Sometimes you just need a portable electric stove. Maybe it's during a big blackout when everyone is gathered under the warm glow of the family power plant. Or maybe it's at a party or a picnic. In my case, it's where I decided to park my truck for the past few months while I tested two Stoke Voltaics cooking systems.
Most portable stoves run on a liquid fuel such as propane. It is inexpensive and available in all sizes of bottles. But sometimes it's better not to have to deal with open flames, contaminants, and the noise and smell that come with them. Stoke Voltaics equipment runs on electricity, which can be easily supplied by a solar generator and replenished by the sun.
I tried the company's new one. $219.99 Nomadic Cooking System and existing $99.99 Joulle Kettle Pot. They're not cheap, but portability and convenience rarely are.
Let's start with the Joulle, which is just an electric one. shop/stoves-systems/fast-boil”>JetBoil – the ubiquitous “quick-cooking” camping stove launched two decades ago. The size, graphics, insulated cover, handle, lid with integrated filter, are very very Similarly, right down to the small pot's ability to act as a French press for coffee. JetBoil even sold its own Joule variant at one point, which is why Stoke Voltaic promotes Joulle as the “Kettle Pot” on its website. Joulle is distinguished by its popcorn configuration, so… take thatlawyers.
Each of the three Joulle settings consumes different amounts of AC power. Move the slider to “Drink” to boil water at full power before automatically shutting off, unlike the flame of a JetBoil. Move it to “Eat” to bring the stew to a slow simmer. “Pop” varies the power to ensure that almost all the kernels placed inside become popcorn and then automatically turns off to conserve energy.
In my testing, I was able to boil approximately eight ounces (240 ml) of water for coffee or tea in 3 minutes and 42 seconds while consuming 28.06 Wh. Slowly heating 19 ounces (570 ml) of hearty soup over low heat took 8 minutes and 30 seconds and used 40.2 Wh, while a single serving of popcorn took 7 minutes and used 16.69 Wh. That's about 85 Wh on a given day, or more than 10 days of use for a solar generator with a modest 1 kWh capacity.
I like that the Drink and Pop modes turn off automatically so I can set it and forget it, without worrying about unnecessary power use. Eating mode may require stirring to prevent things from sticking to the bottom of the stainless steel surface. Joulle is a little bulky to wash (especially when using it as a French press), since my truck sink is relatively shallow and I have to be very careful with the water since it is an electrical device.
However, the Joulle is so convenient that I've gone days without using my induction cooktop or individual tip frying pan.
While Joulle integrates the heating element directly into the pot, the Nomad cooking system is modular. It comes with the AC-powered heating base, lid, clip-on handle, and two stackable aluminum pots with nonstick surfaces: a large 50-ounce pot for “bubbling” and a smaller pot for frying. The 8.5-inch diameter pots insert into the 6.8-inch diameter heating base using a patented connector.
The on/off button allows you to increase the power from 200W to 1000W in 200W increments. Yes, they could have done a 1 to 5 setting, but I like to know how much power I'm using. The button also shows how long the unit has been running. The electric base can only be turned on when a pan is inserted and turned off when the pan is removed. Pressing the button will stop cooking, while holding it down will turn off the power completely.
I like that the pots heat quickly and evenly and cook enough food for one or two people. The pots also stay in place, which is not guaranteed with portable induction hobs, especially when parked on a slope. The Nomad handle also has a good grip and is easy to attach and remove from pans. The entire system is also very compact, allowing it to be easily stored in a drawer, especially when using the carry bag (which also helps prevent noise while driving).
1/8
I have some minor complaints. Washing the Nomad pots requires hand washing like the Joulle, as they cannot be submerged in water. The system is also proprietary, so you can't use the base with other pots, and Nomad pots don't work on a gas stove or induction cooktop. And it's a little annoying that you can only use one Nomad pot at a time since you only have one base.
The Stoke Voltaics equipment may not be cheap, but the Nomad Cooking System and Joulle Kettle Pot are super convenient and capable cooking systems that pack away nice and small when not needed. If you can afford them, I can recommend both to anyone looking for portable gas-free cookware.
