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food:cooking:stoves [2021/05/26 11:45]
frater_secessus [gaseous fuel] |
food:cooking:stoves [2022/02/05 17:47]
frater_secessus [electric stoves] added nuwave 600w |
| ====== Stoves ====== | ====== Stoves ====== |
| Camping stoves come in two basic types: propane (or sometimes butane) or liquid fuel. They are usually single burner units although dual and even triple "suitcase" stoves are available. | Camping stoves come in two basic types: gaseous (propane/butane/isobutane) or liquid fuel. They are usually single burner units although dual and even triple "suitcase" stoves are available. |
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| **Propane** stoves currently dominate the market due to simplicity, inexpensive design, minimal smell and widespread retail availability of propane bottles. Propane stoves are generally regarded safe to burn indoors, fume-wise at least. | **Propane** stoves currently dominate the market due to simplicity, inexpensive design, minimal smell and widespread retail availability of propane bottles. Propane stoves are generally regarded safe to burn indoors with ventilation, fume-wise at least. |
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| | **Butane** stoves can be similar in design to propane stoves, other than running on a different kind of fuel. Butane is less popular due to higher fuel costs, somewhat lower availability of fuel canisters, and poor performance in freezing conditions. |
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| | **Isobutane** stoves typically consist of very lightweight burners that screw directly onto squat fuel canisters. They are very popular with backpackers due to reduced weight but fuel cost is much higher than butane or propane. Cold weather performance is improved over butane due to the addition of ~20% propane in the fuel mix. |
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| | See [[https://decideoutside.com/which-is-more-expensive-propane-or-butane/|this comparison of the gaseous fuels]]. |
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| **Liquid-fuel** pressure stoves run on compressed liquid fuel of some kind, traditionally Coleman fuel or unleaded. They were the default stoves for decades before the rise of propane. Pressure stoves typically cost less to run((propane in 20# bottles is closer to the cost effectiveness of liquid fuel)), put out more BTU in a smaller package. The tradeoff is smellier fuel than propane and more complexity than the "turn the knob and light a match" starting procedure seen in propane gear. Liquid fuel stoves are generally not used indoors -- they flare during startup, and emit fumes strongly when starting or extinguishing. | **Liquid-fuel** pressure stoves run on compressed liquid fuel of some kind, traditionally Coleman fuel or unleaded. They were the default stoves for decades before the rise of propane. Pressure stoves typically cost less to run((propane in 20# bottles is closer to the cost effectiveness of liquid fuel)), put out more BTU in a smaller package. The tradeoff is smellier fuel than propane and more complexity than the "turn the knob and light a match" starting procedure seen in propane gear. Liquid fuel stoves are generally not used indoors -- they flare during startup, and emit fumes strongly when starting or extinguishing. |
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| | See [[https://decideoutside.com/camping-stove-fuels-explained-and-ranked/|this comparison]] that includes liquid fuels. |
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| | **Electric** stovetops, either traditional resistive or induction, have become popular because of the "clean and shiny" look and how pretty they are on Instagram. However cooking with electricity is realistically only possible with shore power, or for those who have spent //tens of thousands// of dollars on their[[electrical:12v:intro| house electrical system]]. |
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| There are other, sometimes more exotic fuels often used used by backpackers who watch their grams. | There are other, sometimes more exotic fuels often used used by backpackers who watch their grams. |
