Can I cook dinner inside my tent?
Why tents and cooking clash
Camp stoves produce heat, carbon monoxide and fire risk, and a tent fabric can catch fire quickly. Even a stove that seems stable can tip over, spilling fuel onto nylon. Cooking in a vestibule or enclosed space also traps fumes. Remember that smoke and fumes can drift back toward the shelter.
Food smells can draw animals to the tent. Many campers cook at a set spot downwind from their sleeping area, then clean up before dark.
Safer alternatives
Cook on a flat, stable surface at least several feet from the tent and any dry grass. Keep a bucket of water nearby and a plan for putting out a small flare-up. Use a windscreen so the stove burns efficiently and does not blow out.
Many parks have rules on campfires and stoves, so check whether a stove is allowed where you camp and whether there are fire restrictions in effect. Plan the cooking spot before you set up the tent, so the layout works.
- Cook outside on a stable, flat surface.
- Keep the tent at a safe distance.
- Store fuel away from the stove and sleeping area.
- Clean up food scraps right after eating.
Common mistakes
- Using a stove in a vestibule because it is raining.
- Leaving food and dishes in the tent overnight.
