How to Use a Propane Stove

By Richard Thomas

Wikimedia Commons

While campfires have a certain romance to them, cooking with them for every meal through the duration of a camping trip can prove to be quite a hassle. This is why portable camping stoves are so popular. One of the handier formats for these stoves is the one that uses propane fuel, already familiar to many backyard barbecue enthusiasts.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You'll Need:

Matches
Matches

Step 1

Clear the area around the stove of all flammable debris, such as dry leaves and twigs.

Step 2

Turn the regulator valve to "off."

Step 3

Put the nozzle of the propane bottle under the stove's valve and screw it in. Some larger camp stoves will use a hose with a clamp valve instead of a screw-in bottle, and for all intents and purposes, these are just lightweight versions of backyard propane cookout grills. Connect the valve to the nozzle and secure it by turning the clamp lever.

Step 4

Put the propane bottle into its cylindrical, sleeve-like stand, if there is one for your stove.

Step 5

Switch the valve back to "on" again.

Step 6

Light the stove by placing a match into the gas stream, or by using the starter button, if there is one. Adjust the heat using the regulator valve, and cook just as you would with a kitchen stove burner.

Step 7

Turn the valve back to "off" when you are done with the stove.

Tips & Warnings

Using stoves inside tents is strongly discouraged by all manufacturers, and therefore should only be considered if you are camping in the most hostile environments, such as Everest Base Camp or the Canadian Yukon. Be sure the stove is on a level surface. Portable stoves can be easily overbalanced by heavy cooking pots.

Be sure the stove is on a level surface. Portable stoves can be easily overbalanced by heavy cooking pots.

Resources

Coleman Propane Camp Stove Guide

About The Author

Richard Thomas has been writing since earning his M.A. in international affairs in 1997, frequently writes about hiking and scuba diving for Trails.com, and also works as the Budget Travel topic manager for eHow and the senior travel editor for Associated Content. His 2009 work on Portuguese hiking and artisanal cheeses has also appeared in print.

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