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| There are also [[https://amzn.to/3kkFSWE|ultralight stoves for isobutane]]((typically 80% isobutane / 20% propane for low temp performance)) containers, but the fuel is expensive so they are most often used only by hikers and backpackers for whom light weight is more important than fuel cost. [[https://amzn.to/3oUi7Zu|Lindal valve adapters]] can be used to run isobutane burners on propane or butane. | There are also [[https://amzn.to/3kkFSWE|ultralight stoves for isobutane]]((typically 80% isobutane / 20% propane for low temp performance)) containers, but the fuel is expensive so they are most often used only by hikers and backpackers for whom light weight is more important than fuel cost. [[https://amzn.to/3oUi7Zu|Lindal valve adapters]] can be used to run isobutane burners on propane or butane. |
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| Related: [[https://thenextchallenge.org/guide-camping-gas-canisters/|guide to gaseous fuel connectors]] | Related: [[https://thenextchallenge.org/guide-camping-gas-canisters/|guide to gaseous fuel connectors]] |
| ==== liquid fuel ==== | |
| | For people who need to conserve space and who mainly use stoves to boil water, a [[https://amzn.to/2V8Odpq|JetBoil system]] makes efficient use of isobutane. |
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| | ==== pressurized liquid fuel ==== |
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| Liquid fuel pressure stoves do not burn liquid fuel directly; **they //gasify// (atomize) the liquid fuel into a vapor** that the stove can burn efficiently. Gasification occurs in a //gas generator//, which is a portion of the fuel delivery tube that pass near or through the burner's flames. The liquid fuel hisses as it vaporizes in the generator. | Liquid fuel pressure stoves do not burn liquid fuel directly; **they //gasify// (atomize) the liquid fuel into a vapor** that the stove can burn efficiently. Gasification occurs in a //gas generator//, which is a portion of the fuel delivery tube that pass near or through the burner's flames. The liquid fuel hisses as it vaporizes in the generator. |
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| //Suitcase// stoves have two or more burners and are shaped like a suitcase.((durrr)). Because of their large size they are uncommon in the vandwelling world. | //Suitcase// stoves have two or more burners and are shaped like a suitcase.((durrr)). Because of their large size they are uncommon in the vandwelling world. |
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| ==== electric stoves ==== | |
| [[http://amzn.to/2ong7cK|{{https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ffr0xXvFL._AC_US160_.jpg }}]][[http://amzn.to/2ong7cK|Electric stovetops]] are generally used by folks who use campsites with [[electrical:shore_power|electric hookups]], although [[electrical:generator|generator]] or big [[electrical:solar|solar]] setups with lithium banks are sometimes used. | |
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| Resistance and induction cooking both use 1000-2000w watts of power to run each "burner" although [[http://amzn.to/2owQKr9|the induction unit]] will be ~12% more efficient.((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking#Efficiency)) | |
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| ----- | |
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| Induction power levels have been measured for the following units: | |
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| [[https://amzn.to/35lutBo|Max Burton 6400 Digital Choice Induction Cooktop 1800 Watts]]((John H. Meyer review)) | |
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| - 0w - 750w (cycles on/off) | |
| - 782w | |
| - 962w | |
| - 1140w | |
| - 1232w | |
| - 1312w | |
| - 1402w | |
| - 1484w | |
| - 1544w | |
| - 1623w | |
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| [[https://www.irv2.com/forums/f259/winnebago-170a-487819.html#post5258607|True Induction double burner]] ((https://www.irv2.com/forums/f259/winnebago-170a-487819.html#post5258607)) | |
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| - switches 0 - 627W | |
| - switches 0 - 734W | |
| - steady draw of 734W | |
| - 820W | |
| - 890W | |
| - 978W | |
| - 1067W | |
| - 1260W | |
| - 1436W | |
| - 1540W | |
| |
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| ==== alcohol ==== | ==== alcohol ==== |
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| | The simplest hiking stove is a "penny" alcolhol stove, so called because in some variants a penny is used to cover the fill holes. |
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| The simplest hiking stove is a "penny" alcolhol stove, so called because in some variants a penny is used to cover the fill holes. | |
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| | ==== solid fuel ==== |
