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8. Choosing a Camping Stove
Choosing a camping stove is easy once you know the choices and have decided what type of
camping trips your family will be taking. Stoves can have one, two or three burners. They use
propane, butane, white gas ("Coleman fuel"), unleaded gasoline, or kerosene. Here is the info
you need in order to pick a stove for your trips.
Size
It will be easier for your first few trips if the stove has at least two burners. This will allow
you to use nearly all the same food as at home. With two burners, you can have a typical
two-pot meal, like pasta on one burner and sauce on the other. You can even add a third
pot by heating up one dish and setting it aside while you heat the others.
Brands like Coleman typically offer a couple versions of each two-burner stove, with the
difference being the space for the pots. The "standard" sizes are adequate for most small
families, and with a little creativity and planning, can function well for up to ten persons.
This size can be a good choice for larger families if there will be a campfire which could
be used to heat some dishes. Otherwise, you might want to try the extra large size stove, as
it will accommodate larger pots and may even put out more heat.
White Gas ("Coleman Fuel")
You will encounter all the fuels named above such as propane, butane, white gas
("Coleman fuel"), unleaded gasoline, or kerosene. However, I recommend only two real
choices - propane or white gas.
The white gas stoves will product the most heat of any camping stoves. It burns cleanly
without any odor or effect on food taste. If you spill the fuel it will evaporate very quickly
and will not leave an odor. This is very important - sooner or later some fuel will spill on
your hand or clothes, maybe even on your table. No problem though.
Many of the white gas stoves now come in a "dual fuel" version. This will allow you to use
unleaded auto gas. Many campers use the auto gas and are satisfied with it. However, if
