This past summer we purchased 7-acres of off-grid land in northern Idaho that we plan to start building on this coming May. There is a lot to learn since we will be doing all the construction ourselves. Deciding what appliances to buy has been part of our research. Since we plan to use solar power, a generator, and propane to run our homestead, we want the most energy efficient appliances without sacrificing some of the conveniences we are accustomed to.

In this article we share with you some pros and cons of refrigerators, water heaters, wash machines, and kitchen stoves that you might consider for your off-grid lifestyle. After weighing all the pros and cons of each we share which ones we have chosen and why.

Jump to: Refrigerators | Water Heaters | Wash Machines | Kitchen Stoves

Refrigerators

DC Refrigerators

Description: 

A DC refrigerator is a refrigerator powered by direct current (DC) electricity. This means that you can hook up your DC

refrigerator directly into your off-grid battery bank without the need for an inverter. It’s very similar to a standard refrigerator that you would have in a normal house. It has a compressor and refrigerant. Here’s an example of a DC refrigerator made by Unique.

Pros:

• No Inverter DC refrigerators can be connected directly into a DC power source, such as your battery bank, unlike AC refrigerators, which require an inverter. Every time power is converted a little electricity is lost thereby losing some efficiency in your off-grid power system. While the loss is only small, it’s still something to consider. You also don’t have the added cost of buying an inverter.
• Low Energy Use DC appliances are designed to run on less watts than AC appliances. If you are using a solar set up this means you may need fewer solar panels and batteries to generate power and run your DC refrigerator.
• No Monthly Costs Unlike Propane refrigerators after you get your DC refrigerator hooked up to your battery bank you will have no monthly expenses such as buying propane.
• Environmentally Friendly DC refrigerators are more environmentally refrigerators than propane refrigerators because they are powered by solar.

Cons:

• Initial Cost Be prepared to spend a pretty penny upfront if you choose to use a DC refrigerator. They cost two times or three times as much as an AC refrigerator.
• Manual Defrost DC refrigerators need to be manually defrosted every once in a while.
• Features and Options DC refrigerators are typically small and don’t come with as many features and options as a standard AC refrigerator.

If we were to choose a DC refrigerator, this is the one we would choose. It’s a Unique 16.6 cu. ft. DC Solar Refrigerator and uses 865 W per day.

Propane Refrigerators

Description:

Propane refrigerators are very different than DC or AC refrigerators. The process used to cool a propane refrigerator was first discovered in 1824. But, they did not become popular until the 1930s when Servel propane refrigerators were invented. Propane refrigerators use what is called an ammonia absorption cooling system. They have no moving parts and are typically very durable. The light inside the refrigerator is typically powered by a D cell battery. Here’s an example of a propane refrigerator made by Unique.

Pros:

• Durability There are no moving parts in a propane refrigerator, so there is nothing to wear out and need replacing. This is one of the reasons why propane refrigerators are so popular among RVers. All the jiggling and bouncing around of the RV doesn’t break the refrigerator.
• Noise With a propane refrigerator you don’t have a compressor or other moving parts so it runs quietly.

Cons:

• Manual Defrost Propane refrigerators do not automatically defrost. You will need to manually defrost it so that the frost build-up inside the refrigerator compartment doesn’t lower its efficiency. How often you defrost it will depend on how often you open the doors, how much humidity is in the air, and other factors similar to these.
• Initial Cost They cost two to three times as much as a standard AC refrigerator.
• Smell Some people have reported an unpleasant odor while using their propane refrigerator. If you have ever smelled propane you can attest to its strange rotten egg-like smell. Well, manufacturers did this on purpose and deliberately added the smell to keep us alert to propane leaks. If people are experiencing an unpleasant odor while using their propane refrigerator it’s most likely because they have a leak somewhere and need to do some maintenance.
• Propane Usage It is a given that when choosing to use a propane refrigerator you will need to supply propane to run it. It’s commonly accepted that you can expect to go through a 20 lb. propane cylinder in 20-30 days of use. This, of course, is going to depend on how many times you open the door and what temperature you are storing your refrigerator in.
• Carbon-Monoxide (CO) There is the danger of Carbon-Monoxide poisoning when using a propane refrigerator. Carbon monoxide is produced during the incomplete combustion of propane. It’s a deadly toxic gas that can harm or kill animals and people if undetected. It’s important to do the regular maintenance as prescribed by the users manual and also install Carbon Monoxide detectors in your off-grid home. I’m not trying to scare you away from using a propane refrigerator, but you should be aware of the potential hazards associated with them.
• Features and Options Propane refrigerators generally don’t come with as many features and options as standard AC refrigerators do.

