Volcano 2 Cookstoves

Multi-Faceted Outdoor and Emergency Cook Stove

Volcano II Cook Stove

The Volcano II Collapsible Cook Stove is a multi-functional stove and grill that can be fueled by three different sources.  This stove and grill can be heated using wood, charcoal, or an optional propane burner.  There are many unique designs that have led to this stove being extremely versatile, efficient and useful for outdoor and emergency use.

The grill itself has double wall construction.  This means that the inner liner is in contact more with the heat from the fuel source, but an air space between the inner wall and outer wall improves the effieciency of the stove and maintains a lower temperature on the outer wall.  The stove then has three bottom legs that provide support and stability, while maintaining air flow under the unit itself.  The outer wall has air ventilation holes that help to feed air through the bottom of the inner liner and focus the heat up.  The stove has a ventillation control that allows you to bank the coals with little air flow or stoke the coals with increased air flow.

At the bottom of the stove the coals or wood are supported by a steel grate.  This grate allows ash to spill off of the coals and allow improved coal efficiency.  A few inches above the grate a heat plate fits in.  This heat plate helps transfer heat around the stove or helps hold the coals closer to the grill.  The heat plate can also be moved up to the top of the stove to support a pot or pan.  The top has a removable grill top that can be left in place to grill meat or vegetables, or removed to provide a place for a pot, wok or dutch oven.

As you can see, the Volcano II Cook Stove works well with dutch ovens.  A 10" dutch oven will fit fully inside of the Volcano II Cook Stove.  When using the 12" dutch oven, insert the heat plate and the dutch oven will protrude slightly from the stove.  Dutch ovens ranging from 14" to 16" will sit on top of the stove.  You still use coals on the top of the dutch oven, but you now have a dutch oven stand for your dutch oven.  You can even light your briquettes in the stove and then remove the necessary coals and place them on the lid.

Volcano II Cook Stove with Propane Burner

The Volcano can also be fueled by an optional propane burner.  This burner provides you with another option for cooking everyday or in the outdoors.  The limitation with the burner is that it is not very wide, and so the heat is focused in a small area.  This limits the food you cook to a small area on the grill itself.  It does however provide a very hot cooking surface for pots, pans and woks.

The stove collapses down to about 5 inches high and comes with a carry case.  Volcano now makes a Volcano lid for the stove.  This Kevlar lid makes the stove even more efficient and improves cooking time.  The lid packs down nicely and fits in the pouch inside of the bag for easy store.

 

The video review above helps you get a good look at the Volcano II Cook Stove and provides information on how to use the Volcano as a stove or grill.  Hope you enjoy.

Cast Iron Cookware 101

Cookware for Everyday Use and Preparedness

Lodge 6 Quart Camp Dutch Oven

In my opinion, Cast Iron Cookware is a fantastic way to prepare meals everyday and have solid, heavy-duty cookware that is capable of being used in various cooking enivornments.  It makes superb camping and preparedness cookware because of its durability, its ability to be used over numerous heating sources and the fact that you can clean it in various ways.  Furthermore, I could be wrong ,but meals made in Cast Iron just seem to taste better.  I don't know if that is just my wishful thinking, if it is the type of meals I like to cook in Cast Iron or if the even cooking temperature reflects better in the food.

When people think of Cast Iron they often think about a large cauldron type cooking pot with lid for camping or for large jobs.  However, Cast Iron isn't just for Camping!  Cast Iron Cookware is an incredibly versatile type of cookware.  Cast Iron comes in a myriad of different cookware types, including camp dutch ovens, stove dutch ovens, skillets, griddles, cornbread pans, decorative pans, combo cookers, frying pans, pizza pans, biscuit pans, muffin pans, Aebleskiver pans, woks, presses, grill pans and more.  Cast Iron is often referred to as the original non-stick cookware.  When seasoned properly and used correctly, cast iron provides a great cooking surface.

