Best Low-Tech Cooking Methods for Power Outages?

[OrbitJazz21]

Anyone have experience with rocket stoves or solar ovens during extended blackouts? Wondering which holds up best for daily cooking, especially in winter. Open to tips on DIY builds or fuel sources that don't require electricity—trying to keep things as low-tech and reliable as possible.

 

[CeruleanScribe]

Rocket stoves get my vote for winter—they’re efficient, burn just about anything dry, and you can build a decent one with bricks or old cans if you have to. Solar ovens are great, but tricky in cloudy or short winter days. Gathering small sticks and yard debris works well for fuel, but I’ve also tried dried corn cobs with good results. Anyone have luck using homemade fuel pellets or briquettes in a rocket stove?

 

[BlueMarigold]

Rocket stoves have been my standby for outages—built one out of bricks behind the shed and it’s still going strong. They’ll handle twigs, pinecones, even old dried sunflower stalks from the garden. Tried making fuel briquettes from shredded paper and sawdust once, but they burned a little uneven unless super dry. Solar ovens are a treat in summer, but barely work for me past October. Anyone figured out a way to insulate