How to Cook in an Emergency Situation

In many emergency situations you might lose access to power, gas and water. All of your cooking appliances, from hobs to microwaves and air fryers, would become unusable. Part of your comprehensive plan for emergency situations needs to include a fail-safe plan for cooking food and boiling water.

We recommend a two-tier approach to cooking. The first step would be to use a camping gas-style single burner stove. In the early stages of an emergency, this would provide an efficient and simple way of cooking food. It's also a very cost-effective item to add to your emergency kit.

Green Haven Portable Camping Stove

I recommend the Green Haven portable camping stove. This is based upon the legendary Campingaz Bistro, but at a more budget-friendly price. This particular set includes four butane canisters. How long these last will depend on how frequently you cook and how long you use the stove for. These stoves are compact, straightforward to use and provide a useful cooking option when normal facilities are unavailable.

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Lixada Wood Burning Camping Stove

However, if your budget allows, I would recommend adding a small wood-burning stove as a back-up plan. This would allow you to cook for an extended period of time, as it simply requires sticks, twigs and small pieces of wood. My favourite brand for this purpose is Lixada, and I'm recommending their compact wood-burning stove. This is lightweight, folds up into a bag and creates useful cooking heat simply from small bits of wood, making it a practical alternative if your gas runs out. Bear in mind that it needs a supply of dry wood and must only be used outdoors. It's also an affordable option, given that some stoves can run into hundreds of pounds.

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Solo Stove Campfire – Premium Wood-Burning Option

For those willing to spend more on a wood-burning stove, the Solo Stove Campfire is an excellent alternative to the budget Lixada.

The Campfire is made from durable stainless steel and features a clever double-wall design that improves airflow and creates a more efficient fire. This allows wood to burn more completely, producing less smoke than a conventional wood-burning camping stove.

It is also larger than many budget camping stoves, making it particularly suitable for preparing meals or boiling water for a family of four.

Like the Lixada, it burns small pieces of wood, twigs and other suitable natural materials, meaning you won't need to rely on gas canisters during an emergency.

The main disadvantage is its higher price. However, if you want a more substantial, durable and efficient wood-burning stove for emergency cooking, the Solo Stove Campfire is worth considering.

My recommendation: The Lixada remains a sensible budget option, but the Solo Stove Campfire is a worthwhile upgrade if you expect to use a wood-burning stove regularly or want something better suited to cooking for a family.

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This two-tier approach to cooking is ideal, as it gives you a simple camping gas stove option for the first few days of an emergency, along with a back-up wood-burning stove in the event of an extended emergency.