The benefits of owning a butane cooker can be overestimated as today’s camping burners open up a new level of gastronomy. It is an indispensable helper whether you are going on a picnic or crave extreme camping.
The major advantage of the butane stove is that you can ignite it quickly as a wink without an external fire source even if it is stormy or damp outside.
That s why it wins competing to a camping wood stoves. Moreover, you won`t skip hot meals and will always have boiled water in case of power failure occurs. For you not to get lost in the abundance of the devices, we`ve prepared the top-8 best brands of butane burners.
Best Portable Butane Stoves Under $130
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1. Iwatani Cassette Grill Slim Ⅲ CB-SS-50
Perhaps the world’s best designed portable gas stove, powered by cluster gas canisters. Best user reviews around the world. Made in Japan. Have you ever seen displayed cooking when the chef is creating a meal right in front of the clients? Guess which stove is usually used for such occasions!
We are 99,9% sure that it was Iwatani Grill Slim! This model is worth being utilized in the most sophisticated restaurant kitchens, but it also can be the gem of the evening during your camping. No way you will be indifferent to its premium appearance and performance.
Any wok dishes can be prepared easily with 15,000 BTU Japanese babies. For comparison, most other cookers produce 8,000-9,000 BTU. The built-in cylinder heating system allows you to easily use the burner in cold weather without losing power. There is a magnetic valve for connecting and disconnecting the cylinder.
It has standard wind protection. Usually, is delivered in a plastic case. Unfortunately, you mustn’t use the stove inside the case.
The elegant combination of an aluminum body and a bronze burner forms a high-strength and durable item that will reliably serve you in your culinary exploits. No doubt, the performance of this piece of cooking equipment won`t leave you unimpressed. No lighters or matches needed – piezoelectric ignition is the perk of the 21st century.
The CB-SS-50 is a lot like the Gas One GS-3400P, with a few added features, such as a built-in double windbreaker, a convenient case for easy storage, and a magnetic lock system.
Still, the only imperfection of this option is that you cannot detach the canister from the stove as there is no lever. Besides, its pipelines may become cluttered during further use. Due to its moderate price this model is selling like hotcakes.
2. Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove
This model has a compact and ergonomic design, an optimal set of options, and an affordable price. If the device is purchased for cooking various dishes for 6-7 people, it is better to stop at this unit.
The cooking surface is sufficiently wide for you to install a 5-liter container. Two high-pressure burners produce a large amount of heat (20,000 BTU). You can adjust the temperature of each burner with a separate dial.
Although the flame may be extinguished in windy weather, due to the three-sided wind-protective screen, it is possible to cook fast with no heat loss. Besides, you can regulate the blockage whether you need more space for pans and saucepans.
Your safety is guaranteed with a built-in canister ejection system. Moreover, there is a special system to protect the oven from overpressure. In addition, a cooking grate is made of nickel-coated steel which provides effortless cleaning and extended service time. The heat is kept constantly and steadily.
Camping is a memorable moment in our life. So, enjoy it with the Camp Chef Everest camping stove, your savior in terms of time and effort.
You do not need any additional cases to transport the furnace as it has foldable construction and a convenient carry handle. Still, if you are not an Olympic champion in lifting and carrying weights over a long distance, this twelve-pound stove is better to move in a car.
For safe use, the manufacturer has equipped the gadget with a detailed system of protection against unpleasant connections. It has an adaptor for a one-pound propane cylinder possible to adapt for utilizing with normal tanks using HRDSP. This camping cooker has earned the title “the best dual propane stove”.
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Best Portable Butane Stoves Under $50
3. Coleman Portable Butane Burner
First and foremost, this is an affordable single burner that works well when cooking a limited number of dishes or as a backup stove. A small kettle or pot (up to 10 inches) can easily be placed on the hotplate, and it works perfectly considering their small size.
This model is an excellent choice as a spare, so if you mainly plan to cook on the fire, but you need a tile for something fast, such as boiling water. The stove runs on butane, and while the cylinder is carefully inserted into the burner body, fuel is not immediately available, as with the ubiquitous green propane cylinders.