If we were to choose a propane refrigerator, this is the one we would choose. It’s a Unique 9.7 cu. ft. propane refrigerator and uses 1.4 lbs. of propane per day.

AC Refrigerators

Description:

This is the type of refrigerator that most people are familiar with. You probably have one in your home right now. The

process that cools these refrigerators uses a compressor and a liquid refrigerant much like the air conditioner that cools your house and your car. These refrigerators will provide you with the most options and features such as ice makers, ice and water dispensers, and automatic defrost. To power AC refrigerators in your off-grid home you will need to use an inverter. Here’s an example of a standard AC refrigerator.

Pros:

• Initial Cost As I’m sure you can imagine AC refrigerators are going to be your cheapest option. You probably already own one! Even buying an Energy Star rated AC refrigerator is very affordable. For around $500 you can buy a 14.6 cu. ft. Energy Star refrigerator.
• Auto Defrost This is a feature I think most people take for granted. For many years while living in Indonesia I had a refrigerator that did not self defrost. Every month there was a thick wall of ice that I had to remove. This involved unplugging my refrigerator, removing all of my groceries, thawing the ice and dumping it in the sink. I used a fan pointed at the freezer to increase thaw time. It was a messy process and I was always concerned about my groceries thawing out while I was defrosting the refrigerator. In my opinion, having a self-defrosting refrigerator is a huge benefit.
• Parts Availability If anything were to happen to your refrigerator, such as breaking a glass shelf or the compressor going out, you can find those replacements easily because there are the most common refrigerators out there.
• Features and Options AC refrigerators come in many sizes and have the most features and options of all three types of refrigerators.

Cons:

• Higher Energy Use They are not as energy efficient as DC refrigerators, however, if you purchase an Energy Star refrigerator it may use only 1/3 more energy than an equivalently sized DC refrigerator.
• Inverter You must buy an inverter when using an AC refrigerator if you are using solar panels or wind turbines because most of those power sources produce DC electricity. An inverter converts direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity. The price of an off-grid inverter will depend on the size of the system you have. A small 600 W inverter can cost you $200 while a large 4,000 W inverter can cost you $2,000.

If we were to choose an AC refrigerator, this is the one we would choose. It’s a GE 18 cu. ft. Energy Star Refrigerator. It uses 1100 W per day.

Which Refrigerator we prefer for our off-grid system:

The refrigerator that best fits our situation and is the one we ended up purchasing is the GE 18 cu. ft. AC refrigerator.

Why did we choose this one over a DC or propane refrigerator?

• Inverter We are already planning to have an inverter in our off-grid system, therefore needing an inverter to run this is not a con for us.
• Initial Cost The GE refrigerator costs over $1,000 less than the other two options.
• Energy Use The GE refrigerator only uses 76 more watts per day than the Unique DC refrigerator based on government and manufacture data.
• Monthly Costs There are no ongoing monthly costs with the GE refrigerator compared to the propane one, which in our area would cost about $18/month in propane.
• Auto Defrost The GE refrigerator has auto defrost, which the other two don’t.

After doing a lot of research and considering the facts we would rather spend the extra $1,000 on upgrading our solar system than on an expensive DC or propane refrigerator.

Which one would you choose?

Jump to: Refrigerators | Water Heaters | Wash Machines | Kitchen Stoves

Water Heaters

Standard Tankless Water Heaters

Description:

Tankless “on demand” water heaters give you an endless supply of hot water. It only heats the water you are needing immediately so you are not waisting any energy heating unused hot water. You can choose from electric and propane fueled tankless water heaters. Here’s an example of an electric tankless water heater and a propane tankless water heater.

Tankless Electric Water Heater

Pros:

• Less Expensive Almost always electric tankless water heaters are less expensive than propane ones. This, of course, will depend on how many gallons per minute (GPM) you are comparing. Installation of an electric tankless water heater is much cheaper because it doesn’t require a complex ventilation system.
• Saves Space Tankless water heaters save a lot of space because they are mounted on the wall up off the ground.
• Less Maintenance There is much less maintenance to do on an electric tankless water heater than a propane run one. You may only occasionally need to clean the filter.
• No Wasted Energy Because the water is heated on demand you don’t waste energy heating a tank of water you’re not using.
• No Vent With an electric tankless water heater you can mount your heater in your home near where you want to use your hot water. They don’t require ventilation of exhaust gasses because they don’t have any.
• Unlimited Hot Water As the name suggests, with an electric tankless water heater, your hot water supply is on demand. This means you can have a hot shower for as long as you like because you don’t have a hot water tank that might run out.

