13 Portable Gas Stoves for Camping, Picnics, and Road Trips

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Camping, picnics, and road trips are fun, but the struggle begins when you get to food packing. Since perishable goods are a definite no-no, the best thing to do to make outdoor fun much more exciting is preparing and cooking your food in the open air. With this, you will need some reliable cooking appliance/heat source, so here are the 13 best portable gas stove picks to get you cooking outdoors.

Why You Should Buy A Portable Gas Stove

Spending time in the great outdoors can be the opposite of a relaxing day, especially when you don’t know how to plan and pack the food you’ll be having. Aside from the fear of spilling chicken noodle soup on your sleeping bags, bulky containers can be an extra burden to carry when you are hiking or out on the road.

Instead of carrying big containers along the road filled with pre-cooked dishes, buying your ingredients raw is better since they’re compact, more manageable, and can be placed together with other ingredients. This can also help you cut food waste since some cooked food tends to spoil when faced with harsh and unstable outdoor weather. Above all, using a portable gas stove to prepare and cook food outdoors also doubles as a fun activity to keep everyone occupied.

A portable gas stove also makes it easier for you to cook anywhere. Not all people are comfortable enough to cook outdoors, especially when using coal that has uncontrollable heat output and is inconvenient when you need a heat source asap. Thus, having a portable gas stove is your best bet.

If you’re clueless about how to use a portable gas stove, it’s so easy that you can sit back, relax on your double hammocks, and enjoy the calming scenery. Even so, there are some common safety tips you should know.

First, always remember to place gas stoves on a flat, even surface. Next is to never cook inside the tent since it’s highly flammable, so only cook in the open. Another thing is to always clean and check the stove before and after cooking to avoid problems.

Types Of Fuel Portable Gas Stoves Mostly Use

Though we use a portable gas stove mainly for one reason, which is cooking, not all stoves can be powered by the same type of fuel. It’s essential to be aware of the types of fuel that portable gas stoves use, and this is not just because of cost differences but also for safety and common knowledge.

Propane

You might have heard about propane and butane as the commonly used fuel in cooking. To boot, propane is a more energy-efficient fuel and has a higher heat output than butane. Another thing about propane is that it is better used in cold climates with its boiling temperature of -42 degrees Celsius. However, propane can be costly, and canisters are heavier than other fuels.

Butane

Butane’s instant high heat output is what sets it above propane. It also does not require any priming, is non-toxic, and is a clean-burning fuel like propane. Even though butane is easier to store since its canisters are smaller than propane, the former is potentially explosive with its boiling temperature of -1 degree Celsius.

Petroleum Spirits

Also known as white gas, petroleum spirits are the first distillation of gasoline. Therefore, they have no additives. This fuel source burns cleaner than other fuels and evaporates quickly once spilled. Its downside is that white gas can produce sooty smoke, and if spilled fuel is left unchecked, it can be highly flammable.

Kerosene

Kerosene is a cheaper alternative when using portable gas stoves. Other than cooking, this fuel type is also commonly used in lighting and heating, just like pellet stoves. A drawback of using kerosene is that it produces carbon monoxide. Prolonged usage can also produce enough heat to ignite the kerosene reservoir.

Alcohol

Ethanol is the type of alcohol fuel that is quiet, clean, and always readily available. Using alcohol also minimizes our dependence on fossil fuels, so it’s more ecologically effective and helps reduce global warming. Aside from being the best portable gas stove for indoor use, alcohol fuel has a lower heat output, leading to slower cooking time.

Chafing Fuel

If you’re looking for a lightweight or mini portable gas stove, chafing fuel gas stoves are the best option. Just like alcohol, they’re safe for indoor use, clean, and the burn time per gram is very high. Yet, today’s production of chafing fuel is often mixed with additives, including methanol which is considered toxic and hazardous.

Factors To Consider When Buying A Portable Gas Stove

Size

Portable gas stoves are available in different sizes. If you’re looking for a gas camping stove that will not add much weight to your backpack, then a mini portable gas stove is the one for you. Small, one-burners, on the other hand, are ideal for those who like to go hiking or to the beach in small numbers. The market also offers the best portable propane gas stove options with a double burner for picnics and road trips. A larger camping stove would be a more time-saving strategy as you cook meals side by side – perfect when you want to relax on folding Adirondack chairs as the sun sets.

Fuel Type

As we’ve mentioned earlier, portable gas stoves vary from fuel type. This means that one fuel canister cannot simply fit all types of camping gas stoves in the market. Some brands require specific fuel containers that only fit that particular brand. With this, it’s best to identify which one is the best for your portable gas stove and which ones are easily accessible if you run out of fuel sources.

Process

Not all portable gas stoves have the same form of procedural requirements. From detaching and connecting a fuel container to assembling and storing such, you must be knowledgeable enough about the kind of portable gas stove you’re dealing with to avoid problems. Though the Internet is something to thank for this crisis, it’s always best to consult with a store or a professional to handle and operate one carefully.

Cost

Cost is another determining factor to know if a portable gas stove is worth buying. Butane stove is an expensive choice of fuel source next to alcohol. However, a portable gas stove fueled by propane is often sold cheaply and is widely used by many campers. But as long as your budget allows, you’ll never run out of options!