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| | === sterno === |
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| ==== sterno ==== | Sterno is a jellied alcohol fuel. It is rarely used in vandwelling because of the cost and because the flames are nearly invisible. |
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| ==== solid fuel ==== | |
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| hexamine FIXME | === hexamine === |
| | [[https://amzn.to/3hfujSd|{{ https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71RIkk1j2CL._AC_UY218_.jpg?125}}]] |
| | Hexamine bars or tablets ([[https://amzn.to/3hfujSd|esbit]], military surplus) are very expensive by the BTU produced (and relatively sooty-burning) but are lightweight and stable. They make great additions to day packs and emergency bags. |
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| | ===== electric stoves ===== |
| | [[http://amzn.to/2ong7cK|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ffr0xXvFL._AC_US160_.jpg}}]][[http://amzn.to/2ong7cK|Electric stovetops]] are generally used by folks who use campsites with [[electrical:shore_power|electric hookups]], although [[electrical:generator|generator]] or big [[electrical:solar|solar]] setups with lithium banks are sometimes used. |
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| | Resistance and induction cooking both use 1000-2000w watts of power to run each "burner" although [[http://amzn.to/2owQKr9|the induction unit]] will be ~12% more efficient.((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_cooking#Efficiency)) Note that plain hotplates run fine on Modified Sine Wave [[electrical:inverter|inverters]] but induction versions require pure sine wave. |
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| | Although power is generally ON/OFF at full blast with temperature controlled by varying the duty cycle, some induction units seem to use regulated amounts of power. Of special note is [[https://amzn.to/3J9pYv8|the Nuwave Pic]] that allows manual choice of 600w, 900w, or the default 1,300w. |
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| | [[https://amzn.to/35lutBo|Max Burton 6400 Digital Choice Induction Cooktop 1800 Watts]]((John H. Meyer review)) |
| | |
| | - 0w - 750w (cycles on/off) |
| | - 782w |
| | - 962w |
| | - 1140w |
| | - 1232w |
| | - 1312w |
| | - 1402w |
| | - 1484w |
| | - 1544w |
| | - 1623w |
| | |
| | [[https://www.irv2.com/forums/f259/winnebago-170a-487819.html#post5258607|True Induction double burner]] ((https://www.irv2.com/forums/f259/winnebago-170a-487819.html#post5258607)) |
| | |
| | - switches 0 - 627W |
| | - switches 0 - 734W |
| | - steady draw of 734W |
| | - 820W |
| | - 890W |
| | - 978W |
| | - 1067W |
| | - 1260W |
| | - 1436W |
| | - 1540W |
| | |
| | [[https://amzn.to/3AiRmmy|NuWave Precision Induction]] cooktop:((https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f14/induction-cook-top-and-inverter-compatibility-137997-2.html#post1699420)) |
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| | - Low = 100deg drew about 650 watts. |
| | - Med. low = 175deg drew about 650 watts |
| | - Medium = 275deg drew about 1030 watts |
| | - Med. High. = 375deg drew about 1300 watts |
| | - High = 425deg drew about 1580 watts |
| | - Max/Sear = 650deg drew about 1680 watts. |
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| | === laboratory hotplates === |
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| | Lab hotplates are similar to cooking hotplates only generally smaller using much less wattage. They may not work for full-on cooking but might suffice for reheating/simmering. See [[https://mouse.mousetrap.net/blog/2021/05/05/first-run-with-the-lab-hotplate/|this blog post]] by secessus. |
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| ===== fuel cost ===== | ===== fuel cost ===== |
| * if cooking with organic fuels like firewood, use a [[https://amzn.to/32b9DSn|"rocket"]]-type gasifier or other efficient stove | * if cooking with organic fuels like firewood, use a [[https://amzn.to/32b9DSn|"rocket"]]-type gasifier or other efficient stove |
| * maintain fuel stoves if it does not burn with a clear blue flame | * maintain fuel stoves if it does not burn with a clear blue flame |
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| | ===== further reading ===== |
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| | * [[https://www.reddit.com/r/Backpackingstoves/comments/rilefi/alcohol_vs_gas_vs_jetboil_weight_analysis_on/|Alcohol VS gas VS Jetboil: weight analysis on multi-day hikes]] |
