anyone using the Cancooker?

[Vic]

Caught my eye in the sale ad and thinking it might be a nice way to up the bar for dinners. Anyone using? How hard is it to clean?

My concern is there are just 3 of us camping, and one of us is a light eater, so I'd rarely fill it to capacity. I wish there was a tiny version.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/cancooker-jr-/1586594.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3D550070%252Band%252B551171&Ntt=550070+and+551171

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

If the huge capacity is the issue, Lodge makes 1.5 and 2 quart Dutch ovens. Probably a bit heavier, but they would take up less space.

 

[PaulT]

GSI and others also make aluminum Dutch ovens.

The 3 qt one is 3 1/2 lbs and without legs so that it nests inside their larger one with legs. I've been looking at it over the cast iron ovens because it is hard anodized and, unlike the cast iron ovens, can be scrubbed and left ungreased, is lighter weight, can be used on the gas cook top and is a more suitable size for two people.

Price is higher than the cast iron Lodge ones but the above link, I just found, is more reasonable than local retail stores.
Paul.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Paul, we use the enameled DOs. Easy to use and clean. It takes a bit of care when traveling, but nothing extravagant.

 

[PaulT]

I'll take a look at enameled ones at somewhere other than Sur la Table and Kitchen Kaboodle. There always seemed to be a high price addition for such a thin layer of melted sand.

Paul

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Le Cru$et?

 

[PaulT]

Yup.

 

[SeldomSeen]

I have the smaller can cooker. I love it. The only time it comes out of the Grandby is if I want to use it in the house. I cook for 2 with it often--you don't have to stuff it to the gills. The great thing about it is the simplicity. Put in the bottom grate, quick spray with pam, add meat, veggies, spices, and about 12 oz water (I'm not a big fan of the flavor beer introduces, but you can use it if you want). Throw on fire or stove, wait for steam, start your 40 min timer and have a beverage. When we cook for a crowd on mountain biking trips, it makes cleanup a breeze--one pot cooking for up to about 10 people is great. Basically works as a hybrid of pressure cooker and dutch oven. Everything comes out really tender. If you like your veggies more al dente, Add them in the last 5-10 mins. I highly suggest Pork loin roasts, sausage and shrimp boils (a little splash of the zatarain's shrimp boil will season from "spicy" to "melt-your-face-off). It really is foolproof. I still use a dutch oven, but I REALLY like the can cooker too.

 

[Florida]

I take along the small version of the can cooker along with my Dutch oven. Aside from the one-pot meals that it was made for, it is a very nice soup/chili pot. I use it over a fire or on a propane stove. Cleaning isn't difficult.


Sent from my iPad using Wander The West

 

[Squatch]

Until reading this thread I hadn't given these much thought. But I've been thinking about a larger pot for soup ect. As posted above this could do double duty.

Has anyone used one of these on top of a gas campfire with a grate? I have a Camco Little Red Campfire that hasn't seen much use yet. Seems like this might make a nice combo with that.

 

[nikonron]

I'd never heard of these, but just ordered the CanCooker Jr.. We shall see. Ron

 

[Squatch]

It looks like they have a new one that's smaller than the JR called the companion. 1.5 gal instead of 2 gal. I think I'm going to order 1 of those.

Ordered!

 

[Rockcod]

Thanks for bringing the thread back, I'm in the planning stage of my cookware needs.

 

[Ramblinman]

I have the Jr - Its fantastic and makes relatively easy and healthy meals. Worth the money IMO.

 

[PaulT]

We like the GSI 10" hard anodized dutch oven. http://www.gsioutdoors.com/10-hard-anodized-dutch-oven.html Can find it cheaper from other vendors. Being hard anodized, it has no seasoned surface to maintain. I prefer cast iron, but space & time while camping sold me on this unit.

Very light weight and can be cleaned and left without a coating of grease. Ability to be put away dry, flat bottom that works on cooktop or it can be used on a trivet in campfire coals. Wife uses it for steaming veggies, and food prep. Very versatile. It is our most used cookwear after the frypan. Its one negative is that it is not stable to carry with food & liquid by the wire bail handle. It takes the second hand to stabilize it.

Paul

 

[Vic]

I just ordered my wife the Can Cooker Jr. for mother's day. She is such a lucky lady

For anyone on the fence, it looks like they might be phasing these Jr's out for the new Companion model and Amazon has them for under $30 shipped free (for prime).

 

[Squatch]

My Companion came in. Seems very nice. I also found that I had one of those metal steamer things that folds out like flower petals that fits it well. I'm going to try that for some rice and shrimp soon.

 

[Squatch]

Finally tried the Can Cooker last night. Made steaks on the grill and cooked potatoes and carrots in the Can Cooker. They turned out great in about 30 minutes.

 

[nikonron]

Did you use a rack in it, or just let them lay on the bottom? Ron

 

[Squatch]

We used the rack. Red skins cut in 2 or 3 large pieces on the rack. Little tiny carrots on top after seasoning each layer. Then covered the top with Italian seasoning. A lot of the little carrots fell through the rack but wasn't an issue. Just had to remove one side of the rack to spoon them out.

Coated the pan with Pam 1st. Brought to boil and steam then turned way down to simmer for 30 minutes.

We have a steamer basket similar to this. http://www.target.com/p/9-inch-stainless-steel-steamer-basket-room-essentials-153/-/A-12756517?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Kitchen+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Kitchen&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9007905&gclid=CJCM7J-N-tMCFYiFswodcTwMUg&gclsrc=aw.ds

We tried it this am and it fits the companion perfectly. I want to try that with some brown rice and shrimp!