Camping Cooker

When camping one of your most important pieces of camping and outdoor equipment will be your camping cooker. In the market place today there are an abundant number of examples of the camping cooker for you to look at ranging from small compact single burners all the way up to semi kitchen sizes for group camping. So when you are looking for a new camping cooker there are a couple of considerations you need to think about to help you come to the final decision as to which type of camping cooker is ideal for you.

First and foremost you need to ascertain as to which type of environment you will be cooking in. Will you be backpack camping or car camping for example. If you are backpacking then every ounce of weight counts with your camping and outdoor equipment as it all has to be carried on your back and you are limited to just backpack space. Here you would be looking at a small compact single burner camping cooker that can be packed away snugly in your backpack without taking up much space or adding much weight.

Camping and Outdoor Equipment

Camping Cooker

And for using, it will give the basic cooking options which are enough to sustain you. The single burner camping stove is also fueled by a small gas canister which as well is very light and easy to transport And when this canister runs out it is very easy to replace as almost every camping and outdoor equipment outlet supplies them.

If on the other hand you are car camping then your options are far greater. Because you are transporting all your camping equipment in the car then size and weight of the camping cooking is not as important as with backing. The other likelihood about car camping is that you will not be camping alone, but will be with friends or family. So you will be looking at a larger type of camping cooker with 2 burners and a grill perhaps.

Backpacking Stove with Windshield and Piezo Ignition by Sunngaz

Here is a nice little camping stove by Sunngaz which is ideal for backpacking. It is very high performance with a stainless steel burner and for easy start an automatic piezo ignition. It also happens to be quite powerful as well being able to boil a pint of water in about two and a half minutes. Whilst in operation to protect it from the weather elements there is a built in windshield that is very effective. There is a fuel pre heater and the whole cooker stands on a very stable tripod stand. When you have finished using this camping cooker it can be folded down into a very compact size ideal for your backpack. The folded size is 195 x 100 x 95 mm. The weight of this unit is 480 g without the fuel canister and it has been designed to run off universal self sealing cartridges.

Camping Chef by Campingaz

This camping cooker is a 2 burner stove with a third radian burner underneath the cook top which you can use to toast bread and bacon and such things like that. This is a very nice stove that can be folded down and fitted into a convenient carry bag. Ideal for storage and transportation. When in use you can control the flame level with adjustment knobs on the front that are also child proof for safety reasons. The specifications on this camping cooker are it has a boil time of 7 minutes, power of 2 x 2300 W and grill 1100 W, dimensions 52.5 x 31 x 22 cm and weight 5.8 Kg. It is powered by butane cylinders.This is an excellent cooker though bear in mind that when you come to use it that you cannot use the stove at the same time as the grill. And also that the base plate under the grill does get very hot when used so you need to place it on a heat resistant surface when you place it down.

Maintaining the camping cooker for long life

When you have gone through the process of deciding which camping stove you want and have then bought it, there is no reason for that camping stove not to give you many years or even a lifetime, of use. Providing that you maintain and take proper care of the unit it is very unlikely that the unit will let you down. When you do buy a camping cooker always make sure that the properly read the manufacturers operating guide so you know how to use the unit properly and of course to know about all the safety issues. Your stove needs to be maintained properly in order for it to function smoothly and properly at all times.

After reading the manufacturers operating manual it’s always a good idea to perform a test drive with the unit at home. You can do this by setting it up in the home or garden and cooking some food on it to how you go. If everything runs smoothly then you know the cooker works properly and more importantly that you know how to operate this. It’s not fun to go camping and come meal times to discover that you cooker does not work or you don’t know how to use it.

For every camping trip you go on with your camping cooker it is a very good idea to use new and fresh fuel. When your cooker is brand new it is clog free and this is how you want it to stay. Old fuel has a habit of breaking down and if this happens then impurities are caused which can clog up the cooker. The other reason for always using new fuel is that old fuel can become contaminated and will not function properly. If you use the refill type of canisters then buy yourself a fuel funnel with a filter to use when refilling them. The filter will prevent any debris or water entering the system which will cause clogging. Another little tip for is when you open or close your fuel cannister try to do so that no obstructions enter the system. If you follow all these tips then you will not suffer from clogging.

When you have finished using your camping cooker it is a very good idea to always clean it properly. This is quite simple to do with just warm water and dishwashing soap. Then dry it thoroughly and you are ready to go for the next time. By cleaning you give your cooker a nice appearance and also ensure that there is not a build up of dirt on or around the burners that could cause problems in the future. If you do clean your camping cooker after every use it will remain fuel efficient, corrosion free and rust free.

When your camping cooker is not in use always store it properly. You can keep it in padded sacks that are usually supplied with the unit when you first buy it. If you are not supplied with a padded sack, then buy one as they are not expensive and well worth the expense for the protection they give. And always store the cooker and fuel separately. So take care of your cooker and all your cooking needs will be taken care of by your camping cooker for many years to come.

