Cooking without mains
Hot food changes the whole day. Carbon monoxide changes it more.
Options
- A single-burner camping stove is the simple answer.
- A barbecue or fire pit works outdoors.
- A wood stove with a flat top doubles as a hob.
The one rule that matters
- Never use a barbecue, camping stove or generator indoors, in a garage or in a tent.
- Carbon monoxide has no smell and no colour. People die of it in every long outage.
- Keep a battery carbon monoxide alarm near where you sleep.
Making fuel last
- Put a lid on the pot.
- Soak rice, beans and pasta first to cut cooking time.
- Boil water once and keep it in a flask.
More from official sources
Updated 9 October 2026.