Cooking in tents

[TerraMer]

About 22 years ago, while camping near Ramshead, it was snowing so my ex suggested we cook our porridge inside. We had a very heated conversation about it. We unzipped the door for fresh air then I lay some damp tea towels on the floor before lighting the PARAFFIN!!!! stove. Remember those old fold up metal boxes and paraffin blocks we used in scouts and venturers back in the 80s and early 90s while still transitioning to Trangias and MSRs? Yep, one of those.

The colours of a plastic tent floor burning are almost as pretty as paraffin.

A perfectly justified "I told you so".

If you have no choice but to cook under shelter choose the leeward vestibule.

[Gadgetgeek]

a little situational awareness takes care of the CO problem. as soon as your head feels fuzzy or you feel tired, its time to get fresh air. I've been gassed by bad heaters, in auto-shops and by sitting in idling cars with the wind going the wrong way (and a couple work trucks with leaky manifolds) since the first time it happens most people think its just a headache, or tiredness, that's what gets them.
The main time CO is dangerous quickly is if you go into a high CO area, as it can start you going hypoxic before you have a chance to notice it. Also since CO takes a lot longer than CO2 to clear from your blood, lower levels can build up over time if you are doing a lot of cooking, that would likely just make you feel sick, but that would be more the case of being stuck in the tent or cabin for a day or so, and cooking several meals, over a long time, you might start to get used to it, and then not feel it as much. Since it takes a while to clear it out, the risk would be someone who doesn't take a fair amount of time in fresh air, starts to feel a bit better, and then goes back into the contaminated space to sleep, maybe while someone else continues to cook.
The few minutes to cook a meal wouldn't be unduely dangerous, at least compared to the other risks. heaters are far more dangerous than stoves, since you might go to sleep with a heater on.
I would be more worried about the longer term effects of burning unleaded in a stove, or low grade kero, or cheap hex tabs than the CO in a tent.

[Phil S]

I still remember the first time I cooked in a tent. I was perhaps 5 years old and it took several moments to recognise that my treasured tent was not simply de-materialising. Then I dived through the door.

I'm also surprised at how many people don't cook int their tents.

Take sensible precautions, have an emergecny plan in mind but most importantly, pay attention to what you're doing. And really, it's raining or snowing and blowing a gale outside, you're snug and dry(ish) inside your shelter - what else have you got to concentrate on?

[north-north-west]

And really, it's raining or snowing and blowing a gale outside, you're snug and dry(ish) inside your shelter - what else have you got to concentrate on?

That would depend on whether or not you are alone.