Cooking Stoves For Survival

I recommend these cooking stoves for survival, and I’ll tell you why. If and when we lose power I want you to think about how you would cook some meals, or boil some water for that matter. If you have a generator you will be set, until the fuel runs out if it’s gas-powered.

If you have a woodburning stove that’s awesome if it’s cold in your home, but not in the summer if it’s 100 degrees outside. I think most of us have a gas (propane) barbecue, or maybe one that uses charcoal briquettes. Those are great for short-term cooking only because they would use way too much fuel to boil a gallon or two of water.

We need to have a plan for cooking and boiling water for survival from a major disaster or even a minor power outage. Yes, we can go a few days without a hot meal, I get it.

But, if we need to boil our water when the local water supply is contaminated we should be ready to boil water with a cooking device. Hopefully, every family has at least two to three days worth of water stored in their homes, but I’m afraid there a lot of people that don’t. It could be zero storage space, lack of money to buy the containers, etc.

So, this is why I’m talking about cooking stoves today. If you have at least one of these you can cook a meal or boil water. There are a few more ways to cook, but I’m just talking about these stoves today. Please remember to procure the fuel required for the stove you decide to purchase.

1. Cooking Stoves:

Here’s the deal, if you have very little sunshine in your community, a Sun Oven would be useless. I hate to use the word useless, but if you have overcast days 300 days of the year, you will not be able to count on the sunshine to bake meals or boil water. If you have several days of sunshine, as I do in Southern Utah, this is a perfect oven for you.

SUN OVEN/SOLAR COOKING

I just purchased a second Sun Oven because I LOVE them! All American Sun Oven- The Ultimate Solar Appliance It is approximately 19 inches square and about 11 inches high. It has a handle so you can carry it. It opens up with these sides to reflect the Sun!!! You can buy a Sun Oven with or without bread pans, cake pans, two cooking pots that stack, and a set of three dehydrating racks, along with some parchment paper, and NOW a turkey roaster pan! You can “dehydrate” anything from fruits, veggies, and jerky. The instructions are quite simple. Please be sure and read ALL the instructions before use.  This is the condensed version of the instructions:

1. Placement–place in a sunny location unobstructed by trees, etc.

2. Setup–lift and unfold the reflectors. Slide the slot in the bottom section of the reflectors over the thumbscrew, etc.

3. Focusing–aim the front of the Sun Oven towards the sun. You need to tilt the oven to eliminate the shadows. You will occasionally need to adjust the position.

4. Preheat–The Sun Oven should be preheated before cooking. It is recommended that you place the oven with the glass door closed and latched down in the sun to preheat. In the strong sun, the Sun Oven will reach 300 degrees F in about twenty minutes. This is awesome!

5. Cooking–Place food in the cooking pot or pan on the tray inside the oven. Close the door quickly, and latch it down, using both latches. Use potholders when removing the HOT-cooked food after its finished cooking. Always cover the food being cooked, except for bakery goods.

Cut down a third of the liquid normally used for rice, stew, or sauces. This does not apply to bakery products. You can use glass casserole dishes with a cover. It says don’t use foil because the shiny foil would reflect the heat away from the food being cooked. Two pots can be stacked and cooked at the same time.

Since foods do not burn in the Sun Oven, it is not necessary to stir the foods after they are placed in the oven. Use a meat thermometer –place this in the meat BEFORE you put the meat in the oven. I highly recommend this solar oven. The All-American Solar Sun Oven is the one I recommend!

2. Cooking Stoves:

VOLCANO II STOVE

The Volcano II stove/oven is a really great stove to use in an emergency, at the park, or when camping. I like this particular stove because you can use propane with an attachment (one for small bottles and a different one for large containers of propane).

The Volcano II stove uses wood, propane, or charcoal. I demonstrate this stove/oven at food storage/emergency preparedness classes I teach.  I recommend this stove because it can be used year-round. Volcano Grills 3-Fuel Portable Camping Stove

I can’t recommend the Volcano tent because to me it makes the food taste like smoke or a barbecue. It may have been some residue from the last time I used it, I just don’t know.

I tried making bread with it because I wanted to tell my readers if it would be acceptable to use or not. Plus, I couldn’t keep the temperature steady with the propane. Just my two cents. It’s a great unit for grilling or making pancakes for a small group.

3. Cooking Stoves:

 CAMP CHEF STOVE/OVEN

The Camp Chef Stove/Oven show above is one I demonstrate at the same classes. I make homemade bread and bake two loaves in the oven after removing one of the oven racks. I bake the bread at 350 degrees for 27-30 minutes.

I purchased a griddle to go with my Camp Chef Oven for pancakes, etc. I would highly recommend one of these. Camp Chef Camping Outdoor Oven with 2 Burner Camping Stove

4. Cooking Stoves:

BUTANE STOVE/FUEL

I have purchased both a Butane Stove and butane fuel. What I like about this little stove is you can use it year-round. It’s great for camping, teaching classes, and of course to use in an emergency or natural disaster.

It is also pretty inexpensive for approximately $25.00, give or take. Camp Chef Butane 1 Burner Stove with Camping Case and fuel: 12 Butane Fuel GasOne Canisters for Portable Camping Stoves

4. Kelly Kettle:

KELLY KETTLE

The company sent me a stainless steel stove and I was thrilled beyond words to receive it. These are my opinions, I will not recommend anything I haven’t tried or used. Here’s a post I wrote about the Kelly Kettle showing you exactly how to use it. Kelly Kettle

What I like about the Kelly Kettle is that it stores all the parts in a bag. The one I received has a rocket stove as well. One other great thing is that you can use dry pine cones, dry leaves, and twigs. This is great for camping as well.

5. Dutch Ovens:

6-QUART LODGE DUTCH OVEN

If you have a Dutch oven you can cook outside with scraps of wood and briquettes. Have you seen my article on storing fuel in 5 -gallon buckets? Storing Dry Fuel

I confess I may be OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). I have to have everything organized, literally. Oh, and I color-coded everything.

Here’s the Dutch Oven briquette temperature list you may like for using these. Lodge Dutch Oven List

Here’s the deal with Dutch ovens, you can buy them in all different sizes but it’s the lid that’s important to me. I like the ones with a lip so I can stack them on top of each other. Here’s what they look like below. The largest Dutch oven I have is 6 quarts. If it’s any bigger, it’s way too heavy for me to carry. 

FINAL WORD

I have purchased butane cooking stoves for survival for all four daughters of mine, I want to know they are prepared for the unexpected. Please let me know what cooking stoves or devices you have now, or one you think would be perfect for your home, apartment or to use after a disaster. May God bless you for being prepared.

Copyright Images: AdobeStock_39761489

Dutch Oven Bread

Homemade Pizza Dough