Cast Iron is a favorite of campers. It lasts for years and can withstand the heat of cooking with it over a campfire. Dutch Ovens are one of the most common pieces that campers use though large skillets come in handy, too. Cast iron is durable as long as it’s cared for correctly. It must be seasoned after each use with some oil and dried well before being put away,to keep it from rusting and extend the life of the piece. It is heavy but most campers are willing to bring it along because of its usefulness at the campsite.
Cast iron provides an even heat distribution along the bottom and walls of the vessel. This makes cooking much more predictable when you are cooking over a source that cannot be easily controlled. It is naturally non-stick, particularly when you keep them well seasoned. Cast iron is also good for fortifying the food with iron. A small amount of iron gets absorbed into the food as it cooks.
They are a safe departure from some of the coatings that are applied to pots and pans these days. It is less toxic, which is a very good thing. Cast iron is low cost and has been used for thousands of years. We see many campers with cast iron pans they have owned for decades. It also comes in a variety of colors these days and can be quite attractive.
We hope you enjoy all your camping meals and we bet you’d be very happy with cast iron.
