Best Emergency Indoor Stoves (And 7 Power Outage Uses)

When the power goes out, one of the best survival items that you can have at home is an emergency indoor stove, but which ones are the best?

An indoor emergency stove is the ultimate way to ensure that you can cook meals when your home’s appliances are out of commission during a natural disaster or a simple power outage. However, with so many great options on the market, you want to choose the right one based on the qualities that you want your emergency indoor stove to have.

The best emergency indoor stoves are the Gas One GS-3400, Coleman Triton Stove, Chef Master 90011, Camp Chef Explorer Stove, and the MSR Pocket Rocket. 7 power outage uses are cooking, water purification, sterilizing medical supplies, re-heating food, conserving energy, portability, and fire source.

In recent years, we have seen a huge surge in emergencies, encouraging many everyday people to become self-sufficient survivalists. Whether you are preparing for a natural disaster, a power outage, or the apocalypse, having the right resources at home for the next unforeseen event is going to help you sleep better at night. There are many different items that you should consider for your power outage strategy, but you should keep an indoor emergency stove at the top of your list. An emergency stove that is safe for indoor use is going to enable you to cook all of your meals while you do not have access to your home’s power supply. With that being said, there are a lot of different types of emergency indoor stoves for you to consider, which is why you want to evaluate the specs and characteristics of each product to ensure that you are picking the right one for your needs. To help you understand this further, we are going to take a closer look at the best indoor emergency stoves and 7 power outage uses in more detail.

After extensively researching emergency indoor stoves, I have been able to gather enough information to determine the best ones available on the market. My research has indicated, that each indoor emergency stove has specific characteristics that make it stand out, which is why you want to assess the qualities of every option to find the best one for you.

‍Best Emergency Indoor Stoves

As you weigh out your options, you should consider exactly how you want to use your stove. If you simply want to have a basic way to cook meals during short power outages, you do not need to overthink your purchase by buying the largest and most powerful emergency indoor stove - a basic setup will do just fine.

However, if you want to have a stove that you can count on for the long haul during big power outages and serious emergencies, a stove with a high BTU capacity that has more than one burner will be a better option.

1. Gas One GS-3400P

Gas One stoves are a crowd favorite among so many survivalists and preppers - with the GS-3400P being the most popular option from the brand. This is a dynamic, portable, and compact emergency indoor stove that is suitable for a variety of survival scenarios.

The main characteristic that makes the Gas One GS-3400P stand out amongst the competition is its dual fuel capabilities. One of the toughest choices that many shoppers have to decide on is whether they want to opt for a propane or butane emergency indoor stove. Gas One has optimized this product so that it can be used with both propane and butane.

This factor alone is often a selling point for a lot of survivalists who are on the fence about choosing the right stove for their setup. If you find yourself in a situation where one type of fuel is available and another isn’t, this Gas One stove will guarantee that you can still cook and boil water.

To use butane with this emergency indoor stove, simply insert an 8oz canister inside of the stove and connect the nozzle to the connector. For propane, you can use a 16.4oz tank, which you must connect to the hose on the side of the stove. The Gas One GS-3400P is also equipped with the following specs and characteristics:

• BTUs - 8,000
• Burners - 1
• Weight - 3.1 lbs
• 1-year warranty

The alloy steel materials used in the design of the Gas One GS-3400P result in a lightweight yet durable emergency indoor stove. Given that the Gas One GS-3400P was originally designed for camping, you can easily take this stove with you when you are on the go and need to leave your home during an emergency.

The only drawback of this Gas One emergency stove is that it may not be ideal for a long-term survival strategy - especially if you need to provide food for multiple people. The 8,000 BTUs of the Gas One GS-3400P are adequate for short-term survival scenarios and for quick meals, but you may want to consider going with something larger and more powerful if you want to rely on a single emergency indoor stove for long power outages.

2. Coleman Triton Propane Camping Stove

Coleman is one of the most trusted names in the world of camping and their standing within the industry has resulted in a lot of survivalists relying on them for emergencies. With that said, the Coleman Triton Propane Camping Stove is one of the best stoves that you can have in your emergency goods stockpile.

