Non Electric Cooking: 11 Easy Ways to Cook Without Power

If the power goes out, you can still prepare hot meals using simple non electric cooking methods like solar ovens, camp stoves, and rocket stoves. The key is having more than one option so you’re not relying on a single fuel source when it matters most.

What Is Non Electric Cooking?

Non electric cooking is simple having ways to cook food without using any electricity. So, instead of relying on an electric stove, microwave, slow-cooker, or oven, these non-electric methods will use alternative fuels, like charcoal or even the sun.

This type of cooking becomes especially important during during power outages, severe weather, or long-term grid disruptions, but it’s also useful for camping, travel, and everyday preparedness. I recommend having at least two of these cooking methods handy, along with the skills to use them.

Non electric cooking is about having reliable backup options so you can still make hot meals no matter what might be happening with your electricity.

Common Non Electric Cooking Methods

There’s a good chance you already have at least one way to cook food without electricity, aka off-grid. If you have a grill, a hibachi, or a campstove, those are all great cooking methods.

There are a lot more options than most people realize, ranging in price, fuels, and the skill necessary to use them for cooking.

• Propane or butane camp stoves
• Solar ovens
• Rocket stoves (using small sticks or twigs)
• Charcoal grills
• Wood-burning stoves or fireplaces
• Dutch ovens used over coals
• Alcohol stoves
• Thermal cookers (which retain heat rather than generate it)

Each method has its own strengths, depending on your situation, available fuel, and whether you need to cook indoors or outdoors.

Why Non Electric Cooking Matters

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming they’ll “figure something out” if the power goes out. In reality, most of us rely entirely on electricity. Even many gas stoves won’t work without an electric ignition.

Having at least one or two off-grid cooking options means you can cook a hot meal no matter what else is going on with your power source. You don’t need to get in line for food at an emergency shelter because you already have a way to cook it yourself in the safety of your home.

And, should you need to evacuate in an emergency, you can pack your campstove, solar cooker, and the like and be ready to cook once again wherever you land.

A simple setup, like a butane stove or solar oven, can make a huge difference in comfort, safety, and peace of mind when the unexpected happens.

Best Non Electric Cooking Methods Compared

This comparison chart shows how the most often-used off-grid methods stack up against each other.

Method	Indoor Safe	Fuel Needed	Ease Level	Advantages
Solar oven	N/A	Sun	Medium	No fumes, safe, doesn’t dry out food
Rocket stove	No	Twigs, biomass	Medium	Uses very little fuel, portable
Butane stove	Yes (very carefully)	Butane	Easy	Most like stovetop cooking, inexpensive fuel
Power station + appliance	Yes	Stored energy	Easy	No fumes, quiet, indoor safe
Campfire	No	Wood / charcoal	Hard	Set up anywhere outdoors

11 Non Electric Cooking Methods

These non-electric cooking methods range from simple, beginner-friendly options to more advanced setups that require more practice and skill for long-term situations.

