Cooking Made Simpler

Mechanical letter scale (left), electronic scale (right)

A"Pot Parka" greatly increases stove efficiency. Note that it must not extend low enough to enclose and overheat the stove tank or fuel canister.

Comment On This Article

Add to My Favorites

Pack too much fuel, and you carry unnecessary weight. Take too little and you could get into serious trouble. Estimating how much fuel you need is easier if you keep a record of fuel usage from every previous trip. You gradually accumulate enough data to determine your own reliable average fuel requirement.

The simplest way to determine fuel usage is to weigh your stove before and after a trip. No mess, no need to decant leftover fuel, no hazard. Best of all, this works for white gas and canister stoves. Indeed, it's the only way with the latter type.

I use an electronic office mail scale, but you can use kitchen scales or adapt a simple spring style letter scale.

If you want to convert fuel weights to volumes, white gas weighs 22 ounces per quart (660 g/liter).

With canister gas stoves, to keep track of how much fuel is in the canister you must weigh it while it's full, and write the weight on it with an indelible magic marker.

When you return from a trip, weigh the canister and its remaining contents to see how much the weight has diminished from the original full amount. This is the weight of fuel you have used. To find how much is left, subtract fuel used from the stated weight of contents stamped on the container by the manufacturer.

Keep notes on weather conditions, temperatures, types of foods cooked, and altitude, to help you refine the data and make it more useful. Maintain separate data for winter, summer, and above/beyond treeline.

Save Fuel, Wear a"Hat"

Much of the heat from that fuel you've been lugging around never even enters the pot, and even if it does, much of it leaves again at the sides and top. You'll save fuel and eat sooner if you use the heat retainer "hat" (Pot Parka) from an Outback Oven over your pot.

But first things first: Always put a tight-fitting lid on any cooking pot to take advantage of the greatest fuel savings.

The Pot Parka isn't only for use when baking. With a pot of water surrounded on all sides by hot gases from the burner, there's much less heat wasted than if the pot sides and top are in cold air. In a wind you'll be amazed at the time and fuel savings!

Important : Ensure at least an inch (a thumb's width) of clearance between the side of the pot and the side of the "hat." Also ensure that the bottom edge of the "hat" doesn't extend below the top of the stove tank or fuel canister. Remove the hat if there is any sign of the stove controls, the tank, or the canister getting hot. Three sizes are available.

For more information: www.backpackerspantry.com; (303) 581-0518, ext. 129.