Noremac:
A small Trangia stove with an alcohol burner is quite a good item. You can even use them outside as they have a windshield. A bit slower than gas, but cheaper and the alcohol burners won’t break very easily. Good enough for boiling water or heating Irish stew or whatever.
Meths stove YES but NOT the Trangia. I don’t why the Trangia was a success when Optimus produced a much better item, much more efficient but went off the market. Compared with the Optimus the Trangia has flaws which I’ll explain. Both have aluminium pots which will not last in non-stop everyday use. The optimus clone can be used with 16 cm stainless saucepans and a bain marie to raise the height. As you can see the Optimus style is like a venturi and draws the air in beautifully which a Trangia does not.
Available on ebay from two sellers (£25 each) but I’d recommend buying the Trangia burner (but enlarge the holes with a 1.5 or 2.0 mm drill to avoid clogging).
I used a gas bottle and outside gas ring when I started followed by the Halfords camping stove (horizontal bottle type). But still found the gas expensive… using perhaps 3 a week at £3 each if not more. Meths MORE expensive unless buying in bulk which is what I do (4 x 5L =£70 which lasts 4-5 months) I use two 1L fuel bottles… using 1 and sometimes 1/4 of the other which works out at £3 per week. I also use meths for other things at home like cleaning off engine heads, removing labels and screenwash so happy to buy in bulk.
Here she is with an old marble tile to soak up the heat underneath. You can use them outside as that’s what they were designed for… I tend to be lazy and stay inside!
Bain marie or double boiler ring (available on Amazon and ebay £10 for 2). I happened to have one and was delighted when I found the ring fitted perfectly to raise a pan and support it at just the right height.
Fits perfectly inside the windshield upside down for supporting a pan
I keep the stove in a stepped steamer as it takes the windshield perfectly inside the steps (I left it on the bunk once, braked, it slipped off and went out of shape). By chance it fits into the steps perfectly. I keep it in my utility box now whilst driving. The steamer can be used as a steamer as well if required.
This pic shows my double ring burner but should you get one you will need to make a ‘cup’ to support it (old burner with the holes cut out). Better to stay with the Trangia burner but enlarge the holes as I said above.
If one is going to cook raw veg (rather than just warm) then two stoves are required; as the burner is hot after running out of fuel. When one runs out of fuel just transfer the pan to the other. Just put enough meths in to boil a pan… don’t use the sealing cap to save meths as I have found the cooled meths tends to clogg the burner holes when used again.
I also boil water for washing, washing up, as well as cooking and found it excellent. 24v kettles are expensive and don’t last that long I found. A meths cooker is perfect as nothing can go wrong - BUT it is slower than a gas stove and leaves soot on the bottom of the pan which some folk may not like… easy enough to clean off.
Each to their own… I’ve never got on with a microwave but other folk like them. I’m happy with what I’ve got now but only with mods. For everyday cooking one needs to use a stainless pan… aluminium just doesn’t last. I’ve been using this for 2 years now and delighted with it.