Coleman Dual Fuel stoves and rice – a very specific question

G'day Mike,

To allay your fears - yep, the Coleman dual fuel stove can do the absorption method.

We have the powerhouse that has a slightly higher BTU rating on the burners. You may have a problem with the main burner but not the smaller burner (for rice).

When I need rice for the main meal I cook the main in the frypan over the larger burner and the rice on the smaller one. The smaller burner can be turned down to 'candle' power.

The only problem with this is that the main burner must be going to use the smaller one.

Hope this helps - they are a bloody good cooker - very reliable in the snow too.


Tim

Mike

I don’t mean to hijack your post – hopefully someone will answer your question.

Anyway, being from a family that is big on rice this subject has been a real issue for us. Years ago we decided no more rice when camping – just costs too much energy one way or another. For camping we use CousCous instead. Only have to cover it with warm to hot water. Otherwise it is similar to rice and is lower in GI I believe etc.

Cheers JD

Hi Mike

We regularly cook paella on ours, not sure how long it takes but it is absorption method and we have no trouble getting the heat low enough.

Sorry can't be more specific on the time it takes....

G'day Mike,

I've had my Coleman duel fuel cooker for over 20 years and its never missed a beat. You can cook on very low heat with the burner however, when on low you need to be mindful of not having it out in any windy conditions as it can be prone to going out. As the previous reply states, I have a 2 burner and to use the second burner the main burner continues to flame but you can turn them down pretty low for what you want them to do.

As a side issue, I've just invested in a Coleman folding camp oven which just sits on top of the duel fuel burner and can cook anything from scones and biscuits up to casseroles and roasts.

You wont go wrong with the duel fuel burner though. I've always used unleaded petrol in mine and you will be pleasantly surprised that you can't even smell that its petrol.

Mike, I would also suggest that you have a look at the Coleman Australia website for a price before you race off to buy one as Coleman have recently reduced many of their product recommended retail prices. I suppose this is due to the A$ against the US$.

I just saved my self $40 on the folding oven.
Anaconda wanted $100 for it and I looked at the Coleman Australia website only to find the same oven listed with a RRP of $59.99 ( 2 days earlier it was listed at RRP$89.99). Anaconda wouldn't reduce their price so I purchased it at Alpine Country in Sale for $59.99.

Good luck with it and happy cooking.

Cheers.

Hi Mike

By design they can't cook with a low heat.

They require pressure, maintained by heat, and have fix jet so
you can't win at both ends.

One of the two we have would occasionally set low , but setting was unstable and required constant attention.

We no longer use them, except as effective radiators - there massive power can get the whole top surface glowing red and more than once in places where fires aren't allowed they have saved the crew from there imagined fear of frostbite.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Damn! Damn! Damn! Just as you guys at the top talked me into it, Robin comes along and talks me out of it! :) I can see what he means about the pressurised system causing issues with low flow rates but Tims reply about using the smaller burner whilst the larger one does the fuel vapourising also makes sense.

I guess the only way I'm going to be satisfied is to find someone with such a stove and try it - and I wanted a new toy too :(

JD - thanks for the CousCous suggestion - having lived in the Middle East for some time... I'll stick to rice thanks :)

Mike Harding