In part 1 of this series – Basic Operations – I went over how to unpack, set up, use, disassemble and repack the Jetboil MiniMo. But that’s not all the questions folks have about this cook system. So in this series I’ll go over lighting the MiniMo, using it in the wind, gas canister questions, and cleaning the system while at camp. Let’s get started…
How To Light the Jetboil MiniMo
Assemble your stove as shown in part 1 of my series. Twist the fuel valve counterclockwise approximately a full turn. Press the igniter button and watch and listen for the flame. If no flame appears, then press the igniter button again if very little time has pass from your first attempt. But if too much time has passed – just a matter of seconds – then turn the fuel valve off, blow away the accumulated fuel from the burner then repeat this lighting process, but this time open the valve even more. Use maybe 1 and 1/2 to 2 turns of the valve for your second attempt, especially if it’s windy.
The manufacture cautions about igniting the stove with the pot already on it, as they say it can cause excess gas accumulation in the area and create a momentary fireball, with dire consequences. I’ve personally done it multiple times with no problems though.
If the igniter has permanently failed in the field, then use a match or lighter to light the flame, as you would any other backpacking stove. To test for this failure, press the igniter button of the stove when it is not attached to the gas canister to see if you can see a spark. Press is multiple times. If you see no spark, and cannot otherwise light the stove with the igniter, then this indicates a permanent failure and the need for a replacement.
Will the Jetboil MiniMo Work in the Wind?
The Wind’s Effect on Jetboil MiniMo’s Efficiency as Compared to the GSI Outdoors Glacier Stove
I’ve run an experiment where I’ve boiled 500mL of water using the Jetboil Minimo and the GSI Outdoors Glacier stove next to one another, and factored in, and out, some artificial wind, as follows:
I did a control boil with no exogenous wind directed at the stoves other than that which naturally occurred in my backyard. Then I did a test boil, where I applied a standing oscillating fan to simulate gusts of wind coming in to the cooking space, making sure each cook system was getting the same amount of wind, via symmetrical placement in the test field. Each time I collected the time to boil, and fuel usage up to the boil, via video capture and a kitchen weighing scale respectively.
Normalizing Backpacking Stove Fuel Efficiency Data
To normalize the data, and do apples to apples comparisons, I multiplied these two pieces of data to get an efficiency rating. Basically, with consideration to boil time and fuel use, the product of multiplying these creates a number, where the bigger it is the less efficient the stove, and the smaller it is the more efficient the stove. This way it matters less if I actually had dialed the stoves to different fuel delivery rates between tests and between each other.
I lucked out on the Jetboil data, in that for both the control and the test, I used the same amount of fuel, so it can plainly be seen what effect the wind simulation had on the boil time, without having to look at the more ambiguous-feeling efficiency rating, with its odd sec-oz. dimensional unit.
| Conditions | Jetboil MiniMo | GSI Outdoors Glacier |
|---|---|---|
| Control – time to boil (seconds) | 237 | 234 |
| Control – fuel usage (oz.) | 0.2 | 0.55 |
| Control – time to boil times oz. of fuel used | 47 | 128 |
| Test – time to boil (seconds) | 280 | 354 |
| Test – fuel usage (oz.) | 0.2 | 0.85 |
| Test – time to boil times oz. of fuel used | 56 | 301 |
As you can see from the data, the simulated wind did make the Jetboil MiniMo a little bit less efficient; the efficiency rating was negatively impacted by 19%. Similarly, the wind made the GSI less efficient by 18%.
However, the MiniMo was a lot more efficient overall compared to the GSI Glacier stove: 2.7 times more efficient during the control run and 5.4 times more efficient during the windy test run. Hence the Jetboil MiniMo’s stove housing does offer better wind protection.
Jetboil MiniMo’s Stove Does Have Trouble in the Wind at Lower Settings
I’ve found, when you are using the lowest temperature settings on the stove, i.e. lowest fuel delivery rates, the wind can readily extinguish your flame. If you’re simmering food or liquid on these lower setting, you should diligently watch to make sure the flame is not extinguished, and be ready to reignite it were it to go out.
Can You Reignite the Jetboil MiniMo Stove If It’s Hot?
Yes, if the flame goes out when cooking, turn the fuel delivery knob to the off position (clockwise), and blow under the stove to clear any accumulated gas. Then just turn the knob back to the fuel delivery position (counterclockwise) and press the igniter switch. Again, the manufacture states that you shouldn’t have the pot on the stove when lighting it, to avoid excess fuel accumulation in the area, and the possibility of a large ball of fire around the stove being created. But in practice I’ve never had trouble lighting the stove with the pot affixed to it.
