Best electric stovetop for cold and windy road trip cooking?

I’ve got an Anker Solix 1200 Wh battery and am looking for a solid electric stovetop that can handle cooking in colder weather and windy conditions. I’ve been using butane with an REI stovetop, but it’s unreliable in the cold and at higher altitudes.

I mostly use it to cook steak, fish, etc., when I pull over at scenic spots during road trips. Portability isn’t a major concern, so I’m looking for something powerful enough to get a good sear but reliable in various weather conditions. I’d also prefer electric since I’m not a fan of leaving butane cans in a hot car during summer. No strict budget – willing to pay for quality if it means a good cooking experience.

Conditions: It would usually be about 50F when cooking, but stored in temperatures as low as 20F at night.

An electric cooktop will probably draw around 1kW or more to get a good sear on steak, so your battery will last roughly an hour. That’s enough for a meal but means you’d be using most of the battery just for cooking.

@Amory
That works for me – I usually stay in hotels when it’s that cold, so I can recharge it after use. I also have a Zojirushi rice cooker that takes about 15% of the battery (300 Wh), and I use that as well sometimes.

You might look into an induction cooktop since they’re generally more efficient. Otherwise, for cold weather, a white gas stove could work well. It doesn’t have issues with high altitude and low temperatures like propane or butane.

@Indra
Not really a fan of idling the car for power while cooking – that’s why I got the battery setup in the first place.

Lyle said:
@Indra
Not really a fan of idling the car for power while cooking – that’s why I got the battery setup in the first place.

Yeah, makes sense. Just know that heating up food on electric will drain that battery fast compared to propane or butane.

Lyle said:
@Indra
Not really a fan of idling the car for power while cooking – that’s why I got the battery setup in the first place.

Have you thought about something like a George Foreman grill or even a small charcoal grill? They’d both give you a solid sear without heavy battery drain.

@Indra
Induction is definitely a good electric option, but I’d still say white gas for really cold conditions. Induction cooktops are great, just need compatible cookware.

Isle said:
@Indra
Induction is definitely a good electric option, but I’d still say white gas for really cold conditions. Induction cooktops are great, just need compatible cookware.

Yep, butane works fine in mild weather but fails in cold or high altitudes. White gas is way more consistent.

Using an electric stovetop will pull quite a bit of power – about 1000-1500W. Your battery should technically last around an hour if fully charged, but colder weather can reduce that time.

You’d probably get about 30 minutes of cook time, considering it’s stored at lower temps. Gas is much more efficient in this regard, but if you’re okay with the battery drain, electric could still work.

@Bailey
30 minutes is fine with me! I can always charge up after since I usually stay in hotels when it’s this cold.

Lyle said:
@Bailey
30 minutes is fine with me! I can always charge up after since I usually stay in hotels when it’s this cold.

Why not just cook in the hotel room with the stovetop? It’d save you the trouble of worrying about the battery.

If you’re set on electric, induction is your best bet for efficiency. Just make sure you have cookware compatible with induction (like cast iron or steel).

If weather and altitude are the issues, a white gas stove could be ideal. They’re great in cold, windy conditions and you can use a simple windscreen.

Are you in an area with fire restrictions?

Ray said:
Are you in an area with fire restrictions?

Typically, yes – it’s either too wet or restricted (PNW region).

You’re likely to run into power issues with an electric setup, especially in colder weather. Induction is worth a try if you want to go electric, and it can always be used indoors or at campsites with AC power if needed.

The IKEA Tillreda induction cooktop might work for you – it uses about 10 amps at full power and can be toned down as needed. Works well with cast iron pans for a good sear.

Electric cooking setups can drain a battery very quickly. There are ways to get a gas stove to work better in the cold if you’d be open to that.

If you’re okay with non-electric, the MSR Dragonfly is excellent for cold and windy conditions. It can handle bigger pots too, though it can be a bit loud.