Honey! I don’t have room for that pot of beans right now. All the burners are being used and unfortunately, it is pouring down rain outside. So, what would you do in the situation? Scratch the beans or heat them up while everything else is getting cold? A Portable Butane Stove can save the day!
In case these great devices are new to you, they are perfect for camp outings when you have a good size family to feed and they like lots of sides on the table.
In my 30 years of working and owning restaurants, I have used these burners thousands of times, when I just run out of room on the stovetop. Just like a gas burner at home, they produce instant heat and they are handy to grab & go.
If you are in need of something a little more substantial, check out our article on the Best Camping Cooktops
The butane burners served their purpose well during large party events over the years. I would set up a few of them on a large prep table and Wa-Lah! ready to go with a brand new stovetop.
Or for Sunday brunch, I would line them up to make a nice little omelet station for the guests. It was like a portable stove I could move into the dining room.
Check product on Amazon below
Chef Master 90019 Portable Butane Stove
I regress, let’s get back to camping or even better RVing. I have 2 of these burners that I use in my RV and they are great for getting a full meal cooked and ready at the same time.
Anyone that owns or has used an RV knows that the stovetop space is limited. Using the stove inside also heats up the unit quickly and cooking odors tend to linger.
I have my old Colman propane stove that I use, but it only holds a couple of pots or skillets. So, I just set that up at one end of the table and then if needed put a couple of the portable burners at the other end. 2 cook stations and plenty of space in seconds.
Due to the size and how light they are, I will most likely grab a couple more instead of replacing the Colman stove when it retires. 4 burners are lighter, easier to use, and take up about the same space as this one old stove.
So, let’s take a minute to learn a little about them!
Details
The Chef Master Portable Camping Stove is designed with a Piezo electric ignition. This makes the stove super easy to start and easy to adjust the heat output. No need for a lighter as the burner ignites automatically.
These butane stoves are powerful enough to cook anything that you may need on a camping or backpacking trip.
The stove has a hard-shell carrying case which means that this unit is extra portable! The stove is small enough to easily fit in a hiking backpack or in a camping bag.
Safety
This model comes with an In-Line Regulator with Pressure-Sensing Shut-Off. If the pressure gets too high, the regulator will shut off the flow to prevent dangerous flashbacks. The Butane Burner has a wind guard to protect the flame from breeze or A/C.
10,000 or 15,000 BTU power sources available
Just pop in your can of butane and flip the switch to get your cooking experience started.
Check the product on Amazon below
Chef Master 90019 Portable Butane Stove
Can I use a portable butane stove indoors?
Yes, with proper ventilation it is safe to use a butane stove indoors. Even though it is safe, you still need to use common sense. Butane is colorless, extremely flammable and produces toxic gases when burned.
Understand, that burning butane will result in a little bit of carbon monoxide production, even if properly ventilated. However, the toxicity is pretty low at that concentration. Butane is dangerous when you’re burning a lot of it in a poorly ventilated area. Like inside your sealed RV with no vents on or windows opened.
How long does a portable butane stove last?
A butane canister should give you about 2 hours of cook time set on high and 4 to 5 hours on low simmer setting. This is enough to provide you with all of the cooking power you need to get that hungry bunch fed. I have got a much longer can live in my experience, but this is a good average to start.
Can butane canisters be stored indoors?
You can store butane canisters indoors, but precautions need to be in place. The best practice is to store canisters in a cool, dry location that never exceeds 122°F (50°C). Extreme heat or sparks can pose the risk of an explosion. As a matter of fact, canisters should always be stored indoors.
Do butane cans explode?
Yes, excessive heat or a punctured can could explode. Even though these gas canisters are a great cost-effective, easy-to-use, and lightweight option to power a stove or heating appliance while camping.
If proper storage and use are not in place, gas canisters can build up pressure and explode. Keep out of the sun, away from open flames, and away from heat sources in general. They are perfectly safe to use if best practices and common sense are in place at all times.
How long can butane be stored?
The canister doesn’t go bad if still sealed and unused. A good shelf life for an unopened can is said to be 10 to 20 years and beyond. Once opened your canister may slowly leak and the quality of the butane gas will diminish over time.
Is butane safer than propane?
Tests have shown, that while propane produces more heat than butane and is more efficient in combustion, butane has a characteristic that is also beneficial to the environment. It liquefies easily, making containment easy, and is non-toxic, and a clean-burning fuel that is a great source of energy.
Propane and Butane are both safe and efficient sources of energy.
Check the product on Amazon below
Chef Master 90019 Portable Butane Stove
Conclusion
This is really just a friendly idea in case you have never seen them. I’ve used them for years and have never had an issue of any kind. All the burners I have purchased are still in use and we put them through the wringer sometimes.
Let me know in the comments below if you have ever used one and what your experience was like.
If you are in need of something a little more substantial, check out our article on the Best Camping Cooktops
