[samiam1972]

I have a quick question seeking recommendations. We’ve recently moved and I no longer have a gas stove although we’re hoping to switch it out eventually. If power goes out this winter, we’re now in a location that probably won’t be on a priority list for getting things running again. We do have two gas/wood burning fireplaces but other than hot dogs, I’m not sure that I could anything of value in there. We do have a gas grill with spare propane but there isn’t a burner attached.

What would be a good inexpensive option for warming up food should we be without power for long? I’m not looking for elaborate meal prep! I think I should just go buy a used gas stove to either connect to our gas line or for use with propane but thought I’d see if you all had any brilliant ideas! Thanks in advance.

[Black Agnes]

My grandmother had a cast iron hook on a hinge that swung over her fire. It was attached to the sidepiece. And strong enough to hold the dutch ovens that have handles.

You can cook just about anything in a dutch oven, including bread, biscuits and dessert.

[Black Agnes]

This link looks interesting:

http://www.firepit-and-grilling-guru.com/fireplace-cooking.html

[outofsalt]

RV and Boat supply places have stoves that can run on propane or nat-gas. Many options and can be found in swap meets or craigslist.
Out doors they are safer but, indoors nat-gas is lighter than air and less likely to collect into highly flammable pools.

[Kartographer]

A small two burner propane camping stove would do the trick.

[Godzilla]

What would be a good inexpensive option for warming up food should we be without power for long?

Sterno stoves can be obtained as camping supply places. An alternative is to construct what is known as a volcano stove, a small, wood fired 'stove' that can be built from a metal coffee can (#10) and a couple soup cans. DIY guides to make one are all over the internet.

[bgill]

Sit a couple cans of veggies on the car dashboard. Most canned goods don’t need to be heated so heating is a want rather than a need.

Make a foil covered cardboard box solar oven. Do a search online. There’s also a solar oven that uses a reflective windshield sun blocker. These little practically free solar ovens will cook anything you want from meat to bread and there’s no smoke to alert the neighborhood.

[Ellendra]

We do have two gas/wood burning fireplaces but other than hot dogs, I’m not sure that I could anything of value in there.

Do a search on "campfire cooking" and remember that a fireplace is just a campfire with walls around it.

Also: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/williams19a.html

I used to heat up cans of soup by a fire, it would probably work with beans too. Open the can and settle it securely in an inch of sand and/or ashes, then use tongs to place hot coals from the fire about an inch away from the side of the can. Don't heat it up too fast or it'll boil over before the top half is warm. Eat with biscuits, crackers, or stick bread :)