Essential cooking pans for foodies!

[Redbearded]

Hi All,

I'm not on the road yet, but I'm planning!

I've decided I want to go mostly electric with 1 exception so far and here is what I have come up with for cooking gear (not counting utensils). [the * means I would need to buy]

induction hob*
12 inch tri ply fry pan with lid
10-12 inch nonstick pan*
2 qt enameled cast iron pot
instant pot* or pressure cooker
Sous vide stick 
blow torch with searzall (my exception, lol)
Slow cooker* (instant pot to replace, or use pressure cooker on induction burner)
I don't use the microwave much now and a regular over is too power hungry I think, plus if I really want baked stuff I can get a solar oven later.


So am I missing anything? Any thoughts on the stuff with an *?

 

[CautionToTheWind]

> 10-12 inch nonstick pan*

Go with ceramic (buy USA made) versus the teflon coating.

 

[frater secessus]

Most foodies I know prefer to cook over flame. A propane system would certainly be cheaper than trying to power an electric range with solar. How much roof space for panels do you have? The all- or mostly- electric setups I've seen were several hundred watts, like 800w-1000w. Of course, if you are runningn on shore power then get crazy with it!

My choice for 10-12 inch nonstick pan is seasoned cast iron, and I'd use a pressure cooker to replace both the 2qt pot and the instant pot.

 

[dextours]

Have an induction "hot plate" needs 1500 watts. Only used with shore power. Owned it before I got on the road.

Second cast iron skillet. Last a lifetime and you can cook over a campfire.

 

[Zardor]

That's some serious equipment, what time is dinner?

 

[Zardor]

Seriously though. I have an induction burner. It's nice. Was a birthday gift. I have to run my generator to use it. For me, it works out when I'm low on propane or i feel like throwing something together really quick. Boils water super fast.

 

[Almost There]

I understand that I could be considered a serious foody, although I seldom think of myself as one...  

I carry:

1 - 2 burner propane stove and a 20 lb tank
1 - single burner butane stove and mostly buy my cans by the case.

1 - 10" cast iron fry pan
1 - 12" cast aluminum fry pan (older than I am... )
complete set of high quality pots including the large dutch oven

I carry commercial quality knife set and mixing bowls as well. Only the 'china' is cheap....

If I'm slow cooking anything, the propane does nicely but the butane actually simmers better.

If I still need an extra burner I can haul out my Trangia alcohol stove from the backpacking gear and add it to the mix. Solar is on the horizon after I study up on which ones' Jim has that will work for me. I use a little Coleman fold up one now that was given to me but it's inadequate for a lot of jobs I want it to handle.

I can and have fed a party for 10 out of a camper although they have to bring their own plates and silverware....

My thoughts  on the * stuff - I give you six months and you'll be shopping for propane/butane stoves and tossing the non-stick in the free pile or the trash. 

Electric is so absolutely inefficient to cook on compared to gas and even more so when one has to produce it oneself. Yes, solar power is free once the upfront cost is paid for but the size of system needed to be able to use it for cooking on a regular basis just totally outweighs the 'free' part. And it's only free when there's enough sun to keep that large battery bank up to par, otherwise you're paying for gas to run the generator.

Electric has never been my choice of what to cook on although I was forced to do so for years living in homes that were only equipped with electric appliances. Both times I've cooked professionally were on gas and all these years of living on the road in RVs and campers has me seriously thinking of switching the house I bought for my son to live in over to natural gas when I'm finished with the urgent stuff!

 

[Redbearded]

I'm planning on having about 1200-1500 watts of solar and about 350-400 AH of LiFePO4 batteries on board so power should not be an issue. I may go with more battery storage later if I need it. I'd like to stay away from propane (except blowtorch, I don't know of an electric one) just so I have less complication in my setup.

I like steel pans vs cast iron at this point (the shape tends to be more what i'm used to). I know the cast iron will last forever almost, but I just tend to not be great at maintaining the finish which means everything sticks and I have to scrub with salt and wash. Maybe I wash them too much, lol...

 

[jimindenver]

As with any question of gear, the question back is what do you want to...in this case cook. So what do you like to cook and eat because there is no set of pans/pots that fit every ones needs. Make sure you have those bases covered first. Personally I like to cook everything and am lucky to have a cupboard, a cabinet and two storage containers for all the pots and pans.

I have quite a bit of solar cooking gear, I can tell you that you will need thin black pots and pans for that.
Not all of mine could be used on a induction burner so you might want to check first. Other than that you can get the ovens/cookers with pots if you want.

 

[highdesertranger]

for me it's cast iron and stainless. no factory made non-stick for me. I can't even imagine cooking with electricity, it's foreign to me. I don't even like using microwaves. but if it works for you go for it. highdesertranger

 

[SondraRose]

My husband and I are foodies. He is a chef.

On the road, we use a carbon steel super lightweight fry pan with highish sides.
Cook on a single burner Iwatani butane catering stove.
We use a JetBoil to quickly heat water for tea or coffee.

That's it!

 

[wagoneer]

My arsenal includes a 12" steel frypan a steel Indian style wok 2 quart cast iron dutch oven( smallest I could find) carbon steel knives Chinese style/cleaver/knife HD meat cleaver ceramic coffee grinder large ss pot whistling tea kettle.

 

[ValerieP]

Has anyone tried a thermal pot? From what I’ve read, it might be perfect.

 

[Charlotte's Web]

"My arsenal includes...Chinese style cleaver..."

Dual purpose kitchen ware good space saving choice. 
Chinese style cleaver might prove handy!

Charlotte

 

[Redbearded]

I have most of the knife part handled... It's kinda a problem, lol. I love Shun knives and especially the ones that come out at the knife shows (which williams-sonoma buys up as exclusive lines...) They sure are pretty though and by buying them when they go on like 50% sale I can somewhat justify the price.