Methods of Cooking
The Kleine Gemeinde and other non-traditional Mennonites of Blue Creek and Spanish Lookout are switching over to electric ranges, as well as some of the wealthier Conservative, Holdemans and Beachy. Electricity prices haven't gone down, it has simply become more affordable, more available and more stable compared to 10 years ago. Also they no longer rely only on the stove but use other modern items such as electric pots, electric griddles, etc.
The Old Colony group uses propane stoves because it is more economical than electric ranges yet more efficient than woodstoves, also to keep their tradition of avoiding "luxury" items; the typical Belizean fashion with a butane tank standing outside and a hole in the wall for the supply line. For cooking that will require a large amount of time on the fire, an outside fire is built and the cooking is done there instead. Same applies to the lower income families of the Holdeman, Beachy, and Conservative churches.
Among the ultra conservatives of the Old Order Mennonites of Barton Creek and daughter communities, woodstoves are still used, though perhaps propane stoves might soon replace that method.
There are some of the Conservative, and Holdemans too, in southern Belize who still cook over an open wood fire, more out of cultural tradition than anything else. Tortillas sure taste better when cooked over a wood fire, at least in my opinion.
