Hot pot Tongs VS Lid Lifter

[Scoutfish]

So I have been playing with my DO quite a bit lately. And somehow, I am going to do a short bit/ demo on DO cooking at our next pack campout.

 

But you know what..... I don't have anything to lift the lid. So far I have ben using the tip of a shovel, a thicker stick or even the handle of s spatula.

 

I have decided that I can'y put it off any longer: I am going to have to buy a lifting d4evice for my lid.

 

 

Now, I'm thinking I want to buy the lifter handle with the hook and two side sytabilizers over the hot pot tongs, I mean, I could eaily just use a pair of vice grips as the tongs.

 

But I think I might have better lid control with the lid lifter..meaning I have better control over it not flipping and "peppering " my food.

 

So what has your experiences taught you?

 

Which do you prefer?

 

Do you use something else entirely?

[kenk]

The claw on a hammer works very well, and can be used for other stuff too.

[Ohio_Scouter]

I prefer a lid lifter. It provides very good control.

[OwntheNight]

A wonder bar and welding gloves. I've also seen somebody screw an eye hook into the end of their rubber mallet.

[Gary_Miller]

I use a pair of channel lock pliers they grip well, give me good control, and allow me to grip the edge of the lid so I can dump off the coals when done cooking.

[ntrog8r]

I use a 3-prong hand-held hoe from the garden section. Middle prong is slightly longer so the lid handle is caught between it and the other two prongs when I lift it. Stays flat, no peppering, and makes turning the lid for baking easy. Since the handle is thick wood, it is comfortable to hold and never transfers heat.

[AnaMaria]

I'd get an official lid lifter. From what I've seen and experienced the alternatives do an adequate job - the lid lifter does an exceptional job. The one I'd get is a spring-loaded model. I don't think it's Lodge, but I was very impressed.

[Stosh]

I've done DO cooking for 20 years, never owned lid lifter. On occasion, if handy, I use a long handled channel lock, otherwise I use welding gloves. Reach down, grab the lid, lift it off, no problem, just like lifting the lid off the pot at home.

 

When I first started DO cooking, there was a lid lifter, but could never find it when I needed it. Just got used to using the gloves after that. The gloves were always by the fire ready to use.

 

Stosh

[artjrk]

I have two lifters. The other night was making 3 Dump Cakes for a youth retreat. Couldn't find either. A good stick works wonders. Over the years I have used more sticks than the lifters. Sometimes I will wear gloves.

[EagleBeaver]

I think you are asking for advice between

lid lifter - http://www.dutchovencookware.com/lid-lifter.jpg

and

tongs - http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.aspx?cat=01RTL&item=1215

 

We had both until the lifter was left at some campout recently. :-(

The lifter keeps your hands away from the heat and requires much less hand strength, but it requires more coordination to prevent spilling of ash into the food.

The tongs are half the price, useful for lots of other stuff, smaller and flatter, but require wearing a glove and strength to squeeze and lift.

We have welding gloves that the scouts use and do fine with the tongs.

Each patrol has their own tongs for whatever they need to use it.

 

(I'd also point out that the tongs from BSA scout shop have a real cheap rivet that you should plan on replacing)

[desertrat77]

My vote: the official BSA hot pot tongs, for no good reason other than nostalgia.

[frank10]

I'm with Alton Brown on this... Only one "Uni-tasker" allowed in the kitchen. I use channel locks. Why carry an extra tool that only has one use.

 

(The only "Uni-tasker" that Mr Brown allows is a fire extinguisher.)

[Stosh]

Oooh, an A. Brown fan. Me too.

 

That's why I only use welding gloves. They work for everything. Protection when sawing wood, chopping kindling, handling logs that roll around the campfire, putting out small fires, picking up briquettes and arranging them on the lid, lifting covers, and moving DO's around, grabbing foil dinners off the fire, etc.

 

Buy the best there is, they are pricey, but I have two pair that I've used for 20 years, it is well worth the investment and in my backpack, I have at least one for when I mess kit cook and don't need both hands for the strength of handling heavy DO's.

 

Stosh

[rdclements]

Fish,

 

I've used the classic iron hook, rebar, sticks, gloves, etc. I also learned that hot iron looks just like cold iron. That's when I got serious about the gloves.

 

The Mair lifter (http://www.mairdutchovenlifter.com) works great and gives you a solid grip on the lid. I don't own one, but I've used a few.

 

I built a wooden box that holds a 12" DO, lifter, GLOVES, broom, and the little stand that lets you use the lid as a griddle.

 

It's really a question of how much stuff you want to carry around.

 

-R

[qwazse]

My jr. fire fighters love their welding gloves.

 

But, our Jackie Chan fans love shouting "HaPaTangs!" as they cook.