Pot... Pots & pans Review

[CapnK]

... 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?

[Amorous]

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.

[Zen]

... 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

[CapnK]

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. :)

[Zen]

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

[Captain Smollett]

... 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?

[CapnK]

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

[The Edge]

I can't live without my insulated coffee press.  My only luxury I insist upon is good coffee. 

[Auspicious]

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.

[CapnK]

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...

[Sid T]

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.

[Gulfmermaid]

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.

[CapnK]

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. :)

[starcrest]

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.

[CapnK]

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 (Ref: #13440, not quite halfway down the page). Since it was only $2.50, I snatched it up.



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.

[Kailyst]

You might also try camping stores like REI or Campmor.com

Campmor

[Amorous]

Good show CapnK!!  Saving 99% on boat stuff deserves some serious applause!

[captedteach]

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

[CharlieJ]

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.

[CapnK]

* CapnK 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. :) )