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Baking With The Soda Can Stove


New! Baking with a Slow-Burner Soda Can Stove

Make your own slow burning soda can stove in just a few minutes time. Its my new project that allows you to bake with one stove, heat water with another. Have pancakes and hot coffee and other delectables. For videos check out my My Brawny Youtube Channel

Available at Amazon.com, free Kindle download for PC allows you to purchase and start reading e-books within minutes. No shipping or handling costs, available worldwide. My Journey to Freedom and Ultralight Backpacking

My new cookbook for backpackers, campers, and outdoors people. Lots of stories and recipes, too. Everything Except Corn Pasta

Also! Check out My Blog: thefemalesurvivalist for more information on the stove and other projects. A new page has been created for Fuels for the Soda Can Stove.







Shown above are actual photos of items we baked using a soda can stove. To see the recipes, click on the name of the dish (below) or scroll down.

From left:

  • First Row - Biscuit , Chicken & Dumplings , Apple Cobbler
  • Second Row - Pizza , Raisin Cinnamon Coffee Cake , Chili & Cornbread
  • Third Row - Birthday Cake , Cheese Quiche , Oatmeal Muffin



    Once we "perfected" an adjustable simmer attachment for the soda can stove, we set out to learn how to actually bake using these little stoves.

    Using only 8 ounces of cooking gear (this includes the pot and stove), a person can now bake bread on the trail using a soda can stove. Before the simmer attachment was developed, this wasn�t likely to happen. The heat must be regulated to be low and constant for at least 10 minutes. This ultralight approach to the fine art of baking is described below. It is our hope to develop other recipes for trail delicacies and make them available here.

    Suggestions & Precautions

  • For the sake of safety, we recommend reading our stove instructions before operating any soda can stove for the first time.
  • Always keep a flame snuffer handy (muffin tin or tuna can with lid removed). In addition, if using the stove inside or in your back yard, have a fire extinguisher available.
  • If your fuel is still burning and you do not wish to cook anything else, use the snuffer to put out the flame.
  • Never attempt to touch or handle a burning stove. The flame can be difficult to see during daylight hours. MAKE SURE the flame is out before touching the stove. Also, after the flame is out, allow the stove to cool a few minutes before handling it or adding fuel to it.
  • Many different spices are mentioned with each recipe. Carry the ones you like best, or add them to each biscuit mix, if possible. They really add some fantastic flavor to trail food.
  • If you are having problems with your dish burning on the bottom, perhaps your pot is very thin or the heat was too high initially. I recommend spooning the dough into the pot before setting it on the pot support. Also, using the simmer attachment, you may wish to try diminishing the flame as much as possible. John Austin of Corinna, Maine said that after burning the bottom of his biscuits a few times, he put a peanut butter jar metal cap between the bottom of the pot and the biscuits. This allowed for a 3/8" air space for the heat to dissipate into the pot. He stated that when he used the jar cap, his biscuits came out golden brown with no burns.

    You will need:

  • A pot with tight fitting lid
  • A cup for mixing batter
  • A spoon
  • The soda can stove, pot support, windscreen and simmer attachment
  • Liquid fuel (denatured alcohol recommended)
  • Gloves or some other form of pot holder for touching and moving the pot

    All these items are shown in the photo below (except the potholder and fuel). The combined weight of all items shown is about 8 ounces. Everything fits inside the pot except the spoon:



    Oatmeal Muffin

  • When you are tired of hauling that instant oatmeal around, make a delicious muffin for breakfast!

    Place one ounce of fuel into your soda can stove. Place pot support and windscreen around it. Have simmer attachment ready.

    Prepare the muffin batter by stirring together:
    1/2 cup any cake mix
    1 ounce package of flavored instant oatmeal
    1/4 cup water

    This should make stiff dough.

    Light stove. Place simmer attachment over stove once the flame reaches maximum output,closing it down until just a small flame remains. Place 1 tablespoon of oil into pot and spoon mixture into it.Then set pot on pot support.