Lodge Combo Cooker

One complaint often heard in relation to Cast Iron is that it is heavy.  That may be true, but the heavy duty construction is what makes this cookware truly singular.  Cast Iron has a nice heating surface, is rugged and strong, and is designed for years and years of use.  Many of us don't trust teflon and aluminum pans, and so stainless steel and Cast Iron make great options.

Some folks worry about the care and washing of Cast Iron.  I actually find it refreshing to take care of Cast Iron.  I feel that if I take care of my Cast Iron, it will take care of me!  You will get many different opinions on how to best clean Cast Iron, but everyone agrees that soap is not recommended for normal day to day cleaning.  Some folks use hot water and a scrub brush.  Others heat the Cast Iron and use a scraper and hot oil.  Some people use oil and rags for cleaning, while others rub out their pans with salt and towels.  Cowboys used to use sand to rub out their skillets and dutch ovens.  We all develop our preferences over time, but one thing is clear, there are many great ways to clean out dutch oven and not having to use water can be a blessing at times.  It is good to lightly rub or coat the insides of the pans and/or lids with oil to keep the Cast Iron in top condition.  Depending on the dish you cook, it is good to start with butter or oil in the pan if you can to help make cleaning easier.

When selecting Cast Iron products, cheaply made cookware just doesn't cut it.  USA made is really the only way to go.  Chinese made Cast Iron and other imports do not undergo the high heat process that is needed to properly strengthen the materials.  The cheap imports can crack and distort much more easily.  Spend a little extra and skip the hassle and frustration of cheaply made materials.

Don't be intimiated by Cast Iron Cookware.  It is relatively easy to use and can become addidicting both in how you use it and the care of it.  An easy way is to start is with a combo cooker, which is basically two skillets that can be used individually as skillets or together as a dutch oven.  You can also just start with a griddle or skillet.  Take time to read the manual that comes with your cookware and buy a book on Cast Iron or Dutch Oven Cooking.  Better yet, join a Dutch Oven Club in your area!  However you approach cooking with Cast Iron, you will be learning important skills that will give you years of enjoyment and prepare you for cooking in various environments.

Esbit Pocket Stoves

Quality Solid Fuel Stoves Made in Germany

Esbit Pocket Stove

For nearly 75 years, the German company Esbit has been making quality stoves, fuel tablets, cookware and cooking supplies.  These are high quality fold-up pocket stoves that are built to last and have been used all over the world for camping, outdoor cooking and emergency preparedness.  Esbit makes pocket stoves, wing stoves, cookset combos, titanium stoves and mugs, windscreens, pots, pans, solid fuel tablets and other outdoor cookware.

Titanium Mug on Esbit Pocket Stove

As a young boy scout, we used solid fuel tablet stoves, but they were not Esbit Stoves.  I felt like they were more of a gimmick than anything.  I really didn't see how we could use them and they were of rather poor quality.  I wish I would have had an Esbit Stove!  Esbit Stoves are sturdy and compact, while the fuel tablets burn hot and clean.

Esbit Complete Cookset

With an Esbit Stove you can heat water for rehydrating MountainHouse Meals, you can cook small meals and you can boil water for water purification.  You can even use the fuel tablets for starting a fire.  These tablets burn at over 1300 degrees and last for over 12 minutes!  These tablets can help you get a fire going or dry out wet tinder.  An Esbit Stove and a good supply of Esbit Fuel Tablets make a great addition to your 72 hour kit or personal backpacking assembly.

Aurora Firestarter

Great Firestarter is Made in the USA!

This firestarter is my new favorite emergency preparedness item.  Like many of you I struggle starting fires with a bow and drill and the hand drill.  In the mean time, I keep this firestarter handy with some dry lint or cotton balls to help with starting and I have had great success with starting fires with my first strike.

Since videos are a great way of demonstrating products, I videotaped our son on a recent campout using this firestarter.  He got a fire started on the second strike!  Hope you enjoy: