How to cook without electricity

My non-power, none propane, none solar (winter conditions) is a combo of my ecozoom stove and my shuttle chef..

http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/ecozoom-stove-review

What I love about it, is that you can use BBQ brickets or bits of twigs or sticks or you can buy those kindling bags and use them, lots of choices on what to use as a fual source, and it works really well, I have had mine for over two years and used it in all season's and if its winter and windy, I do find setting up a wind break a good idea but otherwise, it just keeps on trucking!

http://livingmydreamlifeonthefarm.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/thermos-shuttle-chef/

I use this all the time while I have power, it earns its keep, it makes the most amazing yogurt, and once you raise your temp up, add your culture and put it back in the pot, no extra heat is needed and its ready in eight hours for extra thick.. it can be used as a crock pot but without the power use.. if you use it, it will pay for itself, I bought it before fukushima and it was less in cost at that time, now its almost double, because of market demand I guess?

None the less, you can get other versions for a bit less on amazon etc, but I have only used this one, and I use it at least three or more times weekly for different things, I make my cheese's in it, again, the perk of being able to heat something and then hold it without an extra power costs.. awesome!

Solar ovens in our summer months and even on some winter days will work if done correctly, but when I needed to make the call on where to put my money, I went with something that could be used with and without power (the shuttle chef) and with something very well made that could be used with, bits found, charcoal or dried cow patties (as I am on a farm but I have never done it, something I really should give a try this year at some point, I had made dried pie chip fires out west in my younger years)

My no power cooking method is two fold:

1 - Bar-B-Cue (I keep no less then 2 Large Propane tanks full at all times)
2 - Volcanoe 2 Cook Stove - this neat little camp stove will run off Propane (I keep a dozen one pound propane bottles plus a hook up for the larger tanks), Briquets (sp?), or wood. Essentially this little camping/emergency stove will run off virtually anything that will burn.

The power goes out a lot around here. People in town are used to using their barbecues as a back up in summer and in winter. As DaScribbler says it is a good idea to keep a couple of propane tanks, 30lb are better than 20lb tanks.

A rocket stove that you can build yourself is a good back up too as you get maximum heat from minimal fuel.

I have a sun oven, a volcano stove and a wonder box ...fire pit & bbq...and of course food supplies that do not need to be cooked

I have a sun oven, a volcano stove and a wonder box ...fire pit & bbq...and of course food supplies that do not need to be cooked

A truly prepared prepper. Well done!

Thank you ICRCC!

1) propane stove
2) naphtha stove
3) large propane bbq
4) small portable propane bbq
5) charcoal hibachi
6) propane smoker
7) wood smoker
8) dehydrator & generator (OK - that's electric I know, but my own...)
8) fire pit

A good supply of fuels for all stored in lockers in garage with venting of course

23rd

1) propane stove
2) naphtha stove
3) large propane bbq
4) small portable propane bbq
5) charcoal hibachi
6) propane smoker
7) wood smoker
8) dehydrator & generator (OK - that's electric I know, but my own...)
8) fire pit

A good supply of fuels for all stored in lockers in garage with venting of course

23rd

Another well prepared prepper. Again well done!

Thanks ICRCC /// still a few holes to address /// dehydrator pretty much maxes out the genny, so working towards adding a larger one /// on the cheaper side, want to add some cases of sterno & a few single burners /// maybe even a brush stove - oven

Been humming & hawing over a propane oven for awhile - still not sold on it, anyone have practical experience with one???

Good information here. Farmgal, do you mind letting us know where you got your shuttlechef? Is it big enough to take a whole chicken?

Hi Martha

Yes, it will take a whole chicken (well not one of my massive roosters but any normal size chicken from a store yes, and if you cut up the bird, for sure even a big one) I ordered mine out of country, but you can get it now in Canada here..

http://www.forumappliances.com/c-76-Vacuum_Thermal_Cookers.html

I have had folks buy from them and been pleased.

I guess it would depend a great deal on the size you ordered, I got one of the bigger ones..

Thankyou Farmgal

I read up on them and ordered one. Then I read that you shouldn't allow them to freeze - the reason was something to do with the different layers of metal contracting at different rates. That concerns me because I could easily see situations where they would freeze. Just wondered what your thoughts are on that.

I cooked a roast the other day, in my solar oven. put it out at 12 and it was cooked by 5.