dishes.



You want a second, standard pot. Round with a lid. Tin or copper is fine. For boiling noodles, rice, stew, etc.



Between the two pots, within them you store your dish towels, dish soap, hot pot pads, small and large kitchen knife, stone for the knives, cooking spoon, measuring cup, measuring spoons if you need them, scrubbing pad, matches and fire starters, candles, and..., an old pair of channel lock pliers.... these become one of your best tools for grabbing onto anything that has a bale that has fallen over, or lifting a lid.

.

You get a good grill NOT a tripod. You can broil on a grate, you can roast on it, you can adjust the fire, high heat under one end, low simmer under the other, etc. I put the grill on the bottom of the kitchen box, I put the cutting board on top of the grill, then the pots on that. then I build a box to fit it all.

You will want a Carbon Steel skillet about 11" size , and you want a second about 9.5" . Check around for a restaurant supply store, but you want something like this:



The problem is that if you can't go to a restaurant supply store they tend to double the price with shipping. Carbon steel is the least expensive, and heats up quickly. Some folks take off the handles as they get in the way of packing, but leave a small bit attached to the rivets. Those pliers will work to handle the skillet(s). Allows for coving one skillet with another that is overturned, to bake biscuits...

AVOID things like these. IMHO the ears for the bales are much too large to use this as a large coffee mug, and there is no spout to aid your pouring.



Lastly, keep your eyes peeled for a pair of brass buckets in antique shops. These you keep filled for fire buckets as most sites require, and they work at night after the meal for the soapy water and rinse water containers when washing dishes. You get metal buckets such as brass because they may be used to heat water if you need it when something like a wooden or canvas bucket cannot be used.

LD

Dave those are great examples. I usually go to events by myself so I don't require a whole lot for cooking.
I'm finding that as I get older the cast iron is getting heavier and cutting down on my weight and unused items that I take will make things lighter and more enjoyable.
Being retired from a regular 40 hour job means less camp work as well.... if possible .
Thanks everyone.

Mine
Small kit, it’s still too much,
I’m afraid to attemp baking in soudered pot, but you can make a lot of meals without baking

While not historically correct an old Boy Scout mess kit has a frying pan, plate, small pot with lid and drinking cup. Made of aluminium its light and doesn't take up much space.

'morning,

Whitworth's comment made me think. While it's ACW period, so probably not historically correct for many on here, the mess kit used by the USSS is a fantastic set up. Essentially a larger boiler, a smaller boiler/cup and a small fry pan.

I modified the handle that hooks in, and added a wooden extension, to keep my hands a little farther from the fire. When packed up, it fits the handle, a wooden spoon, rag & pot holder and still has space for supplies. Mine is from The Dixie Tinsmith and he based it on originals.

Mike

What you take depends, of course, on your method of travel.
Myself, when going on foot, as on the Appalachian Trail, I only took one tin pot (the same as the 3rd one pictured by Loyalist Dave, above). Inside that pot I carried a tin cup and a short wooden spoon. I either set the pot on a rock over the coals of my fire, or I hung it over the fire with a green stick. Meat and fish, if it didn't go in the pot, I would skewer it with a stick and broil it over the fire. Besides the spoon, I usually ate with my knife. No fork.

I used to do quite a lot of canoe trips. Since my supplies were in the canoe and not on my back all day, I could take more luxury items. Even then, however, I still had the portages to contend with. The longest portage I remember doing, up in Canada, was about 3 miles. The portage trail was muddy and there were a lot of downed trees that I had to climb over. It took me all day to get my canoe and gear over that one, and it completely wore me out.

If you're traveling by wagon or buggy (pickup or car), then you can usually take anything that you want.

Calum said:

'morning,

Whitworth's comment made me think. While it's ACW period, so probably not historically correct for many on here, the mess kit used by the USSS is a fantastic set up. Essentially a larger boiler, a smaller boiler/cup and a small fry pan.

I modified the handle that hooks in, and added a wooden extension, to keep my hands a little farther from the fire. When packed up, it fits the handle, a wooden spoon, rag & pot holder and still has space for supplies. Mine is from The Dixie Tinsmith and he based it on originals.

Mike

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Hi Calum. Hate to be dumb but what's the USSS?

I have a ton of camp cooking implements.
Say your at a good size vous. Bring your coffee pot,boiler, small fry pan and a big cup and spoon.
Some meats and veggies.
If you visit camps like I do people always make to much food. They will offer you a meal or bowl of stew.
If a few camps get together a large lot of stone soup goes a long way for many.

Coffee pot & jerky keeps my camp pretty simple.

Colin Fletcher was a well known backpacker and he did LONG hikes. He was very concerned with weight and would even file down the handle of a toothbrush to make it lighter. His book "The Complete Walker" is likely still in your local library and is still available for purchase. Read about his kitchen.

Whitworth said:

Hi Calum. Hate to be dumb but what's the USSS?

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Most likely a typo USSR, the mess kit he shows is of soviet design.

SOLANCO said:

Colin Fletcher was a well known backpacker and he did LONG hikes. He was very concerned with weight and would even file down the handle of a toothbrush to make it lighter. His book "The Complete Walker" is likely still in your local library and is still available for purchase. Read about his kitchen.

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I think I read in one of his books that he removed the little paper tag from tea bag strings.

Whitworth said:

While not historically correct an old Boy Scout mess kit has a frying pan, plate, small pot with lid and drinking cup. Made of aluminium its light and doesn't take up much space.

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Yes sir!. that little kit is all I've used for years It fits together to make a small package. Easy to clean in the creek and has all the basics. I've found those tiny paper packets of salt like you get at fast food places can mean a lot for many dishes. A little cooking oil in a small bottle comes in handy when using the frying pan.

Moleman said:

Dave those are great examples. I usually go to events by myself so I don't require a whole lot for cooking.
I'm finding that as I get older the cast iron is getting heavier and cutting down on my weight and unused items that I take will make things lighter and more enjoyable.
Being retired from a regular 40 hour job means less camp work as well.... if possible .
Thanks everyone.

Click to expand...

I agree. I am a minimalist. I keep track of things I don't use or that I can do without. I then reduce it from my carry gear. I am 70 years old and the durn stuff keeps getting heavier.

tenngun said:

Mine
Small kit, it’s still too much,
I’m afraid to attemp baking in soudered pot, but you can make a lot of meals without baking

Click to expand...

I dig the look of soldered copper ware, but am leery melting solder or tin while I burn my dinner. An un-tinned spun brass or copper kettle would let you fry or bake with some sort of lid, but I will say that verdigris is real, and I have a couple pots that may have to take sand paper too.
If I realy wanted to make biscuits on the trail, I'd find a combination of small sheet iron metal or baking pans that would fit together as a mini "dutch oven"