Keys to this are: A small amount of whatever you are trying to heat (which you have done): Covering the pan (which you have done); A smaller pan than like the second one you used; Using a cooling rack instead of a muffin tin for the candles so you can position the candles more directly underneath the pan; Enough vertical space between the candles and the bottom of the pan so the heat is more evenly distributed, and less heat is wasted. You might try using a small camp cooking pot or a large steel camp mug with a lid as a pan. It might heat faster. Great experiment!
I tested mine with an 8” aluminum square pan, a wire rack that I saved from a toaster oven, and a saucepan about the size of yours, but not a nice like yours, mine’s an inexpensive one, the thin aluminum kind. My water boiled. I think it’s because there was more fire directly under the thinner pan. Just a guess though, I’ve not done it any other way, I did buy the square pan to use, but I had the rack already and the sauce pan was in my camping tote, so I dug that out since I was thinking if this is what I had to do, I would use my camping pans.
Make a hobo can cooker card board and old used candles and 3 wicks power was out 24 hours , put 2 of them on The bbq grill had no gas I cooked Roman noodles hot dogs hot water coffee tea hot Coco. Put the hobo stoves on bottom rack and food on top rack it took time but nothin eles to do so had fun .
See I can see that this can work because well fire and heat obviously. But I also feel like people should also own a propane stove they have inexpensive ones in the camping section
Aaargh you Americans and your tea making!!! Tea should be made with BOILING water, not warmed water. Eggs on the other hand should be poached in hot but not boiling water. 😀
