Front Runner Flatpack Kitchenware Set
MSRP: $144.00, on sale for $52.95
WEIGHT: 3.3lbs
MATERIAL: Food-Grade Silicone. Safe For Microwave, Oven (up to 440 Degrees F), Refrigerator, and Dishwasher.
INCLUDES: 1 Large bowl, 1 medium bowl, 1 large strainer, 2 small drinking cups, 2 storage containers with lids, 1 funnel, 1 mesh drawstring bag
PRODUCT USE: Destination camping, also worthy of use at home!
Everyone needs a mixing bowl in the kitchen, am I right? Why yes, yes I am. I’ve seen my brother’s old college apartment’s kitchen, and even he had something that resembled a mixing bowl. It may have been a blender, but that counts for something. So, if even a college boy that left our house only knowing how to “prepare” Pasta Roni and mac ‘n cheese as two separate food groups has a mixing bowl, why don’t you have one in your camp kitchen? THEY’RE HUGE. When you are trying to wrestle spices into ground meat, or you are letting pizza dough rise, that’s awesome. When you are trying to fit them into an impossibly small, already packed space, hoping they don’t break, that’s not awesome. This dilemma got me searching for a heat resistant, flexible yet strong, and COLLAPSABLE bowl set. Lucky for me, Front Runner was way ahead of me.
Please welcome, the Flatpack. This all silicone kitchenware set gives you flexibility and durability, while still being ‘soft’ enough to not damage other kitchen items when being bounced around. The other collapsible competitor that I looked into was the ‘Squish’ bowls. While yes, they do collapse, they quickly loose interest for me as they have hard plastic bottoms and tops. This disables me from being able to truly shape them to my need, and then I have to worry about the plastic rubbing on/wearing out other kitchen items they are stored with.
The medium and large bowls, while perfect for all of my mixing needs, have also doubled quite nicely as wash basins. While I do in fact have a sink in the camper, when you’re in the game of conserving water, having a smaller ‘mini sink’ is super helpful. Another plus for my ‘mini sink’ is that when I’m scrubbing those extra dirty dishes, I can press them against the walls of the bowl while working up a sudsy furry, without worry of collapsing the structure, and losing water.
While I was just excited to get a medium and a large sized collapsible mixing bowl, I was pleased to find that the other items included are also SUPER useful:
Funnel: The funnel has been perfect for pouring oil, previously used for frying, back into the small-rimmed container. I will stick a crumpled paper towel in the bottom of the funnel to catch the remaining fry bits, then I can squeeze the last oil through my ‘filter’ because of it’s flexible silicone construction.
Storage Containers: Leftovers! This set comes with two good-sized square containers that actually fit in my fridge. They fit, because they flex, while still retaining their seal. The terror of actually having leftovers so that I have to try and secure them safely in my fridge is no more. Plastic bags can do wonders for leftovers, until they slide into that dangerous crevasse, then let friction do its thing, to the dismay of neighboring fridge bystanders. With the square silicone containers, you can safely stack and store your heart out. As an added bonus, when dining for two, they now act as our ‘I-Put-Everything-And-Then-Some-In-One-Pot’, bowls.
Strainer: The strainer has no magical attributes except to be perfectly handy when you need it to be. No muss, no fuss. If you are trying to save the water from whatever you are straining, leave the strainer half expanded, then place the large bowl underneath to catch your pour.
Cups: They say an Overlander should always be prepared. One of the most important things to prepare for is partaking in libations after a successful offroad recovery, or really any reason you might need to enjoy a tasty cold libation. If you’ve gone through the trouble of bringing that bottle of whiskey or wine, having cups to share just takes it one step further. In line with the rest of these items, the cups collapse to about an inch and are easily tucked away.
For anyone who is in the small space game, this is an excellent product to welcome into your cooking arsenal. Easy to clean, easy to store, and can handle the heat. Your overland kitchen won’t be complete without the Front Runner Flatpack Kitchenware Set!
(Disclaimer: Front Runner Outfitters provided Exploring Elements the Flatpack Kitchenware Set for possible review.)
