In an emergency we still need to have a way to cook and maybe you just aren't a fan of cooking over fire or charcoal. That is totally fine because there are many other options for cooking. In fact, there are so many varieties and choices of portable stoves and fuels out there it's almost impossible to choose which one is best. In this post we will be discussing all of the choices out there and giving you the pros and cons to each one so that you can ultimately decide which is best for you (maybe it is more than one). Some other important things to keep in mind when deciding is that some of these have specific accessories and cookware that will need to be used with them rather than your everyday cookware and all of these need to be used in a well ventilated area.
BUTANE- Butane stoves are often used by caterers and are simple to use, even a child could use it, but actually should never use it (unless closely supervised). They come with either a single or double burner and require specific butane fuel canisters to run. There are indoor and outdoor specific versions. If you get the indoor one it is safe to use inside and outside of the home. However, if you get the outdoor version
it can only be used outside. So make sure to check which version you are buying. To operate them just put the fuel canister in the designated space, turn the knob to the igniter position and it will automatically light. If for some reason the igniter isn't working quickly turn off the gas wait a few seconds and then ignite it with a match or other lighter.
Pros: they are relatively small, can be used just like a regular stovetop to cook anything, it has a very hot flame so things will cook a little quicker, great for when using a thermal cooker or similar cooking method, most come with a handy carrying case
Cons: fuel canisters are relatively expensive compared to other fuels, fuel will run out quickly-a full canister on average will last 2-4 hours if ran continuously, even indoors you will need proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide buildup, fuel won't work at high altitudes or in freezing temperatures.
PROPANE-There are many different types of propane stoves out there big and small, so really it's all up to you how you will use it and what size you think you'll need to feed your crew. If you go for a bigger one, like a Camp Chef style, there are some advantages to it over a smaller, Coleman style one. One big advantage is obviously it can cook larger amounts of food. Others are: if needed you could throw a dutch oven on there and cook directly over the flame, if you do any canning you can do it on this stove instead of in your house. With the smaller versions, they are obviously lighter and more portable and you can use small propane tanks as well as larger tanks if you have the correct hose adapter for it. They're also less expensive all around. You can use everyday cookware on the smaller ovens as opposed to having to buy specific griddles and BBQs to use on the bigger ones.
Pros- propane burns hot, lasts longer than butane fuel, is the cheapest canned fuel out there, can be stored indefinitely, can be used to cook everyday
Cons- can only be used outdoors, the stoves are bigger and heavier than other options out there
ALCOHOL- Alcohol stoves are small, they basically look kind of like a squished soda can and if you are a DIYer you could easily make one yourself (for instructions click here, here, here, or here ). To use it, fill the stove portion about 1/2 -2/3 full with denatured alcohol and light it. The vapors escape out of small holes around the stove so it creates an even
heat. NEVER add more alcohol to the stove while it is burning. Wait for it to extinguish then add more and continue cooking. To put out the flame just smother it and then wait for it to cool before pouring any unused alcohol back into the container. You will need to buy a stand of some kind to support any cookware. It will not heat properly and will take longer to cook if you place the pot directly on the stove. There are also disposable alcohol stoves called Canned Heat. Canned heat already has the alcohol in it so you don't have to worry about pouring it, it will produce a hot flame but it is not evenly distributed so you will need to stir more often and keep a close eye on your food to make sure it doesn't burn. The shelf life for Canned Heat will depend on the manufacturer it can be anywhere from a few years to indefinite.
Pros-can be used indoors and outdoors, portable and super lightweight, alcohol is common and can be easily purchased, can be used at high altitudes and in freezing temperatures, shelf life for most alcohol is indefinite
Cons-not as powerful as other stoves, wind will affect it, you can't adjust the temperature, a little less fuel efficient than other stoves
BACKPACKING STOVES- There are 3 basic types of backpacking stoves: canister, liquid, and alternative fuel. REI put together a quick comparison guide of the different stoves and fuels, to see it click here. All of these types of stoves require specific cookware and accessories. They are all fairly light weight so they are good to keep in 72hr. kits/go bags. There are different fuel types but most of them can be stored indefinitely. These types of stoves are great for getting water to a boil quickly and putting it in a freeze dried meal, although I have used them to cook pancakes too (one at a time of course because the pan is so small.)
