pros and cons for alcohol stove – New Age Self-Reliance

Food is always on my mind when prepping for camping. The minute I start planning a trip, it’s usually “mmm, what are we going to eat?!” With food being such a big part of the experience making sure you are able to make it is pretty important! My favorite way to cook our food while camping, second only to fire, is a canister stove.

Stoves for Camping.

Sure, there are many types of stoves: alcohol, canister, solid fuel, woodburning and even solar-powered. Each fuel type has its pros and cons, which is a lot to unpack and we will save that for another day! Today, we are going to dive into canister stoves, and what makes them a great choice for your outdoor kitchen!

Space Saver

Canister stoves can be packed inside things already packed, such as a pot! This means you don’t have to find the room for a cooking container and a stove. A built-in perk to this (as if having more room in your pack wasn’t enough!) is that when prepping for a meal, just pull out the pot and the portable kitchen is ready to go!

Weight

We all know that space and weight are two things that are highly treasured when it comes to your pack! Canister stoves along with their space-saving convenience, are lightweight! A great stove when weight is a big concern is the BRS 3000T! This tiny stove heats quickly. The BRS 3000T is small, light, and also has three pot support legs with teeth that do a great job stabilizing pots.

Convenience

Honestly, this is the category that makes the canister stove a real winner for me. Canister stoves are so easy to use! All that is needed is the stove and the fuel canister. A great starter stove is definitely the Etekcity, this stove even has a piezo ignition so you don’t HAVE to carry a lighter (even though it’s always good to have one on hand!) Another perk to drop in the convenience category is that when it is raining, you can actually put this stove inside your vestibule. Ensuring a nice warm meal in the wet and chilly rain.

Cons

Everything has a con to balance out the pros, and the canister stove is no exception. There are three major cons that come along with canister stoves:

There can be issues with stabilizing the pot/pan that you are cooking with. The pot/pan can make it unstable depending on what size they are and the weight that added to the pot/pan. Generally, pots are easier to stabilize on this stove type. Issues can be avoided by knowing beforehand what will be prepared on the stove, finding a flat spot to place the stove, and above all paying attention.
One downside to a canister stove is that the canister is a set amount. The amount cannot be adjusted for longer trips, to compensate you will need to bring another canister. Which takes away from the space-saving advantage.
Canister stoves can also be finicky when the temps drop below freezing. This fuel type is not ideal when winter camping, as it is not reliable to give flames. Winter camping is when reliability is non-negotiable.

Canister Stoves are a Great Choice for Camping

While canister stoves have their cons: stability, set amount of fuel and not being ideal for winter the pros balance these out. You can also compensate these cons by planning your trip so you are prepared with the right amount of fuel, know what the temp will be and having the right pot or pan for the job! The overall size and weight, and above all convenience of a canister stove cannot be beat!

Make sure to share stories of using your canister stove, as well as recipes down below!

I am an avid foodie and that does not stop when I am spending time in the woods, so I often question: What is the best camping stove for cooking in the woods? Food is something that brings us all together and creates memories with each other, so it’s important to be able to cook the food you want and enjoy the best taste. There are four main stove types when cooking in the woods Alcohol, Wood, Canister and an old-fashioned Fire Grate.

Alcohol Stove

These are a good, light-weight option to take with you on your trek through the woods. There are many different styles of stoves for this fuel type, you can even easily make one yourself out of a pop can! Esbit makes one that has a great snuffer ring, however, this version does not come with a pot stand, you need to buy this separately. Pathfinder school, on the other hand, has a snuffer ring that doesn’t seal tight so you can potentially burn yourself. The Pathfinder is my favorite for this fuel option, it has larger fuel storage and comes with a pot stand that fits snuggly around the base. Both the Esbit and the Pathfinder School have a secure cap to ensure your fuel doesn’t spill out all over your gear, while you need to carry fuel in a separate container with a DIY version.

Pros: Fast for boiling water, good for burn bans
Cons: Not the safest, Might not come with pot stand, Easily Spilled, Cannot adjust the flame

Wood Stove

Wood Stoves are awesome for bringing in the woods because they run on kindling, and in the woods, you are surrounded by kindling! These come in three parts that slide into each other for a compact stove. You slide the pot stand out of the ash box and then set into the air intake base. This is a great system, but not recommended for beginners. You do not want to rely on creating a fire with wood if you are inexperienced and should at least bring another fuel type as a backup. Nulipam is the brand we use when using a wood burner for our primary fuel type. This stove set up is nice because the pot stand fits a pan, as well as a small pot, making your cooking options endless.

Pros: Won’t spill, Fits pans, Compact
Cons: Can be hard to get a fire going or to keep it going, Cannot adjust the flame

Canister Stoves

Canister stoves are by far my favorite when it comes to portable fuel stoves! These are light-weight, safe from spilling and you are able to use them when there is a burn ban out in the woods. There are two main types I use – both are the burner type, however one is Piezo Ignition (you will not need a lighter) and the other is manual (you will need a lighter.) The downside is that you will have to carry the fuel canister separate, however, they have a good, sturdy build with feet that fold out, making them ideal for pots and pans without the worry of them falling over. The other thing I love about these stoves is that you can adjust the heat, so you don’t burn your eggs! When there is a fire ban the canister stove is the best camping stove for me!

Pros: Adjustable flame, Sturdy feet holds pots and pans, Lightweight, Safe from spills, OK during burn bans
Cons: Need to carry a fuel canister separate

Fire Grate

The by far BEST camping stove for cooking when you are out in nature is right over your fire. There are many types of grates you can buy for this such as the UCO Grilliput, which I found flimsy and hard to use, and Coghlan’s Camp Grill, which is sturdy and reliable. The material you need to start the fire is around you, so you do not have to pack in any sort of fuel. Although it can be tricky for beginners to get a fire, this is the best way to cook while camping, especially if you have fresh food. Nothing beats a steak that gets the nice caramelized fat and smoky flavor. It is also dual purpose because once it cools down at night you can heat yourself around the fire that fed you!

Pros: Yummy steak, Safe from fuel spills, Holds pots and pans, Fire building material found in nature
Cons: Flame is not adjustable, Need to be a bit more skilled, Grate can be bulky, Cannot use this option in a fire ban

Best Camping Stove for Me

Overall my top two picks are the Fuel Canister Stoves and Fire Grates for best camping stove! Let me know what your favorite stove for cooking is below and what you make on your trips!