...I never follow those instructions to boil the water first.
By trying to get it to boil first, I'd be wasting all that heat to the atmosphere while the water is heating. Instead, the water AND dinner heat together.
That's exactly how it's done.
Not only does this practice work for solid fuels, it works for any stove. Together with a well fitting wind screen, your fuel consumption is at an absolute minimum.
-postholer
