Yahoo LifestyleCook Up a Fireside Feast With These High-Power Camping Stoves
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Cook Up a Fireside Feast With These High-Power Camping Stoves
Gone are the days of delicately balancing an old frying pan on a hot fire. Sure, the smokey flavor of a pot of chili cooked over an open flame is something to write home about, but sometimes the simplicity of a camping stove triumphs. A portable stove lets you take homestyle cooking on the road, simplifies the process when you're away for multiple nights or when cooking for a large group, can easily be stowed in your trunk, and can be set up on a picnic table (or rock) in no time.
The Best Camping Stoves
What to Consider
Camping stoves range from small, lightweight options that fit easily in a backpack to large, freestanding stoves that can feed a hungry group of girl scouts without flinching. When searching for a camping stove, we recommend you consider the number of burners you'll need, the power source, and the stove's power output (in BTU), among other things like packed size, built-in windscreens, simmering ability, surface area, and type of ignition:
Number of Burners
The most common camping stoves have two burners, which is almost always enough to whip up dinner for four to eight people — because how often do you use more than two burners at home? Of course, for anyone who lives by the saying, “Go big or go home,” three-burner stoves are available, but they obviously take up more of your precious cargo space. And for small groups of one to three people or one-pot meals, a one-burner stove can suffice.
Fuel Source
Most modern stoves run on propane, which comes in Nalgene-sized 16-ounce bottles that are super affordable and will typically have enough gas to cook for most trips under a week. Seriously — you'll be amazed how long these small cylinders last — but we always recommend having a backup bottle just in case. A few outlier power sources are available, such as wood-burning and butane, but propane is by far the most universally available fuel.
Power Output
Stoves rate their power output in BTU, with most options ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 BTU per burner. For most trips with groups of around five people, 10,000 BTU will get the job done. For large groups, higher elevations, windy environments, or if you're preparing a highly involved meal with multiple courses, more BTU is never something you will regret, as long as the flame is controllable for simmering.
Extras
Windscreens, as the name implies, provide a shield from the wind on three sides — and this is not to be taken for granted, as the slightest gust can knock out a flame or significantly increase your cook time and thus, burn more fuel. All stoves have an adjustable flame, but high-end stoves simmer much better than budget options, especially in cold, wind, and higher elevations.
Push-button igniters are a nice feature, but they are never a deal breaker in our search, because they tend to fail over time. And though it goes without saying, a large, freestanding stove with high output will consume more cargo space (like a truck bed), while modern, low-profile stoves with two burners stack easily without dominating your trunk.
So load up the cooler, pack up the car, and head for the woods with your new camping stove — because everything tastes better in the mountains.
Getty Images - 2/10
Everest 2X Two-Burner Cooking Stove
Camp Chef
amazon.com
$189.99
Cook better than you do at home with this jack-of-all-trades stove from Camp Chef. The Everest 2X is one of the highest-rated two-burner camping stoves in the game, boasting an average of 4.7 stars over 3,200 Amazon reviews, with users praising its power output, portability, and value for the price.
The Everest 2X runs on propane and pumps out a whopping 20,000 BTU to each burner. This is more than enough power to cook efficiently for large groups, even at high elevations. Output can be adjusted to simmer, thanks to the two micro-adjust valves, or open the valves completely to boil large pots of water in just a matter of minutes.
This stove really has it all: windscreens that keep the flames rolling and saving fuel, a push-button ignitor, and a carrying handle. The Everest runs on mini propane tanks and comes with a regulator adapter, which allows connection to a 5-gallon propane tank so you could use it at home during a backyard cookout or in the event of a power outage.
amazon.com - 3/10
Pinnacle Pro Two-Burner Propane Camping Stove
GSI Outdoors
amazon.com
$249.95
Tight on space? Squeeze this stove into a tight corner of your trunk or even under the front seat. GSI's Pinnacle is our top choice when cargo space is limited because it's the thinnest two-burner stove on the market, measuring just 1.4 (yes, you read that right) inches thick when compacted.
Years of development culminated in the design of this ultra compact, ultra lightweight, two-burner camp stove, with 11,000 BTU per burner and output that can be fine-tuned for precise cooking. It features legs that fold away, windscreens with cut-outs that won't interfere with pot handles, a fold-away grate that provides easy access to the nonstick drip pan, and dual piezo igniters that light the stove without matches.
If you're looking for a premium two-burner stove with tons of smart design features and ample power, the Pinnacle Pro is where it's at.
amazon.com - 4/10
Triton Two-Burner Propane Gas Camping Stove
Coleman
amazon.com
$109.99
This longtime favorite from Coleman has everything you need and nothing you don't at a price that's hard to beat. The Triton is a no-frills two-burner propane stove with up to 11,000 BTU per burner. At just 21x13 inches, it has enough space for a 10-inch and 12-inch pot together but is still plenty compact for portability.
