For several years I used a commercial Bakepacker, 5.75" dia, 4.6 oz. It won't fit in the smaller 1.5L pot I'm taking on the AT thru-hike. So...I made a smaller, lighter version from thin sheet aluminum used for dryer vents, available at hardware stores. The resulting "bakepacker" weighs 0.3 oz and will bake a small cake with 1 ounce of alcohol. One might make an
even lighter, functional version from a foil baking sheet, available at supermarkets.
Cut a disk from the aluminum or foil slightly smaller than the diameter of your pot. Scribe a grid on the disk with grid spacing about 1/2". Drill or punch 5/16 or 1/4" holes at each grid point and one centered within each grid box. Tap around the drilled holes with a hammer to flatten out any burs left from the drilling.
When traveling, the disk lies flat in the bottom of the pot. To elevate the disk for baking, place it on a strip of foil 3/4 to 1" high formed into a partial spiral. That's it. Add water to the pot to slightly below the level of the elevated disk, place the baking bag and contents on the disk, bring water to boil, and simmer as long as possible...up to 30 min for a cake. My soda can alcohol stove with simmer attachment will simmer for about 22 min on 1 fl oz denatured alcohol. After the 1 oz alcohol is burned up, I let the cake sit in the pot for another 10 min or so continuing to" bake." Seems to work just as well as my retired 4.6 oz bakepacker. Takes up zero space in the pot when traveling. Costs just pennies for materials
and a few minutes to make.
even lighter, functional version from a foil baking sheet, available at supermarkets.
Cut a disk from the aluminum or foil slightly smaller than the diameter of your pot. Scribe a grid on the disk with grid spacing about 1/2". Drill or punch 5/16 or 1/4" holes at each grid point and one centered within each grid box. Tap around the drilled holes with a hammer to flatten out any burs left from the drilling.
When traveling, the disk lies flat in the bottom of the pot. To elevate the disk for baking, place it on a strip of foil 3/4 to 1" high formed into a partial spiral. That's it. Add water to the pot to slightly below the level of the elevated disk, place the baking bag and contents on the disk, bring water to boil, and simmer as long as possible...up to 30 min for a cake. My soda can alcohol stove with simmer attachment will simmer for about 22 min on 1 fl oz denatured alcohol. After the 1 oz alcohol is burned up, I let the cake sit in the pot for another 10 min or so continuing to" bake." Seems to work just as well as my retired 4.6 oz bakepacker. Takes up zero space in the pot when traveling. Costs just pennies for materials
and a few minutes to make.