If your flame has gone out while cooking due to the wind, then make sure to turn the fuel delivery knob significantly counterclockwise, so that enough fuel is being delivered to overcome the wind, when the stove is reignited.
What Kind of Fuel Works With the Jetboil MiniMo
Jetboil says to just stick with their IsoPro gas canisters but I’ve used MSR canisters with the stove before with good result. These stoves and canisters seem to have a universal screwing connection. Just stick with the EN417 type canisters.
However I was trying an experiment of cooking a chocolate mug cake in an aluminum foil cup under a water bath in the MiniMo with a MSR canister. The time to cook the cake was excessive (20+ minutes). Afterwards, the bottom of the MiniMo was completely covered in dark black with soot. This could be a feature of the long burn time, or it could indicate that the MSR canister doesn’t burn as clean as the Jetboil canister.
Confounding this issue further is the fact that if you heat the pot with no contents in it, regardless of fuel brand, it will burn the area where the flame touches it, and leave a burnt mark where the anodized aluminum coating once was.
What Size Fuel Canister Fits Inside the Jetboil MiniMo
The small, 100g Jetboil fuel canister, or the 110g MSR fuel canister can fit inside the MiniMo pot. However, if you elect to store your canister and stove inside the MiniMo pot, you will not be able to fit your pot stand accessory inside as well. You’ll have to make a choice on what goes in the pot and what gets stored in your pack separately.
How Long Will the Jetboil 100g Fuel Canister Last When Used With The MiniMo?
A Jetboil fuel canister will last 13 to 17 cooking events, depending on what you are cooking. It will last 13 cooking events if cooking food in the pot. It will last 17 cooking events if just boiling 500mL of water to rehydrate a backpacking meal.
Fuel Consumption When Cooking Food In the MiniMo
I’ve started to collect data on using the Jetboil MiniMo for non-water boiling cooking. Below are the prepared dishes and their correlated fuel consumptions.
| Usage Number | Dish Being Cooked | Fuel Consumption (oz.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hot chocolate (almond milk, sugar and chocolate squares) | 6.8 – 6.55 = 0.25 |
| 2 | Single use Ramen Noodle Soup (simulated windy conditions) | 6.5 – 6.15 = 0.35 |
| 3 | Attempting to make a chocolate mug cake (mild wind) | 6.15 – 6.05 = 0.10 |
| 4 | Noodle and Vegan Bouillon Soup | 6.05 – 5.70 = 0.35 |
Based on these three events, which average 0.26oz. of fuel consumption per cooking session, the Jetboil 100g fuel canister should last for 13 cooking events:
6.8 – 0.26x = 3.32; x=13; where 6.8oz. is the weight of a new canister and 3.32oz. is the weight of an empty canister.
Fuel Consumption When Bringing Water To Boil
On average, I’ve been using 0.2 oz. of fuel per 500mL water boil. This indicates I could get 17, 500mL boils from one fuel can in the real world.
Jetboil Fuel Canister Weights When Empty and Full
| Canister Size | Full – grams | Full – ounces | Empty – grams | Empty – ounces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100g Canister | 194 | 6.84 | 94 | 3.32 |
| 230g Canister | 356 | 12.56 | 126 | 4.44 |
| 450g Canister | 645 | 22.75 | 195 | 6.88 |
How To Clean the Jetboil MiniMo Pot When Camping
Cleaning the MiniMo Pot When Not Near a Water Source
After you’re done eating, scrape as much food off the inside of the pot, preferably with a plastic spoon, so as not to scratch the anodized aluminum finish. If you have access to paper towels try using one to clear out as much accumulated material on the sides as you can.
Pour a small amount of filtered water to the inside of the pot; 100mL will do. Then repeat the process of spoon scraping, while tilting the pot such that the water covers the area you’re scraping. Discard the water once most of the debris is removed from the sides of the pot. Repeat your paper towel wiping if you have such. At this point the three dimensional debris should be gone, but if not, have one more go at it.
Now add a bit more water, and a drop of Camp Suds or equivalent biodegradable concentrated liquid soap, and use your finger(s) or paper towel to rub down the inside of the pot and remove any residue from the walls or bottom. Do not use wood ash as soap, since the basic pH level this produces may compromise the anodized aluminum coating. Do a final rinse and maybe paper towel wipe, if packing up directly.
Allow the pot to dry thoroughly on the inside.
