Ikea Hobo Stove VS Vegetable Steamer Stove 

*Great for a family of 2 or 3. It cooks quinoa, white, jasmine **MyBest.Kitchen** and brown rice really well. Easy to clean and store because of the size. We haven't used the steamer part of it yet.*

*💯😂Great for a family of 2 or 3. It cooks quinoa, white, jasmine **MyBest.Kitchen** and brown rice really well. 💤Easy to clean and store because of the size. We haven't used the steamer part of it yet.*

Thanks for showing me the vegetable steamer stove. My wife will be so thrilled that I've found yet another type of stove to play with!

I love the vegetable steamer stove for us folks who lack tools for creating the IKEA stove. Also, the daisy trivet is too cute!!!

Now the wait for the modified hobo stove video begins. Looking forward to it. Great video as always.

We don't have the Ikea products here that you folks have there but I do occasionally come across a stainless vegetable steamer in the thrift stores. I too was pleasantly surprised regarding the veggy steamer performance.

Never thought to use a steamer as a stove. Great tip if you have to improvise.

I have one of those little foldable steamers. I bought it from Aldi 2 years ago, never used it even once lol. I love in a campervan and now I have a use for it thanks to your video! Subscribed. I look forward to you adopting me..... Dad 😁

Enjoyed the comparison very much. Always enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing.

Yep, I added roof flashing to cover 1/3 of the holes on the Ikea stove. It adds very little weight and makes it more efficient. Great video to add enjoyment to my morning coffee. Thank you.

Love your vids.😃 I got my Ikea cylinder at a thrift store. Thank you for showing me alternatives.

Hi. A vegetable steamer for stove is a great idea! Recently I’ve been watching various stove YTs. The most unique idea and it works for me! Thank you👍

You sure love your little wood stoves, Mark! I’ve been watching and waiting for those aluminum pot grates to melt. You could do a similar design with some steel flat stock, with minor weight gain. Or, you could surely find something at the thrift store to be cannibalized or modified. Look forward to seeing your solution. Always enjoy your videos. Thanks

I just bought this "stove" and intend to modify it: one of the plans is to cut a hole in the middle so as to put a Trangia in it lower, and the base I would like to make using 3-4 screws screwed around this hole. Can you make a movie about how you made these fold-out legs? - it works brilliantly. Greetings from Poland. :-)

Another Great Side By Side Comparison, Mark ! Gonna hunt up 1 of those Steamers, That's The BeeZ=KneeZ ! Have to Thanks you again for putting me on to Lauren & Dustin's Company, The Best Had So Far ! ATB T God Bless

Been watching for some time now and didn’t realized that I wasn’t subscribed ,,,,,,…. ,,,, I do build val vu to make moveable camp fires. ,,, … give as gifts to the people that I know understand … but don’t know how to send pics … so ,,, thanx 4 ur time. … still live and breathe in Alaska .

Great instructional video Mark. I regularly use a veg steamer in the woods, sometimes with a meths stove but often with wood pieces. I find my trangia pot stand works perfectly well to hold the steamer open and to securely hold my pot. I have a hobo stove, like yours and I have adapted the pot stand to fit the top of the veg steamer which holds it very securely.

Hello Mark, thank you for this really fine video. I have enjoyed all of your videos. I have made a couple of the Walmart hobo stoves which I am anxious to to try out. They are comparable to the IKEA stoves, in design. Please keep up your very informative videos. All the best to you and family. 🤗

Mark, thanks for sharing, this was a good review of options available. Proves you don't have to spend top dollar to get great results. Atb 👍

I am going to make a vegetable steamer stove! Never thought 💭 about it, thanks

For cross members I use mobile home tie down straps. You can pick one up for $2-$3 at hardware store and cut a dozen pairs out of one strap. Sturdy and light weight.

Thanks, Nice comparison. I’ve got a strainer so I’m good to go, but I’ll find a utensil system eventually also.

I do love your VS videos

I bought my large vegetable steamer online and it included a smaller steamer. I found you can flip it upside down (legs and center holder removed) upon the larger one and it will serve as a windscreen and a grill top. If you place a small steel bowl on the coals with another inverted over the top, then place the smaller steamer over the top, you can put hot coals on top of the smaller steamer, like a Dutch Oven and bake with it!

