Stainless Steel versus Hard Anodized

[G wizz]

___________________

[Yamifj1200]

Ok, Guys, I could maybe use some help on this ...
I'm ready to trade in my 50 year old Boy Scout mess kit for a new set of nesting pots.
I've narrowed my search and have found the set I want to buy, but here's the catch ...
The set I want comes in either Stainless Steel, or Hard Anodized aluminum, with a non stick coating on the inside.

The weight difference between the two isn't a concern.
My stove will fit perfectly in the inside pot, so I'll be storing it there.
I intend keeping this set as long as I kept my old B.S. mess kit.

With that in mind ...
Which one should I choose, and why?

G wizz

Personally I would go with the coated aluminum (thats what I use) I used to have a Coleman stainless mess kit. I found that the stainless pots were difficult to clean and tended to burn food if not cooked on a very low flame. The GCI cook set I use is coated aluminum, super easy to clean and cooks well. JMO

Eric M

[SidecarMike]

How well does the coating last. I'm using a set of yard sale MRI stainless ones and have the problems you describe, but was worried the coating wouldn't hold up on the aluminum. For the price, I want to ask before I spend.

[Motocentaur]

I have messware of both types and I prefer the stainless. That coating doesn't hold up well for me, and the sorts of things I cook are usually not too bad to clean up.

[VFR]

I have the GSI hard anodized ones. They also make teflon lined cookware. I avoided that one because it does wear off. I do put paper towels in between the items kept in the cookware as it keeps them from rattling around & can be used for cleaning or napkins. Been using them for awhile now & no signs of wear.

Of course all of this is moot if the size cookware you need only comes in one or the other. The most important consideration is to have the cookware sized to whatever kind of cooking you intend to do. Cooksets these days come in a very wide variety of sizes & configurations.

[Ironheadziggy76]

I like the anodized aluminum as well, mine have been beat and banged around for years and still are holding up well. Mine are just a cheaper set, I can't remember the brand, maybe Texsport or GSI? I got them on clearance at Sierra Trading Post.

[Maryland Roger]

For my money, SS is the way to go. Here's why:

It's true that aluminum conducts heat better. But, technology has narrowed the gap and many SS products have a thin sheet of aluminum sandwiched between(called try-ply i think) or bonded to the bottom of the cookware. Then, there's the fact that you can scrub the crap out of SS with something abrasive and it just ads character to the cookware. Try that with anondized and you might be looking to for a new set. And, you can throw SS into a dishwasher. Not that you'll be hauling a dishwasher on your bike. But, it's a nice option to have. SS can be tougher to clean. But, if you fill up the dirty cookware with water and let it boil a while it will usually clean up nice and easy. Lastly, as others have mentioned, I don't like having to protect my cookware from chips and chunks coming out. SS has that "chuck wagony" sound when it gets thrown around. "Chuck wagony" is revealing some of my weirdness so I'll stop there.

[dan1551]

The next two things that will hit the list for causing cancer in lab rats..........partially hydroginated soybean oil and aluminum ,such as almost all antipersperants and food cooked in anything that is make from aluminum cause it rubs off and some of it comes off with applied heat.

[ImRubicon]

Stainless steel as with a little oil it cooks just fine.
Now I dont get too fancy and hot water for instant meals is the norm but I like my boyscout ss set as its five or six years old and working fine

no chuncks wearing off in my food either

[DILLIGAF61]

hey George I like my SS set my 4 cup percolator (my french press is plastic) is also SS both from Cabelas they work just fine for me and there's a excuse to ride down to Dundee

30 more days woooohooo

[Dusty Boots]

Hard to beat a SS set for durability.
I've been using my MSR set for over 20 years now and other that 1 or two tiny 'dings', are in very good condition.
I've tried the MSR Teflon coated set but sold them at the 1st hint of them flaking.
I have the small GSI hard Anodized Double Boiler , which are ..."OK" .... and I have the GSI Bugaboo Coated (http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.campmor.com/wcsstore/Campmor/static/images/kitchen/82410.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.campmor.com/gsi-outdoors-bugaboo-teflon-cookset-medium-1.shtml&usg=__IcctQwTB5blRFn3QkarlAO1hkIs=&h=264&w=245&sz=19&hl=en&start=13&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=iIuRZCYmokychM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGSI%2BBugaboo%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa fe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4GGLL_enCA358CA358%26t bs%3Disch:1) cookset, which seems to requires 'careful handling' from what limited use they have seen.