13 Best Portable Gas Stoves

1. HikeCrew Portable Gas Powered Stove Top & Cooking System

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Looking for a reliable and energy-efficient cooking system shouldn’t feel like being lost in the woods. The HikeCrew Portable Gas Stove is the ultimate on-the-go cooking stove for your camping, picnic, and other outdoor cooking needs. What’s best about this is that it has a conductive ring that blocks the wind and improves heating efficiency. This camping stovetop can also be fueled with Kerosene or butane, perfect when faced with camping roadblocks.

2. CHEF MASTER 90011 Portable Butane Stove

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Bring the kitchen to your campsite with this portable gas stove from Chef Master. Whether you’re fishing, backpacking, or hiking, this is an ideal companion for those who are fans of the outdoors. No more fumbling for matches too, as this portable butane stove is equipped with piezo ignition. You’ll also love this because it has a safety stop to prevent overheating. Hence, you can cook and camp safely and securely.

3. Gas ONE GS-3900P New Dual Fuel Propane or Butane Portable Stove

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You don’t need to be an expert to prepare good outdoor meals. With this Butane Portable Stove, cooking will be a breeze, and there will be more time to enjoy nature with your family. Thanks to its adjustable heat dial and piezo-electric ignition, it’s super easy to use. Plus, this portable gas stove has a built-in pressure sensor cartridge ejection system that instantly rejects the canister when unusual gas pressure is recognized.

Read more: How To Adjust Gas Stove Burners

4. BRS HuaYe Three Stove 4200W Powerful Outdoor Gas Burner

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This robust outdoor gas burner is designed with utmost efficiency to whip up hearty meals while cutting back on time and fuel consumption. It also has a perfect size as it can fit in your bag with room to spare. Though small and compact, this little stove can give the ideal amount of power to cook anything. Enjoy a fast and comfortable-to-use stove whenever you plan to go for road trips.

5. Coleman Gas Camping Stove

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Engineered to help you prepare and cook meals safely and confidently, this stove from Coleman is truly an all-in portable gas stove. This classic propane stove can help you do cooking outdoors too well that you’ll forget you’re not in your kitchen. This cooking unit also delivers more effective cooking heat with less fuel. The wind is also not a threat as its panels are wide enough to insulate all the heat coming from the burners.

6. Portable Mini Windproof Backpacking Stove

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It can be stressful to think about air or fuel leakage on your portable gas stove when you’re out at night. This portable mini windproof stove, with its new and improved design of an independent cassette tube, can instantly take your worries away. It embraces the most advanced internal honeycomb combustion technology. Heat is evenly distributed for thermal efficiency, making it the best camping accessory as you get to cook your food perfectly every time.

7. Hike Crew 2-in-1 Gas Camping Stove

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Another tremendous portable gas stove from Hike Crew is this 2-in-1 camping stove that you can easily carry like a suitcase when camping or picnicking. It’s set apart from other camping stoves because it has a burner and a griddle cooktop. You can make pancakes, fry eggs, and cook soup anytime and anywhere.

Read more: How To Fix Gas Stove Burners

8. Chef Master 90019 Portable Butane Stove

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Enjoy delicious food under the stars with this portable gas stove from Chef Master. Your camping and backpacking trips would be surely fun as this stove saves cooking time and even fuel. It comes with a hard carrying case, making it extra portable.

9. Twinkle Mini Butane Portable Gas Stove with Carrying Case

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Enjoy hassle-free camping, garden parties, and overnight trips with camping essentials like this one from Amazon. This butane stove gives has a sophisticated look that makes cooking a delightful experience. Besides being Instaworthy, this portable gas stove is also suitable for indoor use, making family nights more fun and memorable.

10. MaotaLife Camping Stove

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Are you already set for outdoor adventures? If not, maybe because you don’t have a portable gas stove that can make cooking a cakewalk. This camping stove is ideal for pots with a diameter between 10 to 30cm with a capacity of below 15 liters. More so, you can cook all sorts of dishes in places without access to a regular stove plate.

11. Bulin Camping Gas Stove Burner

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Having a portable gas stove is a must, especially if you need an additional heat source when preparing meals. This stove burner has 3-stove burners for even heating and withstanding strong winds. If you’re looking for something large enough to cook big meals for the family, then look for this portable stove.

Read more: How To Use Gas Stove Burners

12. Ohuhu Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove

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A reliable and portable gas stove is an essential gear for adventurers. Camping, picnicking, or even considering nature as your second home will feel like a walk in a park when you have this backpacking stove from Ohuhu. Don’t be fooled by this unit’s size since you can cook, have a barbeque, or make a friendly fire for the night with it. Other than that, this versatile stove can be fueled with not just solidified alcohol tablets but also wood, twigs, and other things you would likely see at the campsite.

13. REDCAMP Mini Alcohol Stove for Backpacking

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If you’re eco-friendly, you need this mini alcohol stove from Redcamp perfect for backpacking and other outdoor trips. Its aluminum stand and brass stove keep it stable and help support pots and pans of varying sizes. This portable gas stove also has a rubber seal to prevent alcohol leaks and evaporation. This is a great cooking unit to use during camping or serve as an emergency stove in times of crisis. Just make sure to use denatured alcohol.

Easily and quickly enjoy the comforts of modern living even outside with these portable gas stoves perfect for any outdoor occasion. Since we’re talking about the great outdoors, if you’re looking for bags that can keep your outdoor valuables in pristine condition, then check out these outdoor cushion storage bags!