What Is Your Preferred "Emergency Cooking Stove?"

[TrappedinCalifornia]

It's been debated for decades. In an emergency, what type of cooking 'stove' should you have prepared for use? Some argue that stoves have limited utility, are heavy, etc. and one should rely on 'fire.' For example...



Backpacking and outdoor gurus have 'debated' canister vs. liquid fuel stoves for decades...



However, for emergencies, countless other options also exist, from the commercial to the improvised...







So... What's your preference?

[twinfin]

Fell in love with this specific model of Jetboil stove. All of its components including the fuel canister fit inside the cup for extremely compact storage. It stays in my truck along with a zip-lock emergency food bag that includes instant oatmeal packets and freeze dried coffee packets. Though hot food is not necessarily a survival item, the ability to have hot food can be a huge boost in morale if one finds themselves stranded. It has its own electric sparker to light the gas and boils water in 120 seconds!

It came in handy recently when a family member was transferred out of state for urgent surgery and I ended up hotel bound for a week as the designated family representative. Being able to fire up a decent cup-o-joe and a simple breakfast in the morning without leaving my hotel room definitely helped take the edge off the situation.

For short term survival, it's a perfect fit whether sitting it out or setting out on foot so it stays in my truck along with the other usual survival items everyone should keep in their car.

[CSACANNONEER]

I recently picked up a folding rocket stove because, twigs and leaves are readily available almost anywhere. I don't want to have to rely on commercial fuels in an emergency.

[NorCalBusa]

I like my 22 1/2" weber in the backyard just fine.

[sealocan]

I'm going to say a Dakota fire hole, sometimes called the Dakota fire pit, with a few rocks strategically placed so that you're able to rest your pan or pot ( or meat Kabob on hand carved wood stick * making sure that wood is safe to use for that purpose, unlike some like, white oleander, etc.) Around the hot side of the rim of the hole fire without denying the flow of oxygen that makes it work without smoke/ burn hot and not use a lot of fuel/ wood.

But what do I know, I'm still eating the last of my woolly mammoth catch and only recently learned about fire.

[Wil-c]

what kind of emergency? Power outage or natural disaster?

I have several propane burners I salvaged out of the trash, I cook over those in the summer.
They can purify water or heat up bathing water if need be.

Most anything propane is what I consider to be the best bet. Propane is easily stored and indefinite shelf-life.

[CSACANNONEER]

what kind of emergency? Power outage or natural disaster?

I have several propane burners I salvaged out of the trash, I cook over those in the summer.
They can purify water or heat up bathing water if need be.

Most anything propane is what I consider to be the best bet. Propane is easily stored and indefinite shelf-life.

The problem with LP is that no matter how much you have on hand, it might be all you'll ever get. So, when it runs out, it's gone. We try to keep 3000-4000 lbs on hand but, I know, if we hit a true SHTF situation, that will run out at some point.

[TAS]

Short term, propane works for me or possibly my jetboil or pellet stove (running off an inverter).

Longer term, I think a rocket stove would be an efficient way to go.

[Corbin Dallas]

Depends...

Am I taking this with me on a trip or is this to cook my food during an emergency where I'm at home?

I like the portable rocket stoves, but they emit a LOT of smoke and can expose your location to others.

Jetboil stoves are awesome but really don't work long term.

If I'm at home, my propane tanks would last me months. I think we have 6x 10LB and 2x 20LB tanks, all mostly full.

[Eat Dirt]

I'm a Coleman fan myself as taught by my grandfather
..
I have both the white gas model and the bottle fed Coleman stove

Also have a collection of Coleman lanterns

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I'm a Coleman fan myself as taught by my grandfather
..
I have both the white gas model and the bottle fed Coleman stove

Also have a collection of Coleman lanterns

My own Grandfather is why I have a Coleman stove and still use it on overnight fishing trips.

I can't say how many meals his cooked for us on hunting and camping trips; but, there are a lot of memories associated with it.

[deckhandmike]

Santa Maria style bbq and a few cords of wood. Should be set for a few years. Plus I have all the tools and equipment to harvest my own wood.

[bohoki]

.

i have a few of the coleman 425e stoves but during a power failure i just use a little butane backpack stove

[FeuerFrei]

We just came off a 3 day power outage and used a portable butane stove.
Light weight, portable, easy to start and clean. Cheap too.


I also use an MSR pack stove, Volcano grill and my BIG propane bbq. We keep fuel for all of those around the ranch, so...

[NATEWA]

MSR for backpacking.

Propane at the house.