Esbit stove mod

[Norton]

I like the older East German mess kit as it is light and compact. I wanted to be able to use the Esbit stove as a back up for the Trangia
The problem I had was a windscreen and stove stand. So I cut a slot in the bottom to allow the Trangia throat to stick out.
I have a section of aluminum to cover the slot if I want to use the the Esbit tabs. The entire set goes inside the pot set.
This contains the Trangia, Esbit, coffee cup ,spoon fuel bottle, container of matches, sponge
Tried it by boiling up some water for coffee and it worked great
I carry a small section of thick cardboard in my rucksack for a extra windscreen if it is necessary
I use the this for boil in the bag cooking or boiling potatoes. You can also steam meat by laying a screen on top of pot, set the meat on the screen and cover with the pan lid. It works for small cuts of Lamb, Pork or Sausage.

The East German is about a pound lighter than the Swedish due the the Swede's windscreen and slightly more compact.
May take this on the three day hike in West Virginia, would add far more Esbit tabs and still take my Optimus butane burner and one can of fuel.

[Bypah]

Nice!

[rattattoo]

I don't have an Esbit stove, so I can't check out the suggestion before making it...
My immediate thought was that you want to add a little piece of aluminum to cover the back opening on the stove while the Trangia is in place. A piece of aluminum flashing cut to size with a quarter inch fold-over along the top could hang right on the back of the stove and provide extra wind protection. I always find with the Trangia style alcohol stoves that they have a tendency to flutter in the least little bit of wind and take much longer to get things to a boil. A piece of flashing would add minimal weight, for maximal benefit.
It's a clever little mod. The Trangia looks to fit at just the right height. I understand that the most efficient space below the pot is between an inch and a quarter and an inch and a half. With the optimal headspace being 1.4 inches. For any of these small stoves, regardless of the fuel, the flame-cone wants to focus right at the bottom of the pot without flaring too much. If you have flames licking up the pot sides, leaving soot and singeing the handles, your stove is up too close.

[Norton]

rattattoo

I did just what you said, bent two tabs over so it can hang over the back and act as a wind screen.
Measured from the burners to the bottom of the pot 1 1/2. Also use a very light tin screen as place to steam meats
This screen packs inside the main pot.
It works well if you boil fresh vegetables like potatoes and carrots. Set a section of lamb, deer or Bratwurst on the screen. Cover with the small pot and the as vegetables boil. The meat cooks without burning and the juice drip into the pot flavoring the vegetables . You get a good or at least better broth.

There is little mess to clean, this is a major issue with me. I do not like wasting water and time to scrub burnt food off aluminum pots. Plus it draws animals at night.

Here is some deer meat and vegetables I cooked with this method on a previous trip

[housil]

Here is some deer meat and vegetables I cooked with this method on a previous trip

First of all, great "canteen cup" cooking!

How long does it take until the vegetables and at least the meet is tender that way?
At home on a "real" stove, the vegetables will take 20 min, the meet +1.5 hours.

[Norton]

How long does it take until the vegetables and at least the meet is tender that way?
At home on a "real" stove, the vegetables will take 20 min, the meet +1.5 hours.

Housil
The German Mess kit is the best for this type of camp meal

I cook around 20 to 30 minutes depending on the meat
Flip the meat over at least four times, use the small pot to cover the meat
Here is what the broth looks like after cooking pork on the screen.
The juice makes a good soup base, this goes well the the MRE STOP sign biscuit
We heat those boil in bag style also
My brother can make bread in German mess kit. He brings dough ball, greases the main pot and sets it by the camp fire.
It is not bad with soup
I don't do this with my mess kit because it is hard to clean up. I warned him about the bread burning but he didn't care.

[Bypah]

Awesome.
Olli, you wouldn't imagine how fast can you cook a simple meal of fresh veggies and meat with these mess kits.
I don't have a german one but the swedish counter part and works ok.
Couple of days ago we woke up with no power and gas due to an outtage.
I used my crusader kit to cook a breakfast for two of scrambled eggs and fried sausage links plus hot coffee.
All of this using one USGI gel pack and all under 20minutes.

[steve1989]

Wow! Norton, this is really cool! I will have to keep my eye out for one of those rigs for my hiking kit. Very useful!

Thankyou for the post and cool pictures too!

[rabidwolf]

Norton, all I can say is, wow! You definitely know how to cook in the bush.

[Failsafe77]

Seriously! Those meals look delicious!!!! I wanna go camping with Norton!