1. Butane Stove
   • This is one of the easiest and most convenient options because the fuel (butane) is inexpensive, easy to find, and safe to use.
   • It’s most like cooking at your own stovetop, so there’s not much of a learning curve.
   • The stove is lightweight and portable in case of an evacuation.
   • One disadvantage is that you’ll need to replenish your supply of butane, which could become scarce in a long-term outage.
   • Can be used indoors, but provide ventilation.
   • Best for shorter-term outages and apartments.
2. Propane Camp Stove
   • Has more power and longer burn time than butane.
   • Portable and lightweight.
   • Some have two or three burners
   • Some can use more than one type of fuel, which gives you more versatility in a longer power outage.
   • Check manufacturer’s instructions before using indoors.
   • Best for outdoor use and longer outages as long as you can safely store additional fuel.
3. Solar Oven
   • Cooks food slowly, similar to a crockpot
   • No fuel required but does need plenty of direct sunlight
   • Safe, quiet, no fumes
   • Great for long-term use
   • This one definitely has a learning curve, so be sure to practice several types of food and learn about proper placement in the sun.
   • Best for longer outages, sunny climates
4. Rocket Stove
   • Efficiently uses small amounts of biomass, aka twigs, leaves, pine needles, etc.
   • Very little fuel is needed to cook a meal
   • Can only cook with one pot/pan at a time unless you have more than one rocket stove
   • Low cost, can be a DIY project (instructions here)
   • Outdoor use only and requires some practice
   • Best for outdoor use, longer term outages due to its low fuel usage
5. Charcoal grill
   • Can be purchased anywhere, wide range of prices and features
   • Must be used outdoors only
   • Requires charcoal (storage instructions here)
   • Works for many different foods
   • Depending on features can have good heat control
   • Best for outdoor use, economical solution
6. Wood-Burning Stove or Fireplace
   • Safely cook indoors
   • Requires wood, firestarters, matches
   • Use for heat and cooking
   • May overheat the house during the summer
   • Not that easy for cooking, will require practice and appropriate cookware (cast iron is best, by far)
   • Best for indoor cooking, winter storms
7. Campfire Cooking
   • Can be fun, outdoors only
   • Cast iron is the best cookware to use
   • Uneven heating
   • Uses firewood or charcoal, so one or both will be needed to store
   • Learning curve, so practice beforehand
   • Best for outdoor cooking, plenty of space (rural, backyard)
8. Dutch Oven Cooking
   • Versatile — lots of different cast iron pots and specialty cookware available
   • Outdoors or fireplace/wood-burning stove
   • Will require fuel — wood or charcoal
   • Great for one-pot meals
   • Requires practice and cast iron is heavy
   • Best for cooking hearty meals, outdoors, longer term outages
9. Alcohol Stove
   • Small, very lightweight, oven used by backpackers
   • Fuel stores easily
   • Simple set-up
   • Cooks more slowly due to lower power output
   • Best for emergency backup, add to bug out bag in case of evacuation
10. Thermal Cooker
    • Pot of food must be heated first, but thermal cooker continues cooking process
    • Safe and efficient
    • Takes time — similar to a slow cooker
    • Limited to one-pot type meals
    • Best for conserving fuel in any scenario
11. Portable Power Station + Cooking Appliance
    • Easy to set up and use
    • Familiarity with cooking appliance, e.g. rice cooker, electric skillet, HotLogic. Lots of versatility with small appliances.
    • No fumes, safe to use indoors
    • Can be charged with solar panels
    • Requires recharging and will have a limited run-time based on the wattage
    • Best for indoor use, convenience, short-term outages unless you have solar panels and sunlight hours to charge them
12. BONUS: Sous Vide Immersion Cooker
    • Small, portable, lightweight
    • Evenly cooks food but longer cooking time
    • Great if you have foods in vacuum-sealed bags
    • Requires electricity, so will need a power station
    • Get one that isn’t app/WiFi dependent
    • Best for limited space, smaller meals

The best approach is to combine two or more of these methods so you’re not relying on a single fuel source when it matters most.

The Best Non Electric Cooking Method for Your Situation

Non-Electric Cooking For Apartments

Just because you live in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t have a great back-up plan for cooking. If your apartment/condo has a patio or balcony with plenty of sunlight, a solar cooker is ideal. There are no fumes, it’s quiet, and you don’t need to store any fuel.

A good secondary choice would be a power station, but one with enough power to cook a meal and power up lighting. Here’s a complete summary of different types of power stations. Choose one that can handle your choice of cooking appliance, such as an Instant Pot, rice cooker, or slow cooker. A sous vide immersion cooker works well in this scenario.

If you want something more rugged, a rocket stove works well for you as long as you have outdoor space for safe cooking. It doesn’t take much fuel — stock up on twigs.

For Suburban Homes

As long as you pay attention to safety issues for methods like the propane stove, you can use any of these methods for cooking. A good combination is solar oven — no need to store fuel — and a rocket stove for its efficiency and need for only small amounts of fuel.

Your budget, outdoor space, and skills will determine which is best for you. At the more expensive end is a larger power station (1500 watts and larger is a good choice) and a solar oven.

Unfortunately, with the demise of the Sun Oven, it’s not easy to find a similar solar oven that can hold a large pot or a 9×13 size pan. Keep an eye on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or garage sales, and you might get lucky and find a Sun Oven that way.

