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16 FAQ: Camping Stoves and Fuel.




  1. Should I get a grill or stove for camping?

  2. What is a camp stove used for?

  3. What should I look for in a camping stove?

  4. Who makes the best camp stove?

  5. How much propane does a single burner stove use?

  6. Which is better butane or propane stove?

  7. What is the best lightweight camping stove?

  8. Can you use a Coleman propane stove indoors?

  9. Is butane safer than propane indoors?

  10. What is the best single burner camping stove?

  11. How much propane do I need for 3 days camping?

  12. Does Coleman make a 3-burner stove?

  13. How much canister fuel do I need?

  14. How much fuel does a Coleman stove tank hold?

  15. How long does a small gas canister last?

  16. What type of fuel is Coleman fuel?


Should I get a grill or stove for camping?

You should get a stove for camping and here is why. The two-burner stove has been around since the 1950s and is stood the test of time. It is lightweight, small, dependable, and easy to store.


A propane stove produces 20,000 BTUs of heat which is sufficient for a camping stove. You can boil water for pasta, make coffee, cook meat in a cast-iron skillet or use a Dutch oven. They are very affordable with many models less than $100. They are easy to clean, take care of, and require little to no maintenance.


What is a camp stove used for?

A camp stove is used for cooking meals while camping. It is designed to be lightweight, portable, and inexpensive to operate. Portable camp stoves can also be used for hiking, picnics, catering, and backpacking.



What should I look for in a camping stove?

A camping stove should have two burners for a pot for boiling water or coffee and for an iron skillet for frying or to use it as a griddle. Burn propane and produces 20,000 BTUs.


Burner Controls with settings for high and low heat. Lightweight, sturdy, and under 10.lbs. Dimension around 24” long x 15” deep x 6” high. Cost $100 or less.


Who makes the best camp stove?

The Coleman Company makes the best camp stove and here is why. The Coleman Classic two-burner camp stove has 16,715 reviews and a 5-star rating.


No other camp stove manufacturer can say that. William C. Coleman in 1954 created the first camp stove. The United States-based Coleman Company create the Classic iconic, two-burner, camp stove which gained widespread attention and became the hot seller it is today.


The camp stove used today was created in the 1950s. Camp stoves are fueled by gasoline, butane, or propane.


How much propane does a single burner stove use?

A single burner stove uses 6.56 ounces of propane fuel per hour which costs $1.59 per hour based on $3.97 per propane canister. The canister lasts for 2.5 hours with 10,000 BTUs of heat.


One canister can cook 5-meals with a cook time of 30-minutes or $.79 per meal. These numbers are based on using the Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove.



Which is better butane or propane stove?

A Propane stove is better because propane fuel is easier to find than butane and butane is more expensive. Propane is better and more reliable in colder weather.


You can get propane in larger containers which will allow you to cook more food for a larger crowd on a tank than butane. Butane comes in very small size containers which would require many to cook for a family. So, choose a stove that burns propane, not butane.



What is the best lightweight camping stove?

The Coleman Classic two-burner is the best lightweight portable camping stove as wells as the best two-burner camping stove. The Coleman Classic Stoves has one model that burns propane and the other the Coleman Classic dual-fuel model burns Colemans liquid fuel or unleaded gasoline.


The Coleman Classic two-burner dual-fuel has been around since the 1950s and originally only burned gasoline. The tank on the Coleman Classic dual-fuel stove holds 2.5 pints of either Coleman fuel or unleaded gasoline with both burners on for 2-hours producing 14,000 BTUs.

Two hours of gasoline cost $.78 or $.39 per hour on unleaded fuel at $2.50 per gallon. The Coleman Fuel (white gas) costs $5.00 per quart which means two hours of fuel cost $3.75 or $1.88 per hour.


Can you use a Coleman propane stove indoors?

You should never use a Coleman propane stove indoors. Coleman propane stoves should be used outdoor. The only exception would be a well-ventilated space free of or at least 20-feet from any combustible material.