Love your yard!

thank you for sharing your video with us

I'll be darned...I have considered the veggie steamer over and over but could never figure out how to keep it at a steady diameter. That utility strap is brilliant, cheap, and simple. Thank you.

Good video. I've not tried using a vegetable steamer for a stove, yet. Enjoyed it.

Thank you for this enlightening video 👍 I have the Ikea cutlery drainer and have another use for it now. Annoyingly, threw the vegetable steamer away 😢

i love your videos

With all the summer fire closures around here I will stick to my cannister stove. Thanks...maybe good for winter. Stay safe!

Good work Mark. I kind of like the higher radiant heat off the Hobo stove, I live in a colder climate.. Thanks..

GREAT idea to use a vegetable steamer. I’ve got a Solo Titan, but it does take space. Not usually an issue on day hikes, but if I will pick up the veg steamer for times when I have to fill the pack to bursting.

Enjoying your stove vids Mark. But I've gotta say, you look much more backwoods badass in your Tilly! ;-)

Thanks Mark. I built the Ikea stove based on your videos and have used two stainless steel tent stakes through the row of holes and set an Stanley Adventure Cook Set on the stakes suspended above several different styles of DIY alcohol stoves. As you mentioned in your video, there is a lot of air flow in the Ikea stove so the cook times may not be hurt too much. I do not know how it might perform with a larger pot sitting on the top edge of the Ikea stove. Take care.

I'm a simple guy. I see a video notification by my "Canadian Pretend-Dad" I head straight over, click LIKE, and watch. Sure, in theory, I'd remove the like if the video didn't match expectations, but _Canadian Pretend-Dad_ has never let me down so far.

MEtal strap, brilliant. Could use a pop rivet too. Well done Mark

More great ideas. I believe the melting temp for aluminum is around 1200 deg F. We were taught a cigarette burns at 800 deg. I like the idea of using a steamer for a windscreen. P.A. and CTC sell extended nuts that would allow you to connect 1/4" aluminum rod pieces together for sturdier tripod legs. Just cut 1/4-20 threads on all ends. Dave from Reallybigmonkey made a DIY Keychain Tripod from a round disc of 1/8" aluminun plate. He just uses sticks with notches for legs and pot hook. I copied it but mine is triangular shape. Different tools. I've decided on 1/2" aluminun tube for feet (swing out like your clamp thingies), on my Ikea hobo stove, and will cut 2 holes opposite each other, to feed wood, one high and one low on opposite sides. Always inspiring. Thanks. Jay.

I was using my charcoal chimney fire starter as a stove over wood pellets and using some thin aluminum crossbars for support. Before I could get my pot on the fire, the crossbars caved into the fire and melted. So no more aluminum crossbars for me.

Hi from Switzerland 😊. Nice Comparison Mark .. thanks 👍. I have two IKEA Stoves (the higher and lower versions) and have made more for Family Members. Pots consist of, inter alia, modified Stainless Steel (SS) Tea/Coffee/Sugar Containers (as per your Version .. thanks 😊) They fit inside the Stove and cut-to-size SS Bicycle Spokes make for perfect adjustable internal Pot / Alcohol Stove Supports. Pot Stands .. I use the rectangular IKEA SS Pot Stand (sans Plastic Footpieces). Cut lengthways in half, placed on top of the Stove, one Pot Stand does for two stoves. Slots cut into the top of the Stove to accommodate the modified Stand and hold it in place, completes the exercise. Works like a charm and even functions as a Grill of sorts. With 6-8 Charcoal Briquettes, using these Stands I have cooked a Breakfasts consisting of Oats, Toast and Coffee, or Egg, Bacon / Sausage / Steak, Fried Onion, Tomato, Toast and .. Coffee 😊.

Great comparison. I would suggest stainless steel as a replacement for the pot stand that deformed during the test. If that material was not affected in either stove body it shouldn't be affected in the pot stand (I've made pot stands from scrap stainless steel for years and had no issues). If weight is your main concern then a similar thickness of titanium should work but the cost will be more.

