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Outdoor cooking?

I’ve travelled 000’s of miles and use one of these to cook for our family of four outside...
View attachment 47100
Takes up very little space and the canisters are cheap, easy to store and widely available. I use with normal pans that I keep in the van.

We use one these as well, with a small backpacking stove as a backup or for when I really need two burners at once.

The bit I don't like is the canisters. They are flimsy so need robust storage (we stick ours in a plastic tub with some other cooking stuff but I always worry about punctures and leaks). And it may just be the stove we have but there's a lack of regulation, so initially a kettle boils in no time at all, but by the end of the canister you have to wait 10 minutes or end up with a bunch of canisters with dregs in them.

So I'm currently looking at cadacs since many here rave about them.
 
We’ve camped for a few years without an electric hook up and have a number of different bits of kit for cooking out doors. Which includes:

A basic one ring gas hob that uses the butane canisters,
A Trangia that uses liquid fuel
A biolite campstove that uses solid fuel and will run a USB charger
A Cobb oven

They all have their uses but the ones we’ve used the most are the gas ring and the Cobb. I love the Cobb and have cooked all sorts in it. I have found that if you want to cook something in the Cobb’s large wok pan it is best to start it on the gas hob first and then put it on the Cobb to simmer.

Now we have a Cali Beach and have bought a one ring induction hob from Argos so we can quickly boil a kettle on arrival at a site. An electric hook up is still a novelty for us . We haven’t done a long trip in the van yet but I’m certain we won’t be taking all of the above kit with us - but hubby is threatening to pack the new pizza oven, with bread maker for the dough!!
 
We’ve camped for a few years without an electric hook up and have a number of different bits of kit for cooking out doors. Which includes:

A basic one ring gas hob that uses the butane canisters,
A Trangia that uses liquid fuel
A biolite campstove that uses solid fuel and will run a USB charger
A Cobb oven

They all have their uses but the ones we’ve used the most are the gas ring and the Cobb. I love the Cobb and have cooked all sorts in it. I have found that if you want to cook something in the Cobb’s large wok pan it is best to start it on the gas hob first and then put it on the Cobb to simmer.

Now we have a Cali Beach and have bought a one ring induction hob from Argos so we can quickly boil a kettle on arrival at a site. An electric hook up is still a novelty for us . We haven’t done a long trip in the van yet but I’m certain we won’t be taking all of the above kit with us - but hubby is threatening to pack the new pizza oven, with bread maker for the dough!!
If you are hooked up to the mains you can use an electric kettle from the socket in the van. Easier than getting out an electric hob of any sort. You do have to carry it of course! Ours is 800 watts and it's great for early morning cuppa, all done from the bed! Better than at home!
 
If you are hooked up to the mains you can use an electric kettle from the socket in the van. Easier than getting out an electric hob of any sort. You do have to carry it of course! Ours is 800 watts and it's great for early morning cuppa, all done from the bed! Better than at home!
Yeah, we considered getting an electric kettle but decided that as we had a kettle for the gas hob and because you can cook other things on the induction hob to go for that option. Doesn’t mean that we won’t end up buying an electric kettle as well at some point. We can add it to our ever growing list of stuff we want for the Cali
 
I use a 1967 2 burner Coleman stove with stand. So far we've not had to endure a wet weekend so it works fine cooking outside. I have a number of other camp fuel powered stoves from 1 up to 3 burners so we have different options depending on what we are doing that day/vacation.

47467
 
I use a Big Green Egg MiniMax. It's a ceramic charcoal grill. We cook everything on it. In July we did a 10 hour rack of beef short ribs at 110°C while we went for a 9 mile walk.

I've binned gas, you don't get the flavour, and my Cobb never sees the light of day as you can't control the temperature.

The only downsides are the price of the MiniMax in the first place and the weight. Mackerel cooking.jpeg
 
I use a Big Green Egg MiniMax. It's a ceramic charcoal grill. We cook everything on it. In July we did a 10 hour rack of beef short ribs at 110°C while we went for a 9 mile walk.

I've binned gas, you don't get the flavour, and my Cobb never sees the light of day as you can't control the temperature.

