When traveling, many people like to bring ingredients to experience the fun of outdoor picnics, and at the same time, they can also solve the problem of eating in the wild. But it takes a lot of effort to achieve such desires. Before departure, prepare various outdoor cooking utensils, such as furnaces, pots, tableware, and other utensils that need to be used when cooking. However, people of these supplies are more headache for people who have no experience in outdoor cooking. Today I will talk to you about how to choose outdoor cooking utensils.
The most important piece of equipment for outdoor picnics is the stove, which is also the basis of our picnic. A good stove will bring a lot of fun to your cookout. Many outdoor newcomers are still in the barbecue stage when choosing picnic stoves, so let’s talk about how to choose stoves first. When choosing a stove, four main aspects are considered: weight, height, temperature, and the burning ability of the fuel. The weight is mainly for portability, and the height and temperature are mainly for the consideration of the outdoor environment. Different altitudes have different air pressures, some stoves cannot be used, and the temperature will affect our choice of fuel. The following will introduce the most common types of stoves.
1.Gasoline stove
Gasoline stoves are one of the more popular and most commonly used stoves, using white gasoline as fuel. Its combustion capacity is higher than gas, and it can be preheated with its fuel oil. When using it, it should be noted that high-grade gasoline and unleaded gasoline cannot be used, foreign objects cannot block the spout, and the vaporized stove will have a bit of a peculiar smell. At present, the most commonly used stoves for outdoor enthusiasts use stain-removing oil as fuel oil, and the stoves are of two types: Peak-1 and MSR. Some gasoline stoves can use high-grade gasoline and unleaded gasoline, but the combustion value is lower.
Its advantage is that it has strong burning power and no black smoke; the disadvantage is that it is extremely volatile and has a high-risk factor, so it is not suitable for carrying around, and the price is relatively expensive.
2.Kerosene stove
The principle of the kerosene stove is the same as that of the gasoline stove, the main difference is the choice of fuel. The biggest advantage of the kerosene stove is that the volatile capacity is lower than that of white gasoline, the risk of explosion is low, it is suitable for carrying around, and the price is relatively moderate. The disadvantage is that white gasoline or alcohol must be used for preheating, and it cannot be preheated by itself. When the combustion is insufficient, black smoke will be produced. If the wind pressure is insufficient, yellow fire will occur and the smell of oil smoke will be very heavy, and some carbon particles will appear, so it cannot be used in the tent. However, considering many aspects, kerosene is the most suitable fuel for hiking.
3.Alcohol stove
Alcohol stoves are the lightest and cheapest of the various field stoves. It uses liquid fuel with low combustion degree, such as alcohol (methanol), which can be directly burned without pressurization. The structure of the alcohol stove is extremely simple, just a container for alcohol and a stove rack to support the cooking utensils. Since no complicated mechanical parts are required, an alcohol stove is one of the easiest outdoor stoves to use, either purchased or DIY. But its biggest disadvantage is that its firepower output is low, and its burning power is much smaller than that of gas stoves and oil circuits. It is only suitable for cooking instant noodles and processing instant food. It is more convenient, and it is not suitable for cooking with partners. But the alcohol stove is undoubtedly the best choice for a solo outdoor hiking picnic.
When choosing to use an alcohol stove, try to buy high-concentration industrial alcohol. When adding alcohol, do not fill it up, but add it two-thirds of the way. Use a cover to put out the fire.
4.Gas stove
Gas stoves are fairly common stoves. Because it is convenient, easy to ignite and control firepower, and can provide maximum power in the shortest time, there will be no crisis of fuel oil spilling contaminated items. Most butanes are not suitable for low-temperature use unless n-butane is used at high altitudes. The gas tank cannot be refilled. After use, you must take it down the mountain and not leave it in the wild. Gas stoves need to be equipped with special gas burners.
5.Wood stove
The wood stove may not sound as high-end as the previous stoves, but it is convenient to use, and its advantages are obvious compared to other stoves. First of all, the wood stove is very portable. Generally, a wood stove made of titanium alloy only weighs more than 100 grams, which is very light to carry. At the same time, the fuel of the wood stove can be made from local materials. Outdoor natural dead wood and straw can be used as fuel, and firepower is also very guaranteed. Whether it is a simple meal for one person or a team, it is enough to deal with.
Its disadvantage is also obvious, that is, the choice of fuel will be influenced by the outside world, and it is not suitable for use in some seasons or climatic conditions. Insufficient combustion will produce thick smoke, which is not suitable for use in a closed environment. Therefore, when choosing a wood stove as an outdoor stove, it is necessary to make preparations for a spare stove to avoid the fire being cut off outdoors. Lighting firewood sometimes requires a little skill. We often use lighters and matches to light it, but it is useless if it is immersed in water or strong winds. Therefore, the most reliable ignition equipment in the field is magnesium rods.