Another great video! I would never have looked at the vegetable steamer and thought, "That would make a great wood burning stove!" A good example of thinking outside-the-box. I've never seen the Ikea melt aluminum pot stands before, but obviously if the wind cranked up the combustion, it can do it. I don't do metal working, so I don't know what you might be able to substitute for the aluminum for new ones. I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

Hi Mark, your videos are always very interesting and a pleasure to watch. I would like to say that covering the holes in the Ikea stove will likely not improve efficiency but will actually make it less efficient. In order to improve efficiency you control the fuel (adding a piece or two of wood at a time should prolong the burn while decreasing the maximum temperatures), not by blocking the air. My guess is that blocking the holes will prevent the fuel from complete combustion which will cause your stove to smoke and release unburned gases and solids (including carbon monoxide). I have to ask what 'efficiency' has to do with these stoves and I really believe a good burn with plenty of heat is the main objective. Efficiency may be an issue if you are using a stove with limited fuel supply but this is the reason we use biofuel as our fuel. Thank you and have a pleasant day...

The vegetable steamer would make a good barbecue.

If you closed the steamer up to the same seize opening I bet they would even be closer to the same? good show. You can use a small nail, safety pins through a couple of the holes in the sides to any seize opening very versatile keep it up always look forward also they make the IKEa legs in stainless seen them in a food lab I worked in

Being a poor craftsman i’ve learned over the years 3 legs are always more stable than 4 on uneven ground 😉

This was a fun comparison burn Mark. Not too important but I was thinking that if you had a trivet the size of the inner ring on your existing trivet, it might make a near perfect concentrated burn on the veggie steamer stove.

I have to admit, I kinda like the way the steamer could be used for a mini fireplace, and that you could put a frying pan on it......but il never give up my firebox!!! 😃

Try using 1-inch steel bars for the pot holders, the steel probably won't warp due to heat, just a thought!

Another great vid! Thanx! I would maybe redo the test when there is close to zero wind perhaps. I wouldn't be too upset about the melting of the aluminum, as you said, it just shows how hot the hobo stove got, aluminum melts at a relatively low temp esp compared to steel, probably stainless steel is what you want in a pot stand like that or perhaps a pot stand similar to the vegetable steamer stove. Again, thanks for the vids, I'm gonna play with these stoves as well. Thanx for the inspiration! I really like how you are re-using inexpensive common products! And so many tests can be done with air flow etc. Oh, one last thing, another interesting thing to try might me to place either of the stoves inside a stainless steel pot with holes in it to sort of act as a wind screen and make it a bit more similar to a wood gas stove that is like that... you've got me thinking! Maybe add a 12V computer fan? of course this does add to pack weight but for back yard experiments...

The breeze sure raised the temperature aluminum melts at 660.32°C (1,221°F) well above what you need for cooking. I think trying to reduce the burn temperature would be better then switching to other pot supports though stainless steel ones would work great (try Metals Supermart for some).

The Alocs stove with pot stand, would be perfect for the steamer stove, if you use the steamer as a windscreen

I shouldn't worry about the idea aluminum pot stand melting, because normally you would never allow your stove to flame up like that with so much wood and so much wind. After all alot of us do use aluminum pots to cook with.

HI IF YOU HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF STEAMER WITH HOLES LIKE THAT ONE, YOU COULD TRY SLIDING A STEEL ROD THROUGH 2 ALIGNED HOLES IN 2 ADJACENT PETALS THAT LINE UP. THEN SLIDE IT ACROSS ABOUT (180`) TO 2 ALIGNED HOLES IN THE OTHER SIDE. DO THIS 2 OR 3 TIMES AND THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU THE LOCK TO KEEP IT FROM OPINING BIGGER OR SMALLER. IT ALSO MAKES A RACK TO PUT YOUR COOKING POT OR PAN ON. IF THE OPENING IS SMALLER THAN YOUR POT OR PAN JUST PUT THE POT OR PAN ON THE PETALS TIPS. ALSO IF IT DID NOT HAVE LEGS, JUST SET IT ON SOME STONES TO GET IT OFF THE GROUND. JUST AN IDEA.

