a review: the tembo-tusk skottle - @tembotusk #overland #cooking
Tembo-Tusk Skottle
Function and Design:
I have had a chance to use the Tembo-Tusk #Skottle on several occasions over the past months and I am really enjoying it. You're probably asking yourself “What is a Skottle?”. It is a South African outdoor cooking contraption essentially, according to Tembo Tusk, and it is pronounced Skō Til or Skaw-Til. It is a simple design, essentially it is a big wok which makes it extremely versatile for meals on and off the trail.
The history of the Skottle comes from a South African farmer finding a secondary use for old harrow discs by turning them into an outdoor cooking utensil that could be used while out in the fields. The Skottle caught on with the public in the 1940s and 50s and is now synonymous with grilling in South Africa. Anything that can be cooked in a pan, skillet or on a grill can be cooked in a Skottle. Bacon, eggs, sausage and hash browns are a great example for breakfast. Lunch or dinner can be as easy as stir fry veggies, steak, and chopped potatoes. There is no better way to cook Boerewors Sausage (South African Farmer’s Sausage) or any other sausage for that matter. Nothing tastes better than a thick cheese Quesadilla grilled on a Skottle. You can cook hamburgers and fajitas as well with ease. As you can see, there is very little you can’t cook on a Skottle!
“TemboTusk Skottle is designed to be used with an inexpensive Coleman style single burner and a gas bottle. The burner simply hangs in the frame welded to the bottom of the Skottle pan. Typically a Coleman burner uses a disposable 16oz gas bottle for fuel. With a proper adapter a larger propane bottle can be used. A Coleman one-burner produces 10,000 BTUs of heat energy which is more than adequate for use with the Skottle.”
“The TemboTusk Skottle comes with a frame to hold the burner and three legs to support the pan. The legs are removable and can be stored separately. The Skottle is 18” across and stands 28” tall with the legs installed.”
Overland Applications:
I feel that due to the ease of use and its versatility that the Tembo-Tusk Skottle would be a welcome addition for any overland traveler. Due to its uniqueness and ease of use and setup I feel that it could be used as the only means of cooking on the trail, or you can take it along for quick lunch stops or just for certain dishes. I plan to give it a good amount of testing this season taking it on all of our trips. I will even be looking for a means to transport it a little more easily by finding a carrying bag for it. This in my opinion is the only thing missing as far as I am concerned. The burner and propane tanks don’t take up much room and if you are so inclined you can purchase a 1 gallon propane tank and an adaptor hose for around $70 for both and then do away with the small green propane tanks all together. We do have both options so I plan to see which one I like best and use that while out on the trail.
Day to Day Applications:
“The Skottle also functions like a cast iron skillet as well, you season it with use and it gets better and better the more you use it. The easiest way to recondition the Skottle is with olive oil or any cooking oil and heat on a gas or charcoal barbeque to 450 degrees or until the oil on the metal stops smoking. Like a Dutch oven or cast iron pan, the more the Skottle is used the better the non-stick cooking surface becomes. I plan to use it on every trip and plan meals around it since it is so easy to set up and use.”
My favorite things to cook with are cast iron skillets, which is why I think that this has some day to day applications as well. I have already used it 2 times at home and once at Jeremy’s house since we received it. I am really looking forward to trying it out on our first trip that’s coming up in May. I will keep you all posted as to how it does on the trail, although I doubt it will be anything but excellent. It is easy to clean as well, and once it is really seasoned I imagine it will just wipe out just like my cast iron skillets at home do now.
Final Thoughts:
My final thoughts on the Tembo-Tusk Skottle are that it's a fun and unique way to cook that will entertain the whole family. It is one truly awesome product and I plan to use it as often as possible while we are out on the trail this year. We are planing to go on extended trips this season which will give us more time on the trail and more opportunity to perfect using the Skottle off the beaten path. I plan to take plenty of pics and include it in some of our cooking segments as well, so you will get a chance to see it in action yourself and decide if one is a good option for you.
The Skottle price that is listed on the website is $95 which in my mind is a great deal! For more information you can visit the Tembo-Tusk.com website and check out the other wonderful products that they make there too. I would highly recommend considering the Skottle if you are looking for one piece of cooking equipment that is truly versatile and will always perform. Thanks again guys for hooking us up with this awesome product!
Cheers
For more info you can visit Tembo-Tusk.com