cookstoves

A cookstove is a device used to convert fuel into heat for cooking and food preparation. They burn a variety of fuels, including wood, charcoal, crop residues, biogas, liquid fuels, gas, or electricity, and range from simple open fires to enclosed stoves with insulated combustion chambers.

Traditional stoves often use an open fire or a three-stone hearth, with widespread fuel inefficiency and smoke. Improved cookstoves employ enclosed combustion, better insulation, and heat-exchange surfaces to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. Designs vary by fuel type: biomass stoves for wood or charcoal; gas or liquid-fuel stoves; and electric or induction stoves used in cooking indoors with clean energy.

Use of inefficient stoves contributes to indoor air pollution, causing respiratory illness and premature death in many households, especially women and children. Biomass burning also drives deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, while more efficient stoves and cleaner fuels reduce fuel use and emissions, including particulate matter and black carbon.

Efficient stoves are evaluated by testing standards such as fuel consumption, emissions, and user usability; organizations like the Clean Cooking Alliance and research centers promote dissemination and certification programs, while the Water Boiling Test is commonly used in some evaluations.

Global programs seek to expand access to clean and affordable cookstoves, particularly in developing regions. Barriers include cost, availability, cultural preferences, and supply chains. Adoption is often tied to broader energy access efforts, gender considerations, and sustainable development goals.