The only downsides are the price of the MiniMax in the first place and the weight. View attachment 51977
You’re a brave man to travel with a Kamado, I have a full size one which we use all the time at home but the weight and potential mess put me off getting a smaller one to travel with. I do agree though, it may be worth it for the flavour..still thinking
 
You’re a brave man to travel with a Kamado, I have a full size one which we use all the time at home but the weight and potential mess put me off getting a smaller one to travel with. I do agree though, it may be worth it for the flavour..still thinking
Chris, I have a total of 7 Big Green Egg's because I run a cookery school. My MiniMax's travel with me all over both on holiday and to give private lessons. I've never broken anything or made a mess. Yes they are heavy but they're so worth taking away.
 
Hi Fatb10ke,
I think I just found your web site, looks cool! you may have a new customer at some point.
 
I stumbled on something recently called a Skotti grill, they’re a German company https://skotti-grill.eu/

I think these grills look great as they are very compact when folded away, looks like it uses the same gas as my slidepod and it can also be used as a fire pit - so it ticks a lot of boxes for me.

Just wondered if anyone owns one or has used one and if so what their thoughts were on it.

Thanks :thumb
 
Ridgemonkey
What do you cook outside of your Cali in/on?
THREE AMIGOS (Cobb, Kellie kettle and Ridgemonkey).

The Cobb is a great oven/grill but used in conjuction with it’s 2 buddies is even more versatile. All 3 are well worthy of a space in my cali on a trip that requires cooking.

You can start and accelerate the charcoal or coconut briquettes in the Cobb with the kellie kettle (you can buy and adapter from ebay that sits in the fuel basket and keeps the kettle steady (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172699491194). Boils the water in your kettle at the same time (I have used the k kettle without the adapter, but it only just balances and is very wobbly when the water’s boiling). With the heat, sometimes flames, coming up the centre ”chimney” of the kettle you can use a pot stand on top to cook something in the RM.

You can cook brilliant “fried/poached“ eggs in the RMby starting with a light smear of oil, cracking in the eggs and letting them set a little, then pouring in some hot water from the kettle and closing the lid.

If your coals are grey and you don’t need hot water, place the rm directly above the coals, sitting on the kettle adapter (it’s the perfect height). If the heat’s too intense for what you’re cooking put a grill plate on the Cobb for the RM to sit on or use a heat diffuser (https://www.lakeland.co.uk/10426/Large-Heat-Diffuser) over the coals, under the RM.

If you have more than 1 RM you can stack them on top of each other and keep swapping to cook or just keep food warm in the top one as you cook in the bottom one.

Cobb sell their own, similar “storm” kettle but it doesn’t come with a pot stand and is only intended to be used with the Cobb (unlike the kellie kettle which you can use independently with fire and other fuels too). Another company make the Ghillie kettle (which has the same kind of features as the k kettle but is manufactured in the UK).

I have a new RM toastie XL with detachable handles that I intend to use inside the Cobb under the lid, as well as in this way, but that lives in the campervan. I’ll experiment and report back another time on that. The pictures here show one of my old style XL RMs (I use these at home in the kitchen & garden).

ED312897-9745-449E-96B0-A06F3298A220.jpeg

1C7A5881-C002-463A-99BF-813DB38BEDE6.jpeg

447A18EB-DEBE-42FA-BCB1-1BE1F7AEF0A0.jpeg
 
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Chris, I have a total of 7 Big Green Egg's because I run a cookery school. My MiniMax's travel with me all over both on holiday and to give private lessons. I've never broken anything or made a mess. Yes they are heavy but they're so worth taking away.
What classes do you run and where, Fb?
 
We took our Primus to France and a stock of gas canisters, we use the campinggaz 500 canister.
Go outdoors will price match and give 10% discount so we look out for deals and then buy in bulk.

We didn't just much gas really, probably 3 canisters would be easily enough for us, brews on morning and cooking meals every other night.

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Hi Melanie,
I’m looking at new stoves, do you always use the small gas canisters with your Primus stove and do you find them good enough?
Thanks, Bev
 
Hi Melanie,
I’m looking at new stoves, do you always use the small gas canisters with your Primus stove and do you find them good enough?
Thanks, Bev
Yes they last for ages, we take 4 with us and might use up a half full one but never more than 2.

