Coleman 4-in-1 Portable Propane Cooking System review

The Coleman 4-in-1 is a single-burner propane cooking system with several interchangeable surfaces, not a four-burner range. Its appeal is the ability to switch between a supported pot, the included wok, and a reversible griddle/grill while packing its parts together. The tradeoff is that all of those functions share one burner and the same fuel connection. This review compares the exact black US SKU 2209292 / model 2000035015 page with its linked 5489-series manual; it is not a hands-on test of cooking speed, wind performance or durability.

Four cooking modes, one burner

Coleman describes three interchangeable inserts: a pan support, a wok and a reversible plate with a flat griddle side and a ribbed grill side. That is where the “4-in-1” name comes from: stove, wok, griddle and grill are alternative ways to cook, not four independent positions. The manual describes centering one cooking vessel over the burner for stove mode, or fitting the included wok or plate support in its specified arrangement. A meal plan that depends on two pots cooking at once needs a genuinely multi-burner layout instead.

The burner is listed at 7,000 BTU per hour, and the manual explains how to turn the control knob to adjust the flame. That supports a pot-cooking choice that can heat water, but the reviewed manufacturer material does not give this model a timed boil claim. Nor does it establish a particular low-flame result. The griddle and grill share the same heat source; the manual says their cooking surface heats most strongly in the center and less intensely toward the edge. That is a manufacturer description, not a measured temperature map.

Packable, but check the whole assembly

The current black page identifies model 2000035015 and US SKU 2209292. It lists 11.25 pounds and a 14 × 11 × 14-inch “Grill Dimensions” entry, but does not define either value as minimum weight or a packed-case measurement. The listed mass therefore should not be used as a bare-stove limit, and the dimensions should not be assumed to describe the closed package. Coleman says the removable legs and inserts fit inside the inverted wok and locking latches hold the stored pieces together. The official product image shows the black system, not a photograph of a trip-ready carry bag; do not infer that a separate bag or a compact, protected pack volume is included.

The exact manual is unusually useful about setup. It calls for a stable, level outdoor surface, a filled water pan before lighting, correct placement of the insert, and 12 inches of side and 48 inches of overhead clearance from combustible materials. In stove mode, the manual says to center the cooking vessel on the supplied support and keep the flame from extending beyond the vessel's underside. It does not publish a maximum cookware diameter. Its 100-square-inch cooking-area figure is not a pan-size limit, so check the actual pot base and support fit rather than treating that area as a diameter.

Use the fuel directions as written

The product page says a separate 16.4-ounce propane cylinder is required. The linked 5489-series instructions describe a pressure-regulated 16-ounce disposable cylinder and also allow a refillable cylinder up to 20 pounds when paired with Coleman's optional 5475 propane adapter hose. The hose is a separate accessory, not part of the listed package. The manual specifies that the stove must not run with the disposable cylinder inverted. These are distinct supply arrangements; do not treat the 20-pound option as an RV low-pressure connection or substitute an unapproved hose. The current appliance label and the instructions shipped with the unit remain the final check.

Fuel is not listed among the included items. The page lists the stove, removable legs, grate, wok and reversible griddle/grill; the manual's parts list also identifies the regulator, water pan and pan support as system components. Before buying, check that the exact inserts, regulator and hardware are present and that the separately sourced cylinder or approved adapter setup suits your trip. No source reviewed here establishes a permitted separate windscreen. The product table says “Stove Wind Block: No,” so wind protection should not be assumed from the surrounding water pan or from an improvised shield.

Cooking surfaces need different care

The griddle/grill plate has a coated cooking surface. Coleman warns not to leave the wok or reversible plate empty over the burner longer than the brief initial preheat period, not to place a pot on the reversible plate, and not to use the wok as a lid or close the latches while cooking. The accessories must cool before changing or storing them. The water pan collects grease and must be filled to its marked level before lighting, so setup and cleaning involve more pieces than a basic open-top burner. Those instructions are important to the system's durability and safe assembly, not a cosmetic detail.

For a one-burner camp kitchen that genuinely uses a wok and both sides of a griddle/grill, the supplied components make this an unusual all-in-one package. For a simple pot-and-kettle routine, its extra accessories may add parts without solving a need. The reviewed sources leave maximum pot diameter, packed dimensions, minimum weight, timed boil performance and separate-windscreen approval unconfirmed. Compare the exact model, fuel plan and cookware limits in the stove finder, then obtain the current instructions before use.