    Cook for 10 - 12 minutes covered. Top of lid should become hot to touch. The less peeking you do, the sooner it will be done.

    Remove lid with gloves, and if the muffin is firm but moist, it is done. If not, cover and allow to cook a while longer.

    When muffin is done, remove pot from heat. Using the snuffer, put out the stove.

    Allow to cool before removing from pan.

    For variations, add chopped nuts, raisins, or fruit to the muffin batter before cooking.

    Cheese Quiche

  • We are getting beyond typical �trail food� now, with a gourmet dish like quiche.

    Crust:
    1/2-cup self-rising flour
    3 tablespoons oil
    Mix flour and oil well. Pat into pot, spreading thinly and up the sides to form a bowl to hold the egg mixture.

    Quiche:
    1/2 cup powdered eggs
    2 tablespoons powdered cheese
    1/2-cup water (warm is better because it will speed cooking)
    1 tablespoon parsley
    1/4 teaspoon each, garlic, and pepper
    Salt to taste

    Mix the powders, water and spices together. Spoon into prepared crust.

    You can add vegetables by first soaking dehydrated vegetables for � hour or using fresh chopped vegetables. Drain all excess water from vegetables. Add to the egg mixture.

    Prepare stove by placing one ounce of fuel into your stove, with pot support, and windscreen surrounding it. Light the stove and place the simmer attachment over it, with one small slit open, allowing for flame. Set the pot on the pot support, cover with lid.

    Allow to cook for about 15 minutes. Lift the lid using potholder or other utensil, and check the progress of your quiche. It is ready if the egg mixture is firm. If it is still soupy, replace lid and allow to cook a while longer.

    When your quiche firm, it is done. This is an amazing trail dish. I like mine with catsup. It isn�t advised to remove from pot before eating, as the crust may crumble excessively.

    Birthday Cake

  • I never would have thought a regular cake mix, without the eggs and oil would work as a delicious trail treat. It's fantastic. When on the trail, you can now have cake on your birthday. Limit the candles to how many you are willing to haul out of town.

    Place one ounce of fuel into your soda can stove. Set pot support and windscreen around it. Have simmer attachment ready.

    Prepare the cake mix by stirring together:
    1/2 cup any cake mix
    1/4 cup water

    This should make stiff dough.

    Light stove. Place simmer attachment over stove once the flame is going. Put one tablespoon oil into pot and spoon mixture into it. Then set pot on pot support.

    Cook for 10 - 12 minutes covered. Top of lid should become hot to touch.

    Remove lid with gloves, and if the cake is firm but moist it is done. If not, cover and allow to cook a while longer.

    When cake is done, remove pot from heat. Using the snuffer, put out the stove.

    Allow to cool before removing from pan.

    Prepare frosting from 1 cup powdered sugar.
    For flavoring add 1 teaspoon cocoa powder or 1 teaspoon powdered drink mix (the photo shows the frosting made with sugar free raspberry Wylers Lite drink mix for flavoring).
    1 tablespoon milk, or water.

    Spread frosting over cake.

    The sprinkles can be added if you have them. Place candle on top. Light. Make your wishes!



    Chili With Cornbread Muffin

  • Ann C. from Zephyr Hills, Florida, requested this recipe. It was made in my 2-pint pot, but can be expanded to fill a larger one. A big thanks to Ann for her great suggestion .

    To dehydrate chili, you can buy canned chili, and spread thinly on a sauce type dehydrator sheet. Use medium setting, and allow to dry until crumbly in your hand. If there is meat in the mixture, be sure to towel off any excess fat, which will not dehydrate. Place dehydrated chili in a zip-loc bag.

    You may make your own favorite chili recipe, and dehydrate according to the above suggestions.

    Enough rehydrated chili to fill pot half way:

    Cornbread batter:
    1/2 cup self rising cornmeal
    3 tablespoons water
    1 tablespoon oil

    Mix the cornmeal and the water. It should make stiff dough. Set aside.

    Pour one tablespoon of oil into your pot. Prepare stove.

