Bringing a portable stove, along with a couple of propane canisters, when camping is a great option if you want to cook at camp. Problem is, some places just don’t allow any kind of open flames and that’s where something like the Nestout Outdoor Cooker really comes in clutch.
While it looks like a simple cooking pot, it’s actually equipped with a built-in 500W heating element, allowing you to cook rice, soups, and simple stews using the exact same thing, provided you can find a place to plug it in. Sure, it won’t cook as fast as a proper stove with raging flames, but for those places that restrict open-flame cooking such as music festivals, this thing should really come in handy.
The Nestout Outdoor Cooker 500W is, basically, a cooking pot with a built-in heating element underneath, similar to a rice cooker. Unlike those cheap rice cookers, though, you can adjust the temperature of the heating elements, so you can crank it up to cook faster or dial it down if you just want to keep the soup warm for later. It only has three settings, though, 113-, 158-, and 212-degrees Fahrenheit, so you’re fairly limited in the temperature options. Still, 212 degrees sounds decent enough to let you cook a variety of meals on the go. Do note, it automatically shuts off after one hour of running, which, we guess, is designed to keep you from using up too much power.
That brings up the question, of course, of where are you supposed to plug it in? Well, they recommend it for folks who like to go camping with a portable power station, especially those who also carry portable solar panels for recharging them. It is a great way to make use of that portable battery, after all. Even better, you can safely use it inside a tent, sparing you from having to bake under the hot sun when cooking at any point before the night arrives.
The Nestout Outdoor Cooker 500W has an 800 ml capacity, making it ideal for preparing small meals for one to two persons, while an included steamer basket gives you a way to cook food without having to dunk it in a soup or stew. If you like to buy frozen dim sum and pack it in your cooler, this will be a great way to heat them up for lunch or dinner. It comes with a lid that can be converted into a serving bowl with a handle, in case you need a way to eat whatever grub you just cooked in that main cooking chamber.
The outer body is fitted with heat insulation, by the way, so it can retain most of the heat inside for around an hour after cooking. Even better, the insulation helps minimize surface heat on the exterior of the cooker, allowing you to touch it without burning yourself (it might still be a little hot, so be wary). The outer finish is supposedly scratch-resistant, too, so you don’t have to be too gentle with it, whether at camp or during transport. Dimensions are 6.7 x 6.5 inches (diameter x height), with a weight of 1.9 pounds.
The Nestout Outdoor Cooker 500W is available now.
