Cook safely without power using alternative methods and improvised stoves.
When the power goes out, cooking becomes a challenge. But eating cold canned food for days is demoralizing and some foods must be cooked for safety. This guide covers safe alternative cooking methods: camp stoves, charcoal grills, solar cookers, rocket stoves, and improvised methods. Each method has specific safety requirements — getting these wrong can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, fires, or foodborne illness.
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Camp stoves, charcoal grills, gas grills, and hibachis produce carbon monoxide. NEVER use them indoors, in a garage, or in a tent. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and deadly. Only use electric cooking methods indoors.
Important Warning
Carbon monoxide kills silently. Symptoms — headache, dizziness, nausea — are easy to dismiss. By the time you realize something is wrong, you may be too disoriented to act.
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