Cons:

• High Energy Use They use a crazy amount of electricity to run. For example in the Eco Smart example above, it takes 27 kW to run 5.3 GPM. That’s difficult to produce in an off-grid system.

If we were on-grid we would choose this electric tankless water heater. It’s an EcoSmart 5.3 GPM Electric Tankless Water Heater. It cost $505.00. But, for living off-grid we wouldn’t choose one of these.

Tankless Propane Water Heater

Pros:

• Saves Space Just like an electric tankless water heater, propane tankless water heaters are very space-efficient. I have seen some people mount them on a dolly with their 20-pound propane tank, which makes a very portable system.
• No Wasted Energy Because the water is heated on demand you don’t waste energy heating a tank of water you’re not using.
• Unlimited Hot Water Just like with the electric version, propane tankless water heaters supply you with an unlimited amount of hot water at your disposal.

Cons:

• Initial Cost In general, tankless propane water heaters cost more upfront than an electric one and installation fees are usually more because they require proper ventilation to the outdoors. However, if you live in a warm climate there are outdoor models that do not require this type of ventilation.
• More Maintenance There is much more maintenance to do on a propane tankless water heater. They need to be inspected annually to ensure everything is working properly. They have a more complex design than an electric one which mean the cost of repairing them can be more expensive.

If we were to choose a propane tankless water heater this is the one we would choose. It’s a Rinnai High Efficiency 7.5 GPM Propane Interior Tankless Water Heater. It costs $818.35.

Standard Tank Water Heaters

Description:

This is the type of water heater most people are familiar with and you probably have one in your home already. The size of tank may vary from house to house, but typically a 30 or 50-gallon tank is installed. This type of water heater allows cold water to enter the tank as hot water is being used. It heats the cold water so that your storage tank is always full of hot water. Here’s an example of a standard electric tank water heater and a standard propane tank water heater.

Electric Tank Water Heater

Pros:

• No Pilot Light Electric tank water heaters do not have a continuously burning pilot light which means they are generally more efficient than propane water heaters.
• No Vent They don’t require ventilation of exhaust gasses because they don’t have any.
• Initial Cost In general standard electric tank water heaters cost less upfront than a propane option and installation fees are usually less.

Cons:

• Less Consistent Heat Unlike with using propane, electric hot water tanks take longer to heat your entire tank and you’re more likely to run out of hot water.
• Limited Hot Water Supply With a standard tank water heater you are limited on your supply of hot water by the amount of gallons your tank holds. Your tank will begin to heat up cold water as you use hot water, but most often, not as quickly as you are using it.
• Space Unlike tankless hot water heaters that can be mounted off the floor, typically, tank water heaters take up more space and sit on a drain pan directly on the floor.

If we were to choose an electric tank water heater this is the one we would choose. It’s a Rheem 50 gallon electric tank heater. It costs $404.00.

Heat Pump Tank Water Heater

Description:

A heat pump water heater is an electric water heater, but instead of using electric heating elements inside your water heater it uses a more efficient heat pump. A heat pump works basically the same way as a household air conditioner or refrigerator with a compressor, evaporator and a condenser, except in reverse. Here’s an example of a heat pump water heater.

Pros:

• More Energy Efficient A heat pump water heater uses about one-third of the electricity as a standard electric water heater.
• Insulation You won’t waste a lot of energy because of their 3″ insulation.
• Capacity One of the neat things about a heat pump water heater is that you can hook up to 4 of these together to increase your hot water capacity.
• No Vent They don’t require ventilation of exhaust gasses because they don’t have any.

Cons:

• Costly An 80 gallon heat pump water heater will cost you around $2,600.00.
• Slow Recovery A heat pump water heater has a pretty slow recovery rate of about eight gallons an hour.
• Warm Air Dependent If you live in a climate where you have a lot of cold months, you may not get as much of a savings using a heat pump water heater when compared to a standard electric water heater.
• Cold Air Produced Something to keep in mind when deciding where to store your heat pump is that it produces cold air. Therefore, if you store your heat pump indoors, it will add a cooling effect to your house. This could be nice in the hot months of the year, but could also be detrimental in the cold months.

