Warmth from the hearth is not just about looking at the flames and enjoying the comfort of the fire, but your fireplace can also, should a SHTF situation occur, be your primary source of cooking meals! Check out the following:

For centuries, people have cooked in their home fireplaces, and these historic techniques still work today with the right equipment.

• Try A Dutch Oven // The same Dutch ovens used for campfire cooking can be used in a fireplace to cook. Once a bed of coals is built up, nestle the covered pot of food in the embers and use a fireplace shovel to place some coals on the lid. Bake or broil foods for lengths of time comparable to oven baking.

• Use Spits and Kabobs // Cooking meat on spits, skewers and hooks was very popular in Medieval times. You can avoid the need for a rotisserie motor or small dog in a hamster-wheel by turning the rods yourself every 5 to 10 minutes. Use metal rods to impale food and suspend them with wire over the flames of your fire.

• Skip the Bad Woods // As you cook food and burn a fire, use caution when selecting the wood you burn.

We cooked beans and mushrooms in the hearth years ago and it was a wonderful experience; a thick and hearty meal. We also went to a friend’s home where popcorn was cooked in their fire-pit. That was a great deal of fun.

In the end, a fireplace can be a life saver should things go bad so always make certain it is well maintained and ready for action. You can receive more tips on this matter on Outdoor Life.

Warmth and cooking food! What more can a fireplace provide?