Coleman stoves are designed for the outdoors and emit carbon monoxide from burning propane gas which is toxic to humans. Coleman propane stoves produce 20,000 BTUs of heat which can cause any combustible material such as paper, wood, plastic, and clothing to easily catch fire. So, this is why can't you use propane indoors.



Is butane safer than propane indoors?

Butane is safer than propane indoors because propane uses considerably more oxygen when it burns and produces more carbon dioxide than butane by volume along with water vapors and nitrogen.


Propane may not completely burn if the indoor space does not have enough fresh oxygen which will cause the unburned propane to produce carbon monoxide. Butane may be burned inside with adequate ventilation and fresh air.


What is the best single burner camping stove?

The Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove is the best single burner camping stove and here is why. It is made of stainless steel, has wind baffles, sturdy construction, easy to set up and store, uses one single 16.4 oz propane cylinder that costs $3.97 and produces 10,000 BTUs for 2.5 hours, and holds an 8-inch pan. It has 4,272 reviews with 4.8 stars and costs $52.00. It's perfect for camping, hiking, backpacking, tailgate parties, power outages, and emergency field base camps. The Coleman Bottle Top Propane Stove is the best small camping stove available.


How much propane do I need for 3 days camping?

You will need 4.5 lbs. of propane for 3 days of camping and here is why. A two-burner propane stove on maximum heat (20,000 BTUs) uses .5 lbs. of propane to cook a 30-minute meal. At three meals per day that is a total of 9 meals or $2.00 per meal if you buy 16.4 oz propane canisters and you will need 5 of them.


I suggest you purchase a single 5 lbs. propane tank to use for three days. Not only will you not have to buy 5 canisters (16.4 oz each) but you will only pay $3 per or refilling your propane tank or exchanging it for a new one is usually around $5 per gallon. Whether you refill your 5-gallon propane tank or exchange it you still save money and the hassle of having to exchange the 16.4 oz canisters while cooking if one runs out.


Does Coleman make a 3-burner stove?

Coleman does make a 3-burner stove called the Coleman Eventemp 3 Burner Propane Stove. It cost $160, has 389 reviews with a 4.5-star approval. It comes in green and measures 26" long by 6" high by 19" deep and you can use either three 8-inch or one 12-inch pan with it. It uses a 16.4 oz propane canister that lasts ¾ of an hour on full heat-producing 28,000 BTUs and comes with wind blockers. It weighs 19.8.lbs.


How much canister fuel do I need?

You will need two canisters of 16.4 oz of fuel per day while cooking three 30-minute meals a day on a 2-burner propane camp stove that produces 20,000 BTUs on high. You will need ½ of a 16.4 oz canister per day when you use a single propane stove for 30-minutes producing 10,000 BTUs.



How much fuel does a Coleman stove tank hold?

A Coleman stove tank holds 2.5 pints of fuel. The Coleman Classic Dual-fuel Stove burns either Coleman fuel (white gas) or unleaded gasoline. The 2.5 pints of fuel will last for 2-hours of cooking time with both burners on high.


How long does a small gas canister last?

A small (16.4 oz propane) gas canister lasts one hour at 20,000 BTUs and 2.5 hours at 10,000 BTUs of use in propane camping stove on high. In a 1000 lumen, Coleman propane lantern a small gas canister (16.4 oz propane) can last 7.5 hours on high. For a Coleman QuickPack Deluxe Propane Lantern with dual mantles, a small gas (16.4 oz propane) canister can last up to 13.5 hours.


What type of fuel is Coleman fuel?

Coleman fuel is a type of white gas mixture that comes from crude oil. It's technically petroleum naphtha, a highly flammable liquid mixture composed of octane, pentane, cyclohexane, and heptane.


It is not to be confused with a white spirit that comes from turpentine and is often called mineral spirit and used in household cleaning products. The white spirit should not be used in a camp stove.



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