Obviously, you want to estimate how much fuel you will need for cooking. One detail that is easily overlooked is how much fuel you will need for melting snow into drinking water. If exploring new territory, drinking water will likely not be available, unless it’s spring and melting run-off is abundant. If this is the case, don’t forget a purifier on the gear checklist. For most winter camping, you will need to melt snow, which can use up a lot of of time and fuel. Plan ahead for the amount of water for each person per day.

As for efficiency, always start out with a little water in the pot/pan before throwing snow in, allowing the heat to conduct better. The snow will melt faster than if you just throw snow into an empty pan. Another practical tip is to bring foil or some kind of shield you can surround the stove with in case of wind, so you’re not worrying about losing the flame. And lastly, put a lid on it.