Stove or Grill or...What do you use and Why?

[blupaddler]

After this last weekend, I feel my present cooking situation may be inadequate. I am currently using a Coleman Propane stove/grill combination. Meaning one side is a burner and the other is a grill. I found that I need the second burner at times in order to multi-task with some meals. I tried to cook/heat on the grill side, but that didn't work too well. Now maybe that was ADHD, but I am looking into new systems.

I am curious what everyone else is using. This will be based on typical car-camping type travel. Where space is better than a backpack, but still precious.

Just curious who is using:

1. Two burner stove
2. Grill, Hibachi type
3. Backpack type stove, MSR etc.
4. OR???

Why you are using it also?



:camping:

 

[mountainpete]

When I have room, I go all out. I carry a two burner Coleman stove and a mini propane BBQ. The items take up a good amount of space, but I like to be able to grill a steak on one while cooking up some pasta on the other.

I also bring along a teflon griddle that I put over the Coleman stove burners (covers the whole unit) that I cook things like pancakes, eggs, etc on... Griddles are cheap and work really well and are lighter and bigger than the a big frying pan.

I also have an MSR Whisperlite stove that I use if I have to carry it on my back. It can be a bit finicky to simmer with, but it boils water better than anything else.

Pete

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Hey....blu!

I have a 3 burner old style Coleman that uses "white fuel"......and I also have two 2 burner white fuel Coleman's. I have extra stoves in case my friends are without. I love them.....don't have to drag around little propane bottles....and they seem to run forever!

I listed it HERE.

I even found a kerosene single burner stove top last summer (by:Kero~Sun..I don't think they make them anymore)....thinking I may use it for a huge pot of soup to last all weekend.....or how about a big turkey in a pot!....for camping with a larger group......I found it at a garage sale in Nampa, Idaho for $3.00.....brand new...never used.....and new it's probably a $75 burner! (hey!....I know this is old school....but it was ONLY $3 bucks!) so check the garage sales!

It kind of looks like the one below.

http://www.woodlandproducts.com/p170.asp

Like dad always said...........buy heaters in July!.....you get the best deal.....and ya never know when you're gonna need it!

 

[Scott Brady]

I am looking at this solution:

Brunton, wind river range: http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=400

Overall dimensions: 13.5”x21.5”x7” closed 23 lbs 4 oz
Fuel: Propane
30,000 BTU (15,000 per burner)
Boil time: Down to 3 minutes
Burn time:
Up to 1.5 hours-high output

Removable burner plate for easy cleaning
Precision fuel control
Ultra strong rattle-free design
Stainless steel grate supports large or small pots
Storage compartment under cutting board
Compatible with large and small propane canisters
Extruded aluminum/stainless steel construction
Limited lifetime warranty

 

[Scott Brady]

I still prefer my little Markill backpacking stove for heating water. The only thing that is faster is a Jetboil.

 

[Ursidae69]

Damn Scott, that's over 400 bones...

I prefer to cook over the fire and when by myself or in a very small group. I have various cast iron implements for cooking and all will work right over coals or on a grate over the coals. My buddy has a sweet grill I plan to copy. It's an old disk off a tractor, maybe 14 inches in diameter and he welded nuts on the bottom of it so threaded legs can be screwed into it. It was ground down to bare metal and seasoned extensively before it was used for food. With the legs in place it can sit right over the fire and is ideal for frying about anything and you can still keep your fire going well for warmth and it won't affect the frying.

When I'm in a group or there isn't a fire, I have a small coleman stove that I've had since my teen years. Sort of an old piece of crap, but it still works for car camping. My biggest issue when cooking is often table space, I need to get a good camp table someday.

 

[Scott Brady]

great idea Chuck. When I was in the Sierra Madre, we stayed with a family that used a disk like that to make some killer burritos.

 

[blupaddler]

Thanks for all the information so far guys.

Scott, Brunton does make some really good stuff. I like their backpacking stove. I forget the exact model, but it can use almost anything for fuel.

 

[BajaTaco]

I know this seems funny, but I have always just used a little Coleman Peak1 Dual-fuel backpack stove. Obviously it has limitations on how much you can cook at once and wouldn't be a good choice for doing meals for big groups like Scott often does. But I love it because it weighs so little and takes up such little space. We have used this to cook all of our camp meals on ALL of our trips, backpacking or driving, including our 4-month trip through Baja and other multi-week trips into Mexico. I have a light, folding wire grill that can be used when there is a camp-fire, but the folding legs on it are almost worthless, but it's great to have grilled veggies, fish and meats once in a while. The Peak1 stove has been on a lot of backpacking and car-camping trips over the years, and is still going strong, although I did replace the seals and generator after the big Baja trip (Coleman makes a parts kit for that). The cool thing is that it runs on unleaded petrol just fine, which is perfect for an extended trip to Baja when it's just not practical to carry all of the white-gas you would need.

I plan to try a little expiriment with it using a pressure cooker and some oven bags. If it works, it might make for some pretty tasty meals.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I think I have the same Coleman as you blu, the grill/burner combo. I also have a backpacking stove(small and lightweight). When camping with my vehicle I just carry both, then I have the option of 2 burners and a grill.

 

[datrupr]

I use a combination of a Coleman 2 burner stove and a Camp Fire. Get the coal reallyu hot and move them near the edge of the ring and it makes a great oven for baking potatoes, roasting Corn on the Cob, and then I usually carry a grate with me that I throw over the fire to grill steaks etc. I works for me and helps to save space in the truck. I also have the griddle attachment for the stove if I want to make pancakes, etc.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Hey Aaron........

We like to cook over a fire as well......but here in SO. CA. the fire restrictions are so strict that we even need a campfire permit to use our Coleman Stoves!

........and many times we just can't have a campfire AT ALL (in the mountains)!

My friend went all out and bought a three legged over the campfire adjustable grate. Works perfect!

It looks like the one in this link....but not sure if that's the exact one.

 

[datrupr]

Hey Mark, that is pretty cool. I have an old grate that I got from one of the restaurants I used to manage. we upgraded all of our kitchen equipment and they were just going to throw it out, so I grabbed it instead. I just stack up a few extra rocks at crucial points inside the fire ring and balance it there. it works great! Arizona has the same campfire restrictions in the summer. It is usually to hot to camp anywhere in the summer anyway, so it does not bother me, I get all my camping in during the spring and fall before and after the fire restrictions. we have a fire burning right now come to think of it, but the restrictions are not in effect. There is a lot of dry ground out there still as I observed over the last couple of weekend outings. I am done camping until March, if I have to sleep over night anywhere from here on out it will be in a hotel until then. I am not a real big fan of cold wheather. Maybe that is why I live in AZ

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

I love cold weather!...........Just consider it Free Air Conditioning!..... :jump:

 

[blupaddler]

I would love to just carry a small backpacking stove. I just think that it is nice to have the second burner in order to multi-task. READ: Make morning coffee and breakfast at the same time...But that is really the only reason I would want the second burner.

I also admit that I would save a great deal of room in my cooking box if I went with a smaller stove vs. the bigger two burner types.

This is the backpacking stove I have been drooling over for a while...

http://brunton.com/product.php?id=60