[ImRubicon]

Thanks Guys for all the advice.
Here's what I've desided to do ...
I'm abandoning the nesting pot idea, and insead will get another mess kit like my old aluminum Boy Scout one, only in Stainless Steel. To that I'll take vabob's suggestion and buy a cheap 8" teflon coated fry pan, I'll cut off the handle and use a detachable aluminum pot gripper on it.
Along with a sheet of paper towel, the mess kit should snuggle into the fry pan just fine. When the teflon gets bad, I'll pitch the fry pan, and get another.

G wizz

That does sound like the easiest way if you really need a big pan to cook those fancy meals in LOL
must admit as I get older I do more eat dinner before I call it a day and then just a snack and a cold one and Im ready for bed

[greybeard]

ck walmart they carry an 8 inch skillet with a folding handle that is lined with silverstone doesn't flakeoff like teflon I have one been using for about 10 years and still non-stick

[DILLIGAF61]

hey George
if all you want is one 8 inch skillet to add to your mess kit
just go with the worlds original non-stick get a cast iron pan
if you were back packing or if you tied everything to your rear seat I wouldn't suggest it but you have a camper and if you don't take the camper you have that a+ looking receiver rack to haul stuff on

[SidecarMike]

REI carries a 4 quart 10"
Here is a two quart, but they don't give the diameter.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BAYOU-CLASSIC-2-QUART-CAST-IRON-DUTCH-OVEN-LID-/260392748543?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Cookware&hash=item3ca09e05ff

[greybeard]

that folding skillet is found in the camping section

[Hermit]

that folding skillet is found in the camping section

The only one I found in our Wally world here in south central KY , was a coleman 9.5 inch with folding handle. Is the one your speaking of a Coleman?

[greybeard]

if it is the one with the grayish-green liner that is probably the one am not sure on the size just how well it works and holds up plus it packs small

[Ironheadziggy76]

The only one I found in our Wally world here in south central KY , was a coleman 9.5 inch with folding handle. Is the one your speaking of a Coleman?

Hermit that is the same one we have in our Wally, Cowboy5 has one in his camp kitchen and it works well.

I was in your neck of the woods a while back on a ride. We looped around through Bowling Green up to Cave City and back home via Hwy 70.

[greybeard]

later today I will dig mine out of my gear and get the name from it

[bigTom]

Jeeze, I used mine quite a while, until it jumped out of my pack as I was coming home from a camping trip...

I left the location out intentionally, in case somebody had or knew who had one embedded in their windshield:)

[Hermit]

----
Is this the one you are talking about:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/COLEMAN-9-FRY-PAN/13848647

I was going to say for 7 bucks, use it for a trip then toss it. But then I read the reviews on Amazon. Not good. :-([/QUOTE]


Yes, VABob, that appears to be the one I was looking at.

Hey Steve, Hwy 70 nice ride, you should have entered Mammoth Cave Park and rode the Green River ferry across to Stockholm and on over to Rough River.
I am trying to get over your way to LBL this year but haven't made it yet.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Yes, VABob, that appears to be the one I was looking at.

Hey Steve, Hwy 70 nice ride, you should have entered Mammoth Cave Park and rode the Green River ferry across to Stockholm and on over to Rough River.
I am trying to get over your way to LBL this year but haven't made it yet.

That looks similar to the one cuz has, but for some reason I want to think his is a 12" pan. I could be wrong. Cowboy5 has fixed some awesome Chorizo and Eggs breakfasts in this skillet! P^ It's one of the things I look forward to when camping with him. :)

The wife and I are heading down to LBL next week to help her uncle launch a sailboat he built, should be exciting, I can't swim! :eek: I'm going to try to slip off and grab some photos of some of the campgrounds for the folks here. I may end up having to drive the truck though. :mad:

[dan1551]

www.stumbleupon.com/su/1BfKJR/www.metacafe.com/watch/839102/cool_little_miniature_stove/


I hope that worked....put your pans on this ...pretty neat burner!