While using an alcohol burner in the idea stove that opening hole creates an opportunity to adjust your flame with the simmer ring. :)

I'd probably fab up a pot stand for the steamer that was like the ikea one, but with several slots for different sized openings. I have made them from thrift store bread knife blades, due to it being a cheap source of stainless material.

Enjoy your videos. I have been experimenting with these stoves. What I want is to maintain and control a continuous burn. It’s great to create a hot fire, but being able to control the burn. Have you any thoughts?

For the IKEA drainer stove ... a stainless steel cooling rack should resist heat better (higher melting point). I use different size racks with feet to control the opening size on the steamer. They take up very little room in my kit as they fit inside my camp skillet. I car camp, so weight is not a concern for me. I can use the same racks on my drainer stove as a pot support. These are both great little stoves. I’ve been elevating my drainer stove on a wire rack but have have considered using conduit clamps for more stability. I saw another video where you fabricated legs. Do you have a preference of one over the other for stability? The conduit clamps seem more space saving. I think my drainer stove is taller (its the Walmart version), so it may tip more easily. And as for limiting air flow in it, I think a piece of an aluminum foil baking sheet wrapped around and secured with wire would work fine. Then it will be easily removed when more air is beneficial.

DIY genius!

And you have a perfect charcoal burner for small burns in the veggie steamer..

I was looking at something for a 10" cast iron skillet while I'm car camping. I might see if I can find the vegetable steamer at my local thrift store.

OMG! You broke your HOBO stove !!! 😳🤯

The ikea pot stand: have you ytried strips of tins from vegetable cans? I dont know how strong it would be but you could double them up. And, as far as time to bring to a boil, you actually lit the ikea first and talked for a bit before lighting the steamer. Therefore, I think the steamer is actually a bit faster.

The steamer was getting a lot of heat from the flames from the ikea during the burn time. Maybe whe the steamer came to a boill that fast

Same problem here. Every time I light a stove the wind picks up!

More seriously, if your revenue streams are starting to permit it, a review of the "Titanium BBQ Grill Plate" would be greatly appreciated. It looks like it would work wonders with the wider strainer-fire. Lots of identical ones on AliExpress, here's one example. Looks like under $25 US for a solid titanium grill is an amazing bit of kit, not cheap - but not expensive considering either and as it's solid not coated looks like it could be very long lasting indeed.

Thanks. Posting ideas sounds like camera work and trying to get it on You Tube. I've no capability to do that. But perhaps if I could give that tripod triangle to you, you could rig it up like Dave did, hang a pot of water, and post it for yourself. 4 sticks of your chosing for the legs and pot hanger. Could be good for another video.

Pure Aluminium melts at 660 degrees C, whereas steel loses half it's strength at 600 C. Manuals of firemanship ( UK).

Stainless steel colander vs veggie steamer

Well aware of shipping in Canada. Just placed an order to the U.S. $74USD. With shipping $200.10 CAD. Do you have a hydrant to left of your driveway? If so, I can always find an excuse to visit Lee Valley and drop the tripod thingy off to you. With diabetes, it's not safe to venture too far anymore, so it looks like I'm 'arm chairing it now'. I'd probably never use it anyway, just like making 'shiny stuff'. Shiny is good.

My plastic strainer didn't hold up 😢😂

I think it is incorrect to call any type of wood stove a gassifier stove. What happens when we burn wood in any kind of stove - first of all we apply heat to the wood to light it and the heated wood gives off gas which we see as the flame and this continues until all the gas is used up and we are left with charcoal which will continue to burn and give off heat until all the carbon is used up and we are left with ash..If you restrict air to the fire it will smoke and this is wasted fuel. In the Bush Buddy type wood stoves the super heated air which rises in the double wall exits from the top holes and burns with the wood gas to give a double burn .This is what people wrongly call gasification The reason you dont see the double burn immediately is because the stove has to heat up in order for the air to heat up and rise in the double wall acting like a chimney In the box type single wall wood stoves once sufficient heat is built up they will burn just as efficiently as long as sufficient air (oxygen ) is available In both types of stove if they are loaded properly and lit from the top there will be little or no smoke.

I do not like the Ikea, it looks very unstable and not a large area to cook on!