Billy can cooking

Since stw seems to know ghillie kettles and solo stoves etc,  I’m guessing billy cans are also something used by forumite Ray mears types.

I fancy doing some billy can cooking just for a bit of fun with the kids.  Likely it’ll be at the beach but I guess if the results are good (to eat,  or fun) it might get combined with the occasional bbq at home.   I’d also help my 8yo with her ‘Backwoods cooking’ cub scout badge…. she’s really enjoying cubs and I’m enjoying helping her with badges.

Since it’s not likely to get loads of use I don’t intend to spend £20 and more on a Zebra, so I’ll adapt a cheap can. Plus it seems from various YouTubes I’ve seen lots of ‘canners adapt a Zebra anyway. So my question really is about can suitability,  can size I guess.

Is this big enough?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364484556471?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=qpZnTSwbQXC&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=ouq3u5EnS2m&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Or should I go a little bigger?

https://www.cooksmill.co.uk/round-steel-tall-storage-container-(ubha)-no10–10-5cm-x-13cm–1-litre

Or

https://www.cooksmill.co.uk/round-steel-tall-storage-container-(ubha)-no11–11-5cm-x-14-5cm–1-4-litre

Or

https://www.cooksmill.co.uk/round-steel-tall-storage-container-(ubha)-no13–14cm-x-18cm–2-2-litre

Or

https://www.cooksmill.co.uk/round-steel-tall-storage-container-(ubha)-no14–15cm-x-19cm–2-6-litre

I’ve already got a cheap 8 inche diameter stainless  stock pot that I can hang above a campfire,  and I reckon it would also work OK as a Dutch oven to roast or bake so if I get something else I guess small is fine and would give the extra portability to have a play,  bake some cookies or something else fun without much kit….I just don’t want to go for something too small it’s unusable.

My other question is what is most fun to cook?  I’m thinking stews over a fire,  roast a chicken in the embers,  bake a sponge cake, cookies or bread…. any other ideas?

Ta

I’m following this with interest.

I’ve a Kelly Kettle, but would be interested in a larger pot (preferable with a bail handle to keep it out of the fire). And some recipes. 

Both my kids in beavers and cubs, so they both like that. We also watch outdoor boys on you tube, and whilst its American, it does give me ideas.

Beavers and Cubs rock!  The 6yo is a beaver so I get to pretend I’m that young again doing stuff with her too 😆

Now that big sister is in Cubs the backwoods cooking progresses beyond smores!

Oh yes I should say, I imagine I’ll be using it over/ in the embers of my beach bucket bbq. I also have a dinky solostove-alike and could try a small billy with that, although with the small twigs that takes I’ll not generate coals to put on top of the billy so I guess that cooking is stews only.  I’ve noticed a few youtubers using the folding firebox type stove to get a few bigger bits of wood going,  get some coals and then roast in the billy…. hmm, should I look for one of those or am I being silly? (I think I know the answer!)

at scouts roast chicken was a favourite

just chuck a pack of butter and a whole chicken in the billy can, cook for a couple of hours

with baked spuds ……..

mmmm

dont forget to smear the outside in washing up liquid before you put it on the fire, makes cleaning much easier!

I’m not sure that a thin can will work as a Dutch oven i.e. in contact with coals. All the Dutch ovens I’ve used have been cast iron. I think thin steel will get hotspots which will burn the stew.

Should be fine hung above though.

Stew is lovely but takes hours. Still fun to reheat.

Bannock made with suet. Not really Billy can but can be cooked in multiple ways. Perfect for dipping in that reheat / finished off last 30mi. Stew.

Mini camp cake. Would not work ina lightweight Billy can but would be ok in a nice heavy cast iron Dutch oven style thing.

Popcorn.

A set of cheap steel nesting Vango pots have served me well. You can elevate one inside the other on small chips of gravel, with water in the void, to reduce hotspots. Wire hangers make them more flexible. The humble roll of tinfoil is not to be underestimated, and cheap skewers are handy, too.

You’ll also  need to learn the words to ‘Waltzing Matilda’ if you intend to cook with a billy can.

Possibly even rename a backpack, your ‘tucker bag’

Re dutch oven, I was thinking a layer of pebbles across the bottom to spread the heat and the chicken  held above and away from the sides with a trivet/skewers/foil balls.  Hopefully that would avoid the crispy burnt bird.

You certainly can bake bread, cake and cookies in a billy.   Here’s an example

I’ve seen youtubes now with it done over a little wood gasification stove too so I’ll be trying it out.
I decided to go small and have bought
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285448875905?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=5bkgqxi6t8k&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=ouq3u5EnS2m&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
It arrived today and given its half the cost of the same size Zebra I think its going to be great.  The bail handle is sized to fit close to the pot when folded, and has a stop to lock it in place upright.  The butterfly handles will make pouring easy as will the spout.  I’ve not measured yet but going by the volume markings and position of the spout it will hold 850-900ml water,  but is much taller to fit larger solid food to bake or roast, It feels very solid, good large d ring on lid,  flat lid so easy to stack coals on top or if baking on its side I reckon the butterfly handles will help keep some embers/ coals on top and to keep the lid in place when it’s on its side a couple of small bulldog clips seem to fit nicely.   Now I need to give it a try.

Oh and I wasn’t expecting it but it came with a little cloth draw string bag to keep it in so no need to fret about soot.