Learning to cook without electricity

OREM — When the power goes out, it's good to know how to make dinner without electricity.

It's even better to know how to make dinner without endangering the family or the home.

Kylene and Jon Jones are trying to teach people how to do that — using everything from an apple box to a solar sun box oven and fuels that can be used safely indoors as well as out.

They recently shared their ideas at a Macey's Little Theatre class in Orem.

"Have you got food storage?" Kylene Jones asked. "You've got to cook with it, you know!"

Jon Jones said there are basically four types of people when it comes to planning for disaster or an emergency: the oblivious, those who don't want to deal with it, those who know it needs to be done but haven't the time and those who prepare wisely.

"We're talking about a lifestyle here," said Jon Jones, who is an engineer and with his wife, a parent of 11 children. The two became intrigued with storage and have been giving lectures on various aspects of preparedness for the past several years.

Kylene Jones said there are a few basic principles that apply to cooking without electricity.

• Conserve fuel so you don't need a lot

• Plan to be able to cook indoors and out, in the home or evacuated, in cold and hot weather
• Remember, any flame can produce carbon monoxide — the cooking area must be well ventilated

The pair listed various kinds of fuels and energy-producing products that can work in various situations, emphasizing that different emergencies will require different things.

Kylene Jones said she likes canned heat for basic cooking because it lights easily, burns hot and she can simply take away a can to lower the cooking temperature.

She said Coleman fuel or white gas is very effective but also very dangerous and must be stored out of the house.

Kerosene must be used with great caution but requires very little oxygen.

Propane has an indefinite shelf life but homeowners may only keep up to five of the 20-lb. containers. If the propane leaks, it lingers and will explode at a spark or flame.

Butane stoves are lightweight but won't work well in cold weather.

Charcoal briquets are easy to use and inexpensive but should never be burned indoors.

"We preach options," Jon Jones said.

He and his wife showed off a number of simple ovens that can be made from cardboard boxes and powered with coals: