Looking for tips on emergency indoor cooking during power outages

[Caribou]

Funny how millions and millions cook with Natural Gas stoves in their kitchens an entire lifetime. Yet mention cooking with a propane camp stove indoors "TOTALLY" freaks people with fear and need to open all the door and windows in the dwelling to avoid certain death.

The prepping community is "FULL" of bogus information.

It is not just the prepping community. The first ambulance call I had where I was the medic in charge, and the patient was clearly dead, was because of a Coleman stove.

You lived in a 12’X20’ cabin. His stateroom was big enough to lay down a couple of sleeping bags. You could walk around comfortably. His headroom allowed him to crawl around on his hands and knees. Your cabin had adequate leaks. He had one small hatch that he closed as tightly as he could and no window. The problem was that the man wasn’t cooking he was trying to heat. It requires a lot more energy to heat a room than a meal. It was a very small stateroom an a boat, and he had closed it up as tight as he could. Most people don’t know all the science nor the specifics of deaths like these. All they know is this man would be alive if he had proper ventilation.

The press fills the pages, or the airwaves, everyday writing stories about things they don’t fully understand. Their job is to entertain you so that they can sell adds. That is when they are at their best not when they are intentionally lying and misleading.

 

[dademoss]

We have cooked many a holiday meal on natural gas or propane with no ill effects. The only time I have had any issues is when I tried to heat my home with our gas range. I had a low level CO detector that would read as low as 5PPM and would start alarming at 15PPM. Normal CO detectors won’t go off untill there is a level of 70PPM for two hours.

All all gas and liquid fuels give off 85% water, up to 14.? CO2, and traces of CO and other misc. gases. Wood and coal are a bit different. Wood can have a high water content. As the water converts to steam it cools the fire and the steam displaces the oxygen bearing air. A BTU is the amount of energy it takes to raise one pound of water 1℉. To convert 1# of 212℉ water to 212℉ steam requires 960 BTU’s, this cools the flame. With the flame cooled and the O2 displaced you wind up with a less efficient fire, including more CO from incomplete combustion.

I can’t fully explain combustion theory in a post, and I shouldn’t try to write a book here. To simplify, propane and natural gas burn cleanly with less effort than gasoline and diesel which burn cleanly, with less effort, than wood or coal. All are made of the same elements with some odd impurities.

You did so much better than I could have, Thank you.

 

[Caribou]

You did so much better than I could have, Thank you.

I appreciate that post. So many times I have felt that way about the posts of so many members. One of my trips off to school was to study combustion theory. We have so many here that are trained in so many different things.

 

[Haertig]

Funny how millions and millions cook with Natural Gas stoves in their kitchens an entire lifetime. Yet mention cooking with a propane camp stove indoors "TOTALLY" freaks people with fear and need to open all the door and windows in the dwelling to avoid certain death.

The prepping community is "FULL" of bogus information.

I think at least part of the issue - the part that causes concerns (at least with me) - are the differences in burners. CO is created by incomplete combustion, a.k.a. "inefficient combustion". I would hope that a well designed indoor gas range, possibly costing thousands of dollars, is going to be better designed and more efficient than the burner in a Coleman $75 camp stove that Coleman themselves says is for outdoor use only.

Gas Stove A does not equal Gas Stove B. A gas cooktop designed from the get-go for indoor use is more likely to produce less CO than some cheap burner designed for outdoor use. Even if they use the exact same fuel. I think it is very worthwhile to discuss the possibility of CO when considering using outdoor designed equipment indoors. Some things are obvious no-no's - petroleum based stoves, word burning stoves (unless designed for indoor use and properly vented). Then, we have the questionable possibilities: Propane, Butane, Alcohol, etc. These last ones are possibilities for indoor use because the fuels they use are inherently a lot cleaner burning than wood and petroleum products. But we can't ignore their potential to produce CO. Even well designed natural gas or propane indoor cooktops should be vented. I'm not sure this is absolutely required in every locale or every situation, but it's probably a very good idea to do so even if not technically required.

 

[backlash]

If I find a good deal on an old Coleman camp stove I will buy it.
I always look for old camping equipment at garage sales.

 

[LadyLocust]

I miss having wood cooking option but I do have an indoor kerosene stove

We also have propane stove/oven in the rv.

 

[dademoss]

I have a 1 burner Kerosene :

 

[Cabin Fever]

Funny how millions and millions cook with Natural Gas stoves in their kitchens an entire lifetime. Yet mention cooking with a propane camp stove indoors "TOTALLY" freaks people with fear and need to open all the door and windows in the dwelling to avoid certain death.

The prepping community is "FULL" of bogus information.

You took the words right out of my mouth!

 

[Cabin Fever]

Doesn't everyone have a Coleman (or similar) campstove fueled by gasoline, Colman fuel, naphtha, or propane? I have three. Would had four, but I sold one. Used the one below thousands of times (without opening a window).

