The Stabilotherms Jägarstekpanna (Hunters Pan) is a pan that I’ve been after for so long, I love this style of pan for over the fire cooking.
This pan is the typical Scandinavian frying pan you see cooking freshly caught fish over an open fire.
Manufactured in Sweden from carbon steel it is erfect for campfire use since the material withstands high temperatures.
The more you use your pan, the better frying properties it will have. But like any iron / steel pan it needs curing / seasoning so food doesn’t stick and to protect the pan from rust.
The inspiration for our Jägarstekpannor goes way back and comes from an old Nordic recipe called “kolbulle” or Coal Bun.
It was prepared in a frying pan by navvies, loggers, coal workers and other workman’s who worked long periods without access to fresh ingredients.
It is also a very fatty, carb heavy meal perfect for ardous work.
The frying pan started to be manufactured in Småland, Sweden in the 1980s and is today a valued tool among hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen.
The Jägarstekpannor weighs 501g. diameter of 21cm and is made from carbon steel. If looked after it will last you a long time.
Seasoning the Stabilotherm Jägarstekpanna (Hunters Pan).
There are many different ways to season an iron / steel pan, some methods involve baking the item in the oven.
Some say use a high flash point oil like flax seed but personally I’ll go for the old school method involving an animal fat.
I’m curing this pan in two ways: animal fat for the inside of the pan and a resinous coating on the bottom.
I chose to use the Horizon stove by Anevay to season my pan.
Due to it being a rocket stove it will reach a high heat, and this is perfect for buring fatwood, which is how the base will be cured.
There’s no better place to do this than out in the forest where I can sit and relax and also gather the fatwood needed for the fuel.
What is Fatwood?
Fatwood is an amazing natural fire lighter. When a pine is damaged and dies, the resin from the tree collects in the root as turpentine. Some pine in very wet areas will produce turpentine to stop the roots from rotting.
When dry fatwood, is one of the best firelighters around. It can be shaved and a single spark from a fire steel is enough to create a flame.
When fatwood is burnt it produces a real black resinous smoke that after a while will coat you cooking implements in a black resin.
Seasoning the pan.
Firstly, clean of the oil that the pan is coated in from the factory (this is just a vegetable oil to protect the pan).
Get your fire hot, put your pan on and add whatever oil / fat you want to use.
Keep moving your pan around so that all of the surface gets oil on it and allow it to coat the pan. Once the whole bottom of the pan is coated you can start cooking. This whole process should take about an hour.
Care for your Jägarstekpanna
If you care for your Jägarstekpannan the right way, you will have a frying pan that can be passed down from generation to generation.
- Wash the frying pan with warm water only. Do not use dish soap.
- Shall not be washed in a dishwasher.
- Wipe the pan with paper towels and preferably a little cooking oil to prevent rust. Preferably efter every use.
- Store it in a dry place.
What to cook on the Stabilotherm Jägarstekpanna (Hunters Pan)
This style of pan is designed to be used over an open fire. But will work just as well over a gas flame.
The Stabilotherm Jägarstekpanna is perfect for Kolbulle which as mentioned above is a old Scandinavian recipe and really tasty.
Kolbulle
Ingedients:
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 kg bacon
- lingon berries or lingon berry preserve.
DIRECTIONS
- Cut the bacon into thick chunks, about 1 cm.
- Mix flour, water, and salt together, whisking to get any chunks out.
- Fry the bacon in a cast iron pan over a fire, cooking part way.
- Using a ladle, add a scoop or two of batter into the pan, until it has covered the bottom of the pan and partially covered the bacon pieces.
- Wait about 3 minutes, then flip the pancake over and cook another 2-3 minutes.
- Add lingon berries on top, and enjoy!
The Stabilotherm Jägarstekpanna costs around £40 and can be purchased direct from Stabilotherm or in the U.K. from Outhaus.co.uk