Prepper Must-Have: Minimal-Smoke Cooking Backups

The distinctive visual and olfactory signs of smoke can be a nuisance to preppers for several reasons, not least of all because it tends to tell everyone where you are. Many methods that cut down on smoke also cut down on labor as well, and avoid the need to cook outdoors, which may not always be practical. Common methods of cooking with no or minimal smoke include propane and butane stoves, rocket stoves, Wonderbags, solar cookers, sterling jars, candle ovens and clay pot heaters, among others.

Key Takeaways:

Smoke can provide an unwanted visual and olfactory clue to your presence and whereabouts.
Many smoke-free cooking options are also less cost- and labor-intensive than burning wood, are safer to use indoors, and generate less waste heat.
There are many methods of cooking without smoke, including propane and butane, rocket stoves, solar cookers, and a variety of others.

“The backup methods I’ll list commonly use less fuel or completely different fuels than our primary systems. That diversity and efficiency helps our resources last longer and keeps us cooking when resupply isn’t available.”