Metro to Mountain Journal

When JetBoil stoves became popular, eight or nine years ago, being the gearheads that we are, we were interested. We didn't buy one immediately because it seemed as if the pot in the Flash Cooking System was too small to actually cook anything. It seemed made to boil water. A few years later, the Group Cooking System was introduced. It offered the same burner; but with a larger cooking pot. We purchased one before our next trip.

We were pleased with the Group Cooking System and eventually bought the smaller Flash System also. The smaller Flash System has become our standard backcountry cook kit. We carry the larger pot of the Group System with us for car camping trips.

Then, one weekend not long ago, we were staying with a friend and I used the Group Camping pot on an electric burner stove. I was surprised at how fast the water for my daily hot cereal was boiling. I turned down the burner, added the oatmeal and in minutes had perfect oats.

Back at home I continued using the Group Cooking System pot for my daily fare. On our gas stove it worked equally well. I have always thought that our gas range was slow. It was amazing how fast water seemed to boil, on our slow stove, with the Group System pot. A contest was in order!

I set up an un-scientific test. Using an MSR 1.5 quart Alpine pot (a stainless steel pot very similar in size as the JetBoil) with lid I timed how long it would take to boil two cups of water and then compared the findings to the JetBoil Group Cooking pot with lid.

Results and notes ...

• The Alpine pot came to a roiling boil in 5:50 minutes.
• The Group System pot boiled in 3:15 minutes.
• Also of note, just looking at the two pots boiling... the JetBoil was really boiling. The Alpine pot had manageable bubbles. In other words the JetBoil was hotter.
• So if you have a JetBoil Group Cooking Pot in your cook kit, then drag it out and start using it in the kitchen. It saves on minutes of gas or electrical use.
• If you don't have a Group Cooking Pot, I would consider buying one for the kitchen! I like the performance of the pot more in the kitchen than on the JetBoil stove.
• In fact, I wonder why similar cooking vessels similar to the Group Cooking pot are not available for the home kitchen.
• Backcountry notes - We do not like the top or bottom lid that comes with the Group Cooking Kit (the bottom lid helps protect the pot.) We use an MSR Titanium lid for the top and nothing for the bottom. By carefully packing the pot, we have never damaged the flux ring.
• JetBoil makes a 3 quart cooking pot also.

Happy Group Cooking System trails.

Individual cooking pots are available through JetBoil or the Group System is availble from REI.