Keep furnaces smelting while you're away from base

Background

Normally, furnaces stop processing when they leave simulation distance. With this mod, furnaces continue their cooking calculations in the background, so items smelt as if you never left.

Steps to use

1. Set up your furnace at your base with fuel and raw materials (ore, wood, etc.) inside.

2. Light the furnace and let it start cooking.

3. Travel away from your base—beyond simulation distance. The furnace will pause visually but the mod tracks its progress.

4. Do other activities: explore, mine, build elsewhere, or skip the night.

5. Return to your furnace and it will instantly update to show all the items that should have finished cooking.

6. Collect your smelted items from the output slot.

Notes

• Make sure you have enough fuel loaded before leaving, or the furnace will run out.
• This works with all furnace types and any smeltable material.
• Combine this with crop farming for a fully automated base that progresses while you explore.