The Haines Solar Cooker has a different design that provides some versatility, and a low price. The All Seasons Solar Cooker has, yet, a different design but with the limitation of being able to cook only one pan/pot at a time.

Whatever you choose for your off-grid cooking, the most important thing is to give yourself plenty of practice.

For Winter Storms

Since you’ll likely be stuck indoors during a big winter storm, you’ll need indoor-safe cooking methods. A power station is ideal, but you’ll need a way to recharge it. If there’s not much sunlight, solar panels won’t do the job.

If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, you’re in luck since you’ll have heating and cooking all in one. However, cooking over an open fire is a whole new skillset if you’ve never done it before. You’ll need cast iron cookware, stored firewood, and the skills to cook the recipes of your choice,

Another good option is the butane stove. Store plenty of butane canisters, though. For a very long outages, these three methods will give you lots of versatility.

For Long-Term Grid Failure

Here’s where you’ll need to do some thought, research, and planning because this type of outage might last weeks or much longer. Your goal isn’t to just cook. It’s to have two or more methods that are durable, sustainable, and with a steady supply of fuel.

The most reliable cooking methods, as long as you have a nearly unlimited supply of firewood, are an outdoor grill, campfire, rocket stove, fireplace, or wood-burning stove. The downside to all of these is their reliance on firewood. The grill, campfire, and rocket stove can only be used outdoors and would be difficult to use in rainy or freezing weather.

A solar oven is an ideal choice for a very long outage. You just need to know how long each food takes to cook and have enough sunlight for the oven to reach and hold a food-safe temperature long enough to do the job.

If you have a thermal cooker, it’s a great way to shorten the amount of time needed for any fuel-burning cooking method. Heat a pot of food over a campfire, butane stove, propane stove, and so on, and then place it inside the thermal cooker until it’s fully cooked.

Off-Grid Cooking for Kids and Elderly

Should your kids or older loved ones need a way to cook food if no one else is around, the power station is the best choice. Anything with an open flame or fumes is out of the question. Safety is the first priority.

Once a pot of food is hot, it can be transferred to a thermal cooker. That could cut down on the amount of time the power station is in use, thus making its power charge last longer. A HotLogic is another great choice — the Mini HotLogic is perfect for smaller meals.

Practice Cooking Without Power

The worst possible time to try off-grid cooking is when the power goes out, and you have no choice! You’re hungry for a hot meal, you look at that solar cooker, and realize you have no idea how to use it!

Whatever off-grid cooking supplies and gear you may have, have you ever tried them out and learned how to use them? Cooking time, temperatures, and results can vary greatly compared with the stovetop and oven you’ve been using.

Some off-grid cooking methods have a high learning curve that can take time to master, or at least use well enough to produce something hot and edible! Fuels differ, conditions they can be used in differ, and set-up, clean-up, and storage instructions are not the same, but we need to learn how they work.

In a major crisis, when emotions are high, and everything and everyone is confused is not the time to try and figure out how to try that tealight stove you saw on Instagram!

The Survival Mom Layered Cooking Plan

For my family, I want to have at least three or four different ways to cook and heat water. Here’s how I came up with a plan that has worked for us over many years and power outages.

Layer One: Cook without needing a source of fuel

Because fuel can quickly become an issue, I first wanted a solar oven. This only requires enough sun for the oven to cast a shadow on the ground, and it can usually be used year-round unless you live in a location like the very wet and rainy Pacific Northwest.

Here’s a link to my guide to cooking with a solar oven to get you started.

Even though I live in a heavily shaded area, my plan in case of a long-term power outage is to place the solar cooker in my driveway where there is more sun and less shade or put it on the roof of my patio. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

Layer Two: A stove that needs very little fuel

Next, I wanted something that was highly fuel efficient and didn’t require me to purchase and rely on fuel. I also wanted something that used fuel that I can get any time of the year from my backyard, such as twigs, pine needles and other biomaterial.

For this, I turned to rocket stoves. These use very little fuel and heat up quickly. It’s possible (and I tested this!) to cook a meal using just a few twigs. You can make your own rocket stove — here are instructions for a super-easy DIY rocket stove. I also have two rocket stoves from EcoZoom. They are heavy-duty and have lasted almost ten years.

These are not designed for indoor use, so plan on using it in a safe area outdoors, shielded from wind as much as possible.

