About Camping Stoves

Camping stoves provide heat for cooking a meal while camping. Campers can also boil water over a stove to provide hot water for cleaning and sanitizing the camping area. Camping stoves come in a variety of styles and sizes, allowing for convenience as well as portability while camping.

Types

The most popular type of camping stove is a propane gas stove. The propane stove is portable and lightweight for carrying and storing. Propane tanks can be refilled inexpensively and conveniently at most camping supply stores. Propane gas stoves can be built inside of a camper or they can also be portable and used anywhere there is a solid surface to cook on as well as a ventilated area for gas fumes to dissipate.
Charcoal stoves are also widely used by campers. Typically constructed out of metal, charcoal camping stoves are usually tubular in shape to allow for ventilation to keep the charcoal at an even temperature. Wood camping stoves are the most primitive and widely used by campers who enjoy rustic camping with no electricity. Some wood stoves are permanent fixtures of the exterior landscape and are made of brick and iron; the wood is filled into the hopper to generate fuel. Portable pocket stoves that are made out of lightweight metal offer the benefit of using natural materials such as straw and paper to provide heat that is created through an ergonomically designed fluting system.

Features

Camping stove features include the ability to heat the stove with an ignition switch as opposed to having to start a fire. Many gas stoves offer temperature control that allows food to cook thoroughly and quickly. Charcoal stoves give foods a rich, smokey taste. Some stoves are collapsible and portable. Many camping stoves offer more than one burner for simultaneous cooking. Most camping stoves have covers or lids that help keep bugs and animals away as well as speeds cooking times.

Effects

Camping stoves provide a strong and even heat that is needed when cooking raw food or wild game. Instant heat is provided when cooking with gas, which saves time and effort from trying to start a campfire and prepare a tripod grill for cooking. Camping stoves offer easy clean up due to the materials that the stoves are composed of, such as cast iron, metal and porcelain.

Size

While camping stoves vary in size, most are designed for convenience and to be space-efficient. Interior camping stoves are generally countertop height but are slim in width for space-saving measures. Outdoor portable camping stoves such as propane and small charcoal stoves are small, anywhere from 15 inches and up to 1 foot and half in width and length. Some camping stoves fold up and can be stored away easily, making them space savers and providing extra room for other camping items.

Function

The main function of the camping stove is to be able to allow for cooking in any location and weather condition. Propane stoves offer instant heat, as the gas burner produces a flame as soon as the stove is ignited. Charcoal and natural burning stoves may take longer to produce an even heat to cook the food, but are cheaper to use than propane. Cooking is one of the main functions of any camping activity.

Resources

• Camping Stoves
• Camping Stove Selection