The power is out. What do I cook with?
You have several good options. Solar can cook without consuming fuel, gas stoves are fast and predictable, and wood-burning methods give you another fallback when stored fuel is limited.
Fuel-free option: one solar cooker for families
GoSun Fusion
LivSolv family-size solar pick. We are choosing one solar cooker here, not making you compare an entire product line. The Fusion is the model we want to evaluate for families because its larger chamber is intended for multiple servings and it can cook from sunlight without burning propane, butane or charcoal. It also has a 12V cooking option when solar conditions are poor.
In a long outage, every sunny meal cooked without combustion preserves finite fuel for later.
See GoSun Fusion →DIY solar cooker
A basic box cooker uses an insulated box, dark cooking surface, clear cover and reflective panel to trap and direct solar heat. It is slower and less powerful than a purpose-built evacuated-tube cooker, but it is a useful almost-free option.
Build a simple solar oven →Fuel cookers: choose what fits your budget
Cheapest flexible option: Gas One GS-3400P
Usually around $30–$40
One burner, but it can use either an 8 oz butane canister or a 16.4 oz propane cylinder with the included adapter. For an inexpensive emergency stove, being able to use either fuel is a major advantage.
Buy Gas One GS-3400P on Amazon →Affordable family propane: Coleman Triton
Two independently adjustable burners, wind guards and 22,000 BTU total output. This is the straightforward family option when you want two normal pots or pans going at once without paying premium-stove money.
Buy Coleman Triton on Amazon →Upgrade propane pick: Camp Chef Everest 2X
Best cooking performance of these fuel picks. Two 20,000-BTU burners, strong wind resistance and very good simmer control. Independent 2026 testing rated it the best overall traditional camping stove. It costs considerably more, so step up if you expect to use it beyond emergencies too.
Buy Camp Chef Everest 2X on Amazon →Dedicated butane option: Iwatani 35FW
Compact single-burner stove with 15,000 BTU output, piezo ignition and built-in canister safety features. It is a good choice for someone who specifically prefers the compact tabletop butane format.
Buy Iwatani 35FW on Amazon →No canisters left? Keep a wood-fuel option
EcoZoom Versa rocket stove
A purpose-built rocket stove burns small dry wood or charcoal and concentrates heat under a pot. It gives you a cooking path that does not depend on propane or butane inventory.
Buy EcoZoom Versa on Amazon →Build a rocket stove →Or make a Dakota fire hole
If you have safe mineral soil and local fire conditions allow it, a Dakota fire hole uses a main fire pit plus an upwind air-intake hole connected underground. We made a separate visual guide so you do not have to translate a wall of text or dig through a giant survival manual.
See the visual Dakota fire-hole guide →Before you cook: protect the cold food
Refrigerator
An unopened refrigerator generally keeps food cold for about four hours. After that, move priority perishables to ice or another safe cold-storage method.
Freezer
A full unopened freezer can hold temperature for about 48 hours, versus about 24 hours when half full.
Want the deeper explanation?
Why include solar if a gas stove is faster?
Because they solve different problems. Gas is faster and works regardless of sunlight, but every meal consumes stored fuel. Solar is weather-dependent, but its energy source replenishes itself. Using solar when conditions are good preserves propane or butane for darkness and bad weather.
Which fuel stove should I choose?
If price matters most, the Gas One GS-3400P gives you propane/butane flexibility for very little money. For family cooking, two burners are substantially more convenient, which is why the Coleman Triton is the middle choice. The Camp Chef Everest 2X is the performance upgrade. The Iwatani is here for people who specifically prefer a compact butane tabletop stove.
Solar cooking limitations
Solar cooking depends on adequate sunlight and usually takes longer than a gas burner. It is not the only cooking method we recommend. Treat it as one useful layer in a redundant cooking plan.
Carbon monoxide and combustion safety
Fuel-burning equipment can produce carbon monoxide. The portable fuel-burning cooking equipment recommended on this page is for outdoor use. Never use generators, charcoal grills, rocket stoves or portable camp stoves in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces, including garages and campers. A cracked door or open window does not make an enclosed space safe.
Research behind these choices
Current 2026 independent camping-stove testing rates the Camp Chef Everest 2X highly for boil speed, wind resistance and simmering, while the Gas One GS-3400P stands out as a low-cost dual-fuel option. Product specifications and availability were rechecked in September 2026.
OutdoorGearLab 2026 stove testing
Gas One specifications
Camp Chef specifications