If we were to choose a heat pump water heater this is the one we would choose. It’s a Stiebel Eltron Accelera 80 Gallon
heat pump water heater. It cost $2,575.

Propane Tank Water Heater

Pros:

• More Consistent Heat Propane hot water tanks work to constantly keep the water hot, thus using less energy and providing a more consistent hot water supply.
• No Electricity Use Doesn’t use any electricity, which makes this a great choice for off-grid living.

Cons:

• Pilot Light The majority of propane water tanks have a pilot light that stays on all the time. This uses a small amount of gas.
• Limited Hot Water Supply Just like with electric tank water heaters your supply of hot water is not on-demand. You will run out of hot water until your tank can replenish what you used.
• Space As with electric tank water heaters propane tanks take up more space than tankless heaters and sit on a drain pan directly on the floor.
• Initial Cost In general, standard propane tank water heaters cost more upfront than an electric one and installation fees are usually more because they require proper ventilation to the outdoors.

If we were to choose a propane tank water heater this is the one we would choose. It’s a Rheem 50 gallon propane tank water heater. It costs $683.36.

Alternative Water Heaters

Solar Water Heater

Description:

Solar water heaters involve absorbing solar radiation through solar panels or solar tubes. The solar panels or tubes heat water that is stored in a pressurized insulated tank. An example of a solar water heater system is the Sunbank. This type of system is generally installed on a roof top, but have the versatility to be installed in other locations as well.

Pros:

• No Moving Parts With a solar water heater there is no pump or moving parts. The hot water is stored in a tank and then when the hot water faucet is turned on, cold water is pushed into the tank, which pushes the hot water to your open faucet.
• No Monthly Costs Unlike propane water heaters after you get your Solar water heater installed you will have no monthly expenses such as buying propane.

Cons:

• Initial Cost Solar water heaters are expensive upfront. For example, a 40-gallon system can cost you over $3,000.00. But, it could pay for itself in about 8 years when compared to a standard electric tank water heater.
• Climate Dependent This could be a pro for you if you live in a location that has a lot of sunny days. But for us this is a con because we plan to use our water heater in an area that has a small amount of solar energy per day.
• Limited Water Supply Once you use up all the hot water stored in the tank, you have to wait until more is generated from the sun.

If we were to choose a solar water heater this is the one we would choose. It’s a Sunbank 40G solar water heater. It costs $2,999.00.

Wood Stove Water Heating System

Description:

The idea of heating water with your wood stove is not a new invention, but it has gone out of style as our society has moved more and more to rely on on-grid electricity to heat our homes. The idea is pretty simple. A u-shaped coil is installed on the inside of your firebox or on the back or side of your wood stove. The coil is then connected to your boiler and the water circulates without any pumps. Here’s an example of a 24-inch wood stove hot water coil. In addition to attaching the coil to the firebox or directly on your wood stove, some people wrap the coil around the stove pipe.

Pros:

• Inexpensive For about $180.00 you can buy a wood stove hot water coil. This is a pretty inexpensive way to increase your hot water efficiency in the cold months while you are using a wood stove anyway.

Cons:

• Appearance Woodstove heating coils definitely change the look of your wood stove. This might not bother some people, but I think having a coil wrapped around the stove pipe or on the side of the woodstove looks a bit funny. I wouldn’t mind the coil being inserted into the firebox or installed on the back of the woodstove.
• Seasonal This system only works when you are using your wood stove, which means you still need to find another way to heat your water in the warmer months.
• Insurance Companies You may have trouble getting home owner’s insurance if you are choosing to use a wood stove water heater.

If we were to choose a wood stove water heater we would choose the one that fits our wood stove.

Which Water Heater(s) we prefer for our off-grid system:

The water heater(s) that best fit(s) our plan is going to be broken into 3 stages.

• Stage 1: A tankless propane water heater to use during the summer while we live in a temporary shelter and begin building our off-grid home. We chose the Camplux 10L Outdoor 2.64 GPM. We plan to use this water pump along with it. It’s a SHURFLO 3.0 GPM.
  Total approx. cost for stage 1: $300.
• Stage 2: By the late fall we plan to have our off-grid home dried-in and will be using a wood stove to heat it through the winter. During stage 2 for heating our water in our home will be to use a wood stove coil and repurposed/new electric tank water heater. The electric tank water heater is not hooked up to electricity. We will be using it as a water holding tank.
  Total approx. cost for stage 2: $1,500 (this includes the cost of a new wood stove, wood stove coil and new electric water heater). Want more information on how to choose which wood stove is right for you? Read this article here for some helpful tips.
• Stage 3: By our second summer we want to install DC water heater elements in our electric water heater (from stage 2) plus use this on-demand propane water heater. It’s a Rinnai High Efficiency 7.5 GPM Propane Interior Tankless Water Heater. After we design our solar system we will be able to choose which heater elements work best for our system.
  Total approx. cost for stage 3: $1,000.