This emergency stove is slightly less portable than the Gas One GS-3400P but it packs a bigger punch and is still compact enough for on-the-go use. You should also keep in mind that you will be limited to using propane with the Coleman Triton Propane Camping Stove - with dual fuel capabilities not being available. These are some of the key specs of the Coleman Triton stove that you should be aware of:

• BTUs - 22,000 (11,000 per burner)
• Burners - 2
• Weight - 4.8 lbs
• 3-year warranty

The 22,000 BTUs of the Coleman Triton Propane Camping Stove will open a lot more possibilities for cooking during an emergency. An issue with many compact emergency indoor stoves is that they rarely have enough power to be used for cooking grains and boiling large quantities of water. That will not be an issue with this Coleman stove, as you have enough BTUs to cook just about anything.

In addition, you have 2 burners at your disposal so that you can cook multiple things at once, which will make preparing food considerably more efficient. Coleman also designed this indoor emergency stove to have 5 different heat settings. This will enable you to set an appropriate temperature for the food item that you want to cook so that you can use your propane optimally.

Much like all Coleman stoves, the Triton was designed for rugged camping. This means that you can rely on this indoor emergency stove through thick and thin - with durability being a key characteristic of the Coleman Triton Stove. However, if you do run into any technical issues with the product, Coleman has added a 3-year warranty to this propane stove.

Although the Coleman Triton is intended to be used with 1lb propane tanks, you can add an adapter to make it compatible with a 20lb tank. This would open up a lot more possibilities for long-term survival strategies and power outages, but you should keep in mind that the built-in regulator was not designed for tanks of this size - with fuel efficiency becoming slightly compromised.

If you end up going with the Coleman Triton camping stove, make sure that you have a lighter handy in your emergency kit, as this product requires a manual ignition.

3. CHEF MASTER 90011

Chef Master designed their 90011 portable butane stove to be used for a variety of different situations - including emergencies. This compact butane stove is a must-buy for any short-term survivalist given its rugged design and powerful burner.

Unlike the Coleman Triton stove, the Chef Master 90011 is equipped with a built-in ignition system. Although it would be wise to keep a lighter or matches in your survivalist kit, the built-in ignition results in one less thing to think about when you need to cook during an emergency.

This indoor emergency stove is ETL certified, which means that you know it was tested by professionals for optimal functionality. These are some of the key specs that you should be aware of when considering the Chef Master 90011:

• BTUs - 10,000
• Burners - 1
• Weight - 4.25 lbs

Despite the small size of the Chef Master 90011, it is packed with 10,000 BTUs which is better than most indoor emergency stoves of this size. This is not enough power to count for a long-term survival strategy but it will certainly get the job done for most emergencies. Chef Master minimized the temperature controls of this stove to ‘simmer’ and ‘boil’. While this may not be ideal for every kind of meal, it does simplify your cooking to standard functions and controls.

What I also really liked about the Chef Master 90011 is that it comes with a high-impact carrying case. If you are planning for an emergency, you should have an exit strategy in case you need to leave your home. If you find yourself in this situation, you will have to pack your essential items with you and the high-impact carrying case of the Chef Master 90011 will enable you to quickly throw the stove in with the rest of your items - without needing to worry about wear and tear.

The only reason that the Chef Master 90011 may not be as favorable to the Gas One GS-3400P is that it can only be used with butane. If duel fuel capabilities are a key feature that you are looking for, you may want to reconsider the Chef Master 90011. However, if a butane-powered stove is satisfactory for your emergency stockpile, then the Chef Master 90011 is one of the best compact options out there.

4. Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove

If you are searching for an emergency indoor stove for long-term survival scenarios and power outages, there is no better option than the Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove. This is a large and powerful emergency indoor stove that you can rely on for the long haul, which is why a lot of survivalists choose this product over the competition.

