I need some sort of cooking system for the 2 of us for when we're camping but I literally have NO idea when it comes to using gas cylinders and to be honest, I'm a bit nervous around them. Can anyone offer any advice on how I go about choosing a suitable stove please, and how to "hook it up" with all the pipework and complicated-looking bits? Any advice would be greatly appreciated...
Have a look at this Camping and Caravanning Club article.
I guess, since you mention cylinders, you're considering a two burners or two burners-and-a-grill stove?
These usually run off butane or propane but need a regulator on the cylinder to supply gas at the correct pressure, via a rubber hose, secured with Jubilee clips, to the stove.
Campingaz are the smallest and lightest type of refillable cylinder widely available in UK and on the Continent and contain butane, and are often recommended for use when tent camping in the warmer months. The hose and regulator are normally kept attached to the stove, and with the regulator turned off, the cylinder is screwed onto the regulator (clockwise) and then stood upright and the regulator knob turned on for use.
Disadvantages of Campingaz are the higher cost of gas kg for kg (compared to Calor or Flogas) and the fact that it's only available in butane, which remains liquid at low ambient temperatures so may not work below about 5degrees C.
Calor, and a number of brands in the Flogas group supply a choice of propane or butane, in 4.5kg or 3.9kg cylinders (probably the only practical size for many tent campers with limited space and payload, but larger than the Campingaz 907) which again use a hose connected to the stove but attached to the cylinder via a screw-in (anticlockwise) regulator for propane or a screw-on (also anticlockwise) regulator for butane.
Disadvantages of Calor/Flogas are, as mentioned above, size and weight, and lack of Continental availability if that's a concern.
Disadvantages of both Calor/Flogas and Campingaz are high initial cost of the first cylinder (unless you can source one elsewhere to use an "exchange" when buying a filled cylinder).
we use a double gas burner and grill combo for doing toast and beans etc. I then went and brought a halogen oven, which is great, you can cook allsorts in it - jacket spuds, fish and chips, was sceptical of it being any good at first, now we won't go away without it (though you will need hookup for it, so if you are thinking of going with no hookup its not much use to you).
Thanks all...we do have an EHU so could consider an electric stove of some kind, I was just worried that one would pull too much current and trip the camp site supply?
George-Mildred:
I bought a halogen cooker for camping and never used it. I need to dig it out and have a bit of a practice at home. Are they simple to use? Can you give me any recipes or meal ideas? Thanks
Hi Lynne, they are dead simple to use (that's why I like it) mine has a high shelf and a low shelf and a couple of trays. We only tend to do simple stuff like fish and chips, pies, sausages or pizza. We go for quick easy food when we are away. I find it best to put in for 10 mins then swap the trays around so the top one is then at the bottom so cooks evenly. I go for 10 mins or so cooking at a time, but easy enough to stop it cooking as once you undo the lid, the machine stops. It does jacket spuds really crispy like they are when done in a conventional oven. It comes with a toast rack but mr George said they came out like cardboard so passed on doing that again. According to the recipe book, you can do stews, chilli and even roast dinners. If you google it, there are loads of recipes online too Lynne. Really easy to clean too which is a bonus!
I love the idea of both but it's packing them with everything else that I "need" ... my DH was incredulous few years ago when I showed him the kampa khazi 😮 Could have been worse - there's a king size version now 😂
If you've got electric, then have a look at this thread for discussion about griddles. I'd be incline to back it up with a simple suitcase stove. That should be plenty for France, tbh - how much do you need to cook over there, after all?
Thanks all...I never thought of just chucking the slow cooker in the car with us! And I shall definitely be investing in a griddle to go with it. We are now officially a pot noodle free zone! 👌
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Topic: Tent cooking
