It can flame up good and really get water boiling fast. This does create a sooty cooking pot. I defeat that by storing the set up in a stuff sack so soot does not get all over my stuff. The stove set up fits inside the pot in use here. I wrap the stove with a bandana so it sits snug in the pot. Its very usefull to have a bandana for cooking. I use it to wipe things clean and rinse it in creeks now and then and throw it in the wash when I get home.