Camp Stoves - Pressurized Gas

"Camping is nature's way of promoting the motel business.” - Dave Barry

A pressurized gas stove looks like a liquid gas stove - it has a flame burner with an attached fuel canister. The difference is the contents of the canister if it leaks. Coleman fuel (discussed yesterday) will leak as a liquid but Propane and Butane will escape as a gas. And while you can refill your liquid stove with fuel, for gas stoves you must buy fuel canisters already filled and pressurized.

Propane & Butane are "safe" for indoor use as they produce carbon dioxide (not monoxide) while they burns. Still you should crack open a window because it does consume some oxygen in the room. The primary hazard of using propane indoors is that leaks will "pool" in low areas since it is heavier than air. Your hot water tank could ignite an explosion if leaked propane pools in the basement.

Propane stores indefinitely, having no known shelf life. Propane stoves and small portable heaters are very economical and simple to use but the storage of propane is governed by strict local laws. Check out your local ordinances.

Like Coleman stoves, gas stoves and grills allow a fine control over cooking temperatures - just like a home stove. My wife and I often see Butane stoves used in cooking demonstrations at fairs.
The most difficult aspect of gas canister stoves is finding the right canister. They are non-refillable and often custom made for each stove manufacturer. Old canisters must be safely disposed of (they remain potentially explosive). It is also very difficult to know how much fuel is left inside a canister.

Gas stoves do not operate below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Bottom Line

It will be interesting to see if Butane stoves replace the Coleman stoves in popularity. Less mess and easier to use but at a higher fuel cost.