An interesting source of pizza pans

I did think about posting something short and sweet on the end of the get this "ambiuous" posts thread but then thought this might be of use to more people.

I'm rather fond of toad in the hole. It's not that easy to find something suitable to cook it in especially in a combi oven. I started looking at pizza pans but couldn't find anything reasonably priced and over 12" dia. Some are often too shallow. I've also found the 12" pans are usually smaller and don't really contain enough for 3 generous portions. The coatings wear off rapidly too..

After several hours of web searching I came across a company called Ace Pans. Made in the UK. Given the prices I was a little dubious but ordered several anyway. They are available in either "iron" or aluminium so went for the later. These are far more substantial than I expected. The sizes also relate to the minimum diameter at the base. The sloping sides increase this by around 1". They are spun and they even have a rolled edge.

I ordered a 9", 13" and a 14". Unfortunately the 14" wont fit in the combi. They aren't coated. A plus as I see it. My mother used several similar but smaller pans for years and years without problem. They were probably bought pre WWII and were still in use a few years ago.

The 9" is destined to be fitted to a bird feeder to catch discarded seed. We have recently had problems with the mess pigeons leave while pecking up the bits that fall onto the patio. We had been feeding small birds via a feeder for a long long time. No problems with pigeons until a pair recently found the fallout to be an easy source of food.

The 9" size is deeper than the others. I suspect I will order a couple more. They should make a great pie dish.

John

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Well John I know that we have some non- ME threads here but this one takes the biscuit ! Maybe we will be entertained with inventive uses for these items in the workshop but all you have done for me is make me hungry!

Norman

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Nick

They would be pretty good for rather large round shortbread biscuits Norman - well spotted. They could be mounted on a rotary table and the segments milled out - of the biscuits of course.

John

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How about:

Drip trays for a leaky lathe.

Sorting tray for smallish parts

Washing trays

Swarf catchers for round section turning

Moulds for lead flywheels

Frisbees

Just a few thoughts

Martin

Edited By Martin W on 18/12/2015 18:54:33

OH NO!

The cat meme has finally caught up with us...

My local Poundland does coated rectangular baking trays in two different depths, these make excellent trays of course but I made a holder and use some as a small tool holding set of drawers.

I just use a small roasting tin to make toad in't hole. Yesterday went round several big shops looking for stainless tins/cartons to make hot end for a stirling engine, could not find anything, have they all gone ? Did find a close match in a pet place. PS went into big town not realising it was near xmas, never again.

I prefer to just eat toad in the hole with some veg rather than with a jacket potato etc. The problem with the usual pizza pans is that divided into 3 which includes a smaller portion for my wife it isn't as filling as both of us would like. I also have to give my son the biggest, just, portion. The 13" dish provides 39.7% extra over our so called 12" pizza dishes that are around 11" at the base. Round, well combi ovens rotate the food while it's being cooked. It tends to provide more consistent results than our main oven.

I could get the 14" dish in the main oven.

John

PS There are some stirling engines about that are based around borosilicate test tubes.

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Companies supplying catering stuff fr restaurants and hotels are the best source of s/s and almost any size of pan. Before the rise of tinternet there were shops you could actually go to. I kitted out my clinic with a whole slew of assorted s/s storage solutions and bowls/basins. The cheaper end targetted for seaside landladies are more than adequate. S/s cylinders from pepper pots to spaghetti jars..

great for catching the oil drips from old british motorcycles hahahahaha

Woodworkers use them for soaking circular saws in solvent (but not by the seashore!)

Edited By ega on 19/12/2015 11:17:26

John- your toad in hole must be different to mine- just good sausages, fried, then Yorkshire pudding mix poured over in a hot pan with plenty of lard. No fancy greens, just a pint of onion gravy. Will spend some time searching web for s/s cans etc. not going anywhere near town 'till new year.

The greens make the meal more healthy. Sometimes runner beans with a bit of butter on them or a stir fry mix of veg. I might try adding onion gravy but feel it doesn't really need it.

I more or less follow the recipe in the free BeRo booklet. As we use skimmed milk I add butter to the batter. Part cook the chopped up sausages in the pizza pan which collects some sausage fat so that stops in. Pour in some of batter so the the heat in the pan part cooks it then add the rest and back into the oven.

Me mom used the BeRo book so it proved useful after I married. I keep meaning to try making lardy cakes.

John

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Such names for food, had to look up lardy cakes, and toad in the hole. Did not know what to expect on the last one.

Ohhhh!!!! Lardy Cake - many years since I've had that and, these days, on my "banned food" list. ................the memory lingers however.

Norman

I've decided to follow John Snow (C4 news) and eat porridge every day. Statin's aren't on for me, joint problems that haven't totally gone away also weakness partly fixed now apart from a torn muscle that may well relate. Also a certain level of short term memory problem that has thankfully gone. My brother had the same thing happen. Might be because neither of us eat much fat anyway.

Toad in the hole might crop up 4 or 5 times a year often less. Making lardy cakes might not be a good idea but occasionally why not.

John

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You chop up the sausage ? Heathen. Don't forget the human brain is about 70 % fat. Lardy cakes good- Butteries better.