The Camp Breakfast That Almost Didn't Happen Without a Second Burner

The morning started at 34 degrees, with frost on the windshield of the 4Runner. We were camped along the Deschutes, a few miles south of Bend, and I had promised a group breakfast: eggs, sausage, hash browns, and a full pot of coffee for seven people. The problem was I had only packed the little single-burner stove we use for morning coffee.

Dana did the math out loud. Seven people, one burner, eggs and potatoes and coffee, and we would be eating somewhere around ten if we were lucky. Everyone would be cranky, and the whole point of a group breakfast is that it's easy and warm and together. The little stove was fine for a mug of tea, but it wasn't going to feed a crowd.

Then I remembered the Camp Chef Explorer two-burner I had tossed in the back of the 4Runner the week before, still in its box. I'd bought it on a whim after a trip where we'd cooked dinner in shifts, and it had been sitting there since. I almost hadn't brought it. I'd told myself we didn't need the space, but something made me leave it in.

I wrestled it out and set it on the picnic table. The legs locked into place, the wind guards snapped up, and within a minute we had two burners roaring. The difference was immediate. One burner handled the coffee and the hash browns, the other took the sausage and eggs. I could keep a pot of water going for tea without waiting for a free spot.

We had breakfast on the table by seven thirty. The eggs were done right, the potatoes had a good crust, and nobody had to wait for the second round. The coffee was hot, the sausage was browned, and the whole scene looked like the cover of a camping catalog. That's when I knew this stove was going to be a permanent part of the gear pile.

The rest of the trip confirmed it. We used it for pancakes for eight, a full pot of chili for dinner, and a cast iron skillet that wouldn't have fit on the single burner at all. The wide cooking surface meant I could run a big pan and a pot at the same time without juggling. We cooked meals that would have been impossible on the little stove.

Two burners turned a morning that was about to fall apart into the best breakfast of the trip.

Over the years, the stove has proven itself in ways I didn't expect. The 60,000 total BTUs boil water fast. On a cold morning, that's not a luxury, it's the difference between waiting and eating. I timed a full pot of water once, and it came to a rolling boil in under four minutes, even with the air in the forties. The burners have a good simmer range too, so it's not just a blast furnace. I can keep a pot of coffee warm without scorching it, and I can slow-cook a stew without burning the bottom.

The wind guards matter more than I thought. We camp on the dry side of the Cascades, where wind can pick up out of nowhere. The guards keep the flame from flapping, and the stove holds a steady temperature even in a gust. I've used it near Smith Rock on a breezy afternoon and never had to chase a pot across the table. The legs have a wide stance too, so the stove doesn't rock even on uneven ground.

It folds up into a package that fits in the back of the 4Runner without taking over the whole cargo area. The legs are sturdy, the surface is easy to clean, and the whole thing has held up to five seasons of weekend use. I've had stoves that lasted a year; this one shows no signs of slowing down. The cooking grate is cast iron, which holds heat and distributes it evenly, so a pan on one burner cooks like it's on my home range.

The only thing I'd change is the regulator hose. It's a little stiff when it's cold, which makes it awkward to connect on a 30-degree morning. It's a minor gripe, and it doesn't affect performance, but it's worth knowing before you buy. I've learned to warm it in my jacket for a minute before hooking it up.

I've also used it for tailgating and backyard cooking, which tells you how much I trust it. When a piece of gear earns a spot in the 4Runner full time, that's my highest compliment. It's the stove I reach for first, and it's the one I'd replace with the same model if it ever gave out.

What I'd Tell You If We Were Sitting at My Kitchen Table

If you camp with more than two people, or if you like a real breakfast instead of a granola bar, skip the single burner and get something like the Camp Chef Explorer. You don't need it for every trip. But the first time you cook a full meal for a group on a cold morning, you'll wonder how you managed without it. It's not the cheapest stove out there, but it's the one I've kept for five years and never had to replace. I've had friends ask me what stove to buy, and I always point to this one. It's not the lightest thing to carry, but we car-camp, so that's not the point. That's the kind of gear I'd rather buy once than buy twice.