Can You Use a Propane Stove Indoors Safely?

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When the power goes out and people look for a way to make a cup of coffee or a meal indoors, they naturally think of their propane camping stove, but that’s always been something they use outdoors. This leaves some wondering…

Is it safe to use a propane stove indoors?

Yes, it is safe to use a propane stove indoors, but there are safety precautions you should take.

Why Propane Stoves are Great for Off-Grid Cooking

Investing in off-grid cooking equipment is a basic level prep. If you don’t have this covered, you need to cover that base. Even if it’s just a simple one-person hiking stove. Many preppers have turned to portable hiking stoves – products that serve well in bug out bags. They may also look to larger camping-style propane stoves suitable of cooking for a group.

But given the frequency of power outages, it makes sense to invest in a camping-style propane stove that use can use for cooking food in a crisis. The bonus here is that unlike some preps that you just store on a shelf in case a catastrophe hits, portable propane stoves can be used even in “normal” times for summer camping, tailgating, etc. They’re worth the purchase.

You’ll find their real value when the grid goes down, however. Yes, you can fire up the charcoal or gas grill to make dinner in a pinch (never use a charcoal grill inside). But if you live in a northern climate like I do, and power goes out from winter storms, bundling up to make scrambled eggs and coffee outside on the grill is going to get very old very fast.

If you have buckets full of dehydrated food as part of your longer-term preps, you often need to heat water in order to make it palatable. Otherwise you could be left with an unappetizing mush.

Dangers of Using Propane Stoves Indoors

Propane camping stoves are functionally the same as the domestic and commercial propane ranges found in restaurants and homes. Propane comes in the supply line and ignited at the burner. A knob controls the flow of propane.

However, one is designed for periodic outdoor use and one is designed for everyday indoor use. The construction quality of a propane camping stove will never match that of a kitchen range. Because of this, extra consideration must be given to camping stoves brought in doors.

There are three main dangers of using propane: explosions, fire, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

1 – Explosions

Propane goes boom. Sometimes in a big way. Want some real world examples?

• A Michigan home was completely leveled after a propane tank explosion (source).
• An Oklahoma City home was destroyed, and a teenage girl killed by a propane explosion (source).
• A Georgian man lost his life and his home after a propane tank explosion (source).

Each of these examples involved large propane tanks not used for camping stoves, but the point is that propane explosions can happen, and they can kill you.

2 – Fire

This should be a given. Anytime you’re operating with a fuel source that’s generating a flame, there is going to be a risk of fire. The internet is rife with stories of people who have burned themselves to death because of toying around with a propane stove or heater.

Case in point would be this 79-year-old man who attempted to cook with a propane stove inside of his RV. He burned the whole thing down, burned 30% of his body, and died from his injuries not long afterward. Would this have happened if he was cooking with propane outside? Almost certainly not.

3 – Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

Propane stoves that are burning with an incomplete combustion can produce carbon monoxide (CO). A poorer quality camping stove will be more prone to incomplete combustion than a higher-end kitchen stove.

This odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas is poisonous to humans. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of poisoning death. Your cells aren’t able to get the oxygen they need to survive.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include dull headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, weakness, dizziness, confusion, shortness of breath, and eventually loss of consciousness and death.

Need proof of the risk? Check out the following examples:

• A 61-year-old man killed himself and his dog while they were inside his RV van attempting to cook food on a portable propane stove. They died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning (source).
• A 34-year-old man accidentally killed both himself and his young son by attempting to cook on a propane stove while they were inside a tent. They died from carbon monoxide poisoning (source).
• A 51-year-old accidentally killed himself and three little kids – one of which was his son – by using a portable propane stove inside of their tent. Their bodies were found as the propane stove still burned (source).

Once you pass out (or should you be asleep when the CO leak is happening), unless somebody is nearby to rescue you, you’re done for.

A Few Reliable Propane Stoves

The Coleman name dominates the camping world, so it probably comes as no surprise that some of the most highly-rated propane stoves on Amazon are Colemans. The brand is known for decent quality at a fair price. You can buy cheaper stoves or fancier ones, but Coleman offers a good middle ground.

Coleman Two-Burner

I have owned and used the Coleman white gas equivalent of this stove for many years. If I had to buy it over again, I’d but the propane version. The stove has a thinner profile and the fuel burns cleaner. The stove collapses and folds up. It’s easy to store and very portable.

Two burners allow you to heat a few things at once. You’re limited small to mid-size pots or pans, but that should suffice for most people cooking in a pinch.

Coleman Single Burner

There’s something to be said for having a single propane burner alongside a double burner stove. This Coleman single burner throws more BTUs and allows for a bigger pot or pan.

Coupled with a two-burner stove, it creates more options for cooking. For a single person, a one-burner propane stove may be enough.

Stock Extra Fuel Cylinders

If you’re planning to use a camping stove for emergencies, have plenty of fuel on hand. Never store propane fuel cylinders indoors. Bring it inside only for immediate cooking use and then remove it after.

Leave these fuel cylinders stored in a garage or shed. In fact, it’s a violation of building codes to do store tanks inside in many states.

Propane cylinders can last for 30 years or longer if they are properly stored and in good shape. That’s about the same shelf life as freeze-dried foods, making propane a great fuel to store for cooking in a long-term collapse.

How to Safely Use a Propane Stove Indoors

1 – Invest a Carbon Monoxide Detectors

I recommend everyone have one of these near the heating and cooking areas of a house. Because you cannot smell carbon monoxide, this detector will alert you to the presence of CO.

Like their sister, the smoke detector, carbon monoxide detectors can help save your life.

2 – Allow Plenty of Ventilation

Creating airflow around your stove will reduce the chance of gas buildup. A camping stove is designed for a well-ventilated area – outdoors. Replicate this as best as you can indoors. Open a window. Turn on a fan. Move air.

3 – Cook Fast Meals

Reducing cook time reduces the overall risk of using a propane stove indoors. Skip the long simmering dishes and opt for faster foods that just require boiling water or a quick pan fry.

How to Detect Propane Leaks

According to AmeriGas, there are three main ways to detect if you have a propane leak. The first is to use your nose.

1. Smelling Rotten Eggs

While carbon monoxide is generally odorless, propane companies throughout the US often add an odorant to their propane that smells like rotten eggs. Should there be a leak, propane which has had this smell added to it will quickly alert anybody inside that there is a propane leak.

2. Noticing Drastic Spikes in Propane Usage

If you normally only use X amount of propane a month, and you notice that there’s a strange discrepancy in your usage rates – showing that your consumption of propane has drastically spiked – a leak is a probable culprit.

3. Noticing Poor Performance from Your Propane Appliance

Whether you’re using gas logs or some other form of propane equipment, if you notice that it’s not operating at its standard level of strength, there’s a very good chance that a leak is what’s causing the problem.

Summary

Propane camping stoves are great stoves when used for what they’re designed for – outdoor use. However, in a pinch with the right safety precautions, you can use one indoors.