Windscreens flip out to help you keep an even flame, the nickel-coated grate is removable for easy cleaning, and there are no push-button igniters to fail — a good old-fashioned match strike will light it up. Coleman's gear is yet again simple, durable, and affordable, making this a staple in campgrounds across the world.
amazon.com - 5/10
Perfect Flow Grill and Stove
Coleman
amazon.com
$119.99
When campfires aren't allowed or if you just want a simpler way to grill up some burgers when you arrive at camp late at night, this grill-and-burner combo is the ticket. The left side is a traditional stove-top burner, while the right side is a griddle top with an easy-clean drip pan, so you can fire up some meats and veggies with ease.
This option has 130 square inches of grilling space and enough room for a 10-inch pot on the burner. It's fueled by propane, with up to 10,000 BTU per burner, and can be easily adjusted with a small dial (though not nearly as precisely as some). A removable drip pan makes cleanup easier on the grill side, while wind screens help you keep things cooking when the weather changes.
amazon.com - 6/10
Outdoorsman Two-Burner Stove
Camp Chef
walmart.com
$210.00
Put on a show for your friends and family with this beast of a camp stove from Camp Chef. It's a burly standalone unit with legs, with two propane-powered burners that each pump out a whopping 30,000 BTU — far more than most stoves, and enough power to feed a hungry little league football team.
The Outdoorsman features heavy-duty burners and grates made from cast iron, which make easy work of big jobs. The windscreens help with light winds, but the cooking surface is more exposed than tabletop stoves. And the legs are height-adjustable for chefs both short and tall, or they can be removed altogether for easier transport and tabletop cooking.
If you're cooking more than a few meals and cargo space is not a problem, you'll have more fun cooking on this high-powered beast than any other camping stove.
walmart.com - 7/10
One-Burner Portable Gas Stove
GasOne
amazon.com
$26.06
Convenient, quick, and ultra portable, this one-burner stove is perfect for the camper wanting to conserve valuable trunk space. Unlike most modern camping stoves, this runs on butane and has the lowest output (9,000 BTU), which makes this stove better suited for warm weather and indoor cooking.
A matchless ignition, an easily cleaned porcelain drip tray, quiet operation, incredible packability, and an appealing price make this the affordable way to take stove-top cooking on the road.
amazon.com - 8/10
Genesis Basecamp Camping Stove
Jetboil
amazon.com
$269.95
Let your inner gourmet go wild with the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp Stove. It's the most compact two-burner stove on the market, measuring just 10x10 inches when folded. But don't let the small size fool you — this baby pumps out 10,000 BTU per burner, which compares to many other camp stoves.
When used with Jetboil's cookware — which fits like a glove (no windscreens needed) — fuel efficiency rises and heat loss plummets. And thanks to the highly adjustable dial, this system delivers some of the most even, controlled flames for a better-tasting meal — if you can get past the sticker shock.
A JetLink output port allows the addition of a Luna accessory burner, or multiple stoves can be daisy-chained together to create the ultimate camp chef stove. An attachable windscreen protects the flame and improves performance in any weather.
The Genesis Basecamp Stove is compatible with standard 16.4-ounce propane bottles. The whole system is quite spendy, but it's built for some of the best backcountry cooking you'll ever taste.
amazon.com - 9/10
Ranger III Cooking System
Camp Chef
amazon.com
$239.99
If you're cooking a three-course meal for a big, hungry family, two burners just won't cut it. Light up Camp Chef's Ranger and put on a show for the onlookers at the campground. This three-burner stove blasts out 17,000 BTU per burner, equipping the head chef with the tools he needs to prepare a feast.
Though it's mighty, this stove is relatively portable — it measures 29x16 inches, making it the largest cooking surface in this review. But since there are no legs, it stows away surprisingly easily and rests perfectly on your truck bed or a large, flat rock.
Windscreens are not included, but the stove housing helps block out flames better than the open-bottom Outdoorsman stove (above). Fire it up, Emeril!
amazon.com - 10/10
Campfire Stove
Solo Stove
rei.com
$110.00
Why burn propane when you can use the fuel that nature has provided? Measuring 7x9 inches, this wood-burning stove is a miniature version of the ever-popular smokeless Solo Stove. Simply load it with sticks from around the campsite, toss in a match, and voila — this stove is ready to cook.
Place your dutch oven or cast-iron pan on top and you'll get the same wood-smoked flavor that you love about campfire cooking, without the hassle of balancing a pan on a bed of hot coals. Or leave the top open and roast some marshmallows for s'mores to indulge in an ooey-gooey treat.
rei.com
