There’s a unique frustration that every passionate home cook knows. It’s the moment you toss fresh, vibrant vegetables into a wok, ready for that explosive, smoky ‘wok hei’ flavour, only to watch them sadly steam in their own juices. It’s the struggle to maintain a rolling boil for a communal hotpot, or the inability to get a takoyaki pan to that perfect, consistent temperature. For years, I found myself in this exact position, living in a modern apartment where an induction cooktop was the only option. I missed the roar of a gas flame, the instant response, the intuitive control that allows you to dance between a gentle simmer and a raging inferno. I was searching for a way to bring that authentic, high-heat cooking experience back into my life without a full kitchen renovation. This quest for culinary freedom led me to discover a solution that was not only effective but beautifully designed: the portable gas stove.
- COMPACT DESIGN: 33.8 x 27.2 x 8.4 cm, 1.2 kg
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Bronze gold body, stainless steel material
What to Consider Before Buying a Portable Gas Stove
A portable gas stove is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for reclaiming control over your cooking, whether you’re battling an underpowered electric hob, planning an outdoor dining experience on your patio, or equipping a campervan for gourmet meals on the road. The primary benefit is unparalleled heat control and power in a compact form factor. It liberates you from the constraints of your built-in kitchen appliances, allowing you to perform high-heat tasks like searing and stir-frying with precision, or to set up a social cooking experience like shabu-shabu right at the dining table. It’s an investment in better, more enjoyable, and more versatile cooking.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing a culinary limitation. This includes apartment dwellers with induction hobs who miss gas, food enthusiasts who love communal meals like hotpot or Korean BBQ, campers who refuse to compromise on meal quality, or even homeowners who want an extra burner for large gatherings or outdoor cooking. However, it might not be suitable for those who exclusively cook simple meals that don’t require high heat or precise temperature adjustments. It’s also not a replacement for a full-size range for a large family’s daily needs. For those simply needing to keep a patio warm, a dedicated patio heater would be a more appropriate choice.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Consider the unit’s footprint on your countertop or camping table. A key advantage is portability, so look at the weight and height. The Iwatani Natural Gas Open Heating Countertop Stove, for example, boasts an impressively slim profile at just 7.4 cm tall, making it easy to store in a drawer and ensuring your cooking surface isn’t awkwardly high.
- Capacity/Performance: This is the heart of the matter. You want a stove that delivers powerful, consistent heat. Look for a burner design that distributes flame evenly and a control knob that offers a wide range of adjustment from a low simmer to a powerful flame. The ability to reach high temperatures quickly is what separates a great portable stove from a mediocre one.
- Materials & Durability: The construction materials directly impact the stove’s longevity and stability. A stainless steel top and a sturdy body are signs of a quality product. Pay attention to the grate (or hob top) design—it should securely hold your cookware. While lightweight construction is great for portability, it shouldn’t feel flimsy or cheap.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: Features like automatic piezo ignition remove the need for lighters or matches, which is a significant convenience. For long-term care, consider how easy the stove is to clean. Models with removable tops, like the Iwatani, make wiping away spills and splatters a simple task, ensuring the unit stays looking its best.
Ultimately, choosing the right portable stove comes down to balancing power, portability, and design to fit your specific cooking style and needs.
While the Iwatani Natural Gas Open Heating Countertop Stove is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models for outdoor heating, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- 2-IN-1 FREESTANDING OR WALL MOUNTED ELECTRIC HEATER - The 2000W heater is IPX4 approved, which means it is suitable for outdoor use as a freestanding or wall mounted heater.
- EFFICIENT HEATING: Unleash the power of 2KW featuring three heat settings (650W, 1350W, and 2000W) tailored for diverse outdoor occasions. Whether you're enjoying a quiet evening or hosting a...
- PERFECT FOR OUTDOOR SETTINGS: Enjoy food & drink or simply relaxing in the garden, any time of year! The heater combines a robust structure with excellent design, making the product ideal for both...
First Impressions: Sleek Design Meets Surprising Power
Upon unboxing the Iwatani Natural Gas Open Heating Countertop Stove, the first thing we noticed was its striking aesthetic. The bronze gold body combined with the stainless steel top gives it a premium, elegant look that stands out from the typically utilitarian design of other portable burners. It feels more like a deliberate piece of kitchen architecture than a mere camping accessory. As confirmed by numerous users, it’s remarkably lightweight at just over a kilogram, yet it doesn’t feel fragile. The construction is solid, and the components fit together seamlessly. There’s no assembly required; it’s ready to use straight out of the box. Loading the gas cassette is intuitive: flip open the compartment, align the canister’s notch, and press the lever down. The ignition knob provides a satisfying click, and the flame ignites instantly and reliably. While some users have noted a slight “shakiness” in the knob, we found it to be a minor observation that didn’t impact its precise functionality in any way. It’s a thoughtfully designed appliance that immediately inspires confidence.