Layer Three: A way to safely cook indoors

One of my concerns is that most off-grid cooking methods are meant for the outdoors. That’s fine except when the outdoors is freezing or wet!

For this back-up option, I turned to the HotLogic, one of my newest best friends! You can read my full review here, but this indoor slow cooker is a wonderful option as long as you have some sort of generator or power bank. And, if you don’t have that, a HotLogic can be plugged into your vehicle. It can cook food from its raw stage or be used to heat up leftovers. 

Besides the HotLogic, and as long as you have a small generator or a portable power station for outages, electric skillets, rice cookers, small microwave, an air fryer, or any number of other electric cooking appliances are excellent backups. If this is part of your off-grid plan, then take a look at the appliance you plan on using. It should have a label with the number of watts it requires. Make sure your power bank/power station provides at least that amount of wattage.

I’ve created a simple, four-step system for utilizing a power bank for cooking as your energy source during a power outage. You can read about that here.

I use and recommend Jackery products, Anker, and GoalZero.

A solar generator might be the best choice for you as a backup power supply for cooking, especially for small electric appliances. They’re silent, never give off any dangerous fumes, and there’s no need to store fuel. I’ve tested and use these solar generators from 4Patriots.

Layer Four: Multiple other ways to cook outdoors that need a fuel supply

Finally, I went through our supply of camping equipment and tracked down our Coleman stove. We have the one that can use either Coleman liquid fuel or gasoline. To give you an idea of how you can use this for baking, this is how you could bake no-knead bread with your Coleman stove. 

Remember, when you’re making plans for any type of emergency scenario, always consider multiple options — a “backup to your backup” as they say. In this case, if I couldn’t get Coleman fuel, we always have a few containers of gasoline stored to use in the lawnmower or our generator.

Finally, as a final backup, we have a BBQ grill. Ours is super basic — not one of the fancy propane-fueled kind! We just keep charcoal on hand for whenever we want grilled steaks. In an emergency, though, we’d use charcoal or, in a pinch, small pieces of firewood.

One other outdoor method we have is our fire pit. Ours is from Solo Stove, but these have become so popular that you have your choice of styles and brands. For cooking, you’ll need some type of grill to place over the flames, and then be prepared to clean out the pit area after cooking. The grill, by the way, could be one of the racks from your oven if you have nothing else.

Have extra matches and lighters on hand — sounds obvious, but more than once I’ve had to look through every nook and cranny of my home in search of matches!

The Biggest Mistake in Non Electric Cooking

Until the power has been out for several hours, at least, and you’ve tried to cook something simple like a can of soup, it’s hard to overstate how tricky off-grid cooking can be.

A lot of people make the mistake of not practicing this type of cooking. Or maybe they’re relying on a campfire meal they made back when they were in Scouts! Temperatures vary, cooking is uneven, you need more fuel than you first thought — all those issues will be solved if you practice ahead of time and practice making a variety of different foods.

Not having enough fuel stored is another mistake. Your butane stove becomes worthless once you’ve used that last canister of butane. Give a power outage enough days, and you may be lucky to find replacement canisters two counties over.

Whether it’s firewood, a large bucket of twigs for the rocket stove, or fuel for your propane stove, be sure to not overlook this important step.

Finally, not having at least one backup is yet another mistake. You might be counting on your fireplace and two cords of wood stacked outside, but if you aren’t home or unable to cook, will your kids be able to do the job? Everyone needs at least two and preferably three different non electric cooking methods.

What Foods Work Best for Non Electric Cooking

When our power was out for five days following the massive Houston derecho, we had our portable generator, but I still had to figure out what to cook once a day or so. Keeping it simple is my number one tip for off-grid cooking.

If you’ve made your own meals in a jar, all you need to do is heat up water to a boiling point, add it to the jar ingredients, wait a few minutes and eat. This is a very efficient way to prepare a meal, since the jar’s freeze-dried and/or dehydrated ingredients will cook up quickly, and it doesn’t take long to heat water, depending on your non electric cooking method.

Freeze-dried meals in a pouch cook similarly. Quick and convenient, but you’ll need to try a few different brands and varieites to have on hand the meals you and your family actually like.