Leave No Trace Cleaning
The waste water should not be disposed of within a few hundred feet of a water source to minimize impact on the environment.
Some places require food scraps and grey water to be buried. If you’re not in an environment where water will freeze, sometimes you can long toss your grey water over the ground, such that it’s not concentrated in any one area. Anything solid that can’t be buried has to be packed out, preferably in a smell resistant package like an OPSAK.
Cleaning the MiniMo Pot Near Running Water
Do not use sand or gravel to clean the inside of the pot. This will remove the anodized aluminum coating on its surface.
Do not chuck grey water or food scraps into running water. Again dispose of waste as described above.
Just follow similar cleaning instructions as above but you can use more water. I would still filter the water though, as you don’t want river or stream bacteria hanging out in the cozy, potentially contaminating your next meal.
How To Clean the Jetboil MiniMo Cozy When Camping
Is It Okay for the Jetboil MiniMo Cozy to Get Wet?
Yes, water or soap doesn’t hurt the cozy.
Can You Take the Jetboil MiniMo Cozy Off to Wash It?
Yes, but you have to remove the pot’s handles to take the cozy off. Either pull up or down on one of the handles, until the inner piece clears the hole that it’s in. Then pull the loose handle the opposite direction to clear it from the other hole. Repeat for the other handle.
However, it makes more sense to just deal with a nasty food stain best you can, with the cozy in place, on the pot. Then when you get home you can do a more thorough washing, and remove it at that point if needed.
How To Clean the MiniMo Stove Burner
In the field, if you get food or liquid on your stove’s burner, just wipe it clean gently with a wet buff or bandana, making sure not to disrupt the piezo lighter’s ceramic cylinder or wire. I have poured water on the top of the entire stove assembly once, including the burner, when cleaning off food that boiled over when I wasn’t paying attention, and such did not hurt its function.
The holes on the burner have a built in metal mesh screen directly below them, to discourage solid particles from penetrating the inside. However if you feel that debris are clogging these holes, like your stove assembly was dropped in fine powdered dirt, you can try removing the assembly’s cotter pin, and separating the gas intake and regulator from the top of the stove, then attempting to blow quick and forceful puffs of air from your lungs through your mouth into the exposed hole where the gas would travel to the burner, while holding the stove in the upside down position. You’ll need a multi-tool with some needle nose pliers to remove the cotter pin.
How To Unclog the Jetboil MiniMo Stove When Camping
There are a few ways the MiniMo stove can get clogged, where no gas is coming out of the stove. One of these clogs you can fix in the field, if you have a multi-tool with needle nose pliers and scissors components. The other is not possible in the field as it requires you destroy four rivets on the part of the stove that keeps it working during cold temperatures, then replace them with screws/nuts after the repair.
Fixing a Microfiber Filter Related Clog in the Jetboil MiniMo Stove
- locate the holding pin – a type of cotter pin – that has a circular loop handle, which holds the lower plastic part of the stove together with the metal, fuel valve part of the stove. Pull that pin out with your pliers.
- On the fuel valve assembly there is a brass screw with a small hole that regulates the flow of gas through it. Take that off the assembly by slightly twisting it counterclockwise with your multi-tool pliers, until loose, then twist it the rest of the way with your fingers.
- On the inside of that brass screw there is a small filter, similar to a cigarette filter, that can become clogged. Pull it out from the inside of this screw and inspect it for cleanliness; this is easier with tweezers if you have a pair. Any gross discoloration at its end, that faces away from the head of this screw, may indicate a point of obstruction. If you have a small set of fingernail scissors or scissors on your multi-tool, try cutting away this end if it does look unusual.
- Place the filter back into the brass screw, and the screw back in the valve assembly, and re-tighten it.
- Reinstall the valve assembly back on the general stove assembly and put the holding pin back into place.
- Test the stove.
- If the stove still won’t work, you’re going to have to buy a replacement, if backpacking near a town with a camping and hiking store, or near a specialty general store that carries such gear.
Further Reading
Check out part 1 of this series – Basic Operations – and part 3 – Accessories – for more answered questions about the Jetboil MiniMo from around the internet!
I do have more planned articles on the cooking system and will activate the links below as they are completed:
Jetboil MiniMo Vs. MicroMo
Jetboil MiniMo Vs. Flash
Jetboil MiniMo Recipes
Can You Cook For Two People With the Jetboil MiniMo?
Jetboil MiniMo Hacks
My general camping gear and hiking gear pages may have something of use to ya as well!