Safety first
- Keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water nearby.
- Store propane cylinders and fuel outdoors, never in the house.
- Keep kids and pets well back from hot surfaces.
Your options
| Method | Fuel | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Propane camp stove | 1 lb cylinders or a bulk tank with adapter | Everyday cooking, boiling water, the easiest start |
| Gas or charcoal grill | Propane tank or charcoal | Most homes already own one |
| Rocket stove | Sticks and twigs | Long outages, very little fuel |
| Dutch oven | Charcoal or campfire coals | Baking bread, stews, roasting |
| Solar oven | Sunshine | Slow cooking on clear days, no fuel at all |
| Campfire | Wood | Where fires are allowed and safe |
How much fuel to store
Fuel use depends on your stove and what you cook, so test it. Cook a normal day of meals on your stove and note how much fuel you used, then multiply by the days you want to cover.
- Store propane outdoors in a shaded spot, away from the house.
- Charcoal keeps for years if it stays dry.
- Wood should be split, stacked and dry for months before burning.
Cooking with less water
- One-pot meals: cook pasta or rice right in the sauce or soup.
- Use the liquid from canned vegetables instead of fresh water.
- Put a lid on the pot. It boils faster and saves fuel.
- Wipe pans with a paper towel instead of washing.
Dutch oven basics
For roughly 350°F, use twice the oven's diameter in charcoal briquettes. A 12-inch oven takes about 24: 16 on the lid and 8 underneath for baking. For stews, put more underneath. Rotate the lid and the pot a quarter turn every 15 minutes so nothing burns.
Practice night
Cook one full dinner outside this month. Time it, note how much fuel you used, and find out what you were missing. Then do it again with the kids helping.
Cooking kit checklist
Off-grid cooking kit
Cooking gear
Two-burner propane camp stove
The most familiar off-grid cooking setup.
My pick: Coleman Classic 2-burner propane stove
Rocket stove
Cooks on sticks and twigs, very little fuel.
My pick: EcoZoom Versa Rocket Stove
Cast iron Dutch oven
Bakes, stews and roasts over coals.
My pick: Lodge 6 qt camp Dutch oven
Cast iron skillet
Works on any fire, lasts forever.
My pick: Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet (L10SK3)
Charcoal chimney starter
Lights charcoal without lighter fluid.
My pick: Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
Heat-resistant gloves
For handling hot pots and coals.
My pick: Lodge 18-Inch Leather Outdoor Cooking Gloves
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