Some high-end Teardrop trailer kitchens have small built-in stoves but more typical is some sort of portable camp stove fuelled by propane or butane gas.

With the limited galley space of a 4×8 Teardrop trailer, and since I don’t do much in the way of cooking from-scratch meals when on the road, I stick with a simple single-burner stove. I don’t feel great using disposable butane canisters but I use scaled-down versions of electric appliances like a kettle and rice cooker to minimize my gas stove use.

When cooking over the flame of a gas stove of a Teardrop trailer’s outdoor kitchen, wind may have some effect on the stove’s efficiency. A simple way to direct as much heat as possible to your pot/pan/kettle rather than lost to the space around your stove is to use a shield.

Lightweight, aluminum shields come in a range of sizes and fold-up into a compact package. They can be found at most outdoor/camping outfitters and are an inexpensive addition to save money spent on fuel, and reduce your environmental footprint by going through less of it (especially if you use the canisters!).

Hints & Hacks

• Most camp stove shields can be disassembled to remove one or more segments.
• Determine what height you need by considering what your largest cooking pot is, as well as what would be ergonomically comfortable.
• A pouch, whether provided with the stove or one you get for it, is helpful so it doesn’t rattle around, and avoids damage to the shield itself or whatever else it is packed with
• Unlike butane, propane camp stoves can usually be adapted to use a refillable tank instead of small canisters.

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So, that’s how I do things with my Teardrop Trailer but by no means the full story or the best way. What about you? Add your own methods, ideas and experiences using the comment box below for the benefit of all readers.