Living off the grid in a self-reliant way means that you will have to have backups upon backups, in case something goes wrong. Most people who live completely off the grid tend to use a wood stove, for cooking and heating. Most of them have a backup system that allows them to cook indoors like a propane stove or a butane stove. Right off the bat, propane stoves are by far the best option for cooking indoors.
The problem with propane is that if you live in a remote area you will have to store a lot of propane, which can be fairly dangerous. Butane, on the other hand, is far easier to store, and it even comes in handy butane cartridges which you insert in the butane stove and it is ready to cook your next meal. No matter what kind of indoor cooking system you are using you will still have to ventilate the kitchen.
Butane is considered fairly safe to use for cooking indoors, but even if it is considered safe to use you will probably have to ventilate the kitchen, just to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide. Butane stoves tend to be fairly small, most of them can be placed on the countertop, and as the butane cartridge is in the stove itself, you will not have problems with something like a leaking hose. Just keep in mind that butane stoves are not the best for everyday use, just use them when you have no other alternative.
There are two main problems with butane stoves, the cartridges tend to be expensive, and propane is much more efficient than butane gas when it comes to cooking, in addition to this propane is also a lot cheaper. My personal recommendation is to get a butane stove as a backup, hopefully, you will never have to use it, but if you do then it can be set up in a matter of minutes. If you want to live off the grid in the city and you don’t know how then check out my recent article How to live off the grid in the city? ( In 8 Steps ).
Best Butane Stoves For Indoor Use
A butane stove can be a versatile and convenient cooking solution, especially for indoor use in situations where a traditional stove or electricity may not be available. When selecting the best butane stove for indoor use, several factors come into play, such as safety features, portability, efficiency, and overall performance. An ideal butane stove should have built-in safety mechanisms like automatic shut-off and flame control to ensure safe operation in indoor environments. Portability and compact design are also essential for easy storage and transport. Additionally, considering features like heat output, burner efficiency, and fuel consumption can help determine the stove’s overall performance and suitability for indoor cooking needs.
Iwatani Corporation of America 35FW Butane Stove ( My personal favorite )
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This is a single burner butane stove made in Japan, butane stoves are extremely popular in Japan, and a lot of restaurants actually serve dishes with a butane stove. Almost every household has a butane stove in Japan. What sets this butane stove apart from all others, is the sheer quality of the stove, it is made entirely of metal, and the heat output is at 15 000 BTU, well above most butane stoves. The burner is made out of solid brass and it also has a windbreaker, this way if you are using the stove outside, the wind will not extinguish the flame. The butane cartridge system is magnetic, which is extremely easy to use, it also comes with an inbuilt safety mechanism if the pressure of the butane cartridge is too high it will cut it off. If you want to live off the grid in Connecticut then check out my recent article Off grid living in Connecticut ( The Constitution State ).
Camp Chef Butane Single Burner Stove
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This is a single burner butane stove, it comes with an 8000 BTU burner and a plastic case. If you do not want to spend a lot of money on a butane stove then this will be ideal for you. It has the standard butane stove layout, with the cartridge inserted in the right side of the stove. The Camp Chef stoves are extremely reliable, I have one which I use on and off for like a decade. As long as you store the stove and the butane cartridge correctly, you shouldn’t have any problems with it.
GAS ONE GS-2000 Dual Fuel Butane Stove
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This is a dual fuel stove, which means that you can use both propane and butane as a fuel source. This stove also has two burners, and each burner has a heat output of 8000 BTU’s. The stove is made out of stainless steel, so it will going to last you for a long time. The stove also comes with a safety system, which detects if the pressure is too high and it will automatically eject the cartridge. This stove also comes with an auto-ignition system, which means that you no longer have to ignite it with an open flame.
Camplux Dual Fuel Camping Stove
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This is a single burner dual fuel stove, you can use it with both butane and propane. The best thing about this stove is that it also comes with a propane converter regulator, which is an extra safety feature. The BTU of this stove is relatively lower when you compare to the others, at around 7200 BTU’s although this also means that the butane canister will last you a lot longer. When it comes to cooking you won’t notice the somewhat lower BTU output.
MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight Butane Stove
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This butane stove is made for backpackers and campers, although you can definitely use it in an emergency situation. The best part about this stove is that it is extremely compact, and it is extremely easy to use. This stove is powerful enough to boil water in around 3.5 minutes, which is excellent if you want to cook something fast. All you need to cook with this stove is a tin or metal cup in which you place the food for cooking.
Coleman Portable Butane Stove
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This is a single burner butane stove, it has an output of 7650 BTU, the burners are made out of aluminum as this doesn’t rust and it is extremely easy to clean. This is one of the best selling butane stoves in the country, it is fairly lightweight and extremely easy to use.
GasOne Camp Stove – Propane & Butane GS-800P Mini
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This is a single burner, dual fuel stove, it works both with butane and with propane. The BTU output is around 7172 BTU which is more than enough to cook a meal fairly fast. The body of the stove is made of stainless steel, it has an automated ignition system and a propane converter regulator if you want to hook it up to a propane canister. If you want a well-designed butane stove then this stove will not disappoint you.
Gas ONE GS 3900P Butane Stove
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This is a single burner dual fuel stove, it works both with propane and butane. The BTU output is at 15000 BTU which is probably the highest you can get with a butane stove. It comes with an electric ignition system and a built-in safety system that ejects the butane cartridge if the pressure is too high. The stove also comes with heavy-duty wind blockers, this way the air conditioning system or the wind will not blow the flame out.
Gas One GS 4000P Butane Stove
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This is a single burner, dual fuel stove, that works both with propane and butane. It has an output of 12 000 BTU’s, which is more than enough for cooking. As with most GasOne butane stoves, this one also comes with an automatic ignition system and several safety features. The stove is made out of aluminum and it also has wind blockers on all sides.
Gas ONE New 10,000 BTU Butane Stove
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This is a single burner butane stove, which has an output of 10 000 BTU’s. It comes with the standard Gas One safety features like automatic safety shut off, safety lever, and an automatic cartridge ejector in case the pressure of the butane cartridge is too high.
Key Takeaways
- The best butane stoves for indoor use are Iwatani Corporation of America 35FW Butane Stove, Camp Chef Butane Single Burner Stove, GAS ONE GS-2000 Dual Fuel Butane Stove, Camplux Dual Fuel Camping Stove, MSR PocketRocket 2 Ultralight Butane Stove, Coleman Portable Butane Stove, GasOne Camp Stove – Propane & Butane GS-800P Mini, Gas ONE GS 3900P Butane Stove, Gas One GS 4000P Butane Stove, and the Gas ONE New 10,000 BTU Butane Stove.
- When it comes to indoor use, it is generally recommended to opt for electric portable stoves or induction cooktops, as they are safer and more suitable for indoor cooking.
- Butane stoves are typically designed for outdoor use or in well-ventilated areas due to the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning and fire hazards associated with their use indoors.