Traditional Muzzleloading Association

The Center of Camp => Camping Gear and Campfire Cooking => Topic started by: 45.70 on November 18, 2016, 09:39:48 PM

Title: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: 45.70 on November 18, 2016, 09:39:48 PM
Hello all,

I know this is going to be a personal opinion and it will depend on event, i.e. hiking or at a rendezvous.  But, out of curiosity, what is your favorite cookware, while out in the woods?  I like cooking with cast iron on a fire, but I don't like toting it too far. So I reserve the cast iron for camping with transportation close at hand.  I'm still working on a tinware set for hiking and have discovered a couple things.  It seems I started out with a boiler and skillet that's too small.  They pack well, but a little bigger would be nice.  Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to buy some more tin ware, but what is your favorite size or type for hiking.

Thanks, Garry
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Bigsmoke on November 18, 2016, 10:40:45 PM
Long time ago, I started out with blue speckle ware (plates, coffee pot, quart pot) and cast iron (fry pan, Dutch oven, etc.).
Over time, I got rid of the speckle ware and only take Dutch oven to drive in events.
What I rely on now are smaller steel fry pans, a copper coffee pot and a copper corn cooker.  I do have a big brass hearth oven but seldom take it, as it is a bit bulky.  Of course, I also have a pretty nice set of fire irons that has been with me for many a year.  Most all of the cooking utensils are blacksmith made - spatula, fork, pokers, etc.  Also have picked up over the years some steel round plates and antique bone/horn/wood handled knives, forks and spoons.  Horn salt and pepper shakers, etc.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: amm1851 on November 19, 2016, 12:03:23 AM
I have a tin pot and a cup that fits inside of it. Between those and a sharp stick, I can get most of my camp cooking done. As anybody who knows me will attest, I am a terrible cook, but I do make a mean cup of coffee.
My AMM sponsor bought me a folding frying pan when we were at AMM nationals in Colorado in 2001 (I think), but I have never actually used it (see above confession -  not much of a cook).
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Bigsmoke on November 19, 2016, 10:55:05 AM
Quote from: "amm1851"
I have a tin pot and a cup that fits inside of it. Between those and a sharp stick, I can get most of my camp cooking done. As anybody who knows me will attest, I am a terrible cook, but I do make a mean cup of coffee.
My AMM sponsor bought me a folding frying pan when we were at AMM nationals in Colorado in 2001 (I think), but I have never actually used it (see above confession -  not much of a cook).

Sounds like your favorite piece of cookware should probably just be a big tin cup.  And a woebegone expression on your face.

To go from camp to camp explaining what a miserable cook you are.

You'll eat just fine.   :rotf
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: amm1851 on November 19, 2016, 11:36:46 AM
:lol sign
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: ridjrunr on November 19, 2016, 03:09:01 PM
For hiking, my little boiler and skwerl cooker,for porky voo a dutch oven if the stay is long enough like three day min.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: 45.70 on November 20, 2016, 07:55:28 PM
Well, I see a general pattern that at a rondy the dutch oven is the king and hiking is a corn boiler and stick or skwerl cooker.  I think mostly for me it's the corn boiler, second is the skwerl cooker and I carry a folding skillet too, but really only use it for frying potatoes mostly.  Maybe some bacon if I pack it.  I still need to get a coffee maker for hiking,  I've been using my corn boiler, put my coffee ends up being a little chewy.  

Thanks for the in put all.
Garry
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: amm1851 on November 20, 2016, 10:00:59 PM
Pour some cold water into the coffee pot after it boils and it will help settle the grounds.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: 45.70 on November 21, 2016, 08:06:38 PM
I've tried cold water trick, it helps, but I get greedy and try to drink all the coffee in the pot.  I was remembering last night, when camping I had an uncle that used to make sock coffee, (he was a widower for a long time).  Basically, he would pour the grounds into a dress sock and then drop it in the pot.  I think he came up with this ideal when he lost the percolator basket in his coffee maker and of course, use a clean sock.  Basically the sock acts as a filter, once your done drinking coffee, pull out the sock, empty the grounds, and rinse.   I may have to try this when I get home, I got a feeling this might be the new wave for making coffee.

Regards, Garry
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Fletcher on November 24, 2016, 03:27:36 PM
What most of them said above.

