I experience frequent power outages in my area, and it gets incredibly cold after a couple of days without power. It’s not snowing, but it drops to about 50°F inside. Our stove runs on electricity, and everything else is electric except for the water, so it’s pretty difficult to manage.
I’m considering getting a camp stove or something similar to cook oatmeal or tea. However, I’ve heard it can be dangerous. I really want to use it indoors without opening the door, because it’s freezing outside.
How do people cook in such cold conditions during emergencies? Do they really go outside just to heat some water?
If you use it safely, it should be fine. It’s not much different from using a propane stove. A good way to do it is to place a sheet pan on top of your kitchen stove to ensure it sits on a flat, non-flammable surface.
By the way, we use a two-burner Coleman propane stove. The little canisters last a surprisingly long time, and the burners fit medium-sized pans or a tea kettle with no problem.
@Cary
This is true. I’ve used a similar stove and been happy with it. I gave away a cheaper version to a friend who uses it in her RV.
I don’t believe the risks are high as long as you’re careful. If your kitchen fan isn’t working, just make sure to open a window when using it at high heat or with multiple burners.
@Zane
There are lots of brands of butane stoves available for as little as $20. They’re common in Asian homes for hot pot meals, where you cook at the table.
I used a two-burner Coleman stove for nine months while we remodeled our home. The CO monitor never went off. I just set it up on a folding table and moved it between the kitchen and living room.
Rowan said:
I used a two-burner Coleman stove for nine months while we remodeled our home. The CO monitor never went off. I just set it up on a folding table and moved it between the kitchen and living room.
I hope it wasn’t a white gas stove, that would be dangerous. Was it propane?
It’s a good idea to have a fire extinguisher nearby. I used a cheap butane stove during a power outage, and it caught fire. I had to use the extinguisher to put it out.
@Reese
Standard kitchen propane stoves have been around for over 100 years. The real concern is not using it for space heating, as CO emissions from cooking are minimal.
Maxwell said: @Reese
Standard kitchen propane stoves have been around for over 100 years. The real concern is not using it for space heating, as CO emissions from cooking are minimal.
Exactly. Just don’t try to use it for heating the house. It’s safe for cooking.
I don’t see the issue. Millions of people use gas stoves every day. Why would using a 1- or 2-burner camping stove indoors be any different? Just cook with it.
Ocean said:
I don’t see the issue. Millions of people use gas stoves every day. Why would using a 1- or 2-burner camping stove indoors be any different? Just cook with it.
The main concern is liquid fuel spilling or carbon monoxide poisoning. Built-in stoves have range hoods, but camping stoves don’t.
Ocean said:
I don’t see the issue. Millions of people use gas stoves every day. Why would using a 1- or 2-burner camping stove indoors be any different? Just cook with it.
A regular gas stove is designed to be used indoors daily, but a camping stove is meant for occasional use. That makes a big difference in terms of safety features.