Van Life Stove Options | VAN LIFE TIPS
Planning on doing a van conversion? One of the important aspects to think about is how will you cook. Today we’re bringing you van life tips all about stoves!
VAN LIFE STOVE OPTIONS
There are quite a few options when it comes to stoves in a van including propane stoves for a van and induction stoves.
Propane Stoves for a van
First we will talk about some pros and cons about propane stoves in a van and then we’ll share some of the best propane stoves for a van.
Now it’s important to note here that in order use a propane stove in a van, you must have proper ventilation.
Pros:
propane is readily available
affordable
easy to cook with
Cons:
combustible (aka more dangerous to have in a van)
needs ventilation
propane stove/ovens are often expensive
Now there are two options when it comes to having a propane stove in your van:
1) Built in
If you are going for a built in, you’ll need to think about how much counter-space you’ll have and what size cooktop you can fit. There are options that are a full oven and stove combo like this Dometic one, or ones as simple as a 2 burner stove with a glass top (see amazon link below).
We are fans of the glass top because it gives you something to cover the stovetop burners with when you aren’t using them, and doesn’t feel like you are sacrificing as much counter-space.
2) Not built in
After weighing the pros and cons, we opted to not build in a propane stove in our van. For us, having the extra counter-space was worth it because we often only cook 3-4 times per week.
Instead, we bought a Coleman portable propane camp stove that we could stove when we weren’t using it and pull it out to cook when we needed to.
If you are considering this option, here are the pros and cons…
Pros:
very affordable (under $50)
multi-use - can be used inside or outside of your van
only needs 1 pound propane tanks
easily stores away - doesn’t take up permanent counter-space
Cons:
takes up room when it is set up
1 pound propane tanks only last 2-3 weeks depending on usage
Portable propane camp stoves come in one and two burners so you can choose which fits your lifestyle and needs best.
Induction Cooktops for a Van
While cooking with an electric cooktop is more common, an induction cooktop is cutting edge. Induction Cooktops use electromagnetic coils under the glass cooktop surface to transfer energy into metal objects that produce heat. As a result, the pan is heated while the cooktop itself stays cool.
Pros:
Safer than propane or electric cooktops
Heats up quickly
Can be purchased in a variety or options (built-in, portable, 1-3 burner combinations)
Cons
Tend to be more expensive
Some require specific pots and pans to work
Require additional battery bank and inverter size in order to operate dependably
