Emergency Cooking Basics: Safe Ways to Heat Food During Outages

When the grid goes down, most people panic-cook with whatever heat source they can find—and that’s exactly how homes burn down or fill with carbon monoxide. Emergency cooking is about picking the right heat source for the environment you’re in.

For a full breakdown of general emergency kit items, see Basic Home Emergency Kit List.

1. Never Use These Indoors

These are the biggest killers during outages. Never use any of the following inside a home, garage, or enclosed patio:

• Charcoal grills
• Propane grills
• Camp stoves marked “outdoor use only”
• Fire pits or chimineas
• Portable gas heaters not rated for indoor use

They produce carbon monoxide, which can reach lethal levels in minutes—even with windows cracked.

2. Safe Indoor Cooking Options

When you need to cook indoors without electricity, use:

• Butane single-burner stoves rated for indoor use
• Electric hot plates powered by a generator (outdoors only) or power station
• Portable induction cooktops (battery power willing)

Butane stoves are the simplest, cleanest option for most households.

3. Safe Outdoor Cooking Options

• Propane grills
• Charcoal grills
• Camping stoves (propane or white gas)
• Rocket stoves

Always use them well away from windows, siding, overhangs, and dry vegetation.

4. Fuel Storage Tips

• Store propane outside, never in the home
• Keep butane canisters in a cool, dry place
• Avoid stockpiling gasoline unless kept in proper containers
• Check fuel expiration dates if applicable

Heat sources are useless if you run out of fuel halfway through a meal.

5. Simple Meals That Work Well in Emergencies

Focus on foods that cook fast and use minimal fuel:

• Instant rice
• Ramen or soup mixes
• Canned chili or stew
• Oatmeal
• Pasta (small shapes cook faster)

Avoid big cuts of meat or anything requiring hours of simmering.

6. Cooking Inside the Car (Be Careful)

You can power a small electric cooker through a vehicle’s inverter or 12V port, but:

• Only cook with windows fully open
• Keep the engine running to avoid draining the battery
• Don’t use open flames—ever

Cars are cramped and flammable; treat them as a last-resort cooking zone.

7. Food Safety Still Matters

Don’t let perishable foods sit out for hours. Even emergencies don’t suspend food poisoning rules.

When in doubt:

• Keep cold foods cold
• Keep hot foods hot
• Throw out anything questionable

8. Clean-Up Without Running Water

Use minimal-water cleaning methods:

• Wipe cookware with paper towels first
• Use disinfecting wipes
• Boil a small amount of water for washing if needed

For broader sanitation tips, see Emergency Sanitation Basics.

9. Practice Once Before You Need It

Don’t wait for an outage to learn how to light a camp stove or regulate heat. Try a few emergency-style meals in normal conditions, and you’ll know exactly what to do when it counts.