Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you have to slum it. Gillian Hook brings refined cooking and fine dinnerware to the table
Traditional gas camping cookers tend to have two settings: off and I’ve-burnt-the-beans-again. But if you’ve got electric hook-up, an induction hob could extend your campsite cuisine repertoire.
The Judge portable induction hob measures about a foot square and has just one ring, but is more controllable than your average camping gas stove and has a built-in safety feature: it can’t heat up until a suitable pan is placed on the ring.
The science bit
The Judge Portable Induction Hob
Plugged in, a strong magnetic field is created under the ceramic plate and the resulting induction current generates heat in pans capable of being magnetised. Remove the pan from the hob and the current – and heat – vanish instantly. This means no scorched fingers and spilt food spilt won’t burn onto the surface.
There are ten different heating levels, ranging from 60degC (ideal for simmering) up to 240degC, and it can be altered by simply pressing plus and minus buttons. The digital display shows the temperature and is also a timing feature.
You have to use pans that are capable of being magnetised – if a fridge magnet sticks to the base, it’ll work – so the only drawback could be that you have to fork out for new cookware.
If you do, a steamer would work well with this hob, giving you a tasty, healthy meal that’s a million miles from slightly burnt beans.
A glass act
Once you’ve created your gourmet masterpiece, you don’t want to slap it on a tin or plastic plate, so turn the art of civilised camping up a notch with stylish dinnerware from Corelle.
The mugs are made from traditional sturdy stoneware, so none of that plastic taste to your tea. The plates and bowls, however, are created from Vitrelle, three layers of glass bonded together. This makes them lightweight as well as chip and break-resistant (although even they were not immune to the far-from-light-touch of one courier service and the first review set was returned in pieces).
In the groove
The brand was first introduced in the 1970s and the range of funky designs harks back to that era, making for retro statement pieces that will make you the talk of the campsite.
Even though the accompanying safety leaflet says the plates are not intended for camping, we don’t care – we’re prepared to take a little more care for such dramatic dinnerware.
And even when you’re back from your camping trip, it’s stylish enough to bring out at home.
- Gillian Hook is a freelance journalist. For more information, go to gillianhook.co.uk
Product information
Judge portable induction hobs are available from Amazon.co.uk and good cookware stores, rrp £60
Corelle tableware is priced from £2.75 for a dinner plate, and 16-piece dinner sets are priced from £42 to £70 and available from Amazon.co.uk
Tue, Feb 2, 2010
Gadgets