We don't cook every evening but have lots of brews, and bacon sandwiches.

Just been in Cornwall, used up a half full one and there is still some left in the other. We had 9 mornings of several brews, plus 4 bacon sarnies and couple of meals.

They are a good size to pack abs transport too.

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We have the cadac safari chef and have used our patio gas bottle with it on occasions but it’s too big really. We can use smaller gas canisters with it but find they're not that great for the gas pressure - takes forever to cook anything. Was looking for something that didn’t use much space but maybe need to get a campingaz bottle instead so can use the safari chef and a stove. Lots to think about!
 
Yes they last for ages, we take 4 with us and might use up a half full one but never more than 2.

We don't cook every evening but have lots of brews, and bacon sandwiches.

Just been in Cornwall, used up a half full one and there is still some left in the other. We had 9 mornings of several brews, plus 4 bacon sarnies and couple of meals.

They are a good size to pack abs transport too.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk
Thanks, that’s good to know. We’re mainly 2 night campers so wouldn’t use much then. Is the gas pressure/flame good for cooking on? We have used smaller canisters with cadac safari chef and it takes forever to heat anything up.

Got a brukit for boiling water quickly so sorted for brews, just need something a bit sturdier for pans.
 
We have the cadac safari chef and have used our patio gas bottle with it on occasions but it’s too big really. We can use smaller gas canisters with it but find they're not that great for the gas pressure - takes forever to cook anything. Was looking for something that didn’t use much space but maybe need to get a campingaz bottle instead so can use the safari chef and a stove. Lots to think about!
We leave the 907 installed in the van and have a second one for outdoor cooking. Takes a bit of space in the boot but it’s fine. Sits in a plastic container on our rear slide out tray.
 
Thanks, that’s good to know. We’re mainly 2 night campers so wouldn’t use much then. Is the gas pressure/flame good for cooking on? We have used smaller canisters with cadac safari chef and it takes forever to heat anything up.

Got a brukit for boiling water quickly so sorted for brews, just need something a bit sturdier for pans.
Yes the flames are good, our little kettle boils really quickly.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk
 
I use a 1967 2 burner Coleman stove with stand. So far we've not had to endure a wet weekend so it works fine cooking outside. I have a number of other camp fuel powered stoves from 1 up to 3 burners so we have different options depending on what we are doing that day/vacation.

View attachment 47467
Dragging up an old post but I suppse Swisscheese still has the Coleman! Never seen the stand before, love these stoves although the new ones are nowhere near the same quality.

Cooking with petrol isn't for everyone I guess but it works for me - the twin burner stove and two dual-mantel lamps will do a multiweek trip on a 10L jerry of unleaded, even early/late in the season when you're boiling loads of water for tea and hot water bottles!
 
Dragging up an old post but I suppse Swisscheese still has the Coleman! Never seen the stand before, love these stoves although the new ones are nowhere near the same quality.

Cooking with petrol isn't for everyone I guess but it works for me - the twin burner stove and two dual-mantel lamps will do a multiweek trip on a 10L jerry of unleaded, even early/late in the season when you're boiling loads of water for tea and hot water bottles!
Totally agree Bob! And thanks for the appreciation of these amazing cookers.

The newer models designed for unleaded are not as durable.
I have two 2 burners (this 1968 one, and one unfired from 1976) and a larger 3 burner which is a beast (which is also around these eras). The stand works with all of them.
I actually use Aspen 4T as fuel. Unleaded gums up the generators in the stoves and lanterns over time, and 4T is similar to Coleman Camp Fuel but way cheaper. Also unleaded tends to stink if the lantern is not 100% tuned. Paraffin is worse.
I have well over 100 lanterns and lamps, and about 20 different stoves, all from various manufacturers, so I'm spoiled for choice. I'd also rather carry liquid fuel than gas, and especially if you can use it in both stoves and lamps.

Disclaimer: I'm actually a Coleman Collector and you might find me on another forum which is about that stuff...
 

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