Camp cookware - cheap & light mini-skillet

Twin sons of different mothers. My knife exactly. Well, one of them. The first one is so good I bought another. And...:p
 
Iiiiii..likeit! :thumbup:

Since several posts mentioned wanting to be able to cook three eggs at once, that is just what I did. I washed and dried the pan, wiped the interior with a few drops of olive oil and set it on my camp cookstove on my rangetop. I used low heat (my Coleman Max Mini has good heat control, some cannisters don't) and turned my eggs with the aforementioned GSI nylon spatula (which by the way is perfectly sized for this OEW). In minutes, I had a three egg and cheese sammich for breakfast!

The annular ridged pan bottom didn't slip and slide on the stove's pot support the way slick bottomed pans do making it easy to center the pan over the burner and keep it there.

Heat transfer was fairly even on the simmer setting I used. I didn't notice hot spots on the finished eggs.

I didn't note any tendacy of the pan tipping from the handle weight as I feared I would. I simply placed the OEW skillet on the supports with the handle alligned with one of the three folding "wing" supports

I'd rate this as the best piece of cheap kit I have bought in my quest to reoutfit in the new century. YMMV depending on your stove type though.
 
Codger_64 said:
Iiiiii..likeit! :thumbup:

Since several posts mentioned wanting to be able to cook three eggs at once, that is just what I did. I washed and dried the pan, wiped the interior with a few drops of olive oil and set it on my camp cookstove on my rangetop. I used low heat (my Coleman Max Mini has good heat control, some cannisters don't) and turned my eggs with the aforementioned GSI nylon spatula (which by the way is perfectly sized for this OEW). In minutes, I had a three egg and cheese sammich for breakfast!

The annular ridged pan bottom didn't slip and slide on the stove's pot support the way slick bottomed pans do making it easy to center the pan over the burner and keep it there.

Heat transfer was fairly even on the simmer setting I used. I didn't notice hot spots on the finished eggs.

I didn't note any tendacy of the pan tipping from the handle weight as I feared I would. I simply placed the OEW skillet on the supports with the handle alligned with one of the three folding "wing" supports

I'd rate this as the best piece of cheap kit I have bought in my quest to reoutfit in the new century. YMMV depending on your stove type though.
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Well, that's it. I'm getting one for sure. Thanks for the review.
 
The other piece of gear mentioned, the GSI nylon spatula, cost about two bucks from Campmor, eight from Bass Pro. I got mine from my local Dick's Sporting goods store for about two. It weighs less than two ounces (1.4oz.).

2yns4gp.jpg
 
Codger, I look forward to seeing your cut down handle. Depending how it turns out, I'll give it a go as well. ;)
 
Thanks for the update Codger. Sounds like it's a good piece of kit. If it can cook 3 eggs comforably, I'll probably be picking one up. It should cook about everything I'd want on a trip when I'm not cooking trout.
 
Codger_64 said:
I'm thinking of using my homemade venison jerky and other dehydrated ingredients. It will only take five to eight minutes to rehydrate, drain and saute'.

My love of fresh food in the outdoors is one big hangup I have with lightening my pack weight. Most dehydrated meals I have tried are o.k. for occasional or short term fare, but I do work up a big appetite when hiking. And there is a world of difference in the taste and satisfaction of cooked food over rehydrated food to me. Now to find a place that gives away those sour creme packets! :p
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I like to cook venison in the oven and then dehydrate it.
 
Pritch said:
Codger, I look forward to seeing your cut down handle. Depending how it turns out, I'll give it a go as well. ;)
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I'll likely buy a second pan to try this on in case it doesn't prove worthwhile. Since it balances so well on my stove, the only reason I can see to do the handle removal is for making it pack more compactly. Weight saving would be neglegable for me since I would have to add the pot gripper to my kit. I have several from older kits, so I wouldn't have to buy one though.

A gripper?

t7h66g.jpg


It works like a pliar but at 90 degrees to the pot lip.

There is an old name for these that I can't remember right now. Anyone remember it?
 
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Codger_64 said:
I'll likely buy a second pan to try this on in case it doesn't prove worthwhile. Since it balances so well on my stove, the only reason I can see to do the handle removal is for making it pack more compactly. Weight saving would be neglegable for me since I would have to add the pot gripper to my kit. I have several from older kits, so I wouldn't have to buy one though.

A gripper?

It works like a pliar but at 90 degrees to the pot lip.

There is an old name for these that I can't remember right now. Anyone remember it?
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That was my first thought, but I would be concerned that the gripper would damage the nonstick coating.
 
Codger_64 said:
Imagine keeping the metal tab riveted to the pan though and gripping that.
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I like the idea of leaving the tab attached, or at least part of it. Unfortunately, the tab is angled wrong for a gripper. Of course a multitool plier would work fine.
 
Codger_64 said:
I'll likely buy a second pan to try this on in case it doesn't prove worthwhile. Since it balances so well on my stove, the only reason I can see to do the handle removal is for making it pack more compactly. Weight saving would be neglegable for me since I would have to add the pot gripper to my kit. I have several from older kits, so I wouldn't have to buy one though.

A gripper?

t7h66g.jpg


It works like a pliar but at 90 degrees to the pot lip.

There is an old name for these that I can't remember right now. Anyone remember it?
Click to expand...

Speaking of packing. Do you think this would need to be packed into a bear vault? That might necessitate some modification. Thoughts?
 
Most BV packing recomendations I have seen suggest stacking cookware on top of the BV as an alarm.
 
i checked 3 walmarts today and blah no luck. i will definitely keep my eye out as it looks very handy and at about the right weight. a little heavy but nothing unmanageable
 
Careful using the pot gripper with no handle. That Teflon will start to come off and it isn't pretty. I might leave the handle on, only because it's not a sturdy item and may not take well to being broken down. Then again, if you ruin it, it's only $6 down the drain.
 
Iboschi said:
Careful using the pot gripper with no handle. That Teflon will start to come off and it isn't pretty. I might leave the handle on, only because it's not a sturdy item and may not take well to being broken down. Then again, if you ruin it, it's only $6 down the drain.
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I have read posts elsewhere that mention the coating being scratched by using a spondonicle on the pan's rim.

This is what I was suggesting as a possiblity -

2j16d5g.jpg
 
Well, Codger, I decided not to wait for you and went ahead and cut mine down.

InHand.jpg


I may still strip all of the plastic off and bend the tang like in your mock-up if it works for you.

I also cajoled Don from Four Dogs Stoves into making some lids to fit this skillet. If you want one, be prepared to spend $13! :eek: If interested, PM me and I'll get you his contact info.

OneEgg1-1.jpg


Tomorrow I'll try it with my White Box Stove.

OnWBStove.jpg
 
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