    Place one and a half ounce of fuel into your stove, with pot support, and windscreen surrounding it. Light the stove and place the simmer attachment over it, with one small triangle open, allowing for just a tiny flame. Fill your pot half full with chili. Set the pot on the pot support, cover with lid.

    Allow the chili to heat thoroughly, stirring to prevent burning on bottom. When chili is boiling, pour cornbread mixture into the pot, spreading it to cover the chili. Cover with lid. Allow to cook for about 5 - 7 more minutes. Lift the lid using potholder or other utensil, and check the progress of your cornbread. It is ready if the dough is firm but moist. If it is still sticky, replace lid and allow to cook a while longer.

    When your cornbread is firm, it is done. This is a fabulously filling meal. Served with a slice of cheese would be heaven.



    Fresh Biscuit

    1/2 - cup biscuit mix (use the kind that only requires milk or water)
    1/4 - cup water

    Stir the mix and water together to form a stiff dough. Set aside.

    Pour approximately 1 ounce of fuel into your soda can stove. Place the pot support and windscreen around it. Light the fuel with a match. Allow the small perimeter holes to develop blue flames. Place your simmer ring on the stove. Adjust the simmer ring so that the stove is on a low simmer. (This is best achieved by cutting the two tins in such a way that a rectangular "slot" of about 1/4" is open all the way across the top of the attachment when the simmer attachment is closed completely.)

    Into your pot place 1 tablespoon oil. Set your pot on the pot support; allow to heat for 15 seconds before pouring in the prepared dough. Spread to cover bottom of pot, but not quite touching the sides. Place the lid on immediately.

    If you are having problems with burning on the bottom, perhaps your pot is very thin. In this case I recommend spooning the dough into the pot before setting on the pot support. Be sure the flame is closed down as far as possible without extinguishing. John Austin of Corinna, Maine said that after burning the bottom of his biscuits a few times, he put a peanut butter jar metal cap between the bottom of the pot and the biscuits. This allowed for a 3/8" air space for the heat to dissipate into the pot. He stated that when he used the jar cap, his biscuits came out golden brown with no burns.

    As the bread cooks, the top of the lid will become hot. This is simulating a slow cooking oven. Inside, the biscuit will rise and begin cooking from the bottom up. After about 4 minutes, rotate the pot about 90 degrees, to help the bottom cook evenly without burning.

    The top of the lid should be getting quite hot to the touch. Always move the pot with some type of hand protection to avoid burns.

    After about 10 minutes, remove the lid. If the bread is done, it will be dry to the touch. Use your spoon to test for doneness.

    If it�s not done, cover, and cook for a few more minutes.

    When the top of the biscuit is done, and dry to the touch, remove from heat, take off the cover and allow to cool for a few minutes. It should then easily come out of the pot.



    Chicken and Dumplings

    1 - cup water
    1 chicken bouillon cube
    1 tablespoon minced onions
    dash of garlic
    chicken (canned or dehydrated)

    Place one ounce of fuel into your soda can stove. Set pot support and windscreen around it. Have simmer attachment ready.

    Put the water, bouillon cube, onions, garlic and chicken in the pot. Light the stove, and place covered pot on heat. Prepare dumpling mix:
    3/4 cup biscuit mix
    dash of sage
    1/4 - cup water

    This should make stiff dough. Uncover pot, spoon onto hot chicken mixture. Recover. Remove pot from flame, place simmer attachment over stove, with minimal flame (close attachment until only diagonal slot remains). Place pot back on pot support, over heat.

    Cook for 10-12 minutes covered. Top of lid should become hot to touch.

    Remove lid with gloves, and if the biscuit is firm but moist it is done. If not, cover and allow to cook a while longer.

    When biscuit is done, remove pot from heat. Using the snuffer, put out the stove.

    This is a very satisfying meal.



    Apple / Fruit Cobbler

  • The photo shows an apple cobbler, but any fruit may be used for this trail dessert.