What We Like
- Incredibly powerful and responsive heat output for its size
- Elegant, slim, and minimalist design in a beautiful bronze gold finish
- Extremely lightweight and portable, perfect for various settings
- Simple to operate with reliable automatic ignition
- Designed for easy cleaning with a removable hob top
Limitations
- Plastic feet can be slightly slippery on smooth countertops
- Included instructions are primarily in Japanese
A Deep Dive into the Iwatani Stove’s Performance
A product can look great, but its true value is revealed in its performance. We put the Iwatani Natural Gas Open Heating Countertop Stove through a series of real-world cooking tests, from high-heat stir-frying to gentle simmering for a communal hotpot. This is where the stove transitions from a handsome object to an indispensable culinary tool. It consistently exceeded our expectations, delivering on its promise of power, precision, and portability in a way that few other products can match. Let’s break down the core features that make this stove a standout performer.
Power and Precision: The Cooking Experience
The single most impressive aspect of this stove is the sheer power it generates from such a compact frame. This isn’t just a warming plate; it’s a miniature gas range. When we tested it with a carbon steel wok for a stir-fry, the pan reached the perfect shimmering temperature in under a minute. The open heating element produces a strong, direct flame that mimics a professional-grade burner, providing the intense heat necessary to achieve a perfect sear on meat and vegetables without stewing them. This sentiment was echoed by users who were “extremely impressed” by the great heat that brought their pans to the “perfect temperature very quickly.”
But power is useless without control. This is where the Iwatani truly shines. The single control knob offers a fantastic range of adjustment. We could transition from a roaring flame for searing steak to a barely-there flicker for keeping a delicate sauce warm, all with a smooth turn of the dial. This level of control is, as one user put it, what “made it a joy to cook.” For anyone who has felt constrained by the stepped, imprecise settings of an induction or electric cooktop, the analogue, instantaneous feedback from the Iwatani’s gas flame is a revelation. It’s perfect for shabu-shabu, where maintaining a constant, rolling boil is key, and equally adept for making takoyaki, where consistent heat across the special pan is crucial for even cooking.
Design and Portability: Aesthetics Meets Function
Iwatani has masterfully blended form and function. The stove’s slimline profile is a significant design win. At only 7.4 cm high, it keeps the cookware at a comfortable, ergonomic height on a standard countertop, a feature one campervan owner specifically bought it for. Its low weight (1.2 kg) and compact dimensions (33.8 x 27.2 cm) make it incredibly easy to move and store. It doesn’t demand permanent counter space; you can pull it out when needed and tuck it away in a cabinet or drawer afterwards. The bronze gold finish elevates it from a simple utility appliance to a statement piece you’d be happy to have on your dining table for a hotpot night. We found its sleek looks to be far superior to the more rugged, chunky designs of typical camping stoves.
Practicality is also baked into the design. We found cleaning to be exceptionally easy. Spills and splatters are inevitable, but the entire stainless steel hob top lifts off, allowing you to wipe down both the top piece and the underlying body without any awkward corners or crevices. This is a huge advantage for maintaining the stove’s pristine appearance. However, we did confirm a minor drawback noted by a user: the small plastic feet can be a bit slippery on very smooth surfaces like polished granite or quartz. Placing it on a thin silicone mat or a wooden cutting board completely solves this minor issue. It’s a small trade-off for its otherwise stellar portability and design, which you can explore in more detail online.
Safety and Usability: Peace of Mind Included
When dealing with gas, safety is paramount, and Iwatani has a reputation for excellent engineering in this regard. The stove features a crucial automatic shut-off mechanism that is pressure-sensitive. If the gas canister becomes overheated for any reason—perhaps by using an oversized pan that reflects too much heat downwards—the stove automatically senses the pressure increase and disengages the canister, extinguishing the flame. One long-term user shared a compelling story of this exact scenario: after years of use, a minor gas leak caused the canister to overheat. The safety system worked perfectly, disengaging the canister and shutting everything down safely. This provides incredible peace of mind and demonstrates that the safety features are not just a bullet point on a list; they are robust and reliable.
In terms of usability, the stove is brilliantly simple. The automatic piezo ignition means you’ll never have to hunt for a lighter again; a single turn of the knob sparks the flame to life. This is a feature that, as one user noted, you don’t think much about until you use it, and then you can’t live without it, especially in breezy outdoor conditions. While it’s true that the included manual is often in Japanese, the device is so intuitive that it hardly matters. The process of inserting the canister and lighting the flame is straightforward and clearly marked with diagrams on the stove itself. We had it up and running in seconds without ever glancing at the instructions, a testament to its user-friendly design.
What Other Users Are Saying
The general consensus among users is overwhelmingly positive, with many calling the Iwatani Natural Gas Open Heating Countertop Stove the “best kitchen gadget I’ve ever brought.” A recurring theme is its liberating effect, especially for those in rented homes with induction hobs who desperately missed the “controllable heat that can only come with gas.” Enthusiasts of specific cuisines praise its performance for everything from takoyaki to stir-fry and shabu-shabu hotpot.
