... or pots? :D
I'm in the planning/prototyping phase of building in cabin stowage, galley, etc... right now, the various pots, pans, utensils (cooking and eating), and beverage containers that I have aboard fill up one large plastic bin (approx 12x14x24 for the food-related items) and one smaller bin (8x12x18 cups, coffee maker, etc) when everything is nested carefully. I know this is a lot for one person, but I'm winnowing out the stuff I "want" versus the stuff I "need", in the process trying to determine what works best to perform multiple functions.
I know my pressure cooker is going to stay. As is the French Press for coffee. Everything else is on notice of possible eviction, thereby missing out on it's chance to see the world. It's a tough contest...
I talked about this with a cruiser I met this summer, he's been across the Atlantic among other things during the 13 years living and cruising onboard his Pearson 26 bubble-top. He invited me to dinner once, telling me to bring my own spoon. :D Obviously, he had pared his galley gear down to just what he found essential for himself.
I'm interested in hearing from other small boat cruisers what they have found essential to their gastronomic satisfaction. I know Zen will say "A wok.". :D And, in fact, I'm looking for a relatively small one of those - anyone have a source?
So what are y'all using? Have anything to recommend, or a unique or unobvious use for a piece of galley gear?
I have finally discovered the trick to happiness on watch! Two indispensible items. A wide mouthed stainless steel thermos and the wide based stainless steel insulated mug! Add chocolate chip cookies at random times and life is good.
Quote from: CapnK on December 20, 2005, 11:58:06 AM
... or pots? :D
I know Zen will say "A wok.". :D And, in fact, I'm looking for a relatively small one of those - anyone have a source?
any Chinatown will have several sizes, also some good chop sticks will be handy for misc stuff :D
Zen, we don't have Chinatown's in the Deep South. ;D
I'm going to try an online search, see if I can find what I want. If that doesn't wok out (yuk yuk ;D), maybe I'll send you some money and an address to get and ship me one, since you *do* have a Chinatown. :)
Ok, That will work. NO problem here, we have two, no 3 Chinatowns and 1 Japantown. I can get anything! Also ya'll might want to check ebay ;D
Quote from: CapnK on December 20, 2005, 11:58:06 AM
... or pots? :D
I know my pressure cooker is going to stay. As is the French Press for coffee. Everything else is on notice of possible eviction, thereby missing out on it's chance to see the world. It's a tough contest...
{emphasis added}
KR, do you grind your own beans? If so, 'lectric grinder, or elbow powered?
Beans and pre-ground both, depending on how coffee-snobbish or lazy I'm feeling... ;)
I have on of the small manual grinders that you see in backpacking outlets, and it works OK (sometimes the beans get hung up and you have to poke a finger down in there to get things going again).
I had an electric grinder when I lived shoreside, but besides the amp hour consideration, it was bulkier than the manual grinder is, so it is now owned by an ex-girlfriend. ;D
I can't live without my insulated coffee press. My only luxury I insist upon is good coffee.
I cook a lot. I have three Farberware saucepans (1, 2, and 3 qt), an omelette pan, and two saute pans (10" and 14"). I also have three loaf plans.
Hey there Dave, Welcome aboard :)
In one of Zens posts, it told about a set of removeable-handle, nesting T-fal pots. I looked for them last night at Wally World, no luck. I think I'll try Tar-ghay (the upper class pronunciation of "Target") during the post-Christmas price slashing sale, see if I can run across them there.
IIRC, it was Lin and Larry who recommended a SS set of stowable pots like the above, but when I looked at them online the set was something like $200. Or maybe that was a pressure cooker, I forget. That is, I forget what the cookery was, not the price.
Zoiks. :o
I'd make more room for pots aboard, before I'd make more room in my wallet by spending that much on a set of cookware. ;)
I *really* wish I could just bring all of my cast iron cookery (I still have it in storage, that's how reluctant I have been to give it up), but "small boat compromise" may negate that possibility. I like cooking with cast iron, but besides stowage I think it will require more in the way of fuel to get the pans to a cooking temperature. Double bad, that...
IMO SS is the only way to go. Nesting is not as important as having the size pot you need. I buy from the outlet stores. No glass lids. No coated insides. No thin light weight. Remember to scrub with a SS pot scrubber every time you wash them wheather they need it or not and they will be almost stick free when you cook. Not quite as good as cooking in good old well seasoned cast iron but a lot easier to keep up.
I use a Fagor SS nesting set. Picked up a set a couple of years ago at a boat show. I use it at home, too, since I've not spent as much time as I'd like on my boat. Even came with TWO removable handles. I also use a Fagor pressure cooker.