Jump to: Refrigerators | Water Heaters | Wash Machines | Kitchen Stoves

Wash Machines

Portable Wash Machines

Description:

Portable wash machines are just like your normal standard wash machines except they are designed to be compact and portable with hook ups that can easily attach to a hose or faucet. I used one of these for 4+ years in Indonesia and really loved it. If you want to see the one I used watch this 2-minute video.

Pros:

• Low Energy Usage Portable wash machines are very compact and use a lot less electricity than standard models. Which range from high-efficiency models using 30 kWh annually to less efficient models using 290 kWh annually.
• Compact A portable wash machine doesn’t take up much space. They are typically 17-24 inches wide.
• Mobility Some portable wash machine models include rollers which make them easy to move around. This is especially helpful if you don’t have your wash machine hooked up to your water source at all times.
• Inexpensive Portable wash machines are not very expensive. They start at $200.00.
• Handles Most models have handles on their sides to make moving your unit easier. This is especially helpful if you are storing it in a closet when not in use.

Cons:

• Load Size The load capacity on a portable wash machine is not nearly as large as a standard wash machine. You will have options from 0.9 cu ft.-2 cu ft.

If I were to choose a portable wash machine to use off-grid I would choose this one. It’s a Giantex 1.6 cu. ft. portable washing machine. It costs $219.99.

Twin Tub Wash Machines

Description:

Twin Tub wash machines use a lot less electricity than a standard wash machine. They are designed to wash and rinse in one tub and spin in the other tub. The drain is gravity fed and water can be poured in manually or hooked up to a faucet. I have a lot of experience using one of these for 5 years in Indonesia. In this article I talk more about alternative ways to wash clothes off-grid.

Pros:

• Energy Efficient They use around 300w for washing and 110w for spinning. This is great for off-grid living. I ran the one above on a small generator.
• Compact They are pretty small and don’t weigh much, which is great if you are storing it in between uses.
• Spinner If you don’t feel that your clothes were spun dry enough you can easily and quickly start the spin cycle again.

Cons:

• Manual Work There is a bit more work to be done with this type of wash machine. You wash clothes in one tub, then remove them and place them in the second tub to spin. You then put them back in the first tub to rinse, followed by one more time spinning in the second tub.
• Drain All the drain water is gravity fed which means you need to think about where you are going to place it. A lot of people place a twin tub wash machine right into their shower or bathtub and use those drains. Other people build a platform for it to sit on in their kitchen and use the kitchen sink as their drain. In Indonesia, I had a drain in my bathroom floor, so it was perfect for draining my wash machine water into.
• Noise The spinner is a bit on the noisy side. I would just cloths the door on the bathroom if it was bothering anyone. The spin cycle doesn’t last too long so it’s not really terrible.

If I were to choose a twin tub wash machine to use off-grid I would choose this one. It’s a Giantex twin tub wash machine. It costs $105.99.

Top Load Wash Machines

Description:

Standard top load wash machines traditionally have been the most common type of wash machine that people have in their homes. But, they are slowly being changed out with front load washing machines as people are realizing that the traditional top load wash machine is not as energy or water efficient. Most top load wash machines use an agitator to clean clothes, although there are some models that now use a wash plate instead. A wash plate forces clothes to rub against each other to get them clean.

Pros:

• Cost Top load wash machines are generally less expensive than front load wash machines.
• Ergonomics You don’t have to bend down to load your clothes in a top load wash machine. This is a huge plus for many people.

Cons:

• Harsher on Clothes Most top loaders use an agitator, which is said to be harsher on clothes as opposed to tumbling your clothes which is how your clothes are cleaned in a front load wash machine.
• Less Energy Efficient Front load wash machines typically use more water and electricity than front load wash machines.

If I were to choose a top load wash machine to use off-grid I would choose this one. It’s a Whirlpool 4.3 cu. ft. high-efficiency top load washing machine. It costs $497.70.

