How to Use a Trangia Camping Stove

Last Updated: June 8, 2022

Love the great outdoors? Then, learn how to cook on this traditional stove. It is lightweight, compact and versatile - perfect for hikers and even for day trekkers. And remember, food always tastes better when cooked outdoors.

Steps

1
Unpack the stove. The stove is packaged to take up as little space as possible. As you take it apart, remember how each piece fits together so you can put it back together after use.^{[1]
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2
Find somewhere firm and flat to place the windshield. Stoves should never be used in your tents, as the fabric that the tents are made from is very flammable. The Trangia comes with a two-piece windshield to keep the flame from going out if it's windy. Place the bottom part of the windshield on the flat surface/ground.^{[2]
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3
Assemble the burner. Remove the lid off the brass burner unit and pour in some methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) Never more than 3/4 full!
4
Replace the lid immediately. Put the burner carefully in the centre of the windshield and put the second windshield in place.^{[3]
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5
Light a match and hold it into the burner. You won't see flames, but you'll feel heat when the spirit begins burning.
6
Add the pan. Use the handle to place the pan on the metal supports inside the windshield.^{[4]
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7
Cook. You can now use the stove to boil water, or heat food in the pan or frying pan.
8
Adjust the flame while cooking. Use the adjustable burner top to control the flame. Always use the handle attachment when putting this in place.
9
Finish cooking. Put the closed burner top in place to turn off the stove. The lack of oxygen will cause the methylated spirits to stop burning after just a few seconds. Do not use the burner lid to extinguish the stove, the rubber seal inside the lid is not fireproof and will burn and melt all over your burner. Remove the burner top to make sure the fire has extinguished. Leave the Trangia to cool before packing it away.

Community Q&A

Question

three tips for cleaning and packing up trangia camping stoves?

Community Answer

Remove the rubber gasket from the lid. Scour the burner cup, lid, and simmer ring to remove any residue. Rinse thoroughly with water. Wipe dry, and then allow the burner cup to dry for 24 hours to ensure the interior cotton wick dries completely.
Question

What are the tongs called?

Community Answer

The tongs are called tongs. Some people might say tweezers instead or even handle. As long as you are understood, it does not matter.
Question

What is the metal made of - stainless steel or aluminium?

Makenzy Thompson

Community Answer

So, where did all these metals come from? Here's a very simplified explanation: All elements, including metals, are made of the same stuff: atomic material—electrons, neutrons, and protons. Atoms of different elements can be distinguished from one another by the number of protons they contain

Warnings

Do not use stoves inside tents or confined spaces. The carbon monoxide fumes produced by camping stoves are harmful and tents are highly flammable.

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Never leave the handle on when a pan is on the burner. It will get very hot and injure you.

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You must never refill the burner while it is lit - and because the flame is nearly invisible in daylight, it is an easy mistake to make. This is extremely important! If you attempt this, you will instantly find yourself holding a bottle of burning fuel (which you will then instinctively throw away from yourself, probably onto your tent, other people etc.). To refill safely, you should let the stove cool enough to be able to pick the stove up and take it to the fuel bottle (because if it is still hot, the methylated spirits will quickly vaporise, creating a cloud of gas which will burst into flames around you when you try to light the stove).

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Before you light the stove: Place the burner downhill from any tents - methylated spirits will flow like water if you knock the stove over. Because the outdoors is not flat, use any nearby stones to create a ‘nest’ to help stop the stove/pan falling over.

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The safer way to use it is to pour plenty of fuel in before you begin cooking – if you don’t use it all, you can save it until you need it, inside the burner. Always extinguish the flame by placing the burner lid upside down on the burner for 30 seconds, then removing it until the burner is cool – if you put the lid on a hot burner, the rubber seal will melt and burn. (Always ensure the seal comes away with the lid when setting up the stove. And don't let it fall out in the dark.)

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Whilst cooking, Don’t touch the burner – it will get very hot! You cannot see the flames in daylight, but it will still burn you.

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Never leave the stove unattended while it is burning. Do not leave it on for longer than necessary and under no circumstances should you use a stove to provide heat - it will produce dangerous fumes (carbon monoxide) that can fill a tent and suffocate you.^{[5]
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Things You'll Need

Your Trangia stoves which comes in 8 pieces:
- a frying pan
- a handle
- a kettle (not in all versions)
- a burner
- a couple of pans; and
- the windshield that comes in two parts - the base and the top half
Methylated spirits (denatured alcohol)
Fuel bottle. There is no need for a special container. Any regular container, such as a small plastic bottle, is okay for use.
Some matches to light the methylated spirits inside the stove