Everyone - thanks for all the replies, keep 'em coming. :) Good karma for everyone. ;D
Gulfmermaid - "Fagor" - I think that is the brand name I saw recommended... Thx for the reminder. :)
Sid - I have some SS pans now. I may have to bite the bullet and get the SS Fagor pans after all. :)
on my ariel I utilized the ares under the gally counter and the so called icebox.I cut the cusions that extended into these areas and made semi bulkheads to corden off these areas into stowage and I stored enough for two people on the way there and one for the way back.to make up for the lack of sleeping legroom I put a removable drop board between the existing quarter berths and that suited me fine.
I lucked out day before yesterday...
Our local BigLots closeout store is going out of business. I went there looking for a chimney for my oil lamp, and when I went in the first thing I saw was this TexSport Stainless Steel Combination Fry Pan/Cook Pot (http://www.texsport.net/acatalog/Mess_Kits.html) (Ref: #13440, not quite halfway down the page). Since it was only $2.50, I snatched it up.
(http://www.texsport.net/acatalog/13440.gif)
I was very pleasanty surprised to find that, on returning to the boat, the pot fits inside of my pressure cooker perfectly. It is the same pot/pan combo that came with my gimballed stove, only twice as large. The smaller pot/pan fits inside this larger one, which both can stow inside the pressure cooker. Neato.
It's constructed a bit thinner than I'd like, but the price is awesome, and it works well - my spaghetti cooked up great in it last night, and it looks as if it will work as well for baking bread.
You might also try camping stores like REI or Campmor.com
Campmor (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=40000000226&storeId=226&categoryId=929&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=239)
Good show CapnK!! Saving 99% on boat stuff deserves some serious applause!
Wally World here had a med sized Wok that was pretty hefty but no lid - Woks are great for all sorts of stuff - I use mine everyday Spagetti sauce , one pot meals, etc etc. I've even gotten two of my friends to get Woks after they were over for a meal. Now if they will both just learn how to use a knife - GEEZE
The POT thread doesn't show me a place to reply to it, so I'm moving it up.
Kurt- I bought a 12 inch Cantonese style Wok (without the long handle- that's Mandarin) from a local restaurant supply house here in Victoria for about 12 bucks I think, brand new. It even fits on our Seacook stove. If you'd like I can see if they have more next I go to Victoria, which will be at least on Monday.
/me pulls out the measuring tape...
That sounds just about right, CJ! Cool! the price is right, too. :D If you'll pick one up for me, then I won't have to send Zen down for "Big Trouble in Little China"... ;D
(There *should be* a Reply button there... Hopefullly you didn't see it because you aren't used to the layout quite yet. :) )
Will check on Monday. If they have one I'll get it for you.
And yeah- after I made this thread I found the "reply" is was waaaaaaay over to the right - I just didn't scroll over far enough. :P
Thanks!
There was a long URL in the thread that made it "wide" - I'll fix that, didn't notice it before...
(PS - As I wrote this, I heard a long single blast from a ships horn. Looking out the deadlight, I could see the 130' Broward M/V "Miz Doris" was leaving dock. My buddy Drew is her skipper, I got the $.50 tour the other day. Gawd, what a big "bote"... :) )
Hey Kurt- I have a brand new 12 inch double handled wok sitting on my table here at the house- Call me or email me an address so I can ship it to you.
Charlie
'Pot' and 'Pot revisited' are now merged into one pot.
(in case anyone got confused looking for pot.......)
;D
And to think, some don't have even ONE pot to piss in!
;D
Yee ha! :D
Thanks so much, CJ!
We have used our Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker and pressure frying pan both for 5 years...they still look new, cook fast, save gas. +karma to CapnK for being so consistently nice, responsive, upbeat! +1 I think... Sinc, F'n'J
Felix -
Pressure frying pan? That sounds interesting... more details?
Thx for the karma and compliments. :)
Quote from: CapnK on January 19, 2006, 12:00:46 AM
Felix -
Pressure frying pan? That sounds interesting... more details?
Yes, PLEASE?????
You can sear your meat and/or vegetables for a couple minutes, use a small squirt of good veg oil to carmelize, then pressure cook for a few mins for a good, quick meal/ If not a lean cut of meat, no oil neccessary on the non-stick surface. Very good for making meatballs, Swiss steak, spaghetti, Chili, etc.
lol all this talk of food has made me hungry again.
Bill
I've been thinking about a pressure cooker for a while, but always thought there were some safety issues with them and that they were mostly necessary for high altitude cooking
Regarding the pressure frying pan, isn't that the secret to brosted chicken?
