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7 Emergency INDOOR COOKING Options Tested: Real Results!

The Bug Out Location

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Which emergency cooking option is actually the best when the power goes out? I tested the most recommended indoor emergency cooking methods from the preparedness community to find out which ones are actually worth buying. From butane stoves and alcohol burners to canned heat, the Vesta InstaFire, hot plates, and even a Dietz Lantern Cooker, I compare them side-by-side using real-world testing—not marketing claims.

In this video, you'll see how each option performed for boiling water, cooking food, fuel storage, shelf life, indoor safety, ease of storage, and cold-weather performance. I also introduce my BOL (Bug Out Location) Score, which ranks each cooking method based on the factors that matter most during a real power outage or grid-down emergency. Some options performed far better than expected... while others simply weren't worth the hype.

Whether you're building a bug out location, preparing for winter storms, or simply looking for the best emergency cooking stove for your emergency preparedness supplies, this video will help you make an informed decision before spending your money.

👍 If you enjoyed this video, consider subscribing for more real-world preparedness testing, gear reviews, and practical emergency preparedness advice.

Products Mentioned
CO Detector https://amzn.to/4gybZD2
CO Alarm (Kidde)https://amzn.to/44X2TIM
IMUSA Double Electric Hot Plate https://amzn.to/4gyvQSr
Dietz Lantern Cooker https://amzn.to/4vvVpri
Alcohol Stove https://amzn.to/4w8HXdG
Sterno Camping Canned Heat (best tested)https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterno-Bra...
Instafire Canned Heat https://amzn.to/4fqArFf
Vesta InstaFire https://www.campingsurvival.com/produ...
Gas One Butane Stove https://amzn.to/4pcuJdh
Iwatani Butane Stove https://amzn.to/3SQDEFm
Iwatani Cassette Butane Stove (Smaller)
Chef Master Butane Stove https://amzn.to/44jm9ju
Techef Butane Stove https://amzn.to/4ycBHmO

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0:00 Indoor Cooking
1:23 Hot Plate
3:01 Lantern Cooker
4:44 Alcohol Stove
6:15 Canned Heat
8:31 InstaFire
10:06 Gas One
11:32 Butane Stoves
13:06 Final Grades

#preparedness #preppers #poweroutage #emergencypreparedness #survivalgear

20 Comments

@TheBugOutLocation Creator 2 months ago Pinned

Would you (or do you) use propane indoors during an emergency? Even if the stove isn't rated for "indoor"use.

@shelley131 2 months ago (edited)

During the Texas freeze we had no power for 8 days. We used our Camp Chef Everest stove the whole time inside the house and the carbon monoxide monitor never went off. That's 20,000 BTU per burner. We also had a butane single burner. I'm surprised also that many people don't mention this. But for boiling water we used a 120V 300w immersion heater. Boils a cup of water under 2 minutes drawing only about 2.5 amps. We also hard boiled eggs using a larger immersion heater that was 110V 1000W. Drawing only 9 amps we would hard boil a dozen eggs under 10 minutes using less power than an electric hot plate. For taking a hot shower we have a 2000W immersion heater and used a 5 gallon bucket that it would heat up the water in less than 6 minutes using about 5% on my EcoFlow Delta Max 2000. We also made beef stew in a can cooker using a rocket stove made of 4x4 12 ga metal. Using nothing but wood chips and limbs, very efficient and very little fuel required to get it hot.

@LatitudeSky 1 month ago

The butane stoves are used in literally millions of homes worldwide as their kitchen stove. They may have two or three of them. For safety, consider that these things are also used in a lot of illegal subdivided housing where the rented spaces have no kitchens. The residents keep these stoves in their rented spaces. Incidents of people getting hurt by these stoves are very rare even in those dangerous situations. They really are pretty safe. I grew up with one and still keep one in my kitchen which has an electric stove. I prefer the butane for a lot of things and it doesn't run up my power bill. The fuel is cheap at Asian grocery stores or "farmers markets" and I keep about 12 cans on hand. In a pinch, it produces almost twice the heat of a small electric space heater. Make dinner and heat your living area at the same time.

@PoliticalHealing 3 weeks ago (edited)

Lots of clear necessary practical facts, no fluff. Thanks.

@carolgold-boyd9287 2 weeks ago (edited)

For years I've used a Gas One stove for camping. After a severe storm hit the Northwest Indiana/Gary, Indiana area my power was out for a week. My Gas One became my only means to cook. I love it even more now. Reliable, provides heat fast but also cools down very rapidly which I view as a safety feature. I have the adapter for propane but have never actually used it, I've had enough butane canisters for my needs. Although with the August outage I am almost ran out - you see, I had just returned from a week-long camping trip and hadn't replenished my supply of butane when the lights went out. Fortunately, I still had sufficient to see me through. Also swapped sausage and cold cuts for use of a neighbor's grill. She has three kids to feed, there was no way I was going to eat all that before it went bad, and I got to borrow the grill for a night.