The aesthetic appeal is another frequently mentioned highlight, with users describing it as “very sleek looking,” “lovely,” and “better looking than other Cassette furnace.” On the critical side, the feedback is consistent and relatively minor. A few users have received units with small quality control issues, such as a “shaky” ignition switch or a missing screw on the gas compartment door, preventing it from closing perfectly. While these appear to be isolated incidents, they are worth being aware of. The other common critique is the Japanese-language instruction manual, though most agree that a quick look at online videos or simply using common sense is more than enough to get started.
How Does the Iwatani Stove Compare to Alternatives?
While the Iwatani excels as a portable cooking appliance, its classification can sometimes place it alongside traditional patio heaters. It’s crucial to understand the different use cases. The Iwatani is for *cooking* and providing some ambient warmth at a tabletop, while dedicated heaters are for warming larger outdoor spaces. Let’s compare it to three popular alternatives to clarify its unique position.
1. Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Propane Heater
- Powerful: 1.2 - 2.4 kW indoor heater for rooms up to 21m³ (e.g. small rooms or tents)
- Universal: with adapter for butane and propane gas cartridges with EN 417 thread (7/16"x28 UNEF)
The Mr. Heater Portable Buddy is a dedicated personal space heater, not a cooking device. Its primary function is to provide radiant heat to warm people in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces like tents, workshops, or patios. It uses propane and has multiple safety features, including an oxygen depletion sensor and a tip-over switch, making it ideal for indoor use. Someone should choose the Mr. Heater if their sole goal is personal warmth and they have absolutely no intention of cooking. The Iwatani, by contrast, is a culinary tool first and foremost; its purpose is to apply a direct flame to cookware, making it the clear choice for anyone who wants to cook, not just stay warm.
2. BU-KO Outdoor Patio Gas Heater Pyramid Style 13kw
- 🔥 DOUBLE BENEFIT - This pyramid-shaped outdoor gas heaters for home is powered by propane gas and displays an attractive open flame safely contained in a quartz glass tube. Its column design and...
- 🔥 BUILT TO LAST - Crafted using premium, high-grade stainless steel and powder coated aluminium, this patio heater is waterproof and almost weather-proof too - it can handle exposure to the harsh...
The BU-KO Pyramid Heater represents the other end of the heating spectrum. This is a large, powerful, full-scale patio heater designed to warm a significant outdoor area for a party or gathering. With a massive 13kw output, it creates a wide circle of warmth and an attractive “real flame” visual centerpiece. It is large, heavy (though wheeled for portability), and runs on a large propane tank. You would choose the BU-KO heater for creating a comfortable environment on a large deck or garden patio for several people. The Iwatani stove is a tabletop device for an intimate meal; the BU-KO is a freestanding appliance for heating an entire social space. They serve completely different functions.
3. blumfeldt Hanging Infrared Patio Heater
- ENERGY EFFICIENT HEATING WARMS YOUR SPACE: Infrared heaters do not emit CO2 and maximise the heat produced - far more than a conventional electric patio heater. With three temperatures, enjoy energy...
- A REASON TO GO OUTSIDE IN WINTER: Outdoor seating can be enjoyed all winter with a garden heater. This far infrared heater uses infrared heat panels powered by a halogen element to warm objects...
The blumfeldt heater offers a different approach entirely, using electric infrared technology. It’s designed to be hung from a ceiling in a gazebo, covered patio, or balcony. It provides instant, directional heat to the people and objects below it, rather than heating the air. Its advantages are convenience (remote control operation) and the lack of fuel to manage. A customer would opt for the blumfeldt for a permanent or semi-permanent, weatherproof heating solution where electricity is readily available. It is not portable in the same way as the Iwatani. The choice here is between a portable gas cooking flame (Iwatani) and a fixed, electric heating element (blumfeldt).
Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Iwatani Natural Gas Open Heating Countertop Stove?
After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: the Iwatani Natural Gas Open Heating Countertop Stove is a phenomenal piece of equipment that bridges the gap between kitchen and outdoors, between convenience and culinary excellence. It is not a patio heater; it is a portable gateway to the real-flame cooking that so many of us miss. Its combination of raw power, delicate control, elegant design, and superb portability is unmatched in its class. It empowers cooks to break free from the limitations of their kitchens and create incredible meals anywhere.
We wholeheartedly recommend it to apartment dwellers, hotpot and takoyaki lovers, avid campers, and anyone who values precision and power in their cooking. The minor quibbles about slippery feet or Japanese instructions are easily overcome and pale in comparison to the immense utility and joy this stove provides. If you’re ready to elevate your cooking and reclaim the power of gas, this is the tool you’ve been waiting for. You can check the latest price and see its full feature set right here.
Last update on 2025-11-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API