The Right Materials for Cookware and Cutlery on Short or Long Trips
Depending on the purpose, the length of the tour and individual preferences, the right choice depends not only on the size and equipment and the right camping stove, but also on the material used for the dishes or cutlery. The most popular materials are aluminium, titanium and stainless steel or even wood. In addition, there are some hybrids to combine the various advantages of the individual materials and of course crockery, containers and cutlery made of lightweight plastic.
Camping Tableware Sets & Travel Cutlery Made of Aluminium
For a long time, aluminium was the first choice when it came to the weight in the backpack. Another advantage of the light metal, which makes it very popular, is its high thermal conductivity. However, untreated aluminium is sensitive to scratches and reacts with acids and salts, whereby small amounts of the material could be dissolved and absorbed together with food.
For this reason, a harmless alternative has been developed: anodised aluminium. A chemical process makes the outer layer of the aluminium harder and more resistant, so that the pots or pans can no longer react with acids or salts. In addition, this makes them even more durable and scratch-resistant without noticeably gaining weight. Due to the increased production effort, however, they are somewhat more expensive to purchase.
Anodised aluminium is therefore a good choice especially if you are looking for camping dishes or cutlery with a good mix of weight, price and durability. If you want to boil water, untreated aluminium is also a good alternative.
Cooking Utensils, Folding Cutlery and More Made of Titanium
Camping cutlery and tableware made of titanium has become increasingly popular in the outdoor world in recent years. Titanium sheets can be used for the production of cutlery sets or cooking sets due to their high stability and particularly low wall thickness. This makes the utensils extremely light in weight and yet very robust. In addition, raw titanium is less harmful than untreated aluminium.
However, the structure and production of untreated titanium also has some disadvantages:
- it has a lower thermal conductivity than aluminium
- the probability of food burning is higher than with other substances
- it is accordingly also somewhat more difficult to clean and relatively expensive
Nevertheless, cutlery and crockery made of titanium are ingenious companions for all those who want to have as little weight on their back or bicycle as possible, but still want to be sure that the pots, plates or spoons can take it all.
Pots, Pans, Skillets, Cutlery and More Made of Stainless Steel
This time-honoured material is still used and popular for camping or trekking trips, as it offers some important advantages:
- it is almost indestructible as well as stainless
- it is unproblematic in terms of health and neutral in taste
- the products usually have a low price
But robustness also has its price, which is reflected in the weight and the low thermal conductivity. For camping trips where weight is not an issue, or for longer tours and expeditions far from civilisation, where crockery and cutlery is used intensively and frequently, stainless steel is a valuable and reliable option.
Plastic, Wood, Teflon, Ceramics and Co. for the Great Outdoors
Some manufacturers (e.g. Optimus and MSR) offer tableware with extra coatings of Teflon or ceramics to minimize the scratch sensitivity and the risk of scorching. However, you should remember that non-stick coatings can also be damaged. The experienced Swedish company Trangia has developed a new material called Duossal, which combines the positive sides of aluminium and stainless steel and is certainly worth a look.
Especially for cutlery, plastics offers a light, easy-to-clean and inexpensive alternative that is also less likely to leave scratch marks on cookware. It is important to make sure that these are BPA-free plastics. The cutlery is also often available as a set with knife, fork and spoon or directly in the popular Spork (spoon + fork) combination. Of course, plastic is also suitable for cups, plates, storage containers or washing-up bowls, as it is stable and light and creates the possibility to fold the products and thus reduce the packing size in the backpack.
With regards to wood, one of the oldest materials on earth, there are of course still many different options like cooking spoons and spatulas made of coconut wood or bamboo drinking cups.
Accessories for Perfect Mornings, Breaks and Meals
For those who prefer to start their morning in a sleeping bag with a hot cup of coffee or a warming tea, some manufacturers offer coffee press sets, coffee makers, kettles, thermo mugs and special filter bags. And to make sure that meals are particularly varied and tasty, it is potentially worth buying chopping boards and salt and spice shakers. Another clever purchase are so-called clamp handles. They can be used flexibly for the pots and pans which, for reasons of space, have no handles. And for very fine evenings, the reusable drinking straws and a corkscrew are a must!