The age-old question that has divided philosophers, chefs, and campers for generations: what’s the best way to scorch your breakfast bacon on the open road? Okay, maybe it’s not that dramatic, but choosing a cooking fuel for your RV is a decision packed with sizzle, spark, and strong opinions. We recently posed this very question to our loyal readers, asking them, “What type of cooking fuel do you prefer in your RV?”
This fiery debate was sparked in our weekly newsletter, where the votes were cast and tallied.
For those who missed it, this is your official reminder to subscribe and vote next time so your preferred power source gets the glory and you can be a part of our future findings! The results are in, and they paint a very clear, and frankly, gas-powered picture of what’s happening in RV kitchens across the nation.
The Official Sizzle Report: A Breakdown of the Heat
The people have spoken, and the message is clear: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and if it uses propane, you should probably keep it. Here’s how the votes shook out:
| Fuel Type | Percentage of Votes |
|---|---|
| Propane | 76% |
| Electric | 19% |
| Butane | 5% |
| Wood/Charcoal | 0% |
Hail to the King: The Propane Dynasty
Let’s all take a moment to bow before the undeniable, blue-flamed champion of RV cooking. Propane didn’t just win; it arrived with a monster truck, blew an air horn, and parked on the other options. With a staggering 76% of the vote, propane is the people’s choice, and it’s not hard to see why.
It’s the reliable old friend who is always there for you, even when you’re boondocking in the middle of nowhere with nary a power pole in sight. It heats up instantly, works in any weather, and lets you pretend you’re a contestant on a high-stakes cooking show every time you fire up the griddle. Propane doesn’t ask for much—just a tank to call home and the occasional fitting that isn’t suspiciously rusty.
The Plucky Underdogs: Electric and Butane
Trailing distantly behind are the alternatives. Electric, sitting at a respectable 19%, is the clean, quiet, and modern contender. Its supporters are likely those who adore their induction cooktops and often camp with full hookups, enjoying the luxury of cooking without that tell-tale “camping” smell.
Then we have butane, the niche player at 5%. Butane is like that specialized kitchen gadget you buy for one specific recipe—it’s fantastic for a single-burner portable stove on a picnic table, but you probably don’t want to try and cook a full Thanksgiving dinner on it.
The Ghost of Campfires Past: A Moment of Silence for Wood & Charcoal
We must pour one out for the option that received a resounding 0% of the vote. While the romantic idea of cooking over a wood fire is the stuff of classic camping dreams, the reality in an RV is… different.
It seems our readers collectively decided that dealing with smoke, ash, spark arrests, burn bans, and the fifteen-hour wait for a charcoal briquette to achieve cooking temperature was better left to the tent campers. It appears the consensus is that if you’re going to have a rolling home with an actual kitchen, you might as well use the convenience it provides.
Conclusion: Why Propane’ Flame Burns So Bright
So, why did the results land so heavily in favor of propane? The answer boils down to a perfect mixture of practicality, independence, and culture. Propane is the undisputed king of versatility and off-grid capability. For most RVers, the entire point of the lifestyle is freedom—the freedom to go wherever the road leads, without being tethered to a campground electrical pedestal. Propane empowers that. Your fridge, your hot water heater, your furnace, and indeed your stove, can all run independently of the grid. An RV is a self-contained unit, and propane is the beating heart of its independence.
Electric cooking, while excellent in many scenarios, inherently ties you to a source of shore power or a massive inverter system, which isn’t accessible to everyone. Ultimately, the poll shows that when it comes to cooking, RVers value reliable, instant, and powerful heat that works anywhere, anytime. And for that, nothing else holds a candle to propane.
