Equipment

Nomadic cooking with Primus:

why stainless steel is (really) the best option

Cooking on the road is much more than just "eating on the go." It's that first steaming cup of coffee drunk at sunrise facing a magnificent panorama, that crispy piece of toast that warms the atmosphere on a rainy morning, or that delicious dinner after an intense day exploring new trails.

So, whether you're planning a weekend in a campervan, a road trip in an RV, or a bivouac in the wilderness, choosing the right outdoor cooking equipment is essential.

At Casambu, from discussing with our community of vanlifers, road trip enthusiasts, and bivouac campers, we very often hear about the same outdoor cooking struggles. You know, that plastic plate that forever retains the memory of the bolognese sauce from the last meal, or that fragile cup that didn't survive the last pothole? 😅

Lightweight, durable, and easy to clean, stainless steel tableware is now the benchmark for outdoor cooking. And to offer you the best, we have partnered with the Scandinavian experts in the field: Primus Equipment.

In this blog post, we explain why stainless steel ticks all the boxes and give you some tips on how to equip yourself properly!

Why is stainless steel the best material for camping dinnerware?

Stainless steel has established itself as the essential material for road trip and bivouac enthusiasts due to its exceptional technical properties.

Stainless steel offers numerous advantages that make it the ideal material for nomadic cooking.

• An ultra-healthy material for the whole family: Unlike some low-quality plastics or metals, food-grade stainless steel is completely neutral. Guaranteed BPA-free, it releases no unwanted chemicals when in contact with food, even when hot or acidic.

• No transfer of odor or grease. It does not alter the taste of your food. Unlike low-grade metals or plastics that eventually absorb grease and odors, stainless steel cleans up in a flash, even with a quick rinse at camp. Your morning coffee will retain the pure taste of coffee, without the aromatic memory of yesterday's curry!

• Extra-strong and unbreakable dinnerware: Shocks, drops, transport in a van trunk or hiking bag... Stainless steel fears almost nothing. Unbreakable and particularly robust, it accompanies all your adventures without risk of breakage.
• A durable and environmentally friendly choice: Unlike disposable utensils or plastics that wear out quickly, stainless steel is designed to last for years. It is also 100% recyclable, making it a more responsible choice to limit its environmental impact and preserve our natural playgrounds.

Why is stainless steel better for your health than other materials (by far!)?

When choosing camping dinnerware, we often hesitate between several materials. But if we look closer at what's on our plates, stainless steel clearly outperforms its competitors:

• Stainless steel vs. Melamine: say goodbye to hidden toxins

Melamine dinnerware is very common because it is lightweight and colorful. But beneath its friendly appearance, melamine resin is made from chemical components (including formaldehyde). As soon as it comes into contact with very hot (over 70°C) or acidic foods (tomato sauce, vinaigrette), it can release toxic substances directly into your meal. Stainless steel, on the other hand, is 100% neutral and inert: guaranteed BPA- and formaldehyde-free, it releases absolutely nothing into your food, regardless of your dish's temperature.

• Stainless steel vs. Aluminum: no more metallic taste and particle transfer

Aluminum is attractive due to its light weight, but raw or poorly protected aluminum reacts strongly to acidity and salt. The result? An unpleasant metallic aftertaste and, more importantly, migration of aluminum microparticles into your food. Even with a non-stick coating, it often gets scratched with the slightest fork movement. Food-grade stainless steel is totally wear-resistant and non-reactive: it requires no chemical coating that might chip and preserves 100% of the original flavor of your recipes.

In this blog post, we offer a complete range allowing you to equip your entire travel kitchen with matching, elegant, high-quality, and durable products!

The essentials for your meals

• The stainless steel cup : Designed to last, they are stackable for maximum space saving. Lightweight and robust, Primus cups are an excellent alternative to traditional glass. They are perfect for enjoying a hot or cold drink without fear of breakage.
• The Primus double-walled mugs keep your drinks at temperature for a long time and withstand repeated use. They quickly become an essential for breakfast in nature and maintain the temperature of your drinks.
• The plate: These plates offer excellent scratch resistance and are easy to clean. Their sleek design allows them to be stacked to save space in the cupboards of a van or motorhome.
• The camping bowl: Lightweight, robust, stackable, and easy to clean, they fear neither knife scratches nor rudimentary washing outdoors. Versatile, the bowls are suitable for morning cereals as well as for a hot soup or a dish prepared at camp.
  
• The stainless steel salad bowl: Ideal for shared meals on road trips, it keeps your summer salads fresh before tasting.
• Travel cutlery: An ergonomic, durable, and integrated cutlery set so you never lose them in your vehicle. Primus cutlery is designed to withstand years of use while remaining comfortable in hand. They are a lasting replacement for disposable or plastic cutlery.

The essentials for limitless cooking

• The stainless steel cookware set:

A complete set (2 pots and 1 frying pan) that ensures even heat distribution on the stove. The lids include a colander (bye-bye, pasta draining hassle!) and the handles are retractable for ultra-compact storage. Compact, they nest together to optimize storage and offer excellent heat distribution.

• The folding toaster:

One of our favorite accessories!! This clever stainless steel accessory attaches directly to your gas stove to give you crispy toast in the morning, no matter where you've parked your van. For gourmet breakfast lovers, the Primus toaster transforms your stove into a real toaster. A simple solution for enjoying toast wherever you are.

• The Primus Moto Stove: The ally for pure adventure

To activate your nomadic kitchen, Primus has developed the Moto Stove gas stove. Specifically created for adventurers, this compact stove ticks all the boxes for on-the-go performance:

1. Power and mechanical stability: Despite its pocket size, its retractable arms offer an ultra-stable support for your cookware and allow water to boil in record time.
2. Efficient integrated windscreen: Its clever design protects the flame from drafts to ensure optimal performance, even during windy bivouacs.
3. Ultra-compact and robust : It folds back on itself to slide inside your mess kit, freeing up valuable space in your luggage.

Hob?

Primus Equipment is a historic Swedish brand that has been designing cooking equipment and outdoor utensils for over 130 years.

This brand is recognized by mountaineers and travelers around the world, and year after year, it combines advanced engineering, compactness, and Scandinavian durability.

This brand develops products designed to last, no matter the conditions, and that's priceless!

Our final word...

By choosing stainless steel dinnerware and cooking equipment from Primus Equipment, you are not only choosing health safety and zero waste: you are adopting robust equipment that will accompany you for many years.

Each item finds its place in your van or backpack to transform your outdoor meals into true moments of comfort.

So, whether you're a minimalist bivouac enthusiast or a road trip epicurean in a van, we always recommend equipping yourself with gear that goes the distance (and is good for your health and the environment!)

Because a meal facing wide-open spaces deserves equipment worthy of your adventures!