You do not have to worry about transportation as it weighs 4.6 pounds (2 kg) and has a durable carry case. Another attractive feature of this stove is that there is no necessity in extra moves; you can simply put it out of the case and use it. It is possible thanks to InstaStart ignition – no matches are required to ignite the fire.
Coleman Burner stainless steel stove has a powerful self-standing structure with a large base for you to flip food easily. You can control the temperature with the rotating dial. With this burner, you may get a pleasant cleaning experience as it has a porcelain-coated grate.
Despite the small size, it can work for an hour and a half as it is compatible with an 8.8-ounce butane gas cylinder. One gripe: there is no windscreen for protection. But the general impression is great! An excellent price for this level of quality.
4. Chef Master 90235 Butane Countertop Range/Stove
One of the best models in terms of price/quality is a table gas stove Chef Master. It is a powerful 12,000 BTUs burner, with a gas consumption of 165 g/hour which weighs a bit more than a kilo. The kit includes a special plastic case for transferring. It has a closed type of burner with a ring flame. Type of pressure cylinders with a collet grip.
To facilitate the start of work, there is a piezoelectric ignition. Thanks to comparatively low price, this device occupies a leading position among buyers, not inferior in characteristics and performance to other models. Made in Vietnam.
It is equipped with an In-Line Regulator which helps to avoid gas leaks and explodes. There are four models with different heat outputs, which ranged from 7,650 BTU to 15,000 BTU.
Depending on your needs, you can adjust the heat range from simmer to boil. Thanks to a special Wind Guard the stove does not lose BTU/HR because of the wind.
With a burly, all-metal construction and brass burner that’s more durable than the others, this option is sturdier and more appealing than any other gas stove.
Though this model is rather plain, there’s no denying that it has a simple old school look and feel. It is highly recommended to use only Butane Marked BF1010 which you should buy additionally. You should clean the burner after every use.
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5. GasOne GS-8300 – Compact Butane Stove
If you want to go for a weekend trip with family or friends, the GS-8300 is the equipment to carry along. It completes our list of best portable burners we`ve found for an amazing cooking experience. There is no reason to fuss even if you’re a first-time user of a butane stove as it is easy to use.
If pack weight is a huge concern, this four-pound stove will work well to keep the weight down. The small size should not discourage you as it can reach up to 8,000 BTUs of heating power. Backpackers will love this stove. This model is available in two pleasant colors, orange and blue, which will definitely add joy even in nasty weather.
In spite of seemingly small size, it competes along with the rest of the list items as it has piezoelectric ignition, stainless steel-made construction, and a built-in cartridge ejection system. To make transportation safer, there is a push and turn knob that needs the user to push the knob in order to turn on the stove.
This helps to prevent the accidental operation of the stove. Moreover, an automatic shut-off feature included just like in the other models, prevents sudden gas leaks. No overheating with the ventilation holes! No sliding with the engraved grooves!
A brass head coated with an enamel finish resembles a spider which adds to the sense of reconnecting with the outdoors.
Made by one of the best manufacturers who respect their customers GS-8300 has a guarantee that gives you the opportunity to give your money back or have another stove if you are not satisfied with the quality of the product. Enjoy your outdoor holidays or be sure you won`t starve in case of a power outage with GS-8300!
Best Portable Butane Stoves Under $30
6. Gas One GS-3400P Dual Fuel Portable Gas Stove
Ease of use is paramount when it comes to portable butane stoves. Although this model is not the most powerful one, and not small-sized, it may brag about its comfort and trustworthiness. Surely, it is an outstanding offer on the market.
No need in saying that with the help of this stove you have an opportunity to cook two dishes simultaneously. You can enjoy cooking, all the time, everywhere.
For a great price, you get 2 large burners that produce a lot of energy (8,000 BTU each). There is also an excellent heating control for cooking different kinds of dishes. All this is placed in a fairly small volume, which will not weigh you down much (only 3.1 pounds -1.4 kg).