Front Load Wash Machines

Description:

Front load wash machines are designed to be more water and energy efficient than a standard top load wash machine. They don’t use a traditional agitator to clean clothes and are growing in popularity.

Pros:

• More Energy Efficient Overall front load wash machines use less electricity and less water than a top load wash machine.
• Cleans Better Front load wash machines are known for cleaning clothes better than a top load wash machine.
• Gentler On Clothes They don’t use an agitator, which wears clothes out more quickly. Rather than an agitator your clothes tumble against each other to help clean them without wearing them out.

Cons:

• Ergonomics Some people do not like the fact that you have to bend over to load and unload this type of wash machine. Many manufactures have solved this problem by designing a pedestal to place your front load wash machine on in order to raise it off the ground.
• Upkeep Front load wash machines are known to mold and mildew a lot more frequently than top load wash machines. This can be avoided if you use the right type and amount of detergent and dry the gasket after each use. Some people feel the need to leave the door open when not in use in order to avoid this problem.
• Cost Front load wash machines typically start at higher prices than a standard top-load wash machine. But, if you take into account the savings on water and electricity, they will save you money in the long run.

If I were to choose a front load wash machine to use off-grid I would choose this one. It’s a Electrolux 4.3 cu. ft. high-efficiency front load wash machine. It costs $648.00.

Which Wash Machine we prefer for our off-grid system:

The wash machine that best fits our off-grid needs is this 3.5 cu. ft. Top Load Washer. We chose this one because it uses 6 amps and has a large enough capacity to keep up with our laundry needs. Even though front load wash machines are rated to be higher in efficiency, we have experience with them smelling bad and don’t want to deal with that problem on our homestead. We also don’t feel that the agitator in top load wash machines is a big enough negative to be a deal breaker in our mind. While the twin tub and portable wash machines are super solutions for off-grid living, we plan to have sufficient solar electricity to run a more powerful machine.

Jump to: Refrigerators | Water Heaters | Wash Machines | Kitchen Stoves

Kitchen Stoves

Gas Range

Description:

Gas ranges for off-grid living work similarly to a standard range except that they use a battery ignition (see picture below). A battery ignition eliminates the need for a pilot light to be lit all the time burning gas unnecessarily or a glow bar which uses about 500 watts.

Pros: 

• Energy Efficient Because they use a battery ignition there is no standing pilot light wasting gas.

Cons:

• Cost A propane off-grid range with battery ignition is going to cost you a few hundred dollars more than a standard electric range.

Wood Cook Stove

Description:

People have been using wood cook stoves to cook on for a long time. They are typically installed in a kitchen and have an oven. They also produce a lot of heat so they are great for heating your home with as well.

Pros:

• Heat Output I am including this point as both a pro and a con of cooking on a wood cook stove. For obvious reasons the heat produced by cooking on a wood stove in the cold months is a huge benefit to your home and comfort for your family.
• Free Energy Well, it might not be free if you can’t source your own wood off of your land, but the cost of buying a permit to cut your own firewood is minimal. You can read more about firewood cutting permits and rules in this article here.
• Appearance Wood stoves are beautiful to look at and have in your home.

Cons:

• Cost If you buy a new wood cook stove you can expect to pay a lot of money. Possibly three or four times the amount you would on an off-grid gas range.
• Heat Output Like I mentioned above, I am including this point as both a pro and a con of cooking on a wood stove. In the hot months if this is your only way to cook food and your wood cook stove is inside your home, you are going to be pretty uncomfortable with all that heat.
• Temperature Control It is going to take some time and practice to get efficient at regulating the temperature of your stove. There will be a lot of trial and error and maybe even some burnt meals before you figure out how to get good at it.

Which kitchen stove we prefer for our off-grid system:

We ended up purchasing the GE Hotpoint 30in off-grid range with battery ignition. The battery ignition will save us propane and I love the sealed burners for easy cleaning. We heat our home with the England 1,800 sq. ft. wood burning stove in the winter, so we also are cooking on the top of the wood stove, but that will not be our primary appliance for cooking our food. Read here to learn how to choose a wood burning stove that’s right for you.

Jump to: Refrigerators | Water Heaters | Wash Machines | Kitchen Stoves

Now that we have done the research we have a much better handle on what appliances we want to use on our off-grid homestead. I hope this article has been helpful to you as you consider what appliances you want to use. As you can see there are many options to choose from. My suggestion is to choose ones that fit your budget and energy resources. Are there other major appliances that you would like information about? Please leave your suggestion in the comment section below.

Keepsm:)ing!