Thursday, March 30, 2017

Our Gears (Part 2: Pots, Pans, Grill, Stove, and Camp Oven)


 I have put together some of our favorite RV camping gears, gadgets, and accessories. Most of our camping gears are compact by design thus minimizing storage space in the RV.  This post covers our Pots, Pans, Grill, Stove, and the Camp Oven.


Pots and Pans:
 Camco Ceramic 7-Piece Nesting Cookware Set. This is a high quality stainless steel with aluminum core cookware set; comparable to Magna cookware but cheaper. The set is induction cooking compatible and the ceramic non-stick coating is durable and very easy to clean. The set also comes in none non-stick coating version. I highly recommend this cooking set if you are looking for a set that would last you a long time.
 

The set comes in 7-pieces including the handle, lids and the bungee storage cord that hold all pieces together when nested.
 
 A grayish non-stick ceramic coating inside the pots and pan.
 
The nested pieces perfectly fit inside the overhead cabinet above the sink.
 
Grill and Stove:
 
The Iwatani Cassette Grill. This is the smallest grill I could find, and after years of owning it, I still love it. See my previous post here (click here) for pictures of the DIY sealed container/carrier I made for this grill. This grill only accepts a butane canister fuel that you can easily find in most Asian stores.  I added an adapter so I can use my 1-lb. refillable LPG tank, a better choice for the environment.
 
Here it is connected to Flame King 1-lb. refillable LPG cylinder. The Flake King starter kit is expensive at almost $40...but you will be saving in the long run.
 
NOTICE: Flame King has an ongoing recall on several of their 1-lb refillable tanks. Check this link (click here) if your tank(s) is affected by the recall.
 
The older model Iwatani grill has magnetic latching system for the butane canister fuel; I'm not sure with the newer model. I have to add an L-bracket to hold butane adapter (G-Works Butane Nozzle Converter) in place as I cannot find a adapter that would work with the grill magnetic latch, most adapters are either made of aluminum and or plastic.  You also need a gas extension hose (G-Works extension hose) and the LPG adapter head (Kovea LPG Adaptor) for this to work.
 

 UPDATE: After several months of use, one of the G-Works extension hose sprung several pinhole leaks. After closer inspection, the inner rubber hose has disintegrated and became brittle. G-Works company is based in Korea and customer service is almost non-existent. I am currently looking for a replacement extension hose.
 
The Kovea Camp-1 Portable Gas Stove (also called the "Expedition Stove"). It is compact when folded but when unfolded it's very stable holding the 10-inch Camco pot. The stove uses Isopropane/Butane fuel, but the kit also comes with a Butane canister adapter. It has built-in anti-flare/vaporizer system so you can literally fuel it with liquid Isopropane/Butane mix, Butane, or LPG without flaring up. No matter how you position the fuel canister, either on its side or even upside down, the stove will just work without flaring up, very safe.
 
Kovea Camp-1 Portable Gas Stove storage box size measures 5.5" x 3.5" x 5.7".
 
The Kovea stove and Iwatani grill connected to same 1-lb. refillable LPG canister. I forgot to connect the extension hose for the stove in this mock setup, the tank sits fairly close to the stove without the extension.
 
More adapters are used (lol) so the grill and stove can share the same fuel tank. The Kovea 2-way adapter and Kovea LPG adapter are both available on Amazon.
 
Portable Camp Oven:
 
The oven is made by Coleman and priced around $28 on Amazon (Link: Coleman Camp Oven). The oven when folded measures about 12" x 12-1/4" x 2-1/8". When open, it measures about 12" x 12-1/4" x 11-1/2".
 
With the oven folded flat.
 
The Coleman Camp Oven sits on top of the stove but found it to be unstable and can easily be knocked over so I fabricated a folding oven stand.
 
The legs are height adjustable to accommodate different stove heights.
 
The legs folds flat to minimize storage space.
 
With the stove connected to the refillable 1-lb. LPG tank.
 
Coleman Camp Oven sits atop the DIY stand, all ready for some baking.
 
A close-up view of the oven heat/ flame diffuser from the bottom.
 
The inside of the oven, it can accommodate up to 8" x 8" diameter baking pan. The oven only comes with one rack. The rack height is adjustable to 3 different positions.
 
 
Pre-heating the oven to 375ºF. The door mounted oven temperature gauge appears to be accurate.
 
My DIY Coleman Camp Oven storage case, all sides of the case has a Coroplast plastic inserts for stiffness and holding its shape.
 
The DIY oven stand sits atop the folded oven with cut to size "Yoga mat" in between for cushion.
 
DIY oven storage case zipped closed.
 
Side view shot of the oven storage case with the 1-lb LPG tank for scale.
 
And lastly, a rear shot of the case showing the carry handle.
 
 

7 comments:

  1. Hi, I've been looking for a replacement for my small charcoal BBQ and the Iwatani cassette grill looks like what I've been looking for. I would certainly convert it to propane for use with small 1lb canisters, but I'm not sure I understand what parts I need... Does it burn better/worse with propane? The size looks perfect for our use. Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It works with 1 lb. propane; the flame is almost the same. Currently, there is no easy way to convert it to a 1 lb. LPG tank. The original smaller butane canister is attached to the grill using a magnetic type latching system; the “butane to LPG convertor nozzle” that is needed to convert it to LPG is made of aluminum and plastic (non-magnetic) and does not work with the grill magnetic latch…I have to fabricate an L-bracket to secure it to the grill magnetic latch. The LPG extension hose that I got also sprung several pinhole leaks after few months, I think the manufacturer updated their hose to non-steel braided ones…check Amazon or Ebay.

      If you’re still decided to convert it anyway, you need the following (links are also provided in the above post)
      1. Butane gas nozzle converter (http://amzn.to/2zbTRH7)
      2. Extension hose (http://amzn.to/2yq2v77)
      3. An LPG adaptor head (http://amzn.to/2ynEBHP)

      Basically, you need an extension hose with 2 different attachment heads on each ends, one end attaches and converts the grill magnetic latch to a screw type head-then to extension hose-then other end of hose to 1 lb. LPG adaptor. Hope that helps.

      Delete
  2. I have been looking for an oven stand and thinking of something like this. What is the metal? Is it angle iron welded? What size is the metal? Is the cut out in the front to make it easier to fold out? I saw on Coleman's website that an extra rack can be ordered. Thank you for your writeup. This is exactly what i have been looking for! I don't know how to weld, but am encouraged to find someone. I love the Coleman oven and think it is extremely useful for Van Campers. love the week designed case also. Thank You! for the and you entire website! Katy in NH

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Kathy, yes it's a welded angle iron, I think it is 1/4 inch angle. The cut out is to clear the oven lock/unlocking lever located towards the front bottom of the oven.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for this post.

    I have just purchased a Kovea 3 in 1. I was concerned that if it was a Korean product it wouldn't be as durable as an Iwatani grill.

    Surprisingly, they are both the same! Or so it appears. I think they are almost exactly identical, haha.

    I might also purchase an Iwatani Aburiya for giggles.

    ReplyDelete

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