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Cooking with Crampball Print E-mail
Written by Pignut   
Article Index
Cooking with Crampball
Page 2
Page 1 of 2
I am lucky enough to have access to loads of crampball fungi which if not used will simply be burnt/buried and had a batch at home that was passed its best so I thought I would have a go at using it to cook over!!

Crampball Fungi is known for its ability to catch a spark very easily! And as such is prized by backwoods practitioners for lighting fires. (Smouldering Crampball is also a good insect repellent)

01Nimbelwill.jpg
It burns so well that it can actually be used in place of charcoal! And in an efficient stove can be used to cook over (I have chosen to use a Nimbelwill stove for this demonstration.

02CrampBall.jpg
Cramp ball Fungi grows on both living and dead wood and seems to favour the Ash tree, and can often be found in quite large troops. It appears as a dark grey to black “Blob” on the trunks and branches.

03Concentricrings.jpg
It is hard to the touch and once broken open reveals silver/grey concentric rings.
04Striker.jpg
A modern fire steel is one of the easiest ways of getting this fungi to light as the sparks produced are very hot! However the fungi can be used to extend a coal from a bowdrill or similar.
05Strike1.jpg
Keeping blade still and drawing the fire steel under it produces an accurate shower of sparks.
06Strike2.jpg

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