A suggestion for what it is worth - you might try RV supply stores. RV's use propane stoves in them all of the time, that may be one way.

Also, have you tried E-Bay?

Just my 2 c's.

Bejay

There are some previous posts here about propane burners for canning outdoors. Some have very high BTU ratings and are easy to control. The ones I posted were from Northern Tool, at less than $60. One unit had a single burner, but with two or three controls for different parts of the burner, so it can go from a simmer to a hard boil.

I use a combo fish fryer/turkey fryer/boiler for canning. (A tripod with a cooking ring - 22" high) The canner is placed inside the ring of the cooker and with medium heat, the water boils very quickly. The regulator will adjust to very low to very high - like a gas stove. You can purchase these at HD, Lowes or a grill retailer - they are priced in the $50 - $100 range.

Bejay,

Thanks! Haven't tried ebay yet, but great idea. Am guessing RV places are very high $? Going to check Cabelas though.

Ken,

I used to get Northern Tool catalogs in the mail all the time. Guess one needs to order more often to stay on mailing list? They always had great prices and will check online in the a.m.

Thanks2!

jt

JT, do you use a pressure canner on a propane burner? I just got a pressure canner & it had a big yellow flyer inside saying not to use it on an outdoor gas burner. It's a shame because I'm not sure my electric stove will hold the weight, I had to go to someone else's house to use it.

Melissa

> JT, do you use a pressure canner on a propane burner?

Melissa,

Yes, I do and have for years. Works just fine for me.

Andi,

I need something that will sit on a table. Which means I might have to buy or make a stoveboard to insulate between burner and table. Will depend on burner design.

At the moment am leaning strongly towards one in the link below. Just might go get this morning.

Thanks all for the help!

jt

Here is a link that might be useful: Cabelas

John,
Cabelas, Harbor Freight, Sportsmans Guide or Northern Tools all have on line catalogs that you could order from, no need to have their printed cat.. All offer a single burner or double burner gas stove in the less than $35-45 range. Some sales are less than that!
I have a hard time believing a canner cannot be used with a gas burner no matter where that burner is or what type it is.
If you can use it on the stove---you can use it outdoors!

There is a Cabelas just 20 min away by freeway. Am on my way to picking up the stuff.

2 burner stove
12' hose and regulator
adaptor to use small propane bottles or the 20 gal tanks

My son uses a piece of Wonderboard" under his barbecue, it sits on a wooden deck - and catches any coals that might drop from his barbecuer. It is fiberglass reinforced cement and usually used for tile backing - but works great as an insulator.

Simple fire prevention but it works.

Just my 2 c's.

Bejay

> ...and usually used for tile backing - but works great as an insulator.

Bejay,

Great idea.. thanks!

Next time go to town will hit Home Depot and Lowes.

jt (proud new campstove owner)

I have the 3 burner propane burner in my canning kitchen. i was worried I would only be able to use 1 burner at a time, without lose of power. But I can use all 3 at the same time no problem.
i have had 2 canners and a small pan on there at the same time and still kept the canners at correct pressure.

Melissa, It is probably the lawyers that made them put that warning on the pressure canner. They are probably worried that someone will hurt themselves somehow and sue. I can't see how canning on a camp stove would be any different than canning on a gas stove - excep perhaps stability. The directions that came with my kitchenaid stand mixer say not use outside. I found that funny. Who would want to lug that thing outside? I guess you never know.

Thanks Melly, maybe I will look into this in the future. My yard here is so buggy it probably wouldn't be sanitary. The only thing I can think of is that my pressure canner has an 8-inch round part that sticks out on the bottom, thick enough to diffuse the heat. The rest of the area on the bottom is thinner metal. So maybe it's better to concentrate the heat on the 8-inch part, but I could do that with any burner I think.

Melissa

I do most of my canning on a Camp Chef Explorer- it might not work for you because it is free standing, but I have found it incredibly efficient. I do both pressure canning and BWB on it- much faster than my antique electric stove inside, and it doesn't heat up the kitchen.

"The directions that came with my kitchenaid stand mixer say not use outside."

Also, don't use it in the shower.

"So maybe it's better to concentrate the heat on the 8-inch part..."

A gas flame will distribute the heat well anyway, even where the pot is thin. I think it will work just fine.

Jim

Here is the best propane burner that you can use for both BWB and pressure canning. As shown, it has three valves that control three different heat areas, so it can control heat way down to just a low simmer. I would suggest that you make some kind of sheet metal wind shield around the base so at low flames, it will not get blown out. It will also need the hose and regulator.

Here is a link that might be useful: Northern Tool heavy duty propane burner

All set up and ready to go. Guess I could have used photoshop to get rid of distortion, but was in a hurry.

Checked out Beejay's wonderboard and it was perfect except they wouldn't cut the large board to size for me and I opted for a couple 12" x 12" ceramic tiles to make do. Don't think really need anyways because of the legs. 12' hose attached to regulator and 20 lb gas cylinder for now.

The double burner unit is plenty big enough for my 5 gal stock pots and very heavy duty. Has the usual control valves plus air adjustment screws (only partly visiable) to get flame exactly right color.

Won't be using today as have a bunch of scrambled egg, ham, cheese, onions and hashbrowns breakfast burritos to roll and freeze. Ketchup and hot sauce will be added.

Thanks all for the suggestions!

jt

the first time you use each burner it will make a big black sooty mess on the bottoms of your pots. I guess to avoid this you can burn each burner for a few minutes with no pot on it.

Giving it a workout today. Love the flame adjustment capibilities!

3.4 lb lemon pepper rubbed pork tenderloin. Seared all sides on gas grill first. 3 cups chicken broth, maybe 1/2 tsp Zatarain's Creole Spice, 1 sliced large onion and sprig/leaf ea of fresh rosemary, thyme and sage.

Will pressure cook for 1 hour and use for pulled pork burrito ingredient.

jt

Just started to use the new canning element for my electric stove. Its almost 2 inches taller when installed in the burner hole. This raises up the pots that are placed on it. I had been using the regular elemnet until it started to soften the steel struts that hold it level. Besides that, the white enamled area around the burner bowl also gets discolored due to burned off debris that can be on the bottom of the canning pot. With the canning element, the stoves burner bowl doesn't get as hot as it used to. Originally, the chrome burner bowl would have a disposable aluminum foil liner (burner bib) in it, but because of the extreme heat from the regular burner element that foil would melt and turn to powder.

The Campchef outdoor propane stove was already mentioned once. It is a good option. I have a three burner unit (30,000 BTU each). I got it at Costco last spring. I have cooked with our canner on it, though I was cooking a meal rather than canning. It worked fine, though it is a little hard to get the flame regulated just perfect.

By the way, I have it on excellent authority that at least one employee of Campchef uses her Campchef stove for canning at her own home.