Canister-the fuel used in these is a combination of isobutane and propane. The stoves that go on top of these are incredibly small, compact and light weight. They usually come with a carrying case to keep them safe. There are also 2 other varieties of canister stoves.
There is the integrated stove that is a tall-profile cooking system and features a burner that screws onto the fuel canister and pairs seamlessly with a twist-on, insulated cooking pot and a lid with drain holes and/or a pour/sip hole and have a built in wind-screen. Integrated ones are designed to boil water quickly not necessarily simmer or cook foods, though some do come with the option to use a short, wide pot that is easy to eat out of. The biggest con is they are heavier than your standard canister system and more prone to tip overs
The second is a remote canister stove. This type of stove has a hose that connects it to the fuel canister and the stove has it own base to sit on to make it stable. On some models the fuel canister can be used in an inverted position that will help it light more effectively at high altitudes and in freezing temperatures. These are slightly heavier just because you will have extra things to carry like the hose and base.
Pros- quick to light, no priming required, adjustable flame, good for simmering, canisters self-seal when detached from stove top, some have a built in pressure regulator to ensure consistent heat output which will improve high altitude and freezing temperature starts
Cons-meant for cooking for smaller groups, stove arms not always big enough to hold large pots, in cold weather the fuel can is likely to depressurize and therefore produce weak flames (unless it has a pressure regulator), compared to liquid stoves the cost of fuel is greater and it can be difficult to know how much fuel is left
Liquid- all liquid fuel stoves run on highly refined white gas. It burns hot and clean and preforms well in high altitudes and below freezing temps. Some of these are equipped to run multi-fuel so you can also run them on gas (not the unleaded kind from gas stations as the additives might clog and damage your stove), kerosene, jet fuel or diesel. The 2 biggest downfalls of liquid fuel stoves is that almost all require priming. To prime them you need to get a few drops of fuel in a cup below the burner and ignite them. This allows the fuel line to preheat and to help the stove convert the liquid into vapors. You will also need to pump your fuel bottle to increase the pressure. The other is they require maintenance such as cleaning the fuel hose, replacing O-rings, and there are small parts that need to be kept track of.
Pros-low profile and can be stable on uneven ground, fuel is cheaper than canister, easy to see how much fuel is left, no canister to dispose of since you can keep refilling the fuel canister.
Cons-heavier than canister variety, fuel spills are possible, multi-fuel stoves tend to be more expensive, fuels other than white gas have impurities that can cause clogs and other problems over time.
Alternative fuel- There are 2 main types (wood and solid-fuel) we will cover in this section because the 3rd is alcohol stoves which we already covered. These are good choices for home emergencies or long distance backpacking trips and to keep in your go bags. Some are ultra light and others are a bit heavier.
The first is wood burning. These are nice because you don't have the added weight of carrying fuel since you will just gather it in your camp area (which could also be a down fall). There are a few different varieties and each have their own unique things that might give them an edge in your mind. Some come with built in wind screens, the pieces nest into each other and the cooking pot to make for easy storage and carrying. Others will actually create enough heat energy that they have a port on the back to charge your phone and will give you a reading of fire strength and how much battery there is to charge (these are pricey). One other con is that if there are fire bans these would obviously not be a good choice.
The second is solid-fuel tablets. Some models are so small they actually can fold up and fit in your pocket. Other benefits are they are light weight and inexpensive (you can get the stove and cookset for about $30). The tablets light easily and can be extinguished and saved for later use. The tablets can burn very hot (up to 1400F), a single tablet can burn for up to 12 min. They can also be used as fire starters. Some cons are the tablets have an odor and they can leave a greasy residue on your pots. There also really isn't any temperature control and are slow to bring water to a boil.
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