If you’ll be cooking from scratch, again, keep it simple. Have a few recipes that require just five or six ingredients, make sure the ingredients are on hand, and then plan on making the meals that require the least amount of cooking time. That will extend the amount of fuel you need to store.

One pot meals are an excellent choice when the power goes off. Put veggies, seasonings, broth, and some meat and/or grains in a pot, and cook. This will require a longer cooking time, so think about using the thermal cooker, a Dutch oven over coals or a wood fire, and solar cooker. You can use a propane or butane stove, but in those cases, use a recipe with ingredients that cook quickly, like macaroni, canned vegetables, and diced meat.

Freeze-dried, dehydrated, and canned foods (home canned or store-bought) all work great with any cooking non electric method.

Safety Tips for Non Electric Cooking

Many of the cooking methods discussed here are safe to use indoors with caution, although outdoor use is ideal. Two major issues for indoor use are open flames and carbon monoxide build-up.

Any type of cooking device needs to be on a flat, stable surface. If any type of flame is involved, cook near a vented window and, especially, watch out for kids and pets. It’s all too easy to knock over a portable cooking device, and if it’s indoors and flammable, you could quickly have a major fire on your hands.

A carbon monoxide detector, a fire blanket, and a fire extinguisher are must-haves, and even with being extra cautious and ready to put out a small fire, err on the side of safety when using any cooking method that utilizes an open flame.

Very small stoves, like the Esbit Pocket Stove or a Sterno stove can be used safely indoors, just watch that open flame. Butane cookers are safe to use indoors but do provide ventilation.

What You Need to Get Started

Step 1: Choose your methods

• Pick at least two cooking methods. Don’t rely on just one.
• Consider how many people you’ll be cooking for.
• Make sure your two methods don’t use the same fuel type
• Decide which method works for indoors vs. outdoors for your living situation (apartment, suburban home, rural)

Step 2: Get your gear

• Purchase or build your primary cooking method (solar oven, butane stove, rocket stove, etc.)
• Purchase or build a backup method
• Stock up on the appropriate fuel for each method (butane cylinders, charcoal, propane, etc.)
• Get a carbon monoxide detector if you plan to cook indoors with any method involving flame
• Have a fire extinguisher and fire blanket on hand
• Stock extra matches and lighters

Step 3: Get the right cookware

• Cast iron skillet and/or Dutch oven if using campfire, fireplace, wood stove, or rocket stove
• Check that lids are not glass if cooking over open flame or high heat
• Identify which of your existing pots and pans are compatible with your chosen methods.

Step 4: Practice before you need it

• Try each method at least once before an actual emergency
• Cook a full meal — not just boiling water — with each method.
• Note how long it takes to boil 2-3 cups of water if you’ll be cooking freeze-dried or dehydrated foods.
• Learn the cook times for your most common foods on each method
• Teach at least one other family member how to use each method

Step 5: Stock the right food

• Prioritize quick-cooking foods (canned soups, chili, just-add-water meals) to conserve fuel
• Avoid meal plans that require long baking or simmering times unless you have a solar oven or thermal cooker
• Have a no-cook food supply as a backup to your backup

Step 6: Think through your scenarios

What if you have to evacuate? (Pack the butane stove. It’s the most portable and butane canisters are small.)

What will you use if it’s raining? (This rules out solar oven and may limit outdoor options.)

What will you use in winter? (Wood stove, fireplace, or indoor-safe butane)

What about summertime cooking when it’s too hot to cook indoors? Remember, the power will be out so no air conditioning. (Solar oven, rocket stove, thermal cooker)

Off-Grid Cooking FAQs

Related Off-grid Content

• The Must-have Kitchen Items You Need to More Easily Cook with No Power
• The 5-Minute Rocket Stove
• How To Prepare For A Long-Term Power Outage
• Getting Started with Solar Cooking
• A Simple Guide to Dutch Oven Cooking

The Final Word

Most people focus on storing food, but overlook how they’ll actually cook it. That’s where non electric cooking becomes essential. Even a basic setup can turn a stressful situation into something manageable. Choose a couple of methods that fit your home and lifestyle, practice ahead of time, and you’ll be far ahead of the curve if the power ever goes out.