When you’re looking into purchasing a 3 burner propane camp stove, chances are that you enjoy cooking and want to make great meals for a larger group of campers on your next camping trip. Luckily, there are lots of three burner options on the market right now, and many of them have great features that make them more versatile, sturdier, and easier to use. Here are the top seven features you’ve got to look for when you’re choosing a larger propane stove for camping.
1. Pressure Regulation
Unless you just want to boil water on all three burners, it’s essential to check out propane camp stoves that regulate pressure. Pressure regulation on a propane stove means a steadier, more even flame, so you can cook evenly and don’t have to worry about burning items if the flame flares up.
2. High BTU Burners
Make sure all 3 of your burners get around 10,000 BTU’s so that you have a more versatile cooking experience. Less than this, and you’ll find that it takes ages to boil water for a pot of coffee, let alone actually cook any food. A good 3 burner propane camp stove will have independent regulators to allow you to adjust the temperature individually per burner. You want to ensure that the stove you are considering has a full 10,000 BTU’s for all burners, simultaneously – surprisingly, not all propane camp stoves do.
3. Piezo Lighting
Piezo lighting isn’t really a must-have, but it’s certainly worth checking out. Having a piezo lighting system on your 3 burner propane camp stove can certainly help make your life a little easier, as you won’t have to mess with matches to get the flame going on your stove.
4. Normal-Sized Burners
Some 3 burner propane camp stove models have smaller-than-average burners, so they might as well just have two burners, for all the good they’ll do you with your normal-sized pots and pans. To get the most out of your stove, choose one with burners large enough to hold a 12 inch pot or pan. That way, you can cook a full meal for a large group without having to use more than one stove or cook some things over the fire.
5. Three Sided Wind Screen
Most portable 3 burner stoves come with a wind screen in at least the back of the stove, but a three-sided wind screen can really make all the difference. This type of wind screen means you don’t have to worry so much about where the breeze is coming from, which is particularly helpful when you’re cooking in fickle conditions where the breeze changes direction constantly.
6. Adjustable Knobs
Now, most stoves are going to say they have easy to adjust knobs, but you’ll want to look at actual user reviews of propane camp stoves to see which ones actually live up to this claim. You want to be able to get your flame all the way down to simmering heat without having to use a wrench to fine-tune your grip. Choosing a stove with highly adjustable knobs for flame control can make all the difference in what you can do with your portable camping stove.
7. Easy Clean Materials
When you’re camping and cooking with your 3 burner propane camp stove, you don’t want to have to worry about cleaning the stove for hours after every meal. Look for stoves with drip trays that are made of easy clean materials like stainless steel for a much better experience with your stove.