5 Tips for Camp Stove Cooking

Cooking with a camp stove can take a little getting used to. We’ve put together a list of 5 tips to help your outdoor cooking experience go perfectly.

1. Collect plenty of fuel beforehand. There’s nothing like getting your water up to a boil only to discover that you’re already almost out of sticks. Some foods like rice and pasta require a decent amount of time at a boil, so you’ll need a close supply of firewood to keep your stove at a boiling temperature.
2. Save time with presoaking! If you don’t want to save on fuel and cooking time, you can presoak some of those longer cooking foods we just mentioned. Put the food in a pot and put in just enough water to cover the top of the food. Then, let it sit for about 10 minutes. Add a little more water, and then fire up your stove. After soaking, foods like pasta, rice, and other grains should appear a little more plump and soft.
3. Use a lid when possible. While it can be fun watching the water come up to a boil, using a lid will hold in more heat and moisture. That means you can use less fuel, and less water when you’re cooking.
4. Keep altitude in mind! If you’re making a dehydrated meal (Like some from our friends at Backpacker’s Pantry) then your food will need to soak longer in hot water at a higher altitude. Once you’re above 5,000 feet in elevation, you’ll need to add 1 minute of soaking time for every 1,000 feet of elevation after that.
5. Make sure to stir. When using thinner camping pots and pans, it’s common to get hotspots during the cooking process. Lighter materials like stainless steel and titanium are very thin, and don’t always disperse heat evenly. To prevent any of your food from burning, make sure to stir it frequently.

At Hot Ash, we always try our best to leave no trace when we get outside, and we’d encourage you to do the same. Now get out there, be safe, and enjoy nature!