Can you cook on a barbecue or camp stove during a power outage? Yes outdoors, never indoors. Here are the safety rules for cooking and heat.
- Use a barbecue or camp stove outdoors only, well away from doors, windows and vents.
- Never use them indoors, in a garage or on a covered porch: carbon monoxide can kill.
- Never use a stove or barbecue to heat a room.
Cooking outdoors is a common outage plan, but the danger is carbon monoxide (CO), a gas you cannot see or smell.
The rules
- Cook outdoors only, in the open air.
- Keep fuel burning devices away from doors, windows and vents.
- Never use them in a garage, tent, car or on an enclosed porch.
- Never heat a room with a barbecue or stove.
Carbon monoxide
Install working CO alarms and know the symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea. If you suspect CO, get outside to fresh air and call emergency services. Read carbon monoxide safety.
Safer alternatives
Stock no cook foods and an emergency meal plan. For heat see heating one room safely.
Generators
The same rule applies: generator safety.
Backup power picks (Canada)
Size the unit to your own load first: see the sizing guide.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Best for |
|---|---|
| BBLUETTI | Large lineup, expandable home systems |
| JJackery | Wide range, compact to home backup sizes |
Power stations and solar generators with fast charging. Compare capacity and warranty.
Larger capacity power stations that can run a fridge, with expandable batteries.
- Broad capacity range
- Expandable home-backup options
- Compare battery chemistry and stated cycle life
Popular portable power stations and solar kits for short outages.
- Has a Canadian storeHas a US store
- Small, mid and large models
- Compare capacity, output and warranty on the maker page
Quick answers
Can I use a BBQ indoors in an outage?
No. It produces carbon monoxide.
Can I cook outside?
Yes, in the open air away from doors, windows and vents.
Can I heat a room with a stove?
No. Never.