!#5: Wood Cook Stoves Fast: 2012

!±8± Camping-Outdoor Cooking: Fire Pit Vs Portable Camping Stove

When it comes to camping, the feasting possibilities are endless. But how do you know what to cook, when to cook it, and what to cook it on? If you know how to cook in the kitchen, you'll be a wiz when it comes to cooking outdoors.

The only thing you really need to consider is what to cook the food on. Do you use a campfire or a portable camping stove? To answer this question, we need to look at the pros and cons of each method.

Let's start with the fire pit. The fuel is easy enough to find, wood and kindling. That can easily be found on an afternoon hike. That or most campgrounds have wood you can buy. Along with being able to cook on it, the campfire gives you warmth on a cold night or a chilly morning. It emits light to navigate your way around your campsite, and it creates the perfect setting for telling ghost stories.

Two food pros for this method of cooking include the ability to cook with just aluminum foil or a stick, which means no dishes to wash, and the all-famous smores by the fireside.

As for the cons, a fire must always have someone to tend it. It can sometimes take a while to start and a while longer to be big enough to cook on. And before you can leave or go to sleep for the night, the fire must be completely extinguished. If not, even one hot coal could spark a wildfire.

The portable camp stove, which usually uses white gas or propane depending on the type, is more convenient in ways a fire is not. The set up process is fast and easy, as is the tear down. With a stove you have temperature control. And, one of the best features, you can use it under a tarp or dining fly if the weather is soggy.

Of course, every up has a down. You will have to make sure you have extra fuel on hand. There will be dishes to wash, and a gusty day makes it hard to maintain a flame, which greatly extends your cooking time.

So which method of camp side cooking should you choose? My family and I use both. That way you get the best of both worlds. We typically use the campfire at night for the fun of smores and storytelling and, of course, to see by. Then in the morning we use the camp stove so that we can get on with the day's activities. As for you and your family, you'll just have to find the fit that works best for you.