Cooking stove vs cooking on open camp fire

Cooking stove vs cooking on open camp fire - Burning Stove

What are the advantages/disadvantages of cooking over an open campfire made with firewood as opposed to cooking on a propane gas stove? And which should one use for which occasion?

EDIT: Thanks everybody for the answers. For a propane stove, if we are carrying it to cook in wet weather, how does this help? We cannot light it inside the tent and if we take outside, the stove will surely go out in case of rain. No?

camping


Best Answer

Campfire

Advantages: Less equipment to bring, you can do everything from grilling to roasting to steaming to baking, makes you feel more awesome for having cooked over a fire.

Disadvantages: Longer to set up, can darken pots, harder to control and regulate heat, more prone to burning food/hands.

My Usage: BBQing/Grilling (Steaks, burgers), roasting (anything that can be skewered), no dish steaming/baking of foods (Tin Foil wrapping), anything else that benefits from direct heat.

Stove

Advantages: Quick to set up, It's just like cooking on the stove at home. Much better control of heat.

Disadvantages: More equipment, you're limited to what you can do on a stove (which admittedly is quite a bit).

My Usage: Anything cooked in water (soups, noodles, hot drinks), Stuff that is really better done on a pan (eggs, french toast)



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Quick Answer about "Cooking stove vs cooking on open camp fire"

In general, I much prefer cooking on an open fire because it is more social and meat cooked with it tastes much better. But when camping I always take a gas stove for hot water at least. Then if it's raining there is always the backup plan of using the gas stove for a hot supper.

Is cooking over an open fire healthy?

The typical cooking fire produces about 400 cigarettes' worth of smoke an hour, and prolonged exposure is associated with respiratory infections, eye damage, heart and lung disease, and lung cancer.

What are the benefits of using a camp stove vs a charcoal or wood fire?

A backpacking stove is an excellent way to prevent fire impacts in the local wilderness where you are exploring. They are also much easier, faster, and cleaner than a wood fire. But, in the grand scheme, stoves contribute more waste than a simple camp fire.

What is the main advantage of using a stove for camp cooking?

Advantages of Using a Camping StoveEasy to ignite with a match or a lighter, even in wet or windy conditions (Self-igniting camp stoves make this even easier) Cooks food evenly. Easy learning curve: cooking with a camp stove is similar to cooking with a gas stove in your kitchen.

Can you cook food on an open fire?

Open fires are particularly suited to one pot cooking. If you're feeding a crowd, try a chilli con carne or a casserole, mopped up with a crusty loaf. If you're camping near the seaside, some fresh fish might inspire you to make a tasty camp-side Paella, in which case, a large, flat pan would work best.


4 Types of Cooking On A Campfire - Boil it, Bake it, Fry It, Grill It Over the fire. - Dan Wowak



More answers regarding cooking stove vs cooking on open camp fire

Answer 2

When you are camping, there are a number of things to take into consideration when deciding between an open fire and a gas stove.

  • Weather: if it's raining or it has been raining, it's going to be difficult to find wood that is dry enough to burn properly.
  • Availability of good quality wood: Will there be wood available at your campsite or will you have to carry it in?
  • Luggage: is there space in your luggage for wood or only enough for the gas stove?
  • Permissibility: In the UK at least, there is a restriction on open fires at a large number of campsites - you would need to check in your area if this is the case there too

In general, I much prefer cooking on an open fire because it is more social and meat cooked with it tastes much better. But when camping I always take a gas stove for hot water at least. Then if it's raining there is always the backup plan of using the gas stove for a hot supper.

Cooking on an open fire will probably also give you a much wider variety of things you can prepare. For example, I've seen roast beef done on an open fire complete with roasted veggies - and I don't know how you would do that on a gas stove!

Last point - if you're going to use an open fire, make sure you kill the embers before you move on. And if you're going to use a gas stove - don't use it in a tent.

Answer 3

Campfire:
Pros
- Smokey flavor
- No weight for hiking
- More fun
Cons
- Difficult to cook with a pan
- Harder to use in bad weather
- Dirtier

Stove
Pros
- Cleaner
- More reliable
- Easy to use with a pan
Cons
- Heavy

I use the fire for dinner. It's a social thing. There's something amazing about cooking hot dogs together with only the light of the fire. Dutch ovens can make magic.

I use the stove for breakfast. Pancakes over a fire are always a disaster.

Answer 4

Fire:

  • can give out not just heat to food but to yourself as well
  • requires no weight but time to gather wood
  • can be difficult to start with bad weather

Stove:

  • Lot heavier
  • faster set up time
  • cleaner

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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