Utensil hacks

[John61CT]

Got tips & tricks?

for reducing the space your "chuck box" requires, help keep functionality, making the most of items, dual / triple uses for things

Great example: we love making and eating crepes, but can't justify bringing the special cast iron convex pan along

Voila!

 

[TMG51]

Store leftovers in glass pyrex type dishes (you can get them with lids like tuppeware but they're glass). When you want to reheat leftovers, put the glass dish in a pan with an inch or so of water on the stove. Imprompteau double boiler. No transferring to another plate. No microwave required. Also the food heats up evenly and stays moist whereas a microwave can dry out areas.

 

[John61CT]

Nice! A nesting set would be ideal, most I've found with lids is three sizes. Gotta pack them in tea towels too, I've smashed a few, big mess

 

[cyndi]

I love my cast iron tortilla pan. I haven't used it for crepes but it works for a lot of things and takes up very little room.

 

[Rainier70]

I have a ~10 inch cast iron skillet that is used for too many things to name.  To that I have added a round 10 inch cast iron griddle.  Like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L9OG3-Griddle-Pre-Seasoned-10-5-inch/dp/B00008GKDN 

The nice thing is that besides using the griddle for the usual uses, it also acts as the lid for my skillet, and keeps foods warm above the skillet.  When I am baking on my propane stove with a "dutch oven cloth dome"  ( https://www.campchef.com/dutch-oven-dome.html )  I use the griddle as a heat defuser directly under my skillet (making a thicker bottom) with a trivet spacer between it and the metal defuser that comes with the dutch oven dome.  Again it works great. 

To see better how the dome works see their video on youtube. 

 

[Jeffrey Lee]

Our flat kitchen grater does double duty as a pasta strainer.

https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-354-Course-Grater/dp/B00004RDEG

 

[TMG51]

Our flat kitchen grater does double duty as a pasta strainer.

https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-354-Course-Grater/dp/B00004RDEG

Not necessary! The pot lid is the strainer!

I just took a picture of my pot for this post.

 

[Chuck1]

magnetic utensil holder on the wall, get two and hang keys and other stuff on it

 

[John61CT]

Yum. Anyone know recipes for (wheat) flatbread that would work with those on a stovetop?

Fluffy naan/afghani style, not thin pita. I guess like a pizza base would be OK.

Don't think a full Dutch oven works for those traveling light. . .

 

[fantym1]

Am I the only 1 needs to keep a meal warm while I make something else, like a hot beverage?

 

[fantym1]

So, am I the only 1 who needs to keep a meal warm while making something else, like a hot beverage?
Large, insulated "watch" cap bought @ thrift a couple years ago for 99¢ & bonus! It can be worn on your head in Cold weather

 

[B and C]

I don't need to keep something warm while working on something else usually. I have a cheat though, a microwave. This allows me to make multi-course meals if needed. I would make the hot drink first and consume it while working on the meal. While eating the meal, heat another beverage if you need it. I don't have to have a drink during the meal, before and after works well.

I do have a beanie but use it for its intended purpose. Using it to cover my meal, I would think a hair might fall into my food. Not something I like to run into even if it's my own

 

[crofter]

Don't think a full Dutch oven works for those traveling light. . .

I also carry a cast iron dutch oven, and the top is my crepe pan. My fave filling is strawberrys. The dutch oven is mostly used for roasting meats.  -crofter

 

[maki2]

Just put the crepe batter into a non stick skillet. No need for a special pan. I also make flour tortillas in a non stick skillet. Just because there are special shapes of pans to make certain items does not mean you can't use a skillet to cook them in.

 

[fantym1]

. " ...a microwave. This allows me to make multi-course meals if needed..."

--- I've always been inspired by those w/enuf solar to support a microwave while boondocking ... not to get off topic, but what size & how many panels & batteries do you use?

"I do have a beanie but use it for its intended purpose.  Using it to cover my meal, I would think a hair might fall into my food.  Not something I like to run into even if it's my own "

--- I have a Navy watch cap I inherited from my uncle (WW II) that I wear - I did mention the insulated 1 was for Cold weather? ... I've only needed it over the Navy cap about 3x since I've had it

 

[user 423]

"Waiter, there is a hair in my casserole!"

 

[B and C]

My microwave (1100 watts) is also a convection oven as the van would not have an oven otherwise (no roadtrek has an oven that I know of). It came with a 600 watt microwave that could be run off a big battery bank for a few minutes. Mine requires either shore power or the generator to be started to use so it doesn't get used much even though I can push a button and the generator is running.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming, utensil hacks.

 

[maki2]

I bought a set of two Wilton mini silicone icing spatulas. They are about the same length as a butter knife, cost about $2.00 using a 50 % off coupon at Joann crafts. But you can find them at other craft stores in the aisle for cake making supplies. As they are non stick they are very easy to wash and wipe clean. Bonus points they don't clang and rattle around in a drawer the way metal utensils do.

They work great for spreading peanut butter, jelly, mayo, mustard, honey, etc. They are also handy for getting the last bit of stuff out of a jar.

I use them to mix up small amounts of ingredients when cooking instead of using a spoon.

They are heat resistant to 350 degrees. So I use them for stir frying, stirring soups, making hot chocolate, scrambled eggs and such. They won't scratch the non stick pans.

But they are also handy for spreading out a thin coating of water based glue on wood, paper, plastic etc. Also handy for stirring up a small can of paint. They come in different colors so the ones I use in the workshop are a different color than the ones I used in the kitchen.

 

[Dingfelder]

magnetic utensil holder on the wall, get two and hang keys and other stuff on it

Along these lines, I use a lot of spices but find them cumbersome to use and organize.  And I like cooking so have a lot of utensils.  So I got little circular magnets, a box of 50 I think, and stuck them on the wooden walls up above my stove top.  I got colorful metal spice shakers and arranged the magnets so one would fit in the middle of each shaker as I put them up in a long line.

I liked so much how it cleared out my limited cabinet space and kept things handy that I stuck some more up to hold utensils and eventually things like a pair of scissors and other little things I liked quick access to, like clips I could put a shopping list or note to myself in, a little calendar, etc.

Maybe not everyone would like the look, but it isn't a mess(the improvised "spice rack without a rack" looks pretty good IMO) and clearing out my cabinet space even a little bit is pretty valuable to me.  In fact I just got another pack of magnets.

 

[B and C]

Please don't drive with sharp utensils hanging from magnets. They would all become projectiles in a sudden stop (collision).