“Biomass cookstove” is a physical structure that contains air-fuel combustion for heat release, and subsequently, directs the heat of combustion towards a cooking target (pot/pan/griddle). Besides cooking, stoves provide useful energy for space/water heating, in-house lighting, fish/meat smoking, and grain/flour roasting. The same device in many cultures, serves more than one of these functions. Modern cookstoves guarantee more than a plain fire; features such as high efficiency, low emissions, and safety of the user. According to the wide range of food habits, socio-cultural factors, and fuel type available; there exist, no of cookstove designs across the world whether traditional or improved.
2.1. Historic overview of biomass cookstoves
Cookstoves are as old as the human history. They have evolved in numerous shapes and sizes, made up of varied materials, and adapted to different cultures and cuisines, with the advent of time.