Butane is one of the most popular used gases. With butane the flame has instant high heat and there is also no need for any priming and there is no spillage either. On the downside though the heat output of butane is lower than that of white gas and it is also expensive to buy. You also need to dispose of the empty gas canister properly. Butane does not function to it’s best ability in cold weather.
Propane is also a very popular gas to use with the camping cooker. It functions so much more better than butane in cold weather and can also be supplied in larger containers. However though there is a limited supply availability of propane and it too is also expensive. And again you have to dispose of the canister correctly.
White gas is also used in the camping cooker and has a very high heat output. It is easily obtainable throughout the US and Canada. You do have to prime when using white gas and be very careful if you spill any as it is highly flammable. Though if you do happen to spill some it does evaporate very quickly.
Kerosene also has a very high heat output when used in the camping cooker and can be readily found Internationally. On the downside with this fuel though is the fact that it can produce a sooty smoke and before using you have to prime it with alcohol.
Alcohol is available almost anywhere and is a very quiet and clean burning fuel in the camping cooker. But it does have a much lower heat output than the other alternatives and your cooking time will be increased.

Another consideration you must contemplate when choosing a camping cooker is to as which fuel you shall use. The most popular fuels used with camping are propane and butane or a mixture of them both. These fuels come in canisters of varying sizes as well so it’s a good idea to try and estimate how much fuel you will require for each camping trip you embark upon. The reasons these fuels are the most popular are because of their predictability. They tend to be very easy to control and are easy to light. They are also very simple to be adjusted so you can vary the amount of heat you require for cooking. On the market as well are pressure cookers that run off pressurized petroleum. These types of camping cookers are very fuel efficient but they can get very hot during a cooking session. Meths is another fuel that is used but meths cookers are not so popular anymore. They do not give off as much heat and the flame they produce is colourless so great attention has to be always paid when using one of these, especially when lighting during daylight hours. So once you have decided on the size of camping cooker you need and the fuel you want it to run off you are almost home and dried in your choice of addition to your camping and outdoor equipment. All that is left for you to think about is the brand you want, the price and how the camping cooker looks to you.

Portable Camping Gas Cooker by Tooltime

Here is a camping cooker ideal for camping. It can also be used for picnics, in the garden or as a spare cooker in the home. When you buy one of these it is supplied with it’s own storage and carry case for easy transportation. It has a built in piezo lighter so you do not need any matches and for safety there is an automatic safety shut off. The windshield that protects the flame from the weather is very capable whilst the flame has a long burn run time of 240 minutes and a runtime of 90 minutes when on full power. It is a neat little camping cooker that can be used on it’s own merits or you can have it has an additional cooker to your main double stove and use it in your tent for brewing tea or such other little chores. It works well and is very nicely priced.

Grill and Camping Stove by Coleman

Here is a very competent camping cooker from Coleman With this unit you have both a stove and a grill so making a nice cooked breakfast is very easy to do. Both the stove and grill can be used simultaneously and they are powered by propane gas that is effective at lower temperatures and altitude. In the workings of this cooker is the Coleman perfect flow system that ensures a consistent performance throughout the life of the gas cylinder. There is a wind block system which protects from the wind and doubles up as side tables when used horizontally. The weight of this unit is 5.86 Kg and the power is 5540 W. Runtime is 70 minutes at full power and you can boil a pint of water in just under 6 minutes. So the cooker runs perfectly in the wind, the new gas bottles are easy to fit and the fat drain with collection tray is excellent. Very easy to use and hence a nice addition to anybody’s camping and outdoor equipment collection.

Lagon 2 Burner Camping Stove by Campingaz

This camping cooker has 2 burners so you are in a position to cook more food and feed more mouths if that is what is necessary. The cooking area on this unit is actually quite large as well which means that you can use bigger pots and pans than a few similar examples of 2 burner cookers. For using in windy conditions there is a removable windshield cover. The pan support grid is removable as well which is ideal for cleaning the whole unit after use. When you buy this camping cook you are supplied with approved tubing and clips. For safety the gas intake is mounted at the rear of the cooker. Burn time with this particular item is just under 8 hours, from power of 2 x 2200 W and 904 or 907 refillable cylinders.

Camping cooker fuels

When you buy your camping cooker the fuel it uses will be one of the deciding factors in deciding whether you buy one particular model or not.

Coleman Gas fuels

The camping equipment manufacturer Coleman supplies it’s own fuels that can be used to fuel the camping cooker.

Powermax fuel is an exclusive high performance butane and propane mix ideal for backpacking and camping appliances. This fuel has an exceptional performance rate in extremely cold conditions and at high altitude. There is a liquid withdraw system so there is always a consistent output even if the canister is low. Each powernax cartridge is resealable so that you can remove the cartridge from the cooker, store it and then be able to use it again on another camping trip. With this fuel, none of it is wasted and even the canisters it is supplied in are recyclable.
Coleman fuel is also called white gas or camping fuel. It is an ideal fuel for camping and can even burn in freezing conditions. In cold temperatures this fuel has a constant output whereas butane and propane the output will falter. Coleman fuel is clean and refined and also burns hotter than any other liquid fuel. It is not expensive and can be found almost anywhere. When you buy it, it comes in small refillable bottles that are easy to store and transport. It is almost perfect for using with the camping cooker.

These are obviously more well equipped for the cooking larger of meals and meals when you have more mouths to feed. You can of course also just use these types of cooking for boiling water and making tea in the morning, but their great advantage over single burner versions are their ability to use 2 cooking pots at the same time which have larger bases as well. These cookers are not so portable though and tend to come with wind proof sides and lid to assist you in cooking properly even in windy type conditions. When people set these cookers up they tend to remain in the set up for the duration of the camping trip. Some of these 2 burner cookers are fueled by gas containers that you insert into their bodies whilst some of the larger versions are fueled by a separate fuel supply which is attached to the cooker via a rubber tube.