How to Boil water using tea light candles & everyday items - No electricity or gas at home

I made this video as I could not find one like it.
Earlier this year - A friend of mine had no electricity or gas for some hours and wanted to make a cup of coffee / tea.
I wanted to demonstrate that using only items readily available in most homes that you could safely do so.
A mug of water took just under 10 minutes to boil (simmer and steam)
"I made this for Cao-Hsin".

[@Tinker13ee]

I'm glad I'm not the only one willing to whatever it takes for a cup of tea

[@erinmichelle9796]

Thank you from Virginia! This helped me during a power outage in today, I made a cup of tea and also heated my oatmeal in a crock over the flames!

[@TomStrong]

So glad it helped you out. Nothing like a nice hot cup of tea in a crisis!. Hope all is ok now. Stay safe.

[@أفلاكالأفكار]

Excellent video. Straight to the point while also showing us all the relevant factors that could change the result. Very well done

[@time5760]

Just had a blizzard in my state and of course the power went out. Found your video and went to buy the tea candles...It works!!!! Made some hot tea. ..my family heated up 3 quarts of water and put it in a plastic container with a lid..so yeah thanks for this advice! ☺

[@TomStrong]

Hope the weather has eased off and glad to know that you managed to make a hot drinks.

[@austinl4635]

I ran out of power and I’m trying to figure out how to make food without opening the fridge😂 this has been very helpful thank you!

[@giannabrunet]

My power went out and I tried this! It worked great!

[@TomStrong]

I am so glad you were able to make a hot drink. 😊

[@zigzagtime4039]

Very good! It boiled very fast. I don't know why during my last power cut I didn't think of using more tea lights. I will find a suitable baking tin and pan to put on draining board for next time! If a small cup was placed in the pan of water I could scramble egg or heat some beans.

[@TomStrong]

+Zigzag Time Great ideas! Glad to know this was useful.

[@DavidThomas-sv1tk]

Thanks for posting this. I was debating the viability of doing a short backpacking trip with candles only (one can't take liquid or gas fuel on an airplane) and your video gives me a helpful data point to estimate how many candles to bring.

[@TomStrong]

@sarahsimagination I am glad you liked it! I actually made this for a friend who had no Gas or Electricity for a day and posted on facebook (by her iPhone) that she wanted to make a cup of tea!! My only constraints were 'Everyday items' and 'Can be done in the home'. Hence no raging fires etc !

[@TomStrong]

I am glad you Liked it - I made this for a friend who had a power cut. She has no camping gear and no gas etc. I wanted to show her that you can still safely heat and cook and boil water etc. :) Thank you for your feedback. :D

[@mayarubina]

This experiment is super !

[@TomStrong]

Thanks! (Its like camping, but at home and only using what is readily available)

[@TomStrong]

I am glad you found it useful ! I used to go camping a great deal and always have tea-light 'lights' (Mini Lanterns etc) but always used 'Fire and metal tripod' or 'Gas stove' to cook on. (Due to wind etc) This 'Home experiment' I was deliberately not using 'special equipment'. But as you can prepare - I recommend you look to ensure you get a 'Better fit' between candle and pot! But, yup! - Candles can work really well! :)

[@Seashellsbytheseashore21]

Thank you so much! I wish I had seen this yesterday. My power was out. But now I know!! Thank you!!!!

[@TomStrong]

You are so welcome! Hope it helps you next time.

[@EnderSpy358]

Came here after watching a girl bring chili to a simmer when her power was out... I didn't know it would boil so fast either!

[@TomStrong]

Always keep a bag of tea lights in the draw. A candle is a lousy light source but a great source of heat. Add more Candle watts the more heat / quicker you need the heat.

[@Zero-dg7dz]

In UK and Europe we expect short term power cut in 2023..nice useful but u could maybe use grill or oven shelf as the top shelf.. seem other vids but you only one to mention surface area and use lot of candles and not take long time.. Making hot tea or coffee in less than 10 mins using standard items ..well done.

[@TomStrong]

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, a grill pan etc is often a good shape, mine was too big to hold up my saucepan and this half sized roasting tin worked best for me, but you are right, this is about using whatever cook / oven wear you have at hand. I have stocked up with a 100 x 8 hour tea lights ready for what 2023 brings. A candle flame brings welcome heat and light.

[@PapaGingerManDude]

This guy is awesome

[@PapaGingerManDude]

Bought some tea lights today!

[@kathreenmargaret1883]

Thanks for the fun chuckles and helpful Video. 🌷🙏

[@catbird7007]

Very helpful in a pinch (current snowstorm w -30°F wind chills in IL today!) If our power goes out, I would try this. There are no battery-operated hot plates, we have no fireplace anymore (long story), and I can't handle fuel odors such as butane in the house. Thank you!!! If I could find the right height, I think a raised cooling or roaster rack would work -- w the candles in the center of the sheet pan and the rack straddling them. Yes? Might take a tad longer for heating, but the candles would get plenty of air.

[@catbird7007]

And not just for a lovely cup of ❤️tea❤️, but heating up some healthy soup or stew to feed the body as well as the soul until power is restored! I always like to keep a good supply of canned soups and veggies on hand, but heating them up first would be much more preferable to eating them "cold".

[@arctic4346]

Excellent practical survivalism tip! This may very well come in handy for the COVID19 crisis.

[@markjones2453]

Basically you got a few candles and something to put them in and BOOM you can eat anywhere you might be I made oatmeal in my car similar to this works like a charm awesome video

[@TomStrong]

Glad you found this useful. Not sure I would light candles in the car though!!