Camp Chef originally designed this stove to be used for camping but it has quickly become a go-to for a lot of preppers. The main reason behind this is how dependable the Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove is - with durability and power being key characteristics. These are the main specs that you should be aware of when considering the Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove:

• BTUs - 60,000 (30,000 per burner)
• Burners - 2
• Weight - 30.5 lbs
• Warranty - 1 year

The mere fact that the Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove has 30,000 BTUs per burner makes this one of the most dependable emergency stoves that money can buy. With every other emergency stove that I cover, you should expect below-average cook times for every meal.

For short-term emergencies and power outages, this is usually not problematic, but if you want to have access to food without spending hours on each meal, you are going to want something that packs a bigger punch. With a combined BTU capacity of 60,000 for one stove, you can cook any item that you want faster than you would on most common household stoves.

This will ensure that your meals are made fast and that water is boiled optimally, which can be particularly important if you have multiple people in your home. In addition, you can attach a 20 lb+ propane tank to the Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove. With this much propane connected, you can cook and boil water without needing to worry about swapping out tanks regularly. However, you should always ensure that you have backup fuel or long-term survival strategies.

When you pick up a Camp Chef Explorer Double Burner Stove, you will be given the option to make your purchase with additional accessories such as a grill and griddle. If you want to have dynamic cooking options available during your emergency or power outage, having the alternative to utilize these accessories can be well worth the extra money.

With that being said, despite the shining qualities that the Camp Chef Explorer Stove offers, you need to keep in mind that the large size of this stove does come with some drawbacks. Your ability to quickly pack, transport, and store a stove this big is going to be limited. This is mainly an emergency indoor stove that you can count on for stationary use and not for on-the-go cooking.

5. MSR Pocket Rocket

The MSR Pocket Rocket is a greatly underrated emergency stove system. This is one of the most compact indoor emergency stoves that you can consider for your next power outage. But don’t let its small size fool you - this product will let you down.

Traditionally, the MSR Pocket Rocket is a must-have stove among backpackers and flash campers. However, a lot of survivalists have been incorporating these mini stoves into their homes for short-term emergencies and power outages. These are the key specs that you should be aware of when evaluating the MSR Pocket Rocket:

• BTUs - 8,200
• Burners - 1
• Weight - 0.16 lbs

Unlike every other indoor emergency stove that I mentioned, the MSR Pocket Rocket does not rely on propane or butane. This tiny stove uses isobutane-propane fuel canisters for fuel, which is much more efficient than both propane and butane. The canisters that you use with the MSR Pocket Rocket are a perfect size for the stove attachment and you will have a very compact cooking setup once all parts are assembled.

This makes storing your MSR Pocket Rocket and its fuel canisters very convenient. Unlike a bulky indoor emergency stove, you can have this device and all of its components neatly stored in something smaller than a shoebox. That is why a lot of people that live in smaller homes and apartments opt for this kind of emergency indoor stove.

With that being said, the small size of the MSR Pocket Rocket also enables you to quickly pack the stove with you when you need to leave the house - making it the most ideal on-the-go option available. Although most long-term survivalists may not want to rely solely on the MSR Pocket Rocket, this is still a great emergency stove to have as a backup on top of your other cooking setup.

You never know if you will have to leave the house during an emergency or whether you will run out of fuel for your primary stove, which is when the MSR Pocket Rocket really comes in handy. And although the MSR Pocket Rocket is only 0.16 lbs, it still has 8,200 BTUs. This is more than enough to boil water and take care of most of your cooking needs. Just make sure to have some extra isobutane-propane canisters laying around the house if you plan on using the MSR Pocket Rocket.

7 Power Outage Uses for Emergency Indoor Stoves

Any survivalist will tell you that an emergency indoor stove is a must-have item for any prepper. There is nothing more frustrating than having to deal with a power outage on an empty stomach which is why an emergency stove is something that every household should be equipped with.

With that being said, there are a variety of benefits that come with owning an emergency indoor stove during a power outage. Being aware of these can potentially be life-saving during a serious emergency.

1. Cooking

Naturally, the first way that you will be using your emergency indoor stove is to cook your food. Having food supplies stocked at home is something that a lot of people prioritize these days for power outages and natural disasters.

