electric induction stoves for camping

see also:

• bushwalking in Australia
• heaters for camping
• keeping warm when camping or hiking
• risk management when camping
• comparison of full fabric 2P and 3P tents for colder nights
• shelters and tents for car camping or alpine 4 season use
• tips for camping in the rain
• camping recipes
• cooking options when camping
• how to reduce your risks in lightning storms
• hot water and showers for campers
• wood stoves for camping
• gas or liquid fuel stoves for camping

• electric induction stoves offer many advantages for cooking HOWEVER they do come with some MAJOR DISADVANTAGES!!

• lowest power setting of ~100-200W is usually used for maintaining temperatures of around 55-60degC - good for tea
• soup, congee or steam cooking setting is usually 1200W then 800W after 15 minutes
• milk heating is usually set at 800W
• hot pot setting is usually 1200W
• frying (240deg), BBQ (220deg), boiling water setting is usually set to max of around 2000W

• boiling water using electrical systems generally will use ~55Wh of electricity whether its a 2400W kettle, a 2000W induction stove set at either 2000W or 400W - the main differences will be how long it takes to boil which is in inverse proportion to the wattage used
• a 1000W inverter microwave can reheat a single meal and consume approx. 25Wh

• induction cooktops are the safest stove cooking option available and the best outdoor stove in windy conditions
  • smoke free - can be used in enclosed shelters without worrying about carbon monoxide poisoning - the silent camp killer
  • no residual heat so safer with children or pets
  • no flames or sparks means much safer fire risk
  • no gas so no explosion risk
  • most have pan detection, spill detection, over-heating detection and other safety mechanisms
  • much better heat regulation than wood stoves and most gas stoves
  • faster time to boil water than most gas or wood stove options
  • very portable - a single plate cooktop will usually weigh 1-2kg at most and many are less than 7cm thick and only 30x35cm
  • easy to wipe clean
  • are great if you have access to a powered camp site or you have a high powered electrical system already
  • fairly inexpensive and portable ones are generally easily replaced
  • can be used outdoors on days of Total Fire Ban
  • are still very efficient in windy conditions unlike most gas stoves which need a lot of shielding from strong winds
    • in addition, you generally cannot have wood fires on very windy days
• great back ups or adjuncts to your home kitchen

• for most induction stoves (eg. 1200W or higher rated stoves) you will need an expensive high power electrical system
  • although most of these can have power output set to as low as 200W, most do this by cycling at 1200W outputs, so you still need a high power system to run them!
  • if induction stoves are your main cooking for a family, you are going to need some seriously expensive electrical gear such as 600Ah of premium LiFePO4 batteries with high amp rated wiring, 2000W AC inverter, solar controller, 50A DC-DC converter and around 1000-1600W of solar panels (even then you are likely not to get fully charged each day if it is not sunny for most of the day, in which case you will need a petrol or diesel generator to supplement the charging)
• if you can find an induction stove that will run at only 800-900W then you can get away with a simpler but still relatively expensive system:
  • 100Ah of premium LiFePO4 batteries with high amp rated wiring and 1000W AC inverter might suffice for a short trip with minimal use without having to recharge it
• possible sudden power outages due to inadequate battery voltage
  • if the current draw causes the battery voltage to drop below its minimum (usually around 11.9V), the battery will cut out
• NOT great for remote travel as tend to fail and usually are not repairable on the road
  • a gas stove with LPG cylinders is far cheaper and easier to repair yourself and thus are a much better option if you are traveling to a remote area
• finding a replacement unit to fit your camp kitchen may be an issue
• minor issue: the smooth surface means pots can slide off more easily so you need a silicone mat, or ensure the surface is level

• these run at under 1000W which allows you to use a simpler battery system such as a 100Ah LiFePO4 battery with a smaller, less expensive 1000W AC inverter
• if you do have a larger system, their lower power demands will mean that they are more likely to be able to be used at lower battery charges than would be possible for a 2000W stove
• the main down sides are that heating will take longer and there may be some use cases that require higher wattage stoves
• these current draws are not as readily available on most 2000W stoves
• Nuwave Precision Induction Cooktop Gold 2000W
  • has 3 power consumption settings designed for lower power draw situations - 900W, 1500W and 2000W “performs flawlessly in RV’s, dorm rooms, remote cabins and campsites” “you can cook anywhere, anytime with limited power”
  • can set the temperature in 5deg increments from 40-250degC with max temp 250degC designed for searing meat and requires a 1000W AC inverter and probably will use around 75Wh over 6 minutes of cooking time
  • https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07FT2BBZT
• generic Chinese 800W stove
  • generally come with a US plug and require adapters
  • controls are minimalistic
  • https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007927167285.html for the 30cm version
  • https://www.amazon.com.au/Nuwave-Precision-Induction-Cooktop-Flex/dp/B07FXP2BSW for the cheaper 26cm version

• max. weight of cooking pot is usually 10kg
• all have child locks, timers and power output settings
• 100-200W setting generally equates with 60degC
• 2000W generally equates with 240degC
• some have default power on settings, you probably don't want this to be higher than your AC inverter power rating
• some will reduce power to 1600W after 8 minutes above this level eg. Tefal
• cookware should have a diameter of 12-23cm
• example of the 2000W Kickass induction stove:
  • boiling 500mL water at “400W” on 2000W Kickass cycles between 1160W (4.8A AC ~100A 12V DC), 450-600W and 4W taking 8.5min and using around 57wh
  • boiling 500mL water at “2000W” on 2000W Kickass maintains relatively constant 1890W taking 100sec and presumably using around 55Wh