Caravan cooking

Orana · Member

Caravan cooking

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Electric is clearly the safest and cheapest.
Gas cylinders the most expensive and most dangerous.
Meths has the risk of spillage and subsequent fire.
Cheers,
Peter

pomme · Senior Member

Hi Orana, depending what power backup you have, solar panels and battery you could try out the portable Induction cook-tops, very cheap at the moment .

Pomme.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Depends on power or heat supply ? I have recently purchased a little ceramic Sunbeam frying pan . Its large enough to cook
For two including steamed or stir fry Veggies . Then I save what is left . Use microwave to heat up next day On wrap etc . In the old days I would put food in engine bay in tin foil
as Im driving .. Things have improved over time ., JUST !! outside with insects use gas BBQ keep the lid closed . Eat inside . The gas oven & Cook tops are hardly used . Strange I notice if you it chilli into hot oil on
BBQ the flies dont seem too friendly . Social distancing I guess ?

Mike Harding · Guru

As it's only going to be an occasional thing for you I suggest one (or two?) of these:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/gasmate-portable-bbq-butane-stove-single-burner_p0035119

Small, cheap, light and easy. The gas containers are about $2.50 each and I guess one will last for a few hours.

No point in going overboard if the thing will only be used once a month or less.

Edit:

I carry one of these as a backup in case all else fails:

https://www.snowys.com.au/guide-series-compact-dual-fuel-stove

-- Edited by Mike Harding on Tuesday 1st of September 2020 01:35:15 PM

msg · Guru

Mike,
Those portable BBQ's are great. But.. how would you store the gas cannisters in a camper? I had some in a box under the bed wrapped in towels. But out in the heat and with travelling remote and everything banging around on rocky roads, I finally got the heebie jeebies and tossed them. Just how much can they take? are they safe?

vince56 · Senior Member

I occasionally use a butane cooker (and have the windows wide open) they work really well and there are millions of them out there. When travelling I put the butane canisters in a zip lock bag and expel the air before sealing, if they leak I can see an inflated bag long before it is an issue.

Radar · Guru

msg wrote:
Mike,
Those portable BBQ's are great. But.. how would you store the gas cannisters in a camper? I had some in a box under the bed wrapped in towels. But out in the heat and with travelling remote and everything banging around on rocky roads, I finally got the heebie jeebies and tossed them. Just how much can they take? are they safe?

I am still regularly using gas canister powered cooker since 1998, I wished I had brought earlier but. Fabulous.

The gas canister stove lives in my 4wd box in the back of the ute with a fry pan and small billy.

Now with a caravan surplus canisters live in the pantry with no special treatment. 22 years later.

We just love the gas stove, so simple.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

They are fine . Just store in ventilated area like you would with LPG bottles . Polystyrene Type foam in box for safe storage . I used to carry 10 or so tins . Only two at a time now .

oldbloke · Guru

I just use one of these for camping or cooking under the van awning. There are a few brands out there.

Cupie · Guru

I have always (or for the last 20 years) used the butane canister type as our main cooker. Always outside. I was delighted when Ubute brought out the 2 burner type ($100) but I had to bin it when the safety regs changed. Got a better one now but in the Ubute container. It has secure storage for two canisters as well as a pair if tongs & an egg slice.

Our van gas oven and pathetic 4 burner cooktop rarely get used. But as I type here at the Kingaroy Showgrounds, SWMBO is using the cooktop to do a feast of Spag Bol. Delightful accompaniment to a rather ordinary red I'm working my way thru.

We tend to overdo it in the realm of cookers & carry an electric pizza cooker & an electric frypan to supplement our microwave. That's what powered site dwellers do!

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 3rd of September 2020 05:58:36 PM

Sailfish · Member

We use an old 2 burner wanderer stove and put a hotplate on it. This efficiently cooks a good mass of fry or BBQ. Much more efficient than pots and pans on a small cooker and way less mucking about, washing up etc. Sometimes smoke meats on it as well. We are pretty much keto and carnivore these days to avoid digestive inflammation issues. So that suits our ultra low carb diet. Would't suit everyone of course.

The only safety issue with propane is people not checking and maintaining the seals.
It's very simple and easy to do but I had to really around around online last time.
It seems, very few people check or maintain their gas system these days so parts are not stocked widely

Just dunk the connections under water and turn the gas on. If it bubbles, it's leaking but try to replace seals before that happens.
Use silicone grease.

Ken

-- Edited by Sailfish on Sunday 20th of September 2020 01:32:28 PM