Taking a trip to your cabin, or even if you want to get away and rent a cabin can be some of the best memories you can make with friends and family. Nights around the campfire, boating and fishing, to just sitting back and playing some board games is great fun. One of the best things about having a cabin is the food. Everyone always makes great food, and big dinners for everyone, but what happens if you go to turn on your stove, and nothing happens? If you or your rental company forgot to pay the gas bill, or for some reason you have no stove to cook on, can end a camping trip before it even starts. What if in the closet you find an old camp stove, can you still use it? And can your even run it in your cabin?
Can you use a camp stove in a cabin or camper? Yes, using a propane camp stove in your camper or cabin can be perfectly safe to use if you are careful. Extra ventilation is needed when using these types of stoves, so you will want to open windows and even doors depending on how small your space is. The alternative to a propane stove is to use an electric hot plate, as long as you have electrical hookups or a generator to power it. Cooking might take longer only having one or two burners, but at least you will get to eat dinner, or breakfast.
Ventilation
Ventilation is key when using propane camp stoves in an enclosed area. Normal camp stoves are meant to be used outside on a picnic or plastic table away from your camper because propane gives off carbon monoxide when it burns, which is hazardous to people and can cause death if you inhale it for too long.
If you feel yourself getting dizzy, or a headache while cooking, back away, and go outside immediately. When using a camp stove in a cabin or camper, make sure that you open windows, or doors, so that you get some good air flow coming through to take the carbon monoxide out, and fresh air can get in.
Storing Propane
When storing propane tanks, it is extremely important on how you handle and store it after each use. Propane is combustable, so there are some simple tips for storing propane in your cabin that will make it perfectly safe, they are:
Try not to leave a tank inside, or in a shed.
- Keep your propane tank in a well ventilated area outdoors.
- Keep your tank above extreme cold (-40f).
- Keep your tank out of extreme heat (120f).
- Keep your tank away from any open flames like fire pits, or wood stoves.
These few simple tips will keep your tank from leaking, breaking, or exploding. It is a good idea that you store bigger tanks in a milk crate, and smaller tanks in a cardboard box where they will be safe from tipping over. If you have to store smaller propane bottles inside your cabin, make sure it is in a cool place away from sparks or fires.
Cook Outside
If you can, cook outside with your propane camp stove to keep from getting carbon monoxide poisoning. Cooking outside will ensure that you keep your camp stove, and the propane tank away from any hazards, and safe for everyone.
Find a shady spot, and setup a table to put your stove on, but do not put it, or the propane tank in the direct sun so there will be no chance of it getting too hot while cooking. Cooking outside on a camp stove will give you more room to move around, and will let you be able to setup more than one if you have them without having to worry about ventilation.
Watch Out For Grease
While cooking on a camp stove is fun, it can also be very, very messy when you are cooking. Since camp stoves are not like a traditional cook top, you get less control over how low or high the flame will go, especially if you stove is old, and you thought you would never have to use it again. Popping grease can not only burn you, but if the grease hits the fire, could spark a major fire. wipe up any messes that happen while you are cooking to avoid built up grease and fires.
Final Thoughts
While using a camp stove in a cabin or camper is not a problem, you should still not use it like your normal stove. Ventilation, fires, and burns are your biggest problems you will face while using it, so if you make sure that you are watching out for those, you should be just fine. Always be aware of where you are going to store your propane. If you know you are not going to be at your cabin for a long time, do not store your propane where it can get extremely hot, or cold, and most importantly, do not store it near any fires, or near anything that sparks.
Related Topics
Can You Use A Propane Stove In A Tent?
Yes, you may use a propane stove in a tent as long as you have very good ventilation in it. Unzipping all of the windows will give you adequate ventilation, while letting excess smoke out, and is a great way of keeping flies and bees away from your food. We recommend that you use a tent that you do mind getting dirty with grease and oil, and dirty from walking out and in.
Do Log Cabins Have Insulation?
A traditional log cabin does not have any sort of insulation because the logs are stacked on top of one another, but they still stay surprisingly warm. Since they are whole logs, and much thicker than your traditional 2×4 walls, you can get away without needing normal insulation like homes and new cabins have.