Cooking with a Camp Stove

Preparations for Using a Camp Stove

1. Read the directions for operating your particular stove and try it out to cook a simple snack or hot drink before you go.

2. Know what kind of fuel your stove needs. Plan to take extra fuel.

3. Gather all the equipment you will need for camp-stove cooking:

   • Pots.

   • Potholders or mitts.

   • Wooden matches.

   • Safety equipment (water bucket, baking soda, or a portable fire extinguisher).

   • First aid kit

   • Take a funnel if you are using gas fuel.

4. Review the Outdoor Cooking section of the book Safety-Wise before using the camp stove.

Cooking on a Camp Stove

1. Always have an adult present.

2. Tie back your hair and do not wear loose or plastic clothing.

3. Find a safe, level spot outdoors for your stove.

4. Clear any debris away from around the stove.

5. Set up the stove in a place that is not windy. If the stove has a windscreen, put it in place to break the wind.

6. Never use the stove in a tent or indoors. This is dangerous because stoves can give off carbon monoxide, a gas that is harmful to people. It is also dangerous to have any type of flame inside a tent.

7. Read the operating instructions again and light the stove according to directions. Hold the match so the flame burns upward.

8. Do not reach over the stove. When stirring, hold onto the pan with a mitt. On a small, single-burner stove, take the pot off the stove before stirring and then return it.

9. Adjust the flame for cooking. Blue flame is the hottest. You might want to coat the outside bottom of your pans with soap before placing them over the flame, so pot scrubbing is easier.

10. Do not leave the stove unattended. If you run out of fuel, never refuel while it is hot.

11. When you are finished cooking, let the stove cool before cleaning it. Make sure that gas valves are all tightly turned off before packing.