Best Butane Stove For Indoors – Single Gas Burner
Can you use a butane stove indoors?
Yes, it can be safe indoors. But it’s important to read “why” at the end of this article. The biggest example of this use is from the Asian culture where the butane stove is widely used indoors. The stove is also great for preparedness, emergency cooking, while camping, at the cabin, living off-grid, just as a backup, a portable stove that is safer for indoors than other fuel stoves, and other good reasons…
>> Cooking without electricity is something that everyone should consider in case of a power outage or other emergency situations.
There is a wide variety of portable single burner stoves to choose from. They vary from ultralight camp stoves for hiking expeditions to larger stoves with multiple burners.
Butane Stove For Indoors
Safer Choices | Use Butane
A good choice is the butane-fueled stove – used for an emergency stove, or for ordinary cooking that’s safer indoors than others. A single burner butane stove. See the reasons why its safer — listed below.
Years ago I bought the ‘ GAS ONE ‘ butane stove and have used it many times. The GAS ONE butane stove served me well (indoors) on vacations, road trips, (even cooking in a hotel room – shhhh…don’t tell anyone )
Gas ONE
(view on amzn)
But I like the next one even better!
IWATANI Portable – Single Burner Butane Stove For Indoors
If I were to buy another one today, I would seriously consider the Iwatani stove. (See below why quality is important when using indoors). Iwatani makes several models. Their model VA-30 is a mid range priced, portable sleek design with a 12,000 BTU burner. It does have a built-in windbreaker just outside the burner perimeter.
IWATANI OF AMERICA VA-30
(view on amzn)
I also really like their model 35FW. Why? Several reasons… It is very popular in Japan where most homes have a butane stove. The Iwatani (and this model in particular) is high quality construction.
The 35FW has a double built-in windbreaker, possibly making it a best choice for both indoors and outdoor use. It is a 15,000 BTU portable indoor / outdoor butane stove with an efficient solid brass burner. It is more expensive though.
IWATANI 35FW
(amzn)
Don’t forget to stock up on butane fuel canisters for your stove…
Iwatani Butane Canister 8 Oz (4)
IWATANI (ENTIRE PRODUCT LINE)
(view on amzn)
Why is Butane Safer for Indoors?
Can you use a butane stove indoors?
“The burning of ANY hydrocarbon produces CO ( Carbon Monoxide ) which can be deadly IF there is no exhaust or the inside ventilation is inadequate.”
Butane Burns Cleaner
The good thing is that butane burns cleaner comparatively to other fuels.
Complete combustion of butane does not normally produce carbon monoxide, but produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor. However not every burner produces 100% complete combustion.
“When oxygen is plentiful, butane burns to form carbon dioxide and water vapor;” (wikipedia)
CO is actually the result of incomplete oxidation. Can this happen with a butane stove? Yes, to an extent. So this is why it’s important to use high-quality stoves for indoors and complete combustion… Those with indoor certification as a result of the tests to get certified.
Use Common Sense
USE COMMON SENSE. CO is odorless. I wouldn’t use this in a tight enclosed space without ventilation! Never use a butane stove as a heater!
Although it is always best to use any type of portable gas stove outside, in my opinion you’re fine indoors in a typical home. Most homes have plenty of air ‘leaks’. And the stove is only used for a relatively short time for cooking (coupled with a very efficient burn with butane).
Asian families commonly and regularly use the butane stove indoors for cooking. I’ve used my single burner indoor butane stove lots of times without issue whatsoever.
With that said, and quite unlikely in a normal environment, “when oxygen is limited, carbon (soot) or carbon monoxide may also be formed.”
It’s always a good idea to be aware of ventilation in your space, especially if you’re cooking in a very small area. A Carbon Monoxide Detector should be in every home! Why? Because you can’t smell carbon monoxide.
[ Read: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Do You Have These Symptoms? ]
For your information, this is the most popular non-stick grill for a portable butane stove such as the IWATANI or others. The best feature is the drain hole and unique swirl design. The channels slowly (slow for flavor retention) drain any fat/grease out into a cup. Minimizes splashing while grilling.
Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan
Uses
– When the power goes out. Heat up a nice can of (fill in the blank) for dinner!
– Again, power outage. It’s out all night. Hot coffee in the morning! Got a percolator for that?!
– Road trip! Took mine cross country. Served us well on the trip! Because we took lots of our own food with us (cans of this and that, etc..).
– Convenient for a camping trip. Not so much for backpack but a base camp, yes.
– Hunting camp. Fishing camp. You name it…
– Simply an emergency backup! And it’s safer for indoors.
Note: My experience with using our butane stove is that it burns hot and heats food up fast. The butane canisters last longer than I originally thought they would. I bought a bunch of spare canisters for just in case. I store them with my other fuel products outside the house in a ventilated shed.
Any of you have a single burner butane stove?
[ Read: Cooking Without Electricity ]
[Read: Thermal Slow Cooker Saves On Energy! ]