Sometimes you just need a portable electric cooking set. Maybe it's during a major power outage, when everyone is huddled together in the warm glow of the family power plant. Or maybe it's at a tailgate party or picnic. In my case, it's the place where I've parked my van for the past few months while testing two Stoke Voltaics cooking systems.
Most portable cooking kits run on a liquid fuel such as propane. It is inexpensive and readily available in canisters of all sizes. But sometimes you'd rather not have to deal with open fires, pollutants and the associated noise and smell. Stoke Voltaics' equipment runs on electricity that can easily be supplied by a solar generator and replenished by the sun.
I tested the company's new Nomad Cooking System for $219.99 and the existing Joulle Kettle Pot for $99.99. They're not cheap, but mobility and comfort are rare.
Let's start with the Joulle, an all-electric JetBoil – the ubiquitous “flash cooking” camp stove that hit the market two decades ago. The size, graphics, insulating cover, handle and lid with integrated filter are very good very Similar, right down to the little pot's ability to function like a French press for coffee. JetBoil even once sold its own Joule variant, which may be why Stoke promotes Voltaic Joule as a “Kettle Pot” on its website. Joule features a popcorn setting, so… take it TheLawyers.
Each of the Joulle's three settings uses different amounts of AC power. Move the slider to Drink to boil water at maximum power before it automatically shuts off, unlike a JetBoil's flame. Turn the switch to “Eat” to bring the stew to a slow simmer. “Pop” varies the power to ensure almost every grain placed inside becomes popcorn, then automatically shuts off to save power.
In my testing, I was able to boil about 8 ounces of water for coffee or tea in 3 minutes and 42 seconds, using 28.06 Wh. Slowly heating 19 ounces (570 ml) of hearty soup to a simmer 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. So that's about 85 Wh in a given day, or 10+ days of using a solar generator with a modest 1 kWh capacity.
I like that the drink and pop modes turn off automatically, so I can just set it and forget it without having to worry about unnecessary power consumption. In food mode, gentle stirring may be necessary to prevent things from sticking to the bottom of the stainless steel surface. Joulle is a bit bulky to wash (especially when used as a French press) as the sink in my van is relatively shallow and I have to be extra careful with the water as it is an electrical appliance.
Still, Joulle is so convenient that I didn't use my induction cooktop and pan on solo tips for days.
While Joulle integrates the heating element directly into the pot, the Nomad Cooking System is modular. It comes with an AC-powered heating base, a lid, a 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 plug into the 6.8-inch diameter heating base via a proprietary connector.
The power button allows you to increase the power from 200W to 1000W in 200W increments. Yes, they could have easily set it from 1 to 5, but I like knowing how much power I'm drawing. The button also shows how long the device has been running. The electric base only turns on when a pot is inserted and turns off when the pot is removed. Pressing the button pauses the cooking process, holding it down turns the power off completely.
I like that the pots heat quickly and evenly and cook enough food for one to two people. In addition, the pots stay in place, which is not guaranteed with portable induction hobs, especially if they are placed on a slope. The Nomad handle is also easy to grip and easy to attach and remove from the pans. The entire system is also very compact and can be easily stored in a drawer, especially when using the carrying case (which also prevents rattling noises while driving).
1/8
I have a few minor criticisms. Washing the Nomad pots, like the Joulle pots, requires hand washing as they cannot be submerged in water. The system is also proprietary, so you can't use the base with other pots and the Nomad pots won't work on a gas stove or induction cooktop. And it's a bit annoying that you can only use one Nomad pot at a time since you only have one base.
Stoke Voltaics' equipment may not be cheap, but the Nomad Cooking System and Joulle Kettle Pot are both super practical and powerful cooking systems that pack away nice and small when not in use. If you can afford it, I would recommend both to anyone looking for gas-free portable cookware.