Butane Gas Canisters for Your Camping Stove

Know all about Butane Gas Canister for your Camping Stove

If you are planning a trek or camping in outdoors, be sure to stock up on butane gas canister that will help you to cook your feast to perfection. But with so many options available in the market for heating your outdoor cooking, at times it can difficult to know which fuel to turn to. Butane Gas is a good option; here are a few reasons to consider it for your camping stove while on the trail.

- Butane Works Quickly: When lighting a portable gas cartridge stove, butane lights instantly and reaches its maximum heat output right away so that you don’t have to wait to start cooking.

- Butane is Easy to Use: Butane is extremely easy to use in comparison to other types of fuel. Butane cartridges and canisters can easily be attached to the stove and used.

- Butane is Less Toxic and Better for the Environment: Most noteworthy, both butane and propane carry some health risks if they are inhaled directly. But out of butane and propane, butane is less toxic and can be legally bought and stored indoors.

- Butane is Easy to Carry: Every ounce of weight matters when you are on a backpacking trip. And Butane bottles are much lighter than those filled with propane, and also they are energy efficient, so you do not have to bring as many bottles of butane with you.

- Butane is Energy Efficient: Butane is a cheaper, more powerful, and more widely available than any of the green alternatives. You will save on both money and space by using butane gas.

- Butane is Inexpensive: Butane is derived from the process of refining natural gas or crude oil, and due to recent advances in drilling technology that can fracture shale deposits, natural gas and its derivatives are more available than ever before.

How long should my gas cartridge last?

Most camping stoves burn at 150g/h and the average gas cartridge has a capacity of 450g. This gives approximately 3 hours of cooking time. Here’s what to factor into your fuel formula:

- The number of people: To calculate the fuel consumption it is important to calculate how many people will be on the trip and how many hot meals and hot drinks will be required.

- Conditions affect Consumption: Seasons, altitude, and wind are big players in a stove’s overall fuel usage.

- Water Availability: Water from glacial streams and ponds will also increase boil time, so keep that in mind.

- Cooking Style: Simple boil-only meals are going to use a lot less fuel, while a multi-step gourmet meal will require more. Hence consider this when planning your number of meals before the trip.

- Stove Efficiency: Now that you have a general idea about your environment, conditions and group needs, consider your stove itself. A stove’s efficiency directly impacts how much fuel you’ll need.

Most noteworthy, there is one disadvantage to butane that is important to be recognized before you get stuck with it! During the winter season, once the temperatures dip below freezing, it’s difficult or even impossible for the liquid inside of butane bottles to turn into a gas. So, if you’re planning on encountering sub-zero temperatures, it’s best to go with propane.

Types of Butane Gas Canisters

- Screw-On Canisters: This is by far the most common type of butane gas canister used for camping. Also, it is re-sealable due to ‘Lindal valve. In case you are in hurry, just ignore the rest and just opt these.

- Easy-Click Canisters: Also called non-threaded, clip-on, Easy-Click plus etc. It is identical to screw-on canister except without the thread on the valve.

- Pierce-able: This type of butane gas canister is cheap but can’t be re-sealed once punctured. Though it is never the first choice in some areas it is the only one available.

- Aerosol: Another cheap option, but usually only usable with an adaptor or for re-filling other screw-on canisters.

- 4oz Steel Canisters: These canisters are a bit heavy to carry around in a backpack but might be used for camping from a car or at a basecamp.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of your stove:

- Be ready with your supplies as soon as possible to save the stove fuel.

- Always use a windscreen with liquid fuel stoves and wrap it close to the cookware to increase the stove’s efficiency.

- In cold temperatures, along with windscreen try using canister fuel.

- Placing the canister in warm water before using it will also help in cold temperatures.

- Use a lid and resist checking the water frequently.

- For sustainability and lower fuel costs long term, a liquid fuel stove is the way to go.

Safety Tips for using Butane Gas Stove

-Ensure that both the portable butane gas stove and canister carry the Safety Mark, which indicates that the product has met specific safety requirements and also carries a unique certification number traceable to the supplier.

- Avoid using the stove in any way that traps heat.

- Ensure that there is adequate airflow over the top and sides of the stove.

- Do not use pans larger than those indicated in the instruction manual as they will concentrate heat back towards the gas canister, causing it to overheat and explode.

- Avoid wrapping aluminium foil on or around the burner.

- Do not operate the stove longer than what is recommended by the manufacturer.

- Use the stove at a well-ventilated place.

- After use, remove the gas canister from the stove. Cap the valve of the canister and store it in a cool place, away from any flames.

- Do not tamper with the stove or attempt to repair a faulty stove yourself.

- Avoid leaving a lit stove unattended or place flammable items nearby during use.

- If you smell a gas leak, put out all flames and turn off the stove, gas valves and regulators.

Campingaz Camp Bistro 2 Stove