Proudly Australian Made
Over Christmas, I took my Solidteknics 18cm Skillet camping with me in Tasmania. I did have a chuckle as I packed it into my checked luggage – I knew very well that the campervan we’d hired had pots and pans, but I just really wanted to try out this pan, enough to take it all the way to Tassie with me. And it was actually no trouble at all as the pan is very lightweight, and comes with its own carry pouch.
The view from our campervan where we camped on our Tasmanian road trip
The Aus-Ion Range by Solidteknics is made to withstand extreme temperatures. So, cooking directly over hot coals, open grill or campfire is fine – there are no heat restrictions whatsoever. Check out their flaming skillet for the ultimate steak searing pan.
Australian made from one continuous piece of non-toxic steel (the first and only of its kind in the world) means it is hygienic, easy to clean and super durable. In fact, the pan has a multi-century warranty. That’s right – these pans will outlast us all!
The pan comes pre-seasoned so it is ready to go on a cooking adventure right out of the box. It will require seasoning in between to maintain its satin finish which offers superb non-stick properties. (‘Seasoning’ basically means to clean the pan with soapy water, then rub it all over with a small amount of oil.)
From Solidteknics: We do advise to avoid cleaning with soap regularly as it erodes seasoning and best cleaning practice is to run hot water over your warm pan and remove any food with a wooden or plastic scraper (metal if it is stubborn). Whilst the pan is new, it is great to wipe a light shine (polish) over your pan before storing it. If you follow our guide to seasoning, you shouldn't have to season between uses unless the seasoning is weak or erodes due to cooking acidic foods such as tomatoes. Cooking naturally with fats/oils will also help build seasoning and essentially as the pan ages and the more it is used - the better it performs!
The handle of the pan has a clever vent that reduces heat, which is in the shape of Australia and also doubles as a hanging loop.
The 18cm size frying pan is perfect for scrambling eggs or sautéing vegetables. On Christmas morning in our camper van, we found a beautiful spot with a view to pull up to. On our camper van stove, I sautéed some slices of ham in the Solidteknics pan, then added some eggs to scramble. I then carried the pan down the rocky path where the kids were wading in some rock pools, found myself a nice rock to sit on and enjoyed my breakfast right out of the pan.
Later that day for our Christmas day feast, we found yet another pretty seaside view on our way back into Hobart from Freycinet National Park. I used my Solidteknics pan to sauté some capsicum and some fresh Tasman Sea Abalone we had bought from a fish market on Christmas Eve.
I’d say these pans are perfect for camping but also fantastic for everyday use at home.
Becky Gilhespie is a food writer and former Masterchef semi-finalist. She is currently working part time as a chef, having chosen to do on the job training instead of enrolling at culinary school. Becky is a recipe writer and product tester for many household name brands via Everten, and her own food blog, www.eatwhatweeat.com focuses on family friendly meals with the wow factor that are healthy, fast and simple to prepare.
Becky is originally from the US but lived in London for 15 years and now resides in Sydney with her husband and two little boys. Her food is inspired a lot by her travels (and desire to travel more).