However, all that food is as good as useless if you have no way to cook it. Your indoor emergency stove is going to be your best friend when power and gas lines are cut.

2. Water Purification

The only thing more important than food during an emergency is water. When disaster strikes, one thing that a lot of people struggle with is having access to safe and clean water, which can be particularly challenging to cope with if your municipality's water is shut off.

In this situation, you are going to need to rely on whatever water source you can find. With that being said, you need to purify any water that you are not 100% confident in - with boiling being the most reliable approach. An emergency indoor stove is going to enable you to not only cook your meals but also purify water.

3. Sterilizing Medical Supplies

Power outages and natural disasters can easily result in injuries. You should always have basic medical supplies laying around the house for emergencies so that you can manage minor injuries without needing to go to the hospital - especially in a disaster scenario.

Before you apply any medical treatment to yourself or others in your household, all of the medical supplies that you use must be sterilized. Boiling water is the most tried and true method for cleaning medical supplies and utensils.

4. Re-Heating Food

If you are experiencing a prolonged power outage or emergency, you may not be able to count on your fridge for storing food. This implies that you will need to keep your prepared food in conditions that are not ideal for long-term storage.

Bacteria will quickly form in food that is below 140 °F. When you notice that food has been out below this temperature, it must be re-heated to kill any unwanted bacteria that formed. This will not only ensure that the food you are consuming is safe, but it will also make it taste better.

5. Conserving Energy

Some people are prepared for the worst and have a backup generator at home so that they do not have to endure power cuts. Generators are a great way to enjoy the comforts of home when your local municipality’s power goes out, but they do come with some limitations.

Generators are expensive to run and they rely on fuel, which can quickly run out if you do not have an adequate supply. Instead of relying on your home’s energy-consuming appliances during a power outage, mitigate relying on a generator by using an emergency indoor stove to cook your food.

6. Portability

Power outages are often caused by life-threatening emergencies that may require you to leave your home. When this kind of scenario takes place, you will need to gather essential supplies for your survival.

Each emergency is different but the one thing that you will certainly want to have is a way to cook food and purify water. A portable emergency stove is going to be a very advantageous tool to have at your disposal in this kind of situation. Most emergency stoves are designed to be portable enough so that they can quickly be packed, stored, and transported - making this a dynamic and highly-useful survival item during a power outage.

7. Fire Source

A lot of emergency indoor stoves come equipped with a built-in ignition system. By having a stove with a built-in ignition, you have an extra fire source available to you.

Naturally, you will be using this fire source primarily for cooking and boiling water, but you will find that it can also be a very necessary part of your survival in the long run - especially if you do not have a lighter, flint, or matches handy.

Emergency Indoor Stove Safety Tips

As we just covered, an emergency indoor stove can make all the difference in how comfortable you are during an emergency. These devices enable you to be self-sufficient, cook your meals, and give you access to water purification during a power outage and natural disasters.

With that being said, emergency indoor stores must be used safely. There are a lot of hazards and risks that come with operating an emergency stove indoors - some of which are life-threatening.

Before you use any emergency stove in your home, carefully read the manual and requirements for each product. These are some safety tips for using an emergency stove indoors.

Ventilation

Although emergency indoor stoves can be used inside of a shelter, you will need to have adequate ventilation to stay safe. Carbon monoxide will build in a closed environment, which can result in a variety of health complications - including death.

Each emergency stove will have specific ventilation requirements that you should be aware of. You must have adequate ventilation before you use any emergency stove indoors to stay safe.

Carbon Monoxide Detector

In addition to having proper ventilation at home, it would also be wise to keep a carbon monoxide detector handy.

This device lets you monitor the carbon monoxide level of your home so that you can make ventilation adjustments as needed.

Fire Hazards

Just about every emergency stove has an open flame, which presents a lot of potential fire hazards. Before you use your stove, double-check that the environment is safe by removing all hazards that can cause a fire.

When cooking or boiling water, assess the stove surface to confirm that it is stable. Lastly, always keep a fire extinguisher close by your emergency stove when it is in use.