Thanks for a very informative video with minimal fluff. This is the sort of solid, real world information we need more of.

@smithno41 2 months ago

I have an old fashioned wood cook stove properly installed in my kitchen with enough firewood to run it if I need to.

@jungleno. 2 months ago (edited)

Coleman fuel two burner stove with the accessory propane attachment for the win.

@STho205 2 months ago

Best occasional use in the kitchen is the one burner butane stoves originally developed for small boat galleys. The can can stay (disengaged) in the stove and the stove in a nice plastic case to fit in a lower cabinet.

The best common use is the two burner Coleman propane camp stove on top of your electric range if the power is out. Two burners will make any meal quickly and your meat and side will be ready together...as well breakfast can have hot coffee and a frying pan at one time.

@MissFoxification 2 months ago

The fact those cheap butane/propane stoves are used around the world as a home stove, cooked on pretty much nightly says a lot. I have used one for a few weeks and it never let me down. The fuel cans are cheaply made and sometimes the valves don't seat properly on ejection, but a firm hit on the table tends to seat them. It could be worth keeping a spray bottle of soapy water nearby to check the valves are seated properly. Be careful what you cook on, unlike many other stoves a lot of heat is deflected downwards and it can melt camp tables or other surfaces.
I also used a "Simon stove" for a while, an alcohol stove. You can refill them, just snuff it out (if still running) and pour more fuel in, just make sure there's no naked flame about as it may hiss and spit. The downside is they remain hot for some time and can't be packed away safely.

@sayathetis9608 1 month ago

YES ! IWATANI!!!
I LOVE IT ❤️
FROM JAPAN 😊🇯🇵👘

@rodneyrussell8442 1 month ago (edited)

I use a full size stove top oven that uses propane. I have it on a 20 pound propane tank and I have 9 of them. And they can last me up to 3 years. Living in N. Arkansas where we get power failures more often than I would prefer. From horrible weather to people running into power poles to high winds and broken tree limbs and so on. Never without a means to cook food and can heat my kitchen/living room. And the longest stretch without power was 19 days

@shelley131 1 month ago

Just FYI, for those with a fireplace in your home, if you are worried about propane for cooking inside your home, you could consider placing your stove inside the fireplace if outages occur during summer months. But do remember every RV owner cooks with propane in their RV and some RV's are very confined and smaller than your kitchen without issues. Also having a cast iron dutch oven with about 8 or 10 briquettes of charcoal is a great way to cook a meal inside your fireplace.

@sergiysirichenko5741 1 month ago

A butane stove is the way to go because of its convenience. I have almost all of the other options as well, but my actual experience with a long-term outage has shown me that the most important criterion is whether everyone in your family can—and is willing to—use and handle the specific stove.

@daniel-lee888 2 months ago

I'm an avid alcohol stove user for hiking where I carry the gear, but for a home preparedness I totally agree with you - a gas cannister based stove is long lasting, inexpensive and effective. Those cartridge type stoves are VASTLY more stable than the hiking versions which attach on top of the domed cannisters. When you have other people or pets around, having a stable stove prevents pot spills.

@kriskaty831 1 month ago

I found fondue pots at thrift stores, using a small canned heat. I have two, made oatmeal and coffee when the power goes out, which is everything it storms. Thanks, Sutton daze.

@mikk-s7h 11 days ago

A FIREPLACE OR WOOD-BURNING STOVE WINS EVERY TIME

@Oldsparkey 2 months ago

I have used alcohol stoves, Butine stoves, Propane stoves and even wood stoves camping over the last 65 years. (82 years of Hurricanes) During hurricanes and power outages it is the alcohol stove for hot water beverages. Meals it is the Iwatani now and use to be the dual fuel Gas One for solo meals. Shared meals the good old Coleman double burner in either white gas or the gas canisters in the dual fuel mode. The Coleman stoves are always out on the back porch. Depending on conditions it has even been a combination of stoves, at times.

@annjean8709 5 days ago

Great video!
Thank you for sharing.

@PamOrl 2 months ago (edited)

I have an Iwatani butane stove that we have used during hurricane outages and holiday cooking when an extra burner has come in handy. Added a gas burner ring reducer to be able to use mokka pots. Lightweight, small, portable and dependable, it’s been one of my must have hurricanes supplies. Highly recommend.

@conniehamilton1781 2 months ago (edited)

I have a Nuwave induction burner (600 watts,) a 3-quart Instant Pot (700 watts,) an alcohol burner, a small backpack size Solo-type stove, two Gas One single burner stoves, a Gas One grill, a Volcano stove with oven hood (propane, charcoal or wood,) a Coleman camp oven and an All American Sun Oven. I think I’m good 😊