(Ready meals in a self-heating can)
Derbyshire firm
'Hotcan' have been supplying self-heating ready-meals to the emergency
services for over 20 years and, thanks to 'Hotcan's' generosity, I have
'tested' three different meals from their extensive hot food menu.
I decided to start my tests with the tin of Vegetable Curry, which I
consumed in my lunch break here at the newspaper.
Following the instructions
on the can's wrapper was simplicity itself and I was soon enjoying my
meal which was hot in all senses of the word.
Graham D. Taylor - Hotcans' M.D., at a recent roadshow held at Climax Tackle, Dronfield
The food was tasty and filling, with the curry factor set to something
approaching 'Madras'. Meal One a distinct success.
Meal
Two (The All Day Breakfast) I tried for my evening meal in front
of the TV at home. Yes, I know - maybe a strange time of day to be trying
The All Day Breakfast, but it does say "all day". Once again
the physics of the heating mechanism worked fine and I was soon spooning
down another hearty meal.
Meal Three was the real test. Out in the open air on the bankside at one
of my favourite fisheries, I couldn't wait for lunchtime to arrive so
that I could try Hotcan's' Irish Stew. With my wristwatch showing 12.15pm
- I decided it was time to sample my hot meal. Initially, I must admit
I was a little perturbed. Having followed the same routine to get the
heating process started, it didn't seem to want to kick-in to full effect.
But I needn't have worried. After about ten minutes (of the 15 allowed)
the heating system began to work splendidly and I was soon warming my
hands on the well-insulated can.
Of the three meals I tried, I found the Irish Stew the best of the lot,
followed by the Curry and then The All Day Breakfast.
The heating system,
which needs between 12 and 15 minutes to heat the food, relies on a reaction
between water and lime. It works every time, and what's more, provides
so much heat that the food has to juggled around your mouth . . . it's
that hot! The chemical reaction is guaranteed not to come into contact
with the food and is non-polluting after use.
The food itself weighs around 400 grams (give or take 15 grams), but the
attendant heating system sees the whole can weight go up to 800 grams.
With seven different meals already firmly on their "menu", 'Hotcan'
have now added a further five to cater for more ethnic and "European"
tastes.
I can give these meals a firm "thumbs up" for the quality of
the food and the efficiency of the heating system, and, if the results
of these tests encourage even a few anglers to try these ready meals for
themselves then bankside word-of-mouth will do all the "selling"
that 'Hotcan' requires.
NB: You will need to provide your own spoon.
'Hotcans' provide a nutritious, satisfying and, in all senses of the word,
"hot" meal.
Technical Stuff
You may be wondering what's going on inside the can. Its quite simple
but very clever!
Surrounding the can of food is an outer can, which is a self-contained
heating unit. This contains three types of baked limestone just the same
basic compound you might find in toothpaste or indigestion tablets and
completely non-toxic above which there is a water jacket. When you pierce
the water jacket with the spike, water runs onto the limestone and sets
up a natural reaction which generates heat.
Heat will continue to be generated for about 30 minutes, but your food
is heated to a perfect temperature for eating of 60-70 degrees after about
12 minutes. The heating process is self-contained and at no time comes
into contact with the food.
Hotcan can be contacted at Unit 7, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading
Estate, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 9QB. Tel: 01246 268988.
E-Mail: hotcanlimited@aol.com
or visit the web site at www.hotcan.com
Many thanks to Dave Wheat - for the excellent review - Ed.
Here's
the comments I had regarding Hotcan:
From a retired lady rambler:
Irish Stew: The pic on the can does not do justice to the contents. A
clear list of ingredients, good instructions, but I did have great difficulty
in removing the plastic lid. The contents I thought were excellent. The
rim of the can gets very hot - caution is needed!. Conclusion: a good
nourishing hot meal, ideal for outdoor pursuit enthusiasts.
From the anglers on a recent NFA Course:
There was lots of interest shown, with one guy having the Vegetable Curry
for breakfast - and he loved it!
The All Day Breakfast disappeared in the blink of an eye - and seemed
very popular. The heating system worked very well indeed and intrigued
everyone present. An over-whelming thumbs-up for the product.
It looks like a hot winner from Hotcan!
Good fishing to you all
Kevin Miles