    One medium apple, washed
    3/4 - cup water
    1/3 - cup brown or white sugar
    1/4 - teaspoon cinnamon
    Dash of salt

    Biscuit Topping:
    2/3 cup biscuit mix
    1/4 scant cup water
    1 - tablespoon sugar

    Mix the powdered mix with the water. It should make stiff dough. Set aside.

    Thinly slice apple into your pot. Add the water, sugar, spice and salt. Other spices, which taste good with trail fruits, are nutmeg, cloves or ginger. Cover pot and prepare stove.

    Place one ounce of fuel into your stove, with pot support, and windscreen surrounding it. Have simmer attachment ready. Light the stove and set the covered pot on it.

    Allow the fruit mixture to come to a boil. Remove pot and place simmer attachment over stove, being sure not to put out the flame. Pour prepared biscuit mixture over hot fruit mixture and cover with lid. Place pot back on heat and allow to cook for 10 more minutes. Lift the lid using potholder or other utensil, and check the progress of your cobbler. It is ready if the dough is firm but moist. If it is still sticky, replace lid and allow to cook a while longer.

    When your cobbler is finished, remove from heat, uncover, and extinguish the stove using the flame snuffer.



    Pizza

  • This pizza is a vegetarian supreme. It was made in a 2 pint pot, but can be expanded to fill a larger one. Toppings are limited only by your imagination .

    Toppings For Pizza In Photo:
    chopped onions
    sliced olives
    3/4 - cup diced tomatoes
    1/3 - cup mozzarella cheese, grated, or broken into small bits
    1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
    Dash of salt, pepper, basil

    Pizza Dough:
    1/2 cup biscuit mix
    3 tablespoons water
    1/4 teaspoons garlic and oregano
    1 tablespoon oil

    Mix the powdered mix with the water. It should make stiff dough. Set aside.

    Pour one tablespoon of oil into your pot. Prepare stove.

    Place one ounce of fuel into your stove, with pot support, and windscreen surrounding it. Light the stove and install the simmer attachment, with one small triangle open, allowing for just a very small flame.

    Pour prepared biscuit mixture into the pot, spreading it to cover the entire bottom. Set the pot on pot support. Cover with lid. Place pot back on heat and allow to cook for 7 more minutes. Lift the lid using potholder or other utensil, and check the progress of the pizza crust. It is ready if the dough is firm but moist. If it is still sticky, replace lid and allow to cook a while longer.

    When the crust is firm, spoon the tomatoes, vegetables, and cheeses over it. Replace the, and allow to cook until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle salt, pepper and basil over entire pizza.



    Raisin Cinnamon Coffee Cake

    Place one ounce of fuel into your soda can stove. Set pot support and windscreen around it. Have simmer attachment ready.

    Prepare the coffee cake mix by stirring together:
    3/4 cup biscuit mix
    3 tablespoons sugar
    1/4 - cup water
    1/4 - cup raisins
    1/2 - teaspoon cinnamon

    This should make stiff dough.

    Light stove. Place simmer attachment over stove once the flame is going, closing it down until just a small flame remains. Put one-tablespoon oil into pot. Set pot on pot support and spoon mixture into it.

    Cook for 10 - 12 minutes covered. Top of lid should become hot too touch.

    Remove lid with gloves and if the cake is firm but moist it is done. If not, cover and allow to cook a while longer.

    When cake is done, remove pot from heat. Using the snuffer, put out the stove.

    Allow to cool before removing from pan. Prepare frosting from:
    1/2 cup powdered sugar
    1 - teaspoon vanilla, or milk, or water.

    Spread frosting over cake.

    This is a very tasty treat.



    - - Rainmaker & Brawny





    For a totally new look at a do it yourself stove, check out the Backpacker's Hobo Stove I built on
    My Brawny Youtube Channel. Its my most popular video so far. The stove weighs just 3.5 ounces, uses twigs and pinecones for fuel, and replaces the pot support and windscreen as well as the stove. Field tested on the Foothills trail.

    Bon Apetite!