And you are right Bill, this thread is making me hungry. :)
Quote from: felixsail on January 15, 2006, 03:53:40 PM
We have used our Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker and pressure frying pan both for 5 years...they still look new, cook fast, save gas. +karma to CapnK for being so consistently nice, responsive, upbeat! +1 I think... Sinc, F'n'J
I haven't tried pressure frying. I also have a Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker and have been using it more and more. I've been collecting cookbooks for pressure cooker recipes also. I'm away from the boat just now, but I'll try to remember to post the good ones when I get home.
I have a Fagor pressure cooker, and it rocks... saves a lot of fuel (Propane) and allows me to cook three things on a two-burner stove. You can take a pressure cooker off the stove and let it "coast" for a while, and use the burner for other things.
Give the Bass Pro Shops a try. The one near Charlotte has some "camp style" woks. Saw them there when I was looking for a cast iron grill/griddle. Found it too...
Only trouble is getting near all those Bayse Botes!! ;D
As I prepare for our late January trip to SF Bay, I'm trying to figure out how we'll prepare our meals.
I use a 2 burner propane stove, and have a 10" frying pan, 2 and 6 quart saucepans, a percolater for coffee, and a kettle.
I have been thinking of making meals ahead, sealing them in plastic bags, and just heating the bags in hot/boiling water. However, I am now thinking I'd rather cook than just reheat.
Virtually all cooking will be at anchor or in a slip, the only exception being coffee brewed when motoring in calm conditions if need be.
I've never used a pressure cooker and, despite hearing rave reviews, don't understand what I may be missing. Any suggestions for size, type, brand name, advantages or drawbacks to pressure cooking, or anything else I need to know will be appreciated. I'll do some research, but would appreciate a jump-start from those of you with experience.
Thanks.
Quote from: BobW on December 17, 2006, 10:06:43 PM
I've never used a pressure cooker and, despite hearing rave reviews, don't understand what I may be missing. Any suggestions for size, type, brand name, advantages or drawbacks to pressure cooking, or anything else I need to know will be appreciated. I'll do some research, but would appreciate a jump-start from those of you with experience.
Bob, you've hit upon one of the SailFar favorite topics! ;D
If you have not seen it yet, check out this link on pressure cookers (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=671.0), complete with recipes and other ideas.
Thanks! That was one heck of good "jump-start." I scanned through that thread (didn't check out any of the included links) and learned a lot about pressure cookers and cooking. I think it is time to look for a cooker and do more exploring of those recipes.
I think we may be better fed on this trip to the Bay than ever before! :-)
Thanks.
Bob- you can also check out SCCA's bulletin board for Cooking, etc. There is a 4 pager posting about pressure cooking on there.
Here's the link to the cooking section-Scroll down a bit and you'lll one titled Pressure Cooker.
http://64.70.221.24/DiscBoard/viewforum.php?f=16&sid=6401dd33429c76fb37fd8100f92c53b8
Charlie,
Thanks for the link. Lots of information re pressure cookers.
Once the holidays have passed, I see about getting one. Jim and I can use it on our trip. I'll use it at home first to have some idea of what I'm doing.
Thanks again.
I just went through the galley and cleaned out stuff I'm not using. Retained:
Farberware Classic (current version of my 25 yo stuff) 1, 2, 3 qt saucepans, 10" saute pan, 8 qt stock pot
Kuhn Rikon 5 qt pressure cooker
misc non-stick: 6" omelette pan, 10" fry pan
2 aluminum and 1 Pyrex loaf pans; 1 Pyrex lasagna pan
Life is good.
I had been studying about cooking on board and stoves. I had decieded on the Seacock single burner stove that only allows an 8 inch pot. I also wanted to go without handles. What I have been using for the last 7 months is the MSR Alpine Classic Cookset -
MSR Alpine Classic Cookset (http://www.rei.com/product/401157?cm_re=pageContent*productsNo1*Steel%20Pots%20and%20Pans%20%20MSR%20Alpine%20Classic%20Cookset)
Cooking in the handless SS pots 2 or 3 times a day. They have held up very well and do store equally well. I did get the extra handles which, when I bought them, was stronger than the orginal. I do need 2 when I drain the liquid from pasta and such.
Non-stick pan - MSR DuraLite Fry Pan
http://www.rei.com/product/695242 (http://www.rei.com/product/695242)
I have been using this for 7 months every day and the non-stick finish is finally wearing so that some things are sticking. It lasted much longer than I thought.
on edit, the Seacock stove lasted about 14 months fulltime use and then the burnners had rusted out.
James,
It is a good discussion, since there are so many good ones to look at. I went ahead and merged it into the 'Pot' thread to include the earlier contribtiuons.
No problem.