Cooking Without Power
You should always have some food items in an emergency kit that do not require cooking, but when day three of a power outage rolls around, cold soup and crackers with peanut butter are going to be getting pretty old. Especially during colder times, a hot meal is going to be in order. Here are a few options for grid down cooking.
Propane or butane stoves are designed with the camper in mind, these are compact stoves that can be used indoors with relative safety…just keep them away from those pretty lace kitchen curtains! Propane and butane can be stored indefinitely and are great options. There are older “white gas” or naptha stoves, but I recommend staying away from liquid fuels. Propane barbecues are also useful, but are outdoor only options and may not work well or at all in colder temperatures.

Wood cookstoves were the go to choice of pioneers, and they are certainly still made. In fact, some are so well designed that they will also heat a small home as well as prepare your venison stew! The disadvantage of these is their cost. A good cook stove starts at a few thousand dollars not including chimney and installation.

Open pit fires are also an option if you have access to an outdoor are, but may not be allowed at all in urban or suburban areas even if a “closed”pit is constructed. They also require access to a lot of wood.

Rocket stoves are much more efficient and use little fuel, but they are not ideal for longer cook times as they require constant feeding. They are however easy and inexpensive to make.

Consider your limitations and decide on an option (or two) that fits your needs.