Cooking on flames, outdoor grills, or on top of a woodstove is easily. What you might want to do is bake something in a power outage. So remember, you can always use your woodstove as an oven. Just make sure there are no flames, just coals.

 

[backwoodsman]

I think at least part of the issue - the part that causes concerns (at least with me) - are the differences in burners. CO is created by incomplete combustion, a.k.a. "inefficient combustion". I would hope that a well designed indoor gas range, possibly costing thousands of dollars, is going to be better designed and more efficient than the burner in a Coleman $75 camp stove that Coleman themselves says is for outdoor use only.

Gas Stove A does not equal Gas Stove B. A gas cooktop designed from the get-go for indoor use is more likely to produce less CO than some cheap burner designed for outdoor use. Even if they use the exact same fuel. I think it is very worthwhile to discuss the possibility of CO when considering using outdoor designed equipment indoors. Some things are obvious no-no's - petroleum based stoves, word burning stoves (unless designed for indoor use and properly vented). Then, we have the questionable possibilities: Propane, Butane, Alcohol, etc. These last ones are possibilities for indoor use because the fuels they use are inherently a lot cleaner burning than wood and petroleum products. But we can't ignore their potential to produce CO. Even well designed natural gas or propane indoor cooktops should be vented. I'm not sure this is absolutely required in every locale or every situation, but it's probably a very good idea to do so even if not technically required.

A propane burner that's not burning clean will leave soot on the pans. If it's not doing that, and looks like it's burning fine, it's not making any more carbon monoxide than a propane kitchen stove. Coleman's "outdoor use only" is put there by the lawyers, not the engineers. They have to protect themselves from the lowest common denominator of clueless people with no common sense who might ever fire up one of their products; those not in that class can use a little common sense and figure out what's perfectly safe and what's not. And by all means, whenever something is burning inside that's not vented outside, use a CO detector if you have one, especially if you're not absolutely sure what you're doing is completely safe.

 

[Weedygarden]

Coleman makes a stove top oven. It is supposed to sit on top of a burner or stove. It collapses down and folds so that it fits into a backpack, which is where I keep mine along with a butane stove.

It is not large so it takes a smaller baking pan. It is much higher priced now than what I paid for mine several years ago, but what isn't?

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000...710691690&sprefix=coleman+oven,aps,170&sr=8-1

 

[kd4ulw]

The first ambulance call I had where I was the medic in charge, and the patient was clearly dead, was because of a Coleman stove.

So was it CO or did he use up the oxygen in the small space he needed?

 

[dademoss]

Coleman makes a stove top oven. It is supposed to sit on top of a burner or stove. It collapses down and folds so that it fits into a backpack, which is where I keep mine along with a butane stove.

It is not large so it takes a smaller baking pan. It is much higher priced now than what I paid for mine several years ago, but what isn't?

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000016462-Camp-Oven/dp/B0009PURJA/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33XPKED22ZJ0T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zrprxrxv28S77I8VN_9L914H5OjOXldaLOioM7YpfQyCmZ6HJ0HBv-ajdIM_7-QYou2Bvb-5ewX2C26gsw4jQhJlMlf_SlLeXm-Vn02EVFoo8zgTy-5RU4vqBd0okDbzvYg8ikQf3kvQEYD8Qm6OGWvCmnSrILiJqXrDekTZFaMfoX-Cnof53s0ThWzskMK-T_Xg-vvTx-NnLMxjgg_UjG8UIXezCw7IviXhYnlDHTtI2yq4Rd4xgoWqG7Ceat5uHOqvNQYkNOOQoI8HMOXs-2LGcn_sFQW-2fuFtuN5Qho.fCyc8o8eHnse9NhRmmmxzznwky3hIyUqTZAhDYeyKX4&dib_tag=se&keywords=coleman+oven&qid=1710691690&sprefix=coleman+oven,aps,170&sr=8-1

View attachment 126651

I've got that one, it's heavier than it looks.

Havent tried it yet, but just in case

 

[Supervisor42]

So was it CO or did he use up the oxygen in the small space he needed?

Don't forget, even without CO, if you use up the O², and fill the room with CO², you will also not survive .

 

[Haertig]

So was it CO or did he use up the oxygen in the small space he needed?

It doesn't really matter.

Your bloods hemoglobin has a greater affinity for CO than for O2. So if there is CO present, it will bind with that in preference over O2. And when it binds with the CO, that means it's not binding with the O2. So you suffocate. This is the same way that opioids and Narcan work. You have a drugged out dying addict with opioids flying around in their bloodstream, and when you add some Narcan to that mix, the body says "Hey, I want to bind with this Narcan stuff more than I want to bind with the opioids." So the opioids are still circulating around in the druggies bloodstream, but the Narcan has offered the body something it wants even more than those opioids, so the opioids get ignored. Such is how things work with CO and O2. In the case of Narcan, the preferential binding is a good thing. In the case of CO, it's a bad thing.