[@markjones2453]

@@TomStrong car broke down was stranded for a few had the windows open while cooking lol it totally worked

[@LinkTheFusky]

a muffin tray works too, when we lost power from the cold we used it to make tea to keep us warm

[@u4313]

Power went out and I need some tea.... hope this works, just put it on now

[@TomStrong]

@sarahsimagination I accept! Tomorrow morning I shall try to fry eggs and may even give cooking bacon a go..

[@thinkforyourselfjohn3163]

Priceless! Thank you! God Bless you.

[@TomStrong]

My pleasure! glad this was of some help.

[@TomStrong]

@sarahsimagination BTW - I have made eggs and bacon using this technique. It took longer than I wanted! But the Eggs were good and the Bacon 'ok'. I will post the video once I get time to 'stitch' it together.

[@socialdef3]

Interesting concept. Good and handy to use in a pinch. I'm wondering what results you'd get from using a cast iron skillet. Gets much hotter and retains its heat, your bacon will come out great and eggs perfect everytime!

[@TomStrong]

socialdef3 I did use a heavy weight pan, but yes a cast iron would have been even better. I made this for a friend who lost her electricity & wanted to show her that even indoors, using basic common items hot drinks & even a full breakfast is still possible.

[@fortitude9932]

@@TomStrong thanks

[@leighb.8508]

Thumbs up. Great video. Thanks.

[@panos5608]

Let’s go power went out and I needed some ramen life saver honestly

[@redwing1067]

Very helpful video ty

[@TomStrong]

Glad it was helpful!

[@RondaWitt-ey9wl]

Yes. Adjust for ventilation. Some candles will go out.

[@christinegerard4974]

Bravo .Thanks .

[@rustbeltvan-life1932]

Great!!!

[@TomStrong]

@inregionecaecorum All good tips. However this video was all about using only items that are commonly found in the 'home'. I deliberately did not raid my camping equipment.

[@Linky286]

It worked!! Thank you so much

[@TomStrong]

Glad it helped!

[@TomStrong]

Sarah, I have gotten around to stitching the 6 videos as one & posted my Bacon & Eggs video.... Hope you enjoy it. :D

[@sandravalani359]

Awesome Experiment!😍ThankS deeply for sharinG for Humanity's wellbeing especially durinG these turbulent times when so many are experiencinG Power Outages!✌🙏🌹🌞🌹☕🍵☕

[@TomStrong]

Thanks for the feedback. It's my pleasure.

[@sandravalani359]

@@TomStrong Many Floridians could really uSe a cup of warm coffee about now!👍I lovVe your experiment as it isn't safe to havVe Propane in my Walkup apt!👍We had 2 Power Outages since I moved into my new apt last year and with so many of my fellow tenants beinG in such poor health...I would be so happiii to serve them a warm soup or beverage especially if we ever get a Power Outage at -30° C!🥶🥶🥶HavVe a beatiful fall!✌🙏😇🌹🌞🌹🍂🍁🍁🍁🍂☕☕☕

[@n_communicates8030]

I'm writing about a traveling alchemist who boils his liquids in a portable pot. I had to confirm via this video that's possible.

[@TomStrong]

Sounds like a fun book!

[@ElaineScanlan]

Thanks Tom. Very useful for post-Brexit. But that's just Project Fear, isn't it?

[@arctic4346]

Hmmm... From across the pond, it looks like Britain is doing fine without the EU... Guess you remoaners were wrong, and the UK didn't need the EU after-all.

[@danielbentley7117]

Good to know with energy prices shooting up. But I'd just collect firewood and make a small fire in the garden rather than waste tea lights. Quicker to boil

[@lillistern4901]

i would try this FIRST in the shower with glass doors only! if it works i may venture to the glass top

[@timfrank7461]

How many candles did you use for this?

[@TomStrong]

Video shows this.

[@frankdel5115]

It works I see, but if you take in the cost of the 17 tea candles to boil one cup of water it would probably have cost $1.00 just to boil water one time. Not cost efficient. .

[@TomStrong]

These candles are tea lights and depending which ones you buy last for either 4 or 8 hours. These candles had been barely used. …and the point of the video is not to spend nor save money but to use what you have in the kitchen in a power cut. (No electric, No gas) to make a hot drink.

[@insomniadraws5820]

Could you cook pasta then? With tea lights ?

[@TomStrong]

Sure! tea light candles can keep the water on a rolling boil for plenty of time. (most tea lights last for hours!)

[@Panbaneesha]

SHTF could happen when you're just visiting your auntie, and how many Trangia or Swiss Army cookers has she got? So if you can show us a better way with things everyone has at home, go ahead.

[@innerhealingwithmelanie]

Takes about more than 20 min. For the water to boil

[@TomStrong]

Less time if you have less water. Less time if you add more candles. The point is you can boil water for a nice hot drink with only some small candles in your home.

[@vadymvolodko7252]

I bought instruction from inplix and I built it very cheap.

[@inregionecaecorum]

You would be better off with a Trangia meths burner, or a Swiss Army Not Kocher, all readily available on teh interwebs. In fact that are probably a million better ways of boiling water than using tea candles, how long would it take to boil a cup of tea with only one?

[@m.b.8420]

So kann ein Teelichtbrand entstehen...Die Lichter stehen zu eng zusammen

[@TomStrong]

People should never leave a naked flame unattended. I specifically recommend people used their oven / stove tops and to use only cooking items. All of which are able to withstand far hotter heat than any candle or candle fire. Any such ‘candle fire’ would be contained in items able to withstand far greater heat. Is Candle wax worse than cooking fat / oil? What danger do you see a candle fire poses that is worse than a pan of fat catching fire? (something everyone cooking has to be wary of and manage)

[@dripsa]

Who is here because of loadshedding?

[@AlibiMusic247]

You need a new skillet.