Alternative Cooking

• Dutch Oven / Volcano: stewing, grilling, baking, broiling. Can cook virtually anything.  Outdoor use only.  Charcoal storage issues.
• Backpacking stoves: portable, lightweight, great for 2-4 people, limited to boiling / frying.  Fuel storage issues.  Carbon monoxide. White gas vs. butane vs. propane vs. multi-fuel (white gas, gasoline, aircraft fuel, kerosene, cooking oils)
• Butane camp stoves: 2 cases of fuel sufficient for family of 4 for 1 year. fuel storage issues.  Indoor use.
• Open camp fire: fuel storage, least efficient, fire hazard
• BBQ gas grill, Camp Chef burner: fuel storage.  Outdoor only.
• Fuel cubes.  Outdoor only.
• Rocket Stove.  Outdoor only.
• Sterno.  Outdoor only.
• Stove-in-a-Can.  Outdoor only.
• Buddy Burner.  Outdoor only.
• Alcohol Stove: denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, HEET fuel line antifreeze.  Needs ventilation.
• Solar Oven / Cooker: DYI or commercial.  If you can see your shadow, you can cook.  Subject to weather and time of day.
• Parabolic Stove / Cooker: Sol Source.  Intense heat, free energy.  Subject to weather and time of day.
• Wood Gas.  Outdoor only.
• Biolite Stove: charge your cell phone while cooking food.  Outdoor only.
• Kelly Kettle. Outdoor only.

Considerations:

• How much fuel can you legally and safely store?  Check local regulations and homeowner insurance policy.
• Will starving roaming marauders or hungry neighbors be attracted by the aroma / open flame?
• Do you have alternative options in case one method fails?
• Is it portable?
• Is your energy source renewable / replenishable?
• What is your cost of investment? …of operation?
• Does everyone in your family know how to (safely) operate it?
• Can it be dual purpose?
• Can you use it indoors?