Woman's genius tip for heating up food if you have a power cut this winter

As the UK feels the bite of sub-zero temperatures, snowfall has prompted many to crank up their heating or snuggle under cosy blankets.

With weather forecasters issuing snow warnings earlier this week, the National Energy System Operator has anticipated a strain on power supplies. The chilly evenings and frosty weather are keeping more people indoors, relying on gas or electric heating and enjoying television.

Power outages have been affecting various parts of the country, so it's prudent to be prepared for sudden blackouts. A woman has shared a clever hack for heating water or food during a power cut.

Tara Rondinelli, an avid crafter with 224,000 followers on her Instagram account @littlepinelearners, suggests: "If you need to heat up water, soup or other food during a power outage, put tea lights in a muffin tin and you have a DIY stove!"

In her instructional video, she demonstrates placing tealights in a muffin tray, lighting them, and then positioning a pan on top. She advises: "You can't completely cover the muffin tin holes or the flame will go out. You will have a little smoke residue on the bottom of the pot after cooking, but it easily wiped off for me!"

She further recommends not using your best pot for this method, covering the pot to speed up heating, and placing a heat pad under the muffin tin for safety.

While some individuals expressed their doubts about the effectiveness of the trick, others have vouched for its success with their own experiences.

One person commented: "I recently used tea lights to heat water, make toast, quesadillas, and scrambled eggs. Our power was off after Hurricane Helene hit us here in Asheville. It does work."

Another remarked: "It does work. I did this for Hurricane Milton when