OBTW 45-70, havin' known a bunch of old widowers in my
time ya better check them coffee socks first    :rotf
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Hillbillytroll on November 24, 2016, 08:47:40 PM
No need for a filter for great coffee folks......just boil the whole beans. Makes great coffee, easy to pack, and no messy grounds swimming in your cup or pot.
Not only that, but when the pot gets low, simply add a bit more water and
repeat and you get a bit more milage out of the beans. :)
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: peterh on February 03, 2017, 11:06:22 PM
Love the cast iron, for cooking. Have some blue speckled plates and cups, plus a pot to heat up water in, must have tea in the morning.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: sse on February 04, 2017, 08:37:04 PM
Quote
just boil the whole beans
Never heard of this, and am curious whether the coffee will be strong enough with this method.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: sse on February 04, 2017, 08:38:35 PM
I have a squirrel cooker, never used it.  What do you do with it?
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: prairie dog on February 04, 2017, 08:53:12 PM
Most of the squirrel cookers I see have polish sausage cooking on them.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: sse on February 04, 2017, 09:36:09 PM
Quote
Most of the squirrel cookers I see have polish sausage cooking on them.

+1...I can see that.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: amm1851 on February 05, 2017, 02:49:48 AM
I grind the beans but just pour the coffee right into the water and put the kettle on the fire. Bring to a boil once, take it off the heat, then back on until it boils again. Take it off, pour in a little cold water and you're good to go. In snowshoe camp, we usually prepare the coffee before we turn in for the night. Then all you have to do is warm it up in the morning.  Saves a little time and gets you that first cup of joe a little faster,  which is nice on a cold winter morning.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Winter Hawk on February 05, 2017, 02:51:53 PM
It's not PC, but I got one of those 8" green ceramic non-stick (but not teflon) frypans when they came out a couple of years ago.  It's pretty light and clean up is a breeze.  I need to get about 4" of square tubing, cut off the handle short and rivet on the tubing.  Then whittle down a branch to fit so I don't burn my hands.  Otherwise I have a small stainless pot where the lid is a plate, a plastic cup, and a spoon & fork.  Like I said, not PC but it works for me.  Never been to a rondy although there was a time when I thought about it, but they are few & far between in S.E. Alaska...

~WH~
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Keb on February 05, 2017, 03:46:18 PM
My favorite is the ones the food purveyors use to cook for me.
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Longhunter on February 07, 2017, 06:33:02 PM
This is my trekking kit, very light weight but everything needed for cooking and eating

(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Trek_cooking.JPG)

There's a couple of squirrel cookers in this picture with actual squirrels on them. Those are deer ribs on the rack.  :*:

(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/TRR%20ribs%201.JPG)
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Winter Hawk on February 07, 2017, 11:07:40 PM
Yum, yum!

~WH~
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Longhunter on April 06, 2017, 08:48:47 AM
 Years ago on a trek with others, all I had was a tin cup and a small frying pan a small tarp for shelter and a blanket. I got by for several days but I never went so light after that.

Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: dmarsh on April 06, 2017, 08:55:58 AM
No need for a filter for great coffee folks......just boil the whole beans. Makes great coffee, easy to pack, and no messy grounds swimming in your cup or pot.
Not only that, but when the pot gets low, simply add a bit more water and
repeat and you get a bit more milage out of the beans. <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" title="Smile" />

Can you elaborate as to the strength of the coffee and how many beans do you put in compared to ground coffee?

Thanks,

Dave
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Loyalist Dave on April 06, 2017, 10:51:42 AM
At a camping only event, I have a medium sized iron pot, and a small, cast iron, domed lid pot that works as an 18th century Dutch Oven.  Plus a copper pot and a small copper tea kettle.  (The lid on the "Dutch Oven" when inverted and laid upon coals, also works for frying).

On the trail I have a small, brass, trade kettle, and a pair of soldier's mugs, called "cans" in some circles.  Into one of the cans I punched two holes near the rim, and added a wire bale.  So I can hang the brass kettle, and the bailed mug over the fire, and use the third mug for dinking.  I could just carry the two cans, but I found that the brass trade kettle also works well as a container if I'm going to mix up some "twist bread" from my rations.  I also carry a canteen, and have been known from time to time to carry a very small, steel skillet.

LD
Title: Re: What's your favorite camp cookware?
Post by: Longhunter on April 06, 2017, 10:54:38 AM
I've used green beans and roasted them in a frying pan until they were dark, then put the coffee beans in a cloth, place on a flat rock and crush them with the butt of my hawk..... Coffee, the traditional way. :bl th up