How Do You Cook Onboard?

[urgayle]

Wow! I never expected to get so many answers so quickly. Now it all makes perfect sense. Guess I'll be checking out what Target has available. Thanks so much!

[hellosailor]

Gayle-
Pressure cookers 100 years ago could be explosive and as a result they got a bad reputation. Then I guess in the 60's/70's one design, using a rubber safety blow-out plug, and a counterweight as a pressure regulator, took over the market. It couldn't explode but it sure could eject food all over the room, still not a cuddlesome experience.<G>
Today there are all sorts of designs and it really pays to look them over. Some very expensive lines, and others simple & inexpensive. All work safely IF you see how they are supposed to work and follow the rules about not overfilling them and clogging them.
What you can't do with a pressure cooker is actually watch what you are cooking. If you are used to cooking things until they look/taste right, you can't do it. In order to open the pot, you need to bleed off the pressure, and then you need to restart it again and you lose so much time, it is pointless to use the pressure cooker. So at least in my experience, a pressure cooker means you MUST use and follow a recipe, i.e., specific amounts and portions and times of cooking. Done that way, they work well. But for those of us who are used to cooking more casually...it just can't be done that way.
For a big heavy potful of food, there's no question that they will save a lot of energy because they cook so quickly. And because the lid clamps on tight, you'll never have to worry about dinner going flying all over the scalded cook in a rough seaway. There's some value to that! (Well, assuming you want hot meals in those conditions anyway.<G>)

[GordMay]

Miss Vickie's Pressure Cooker Website
Everything you need to know about pressure cooking is right here - hundreds of pressure cooker recipes, information, instructions, in depth articles and How-To directions for beginners and experienced users.
Goto: Miss Vickie's Pressure Cooker Recipes

[Lynx]

Kuhn-Rikon pressure cooker is the best rated by cruisers. Can be found on the web - http://www.kuhnrikon.com/products/pressure_cookers/

Get the one without the long handles. 5L

Parts are easy to get.

[rebel heart]

We use a pressure cooker, but to be honest are still getting the hang of it. We have a microwave, which is useful right now only because our kerosene stove is ready to become one with the bottom of the ocean, and we haven't installed the propane one yet. I use the grill extensively.

My ideal cooking setup:
- propane stove, 3 burner (although 2 would be sufficient 99% of the time)
- oven in said stove
- pressure cooker
- grill
- tea pot / kettle (gets insane amounts of use)
- everything stainless (i would personally use non stick, but the Admiral is quite abusive towards non stick, so metal insides it is)
- small fry pan
- wok (doubles as a big fry pan; keep it oiled)

Linn and Larry Pardey raved for a bit about those collapsable sets that West Marine and Defender are selling now for around $200 or so. They said they're worth every penny, so I just might believe they are.

I love the grill for a few reasons. As a guy, it's one area of cooking that I feel I have dominion over. I enjoy it, and I can cook most of my favorite stuff on it. It's pretty easy to knock burned food into the water, and in general I just like cooking on the transom more than being in the galley.

[Pblais]

My ideal cooking setup:

I would agree,. I don't have the pressure cooker yet but the rest do have. I do also suggest the grill be connected to the main propane tank and not a small bottle wanna be.

Calphalon Pro non stick is a good suggestion. SS pots and pans suck. Everything sticks.

[GordMay]

Use only plastic (nylon), rubber, silicon, or wood utensils on Non-Stick cookware. Avoid sharp utensils.

Non-Stick coatings are generally made from either a silicone base, or a fluorocarbon (P.T.F.E.* - “Teflon”)) base.
Fluorocarbon coatings are applied in a 2 or 3 coat process, consisting of 1 or 2 layers of the non-stick material, plus a "sealer" or topcoat. A reinforced coating is one that utilizes the application of stainless steel particles, in a molten state, to the surface of the pan prior to coating with the nonstick material.
The main differences in quality levels are in the formulas of the liquid coating, the number of layers of coating, and the thickness of each layer. "Generic" or non-branded coatings are generally used on low end frypans, and will usually be a formula that has less durability and release qualities than branded coatings.
Even the best non-stick coatings will begin to lose their resistance to sticking, after only a few years - sooner if the pan is constantly overheated or cleaned in the dishwasher or with harsh detergents.
A good nonstick finish is absolutely smooth to the touch, and has a matte (not shiny) finish.
*Polytetrafluoroethylene is very soft ,and scratches easily.

[Capct]

We use a three burner LP stove with a LP oven and a charcoal bbq grill that hangs off the port side deck rail.I also have a portable camp stove for beach picnics.I prefer really heavy cast iron frying pans and pots.They hold the heat better and once conditioned you never soap them.

I also have a little microwave I use for reheating and some cooking but we only use that while on shore power.The start/stop thing of a microwave magnetron is very hard on generators when your out on the hook
Grill bake fry or boil pretty much cover ones bases.

Generally speaking ....I like to cook on the hook.We are never that much in a hurry we cant drop the hook for a sarnie ...some soup and a soda.Much easier when you are not moving.

[Lancerbye]

We cook mostly on the hook or at the dock, sometimes microwave on the go. We have a three burner Pricess electric which requires the genset running when not on shore power. The genset is very efficient and quiet so that,s not too bad, however we find the three burner arrangement not to be the best. The pots we like to use are too wide and we never seem to need more than one burner , so we are looking at replacing the top with a single ceramic burner in the middle of the stove. Anybody ever try this?

[Roy M]

I just finished converting my Force 10 four burner/oven unit into an eye-level oven and lower range unit. My boat is a multihull and this allows the stove system to sit above the underwing, allowing any possible propane leak to drain harmlessly overboard. It's also incredibly convenient to cook on. I'll post a picture of it as soon as I can.

[maxingout]

On Exit Only we use a Force Ten propane stove and oven to do our cooking. We have used the Force Ten Stove for 13 years without a problem, and the only maintenance is using a pricker to keep the holes on the burners open. It's pretty much like cooking on land.

[Lancerbye]

I had one of the Force 10 diesel stoves in a fishing boat for about five years. Didn't like the preheating and flareups. Changed to a propane unit which I enjoyed until I retired the boat. I now use a Princess electric.

[Red Charlotte]

My boyfriend is Rebel Heart (posted above.) As a follow up to his post, we just recently installed a two-burner Seaward Princess. We'll be buying a new grill soon (as ours was destroyed in a hit-and-run when someone hit and destroyed our stern pulpit.)

I also use a pressure cooker. It is SO nice to have a new stove/oven. I feel like I can cook just like at home. Well, similarily to home. The pans are much smaller now, so I've had to adjust to not cooking so much. That's been hard for someone who comes from a large family and is used to always cooking leftovers.

[Kuapa'a]

Now here's a product that absolutely none of us can live without !


______________________________________


Motorized Grill Brush

Price:$25.00


Available from Amazon (see attached photo)

_______________________________________________


I just couldn't figure out what to do with that $25 gift certificate.

[Kuapa'a]

Now here's a product that absolutely none of us can live without !


Motorized Grill Brush

Price:$25.00


Available from Amazon (see attached photo)