Also, when O2 gets low, fires don't burn completely, and then they release even more CO. Compounding the problem. So bottom line, you don't want to be around trying to breathe in a high CO, low O2 environment. Not much O2 to start with, and on top of that your body is ignoring what little O2 there is in preference for CO. But even in a normal O2 environment, if there is a lot of CO around, your body is going to prefer the CO and ignore the O2.

 

[Tirediron]

there is also a , Buddy heater that mounts directly to a 20# (proper use of the pound sign) propane bottle, that can be rotated to provide a cooking surface. I will see if I can find a picture

 

[Neb]

there is also a , Buddy heater that mounts directly to a 20# (proper use of the pound sign) propane bottle, that can be rotated to provide a cooking surface. I will see if I can find a picture

Trivia

The so-called " pound sign" is actually an " octothorpe".

Ben

 

[Haertig]

Trivia

The so-called " pound sign" is actually an " octothorpe".

Never heard of that.

I suppose that means others may not have heard of it either.

Therefore, I will use it in future conversations to make myself look smarter than others. If I can remember the word at the time. More likely, I'll end up saying, "Oh, that's a ... uh, hmm, ... something-or-other sign." Making myself look dumber than others.

 

[Neb]

Never heard of that.

I suppose that means others may not have heard of it either.

Therefore, I will use it in future conversations to make myself look smarter than others. If I can remember the word at the time. More likely, I'll end up saying, "Oh, that's a ... uh, hmm, ... something-or-other sign." Making myself look dumber than others.

I used to use the word octothorpe in my voice mail message. . That kept the voice mail message count down.

See here were it is mentioned as being "eight fields".

Back on topic....

I ordered a Coleman stove plus hose adapter yesterday.

Ben

 

[Tirediron]

Trivia

The so-called " pound sign" is actually an " octothorpe".

Ben

I am big on nomenclature so I will have to remember that

 

[backwoodsman]

So was it CO or did he use up the oxygen in the small space he needed?

In that small a space, I would guess it would've been borderline even without the Coleman stove. Several decades ago, in the area where I was living, 3 hunters went to sleep in a tiny travel trailer. They didn't have anything burning, but they did have it closed up tight. They all suffocated in their sleep.

 

[Haertig]

I used to use the word octothorpe in my voice mail message. . That kept the voice mail message count down.

I'm thinking the next time we're at the storage locker place, and the wife can't get the driveway gate to open after typing in the code, I'll have to remind her to hit the octothorpe button. I can't wait to see how well our next trip to the locker will go! (luckily, we have a recliner in storage, so I can sleep on that if necessary)

 

[dademoss]

Trivia

The so-called " pound sign" is actually an " octothorpe".

Ben

Now that has not been in the readers digest to my knowledge . I learn things everyday

Lori is gonna punch me in the arm when I tell her to hit the Octothorpe button

 

[joel]

We have two Coleman stoves from scouting days
For out doors three grills & two woodstoves, one has a eye on it

 

[Weedygarden]

I used to use the word octothorpe in my voice mail message. . That kept the voice mail message count down.

See here were it is mentioned as being "eight fields".

Back on topic....

I ordered a Coleman stove plus hose adapter yesterday.

Ben

I am big on nomenclature so I will have to remember that

Octo is easy because it means 8. I never heard of this before.

 

[joel]

Gen-Z hashtag#

 

[Caribou]

So was it CO or did he use up the oxygen in the small space he needed?

Probably all the above. The ceiling was covered in soot so there was a low O2 level, and a high CO level. The hemoglobin in our blood likes CO 25 times better than O2, if memory serves. CO displaces the O2 in our blood, that is the method of death.

 

[Aerindel]

This was one of the first things I 'solved' when I started out at my place.

I have a propane range. The old school kind, which was hard to find, that uses pilot lights. No electric at all. I guess I've had it about 15 years now.

Don't have a hood. It's on the list of things to make but I haven't gotten to it yet. Ultra low priority I guess.

It's just a non- issue.....I will often run my propane FORGE inside my shop with just a door cracked open.

I do have a CO/gas detector in all my buildings....but the only time it goes off is in my shop sometimes when I run an engine inside for too long.

Of course, I also have woods stove. I think a wood stove solves about 30% of all prepping problems just by itself.

 

[angie_nrs]

If this was just for a few days and not a SHTF situation, you could always use an electric hot plate indoors using a larger generator outdoors to power it with a cord going thru the window. There would be no CO2 issues to worry about, although you'd need a decent sized generator to handle the load. I wouldn't do that for long term just b/c it is a heavy load on the gennie and I wouldn't want to waste the fuel required for that. However, it would allow you to use your kitchen indoors and cook like normal on an electric surface.

If it was my situation, I'd probably use a coleman stove in the attached garage with the windows cracked. We would also use our charcoal weber grill outside since we grill all year round anyways. We would also have the option of just using our camper with the gas stove, microwave, and frig in there. We could just crack the barn doors, fire up the gennie, and use the applicances in there like we normally do.