We all know that one of the best things about camping is being able to cook over an open flame. Many people choose to go the traditional hotdog and hamburger route. However, there are times when the ordinary camping fee just isn’t enough. On those occasions, you may want to reach for a Panini Press Pie Iron. It’s a great camping accessory for that very reason.
Rome Industries makes an excellent Panini press made from cast iron, it is 22 inches long and features an 8″ x 4″ cooking area. Remember, if you just bought your first cake pan, you’ll need to season the Panini press just like you would a cast iron skillet. Seasoning protects cast iron from rusting and helps prevent food from sticking during cooking. All seasoned pastry chefs have their own unique way of preparing the griddle and bread for cooking in a Panini press, but we’ve found that simply buttering the outside of each half leaves a perfect crispy brown. This will also help prevent the sandwich from sticking to the cast iron plates. If you decide to use oil, make sure it has a high smoke point. Otherwise, you may inadvertently end up infusing an unpleasant smoky flavor into your food. Oils that tend to have smoke points above 350 degrees Fahrenheit are refined canola, safflower, soybean and sunflower oils.
Depending on what you are using as sandwich ingredients, heating each side of the Panini press for about 3-4 minutes should preheat the griddle well. Now let your imagination run wild. My favorite is a jalapeño bagel with a little turkey, cheddar cheese, a big chunk of tomato, and a little banana-pepper relish. Oh very good! Because of its size, the Panini Press doesn’t have to be limited to making sandwiches, it’s perfect for cooking hotdogs, hamburgers and my favorite cherry pie.
There are several camping accessories that would go well with the Rome Panini Press. A Pie Iron cookbook will keep the good ideas going once you get hooked on campfire cooking. Compact and self-contained, the Picnic Time Asiago Folding Cutting Board is a great area for cutting sandwiches and sharing with others. If you plan on having multiple cake pans at the same time, a large rack over the fire will help keep the Panini press level during the cooking process.