If you don’t need a larger platform and maybe a 3rd burner, GS-3400P is a camping burner worth buying. You can expect stable fuel output (both butane and propane), strong flames, and excellent heating control. Due to a piezoelectric ignition, you can access the flame easily without a match or lighter.
As a gas oven is quite a dangerous device, the manufacturer incorporated an automatic system, which shuts off if unstable gas flow is detected. In case of pressure increase, its sensor ejection system removes a cartridge and stops the work. Antiskid rubber legs offer additional support so you can stir and turn over food without any trouble.
7. Gas ONE GS-1000 Portable Butane Stove
This single-burner model is highly capable and priced less than average in the market. Surely, the design can’t be named as the strongest aspect of this equipment. If you OK with the simplicity of dishes during your travel, this stove is a brilliant one to choose from.
But, do not rush to diminish its ability to meet your culinary needs. It is worth owning as you will certainly not be upset with its productivity.
The manufacturer states that this model is the most fuel-efficient in the market as, at 7,650 BTU, you can have your meal cooked faster in comparison with its opponents. But it is more preferably to close a pan with a lid if you want to boil water quickly.
This stove won’t disturb the serene atmosphere of your trip as it works noiselessly mostly due to its small flame and therefore low noise level with 7,650 BTU heat output. Moreover, setup and maintenance are a piece of cake. As a vast majority of the items in our list, GS-1000 also has a piezo starter so it needs no outside power source to work.
But in case the piezo electronic ignition doesn`t work properly after the ignition rod was cleaned, you have to replace the unit. It has a nice safety feature – a built-in mechanism that won’t lock the canister if the dial indicates that the hotplate is turned on.
If too much gas pressure is detected, the cartridge Clean-up is just as simple as the set-up process. Comparatively high legs do not allow the table and stove to contact. Since 2017, when this stove was first available on Amazon, it has got up two thousand positive reviews and high rankings.
There are a lot of videos for this option for you to be sure it works properly. Although there are better options for larger groups, the ideal use is for two-three people. Due to the weight of 2 pounds, you can easily transport it.
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8. AOTU Portable Camping Stoves
This miniature camping gas stove (110g gross mass) has long been a reliable companion for summer residents, tourists, and fishermen. The unit is able to help out both on a long hike, and in conditions when there is no possibility to use full-sized equipment.
Its construction is foldable made of corrosion- and temperature-proof refined aluminum alloy. The package also has a bright small orange box for storing and transporting, which you can spot everywhere without paying much effort.
Although it looks fragile, do not worry, it is very sturdy, with up to 10 cm Fireboard, and can hold a pan with up to 20 cm basin diameter. This does not mean it is heavy. An adjustable control valve regulates the heat output from max. to min. fast and efficient.
Its output is approximately 10,000 BTU! Not bad for such a tiny thing! We saw that this had more than 1000 Amazon customer reviews to its credit. Cleaning is no longer a problem because you can wipe the surface quickly without much trouble.
Overall, it is an inexpensive portable model elaborated for cooking in the open using an external gas cylinder. But it is prohibited to fit this model into propane canisters.
It is an indispensable thing during camping, hiking, and fishing as it allows you to thermally process food and make it safer and more delicious at no extra cost. Spend less time cooking and more on unforgettable adventures!
FAQ for portable butane stoves buyers
1. There are so many different types! How to find the one suitable for me?
We advise you to think over several factors to make up your mind:
- BTU rating
- Safety
- Construction
- Number of Burners
- Fuel efficiency
Have a great cooking experience!
2. It seems that it is easy-peasy to handle these stoves. Are there any pitfalls in using?
Whichever butane stove you choose, there are some common safety concerns that many people overlook. If the butane gas canister overheats and the shut-off valve fails, the stove is likely to explode and cause injuries. That is why you shouldn’t leave a burner unsupervised.
Always make sure all connections are tight. Check if there are any gas leaks. It is recommended not to use cooking vessels larger than 200mm as it may cause overheating.
3. Which fuel is better: propane or butane?
Propane and butane are carbon gases. They are by-products of oil production, and they can also be released during oil cracking or from natural gas. As the practice shows, butane stoves work more efficiently with a longer usage period.