My husband and I along with others spent the better part of the rest of 2016 helping those who had been affected by the hurricane. The devastation was unbelievable! As a result, I decided to write this series with the hopes that it would help others be more prepared for natural disasters, thus Building A One Month Preparedness Pantry was born.
You can read previous posts HERE along with a more in-depth explanation of why I'm doing this series HERE.
In this post we're going to talk about non-electric ways to cook food when the power goes out.
We saw lots and lots of people who were existing on snack crackers, chips, potted meat, etc because they had no means to cook. We also were told by many that they had lost the foods in their refrigerators and freezers because they had no way to cook it before it spoiled. Many were without power for several days and some for several weeks.
So, let's talk about some non-electric ways to cook food. There's the ...
gas grill ... There are all shapes and sizes to choose from, from tabletop size to the huge stand-alone kind ... and of course you would need propane gas to fuel it.
charcoal grill ... charcoal would be needed and here again they come in all shapes and sizes.
gas camp stove burner ... don't forget the propane gas
solar oven ... the right time of the year this would work
rocket stove ...this would do in a pinch
wood stove (you can get portable wood stoves) ... you would need wood and of course it would heat up the area around it, that's something that would need to be taken into consideration especially if you lost power in the summer.
fire pit (gas or wood) ... depending on the weather this would be an option for outside. This would work for roasting hot dogs and such.
gas stove ... you would need to make sure that you had gas on hand to run it. These come in all sizes and shapes from appliance size to portable sizes suitable for camping.
propane cooker ... this would need to be used outside.
When considering options for cooking without electricity it would be wise to have as many back-ups as possible.
So many people we came into contact with were simply victims of not being prepared.
Patsi
Sharing 42 years' experience of frugal, prudent living and pantry building
My second blog: From This Heart of Mine
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
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We are pretty good in this area. We have a propane BBQ, a charcoal BBQ, a fire pit, a propane camp stove, sternos and a fondue pot. We know how to use all of them too. Make sure people have dry firewood, plenty of propane or charcoal. After Superstorm Sandy people ran out of those things quick.
ReplyDeleteMarybeth, you brought out an excellent point ... we need to know how to use the items we would need in a disaster situation. Having them but never using them until a disaster happens is a recipe for another disaster. Good point!
DeleteIn 2003 there was a hydro black-out that affected a huge area, both Canada and the U.S. It lasted for a couple days for some and weeks for others. It was amazing how many people didn't click into the fact that they could use their BBQs to cook food!
ReplyDeleteThat experience made us more aware of the need to have back-up propane tanks. We now have 2, one on the BBQ and one in case it runs out. We fill the empty one as soon as we can, so it's always ready to go. Our BBQ has a burner on one side. Although we never use it normally, in an emergency it will definitely be useful.
Back up alternatives are a camp stove we have in storage (we don't have many propane bottle to use with it) and we could easily create a fire pit in our back yard if needed (there's lots of wood around our house to use if need be too). My family grew up camping and I work at a pioneer village, so finding alternative ways to cook is not a problem for us.
Rhonda, sounds you like you got this!!! You go girl!
DeleteFor Christmas I got a nifty one burner camp type unit that uses butane instead of propane. I love it! We also have a propane BBQ and charcoal BBQ. We have a gas stove and oven that could be used in a pinch if needed (the starter is electric).
ReplyDeleteJenn, you're prepared! Good job!
DeleteOh! Forgot to mention, we have a solar cooker too. Really, you can use a solar cooker any time of the year. You just need sun! :)
ReplyDeleteJenn, Now if we can just get the sun to cooperate!!! LOL!
DeleteWe BBQ every weekend except for Easter and Christmas. Sometimes it's twice a week if the weather isn't too awfully bad. We also use propane to cook with and have a 1,000 gal. tank.
ReplyDeleteKris, sounds like you're prepared in this area! Yeah!
DeleteI am so glad you are helping all of us to get ready for whatever might happen. You have a good understanding of all of it that we don't. I can't tell you how many other things our family has benefitted from that you have taught me! :-) Thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteAm I right that you should Never use a barbecue INSIDE of a home? Use them only outside where there is plenty of air circulation and only have fire were there is no escaping gas from gas lines in the street or from water heaters etc. being displaced and such. Not just for the fire safty but for other reasons that can kill do not use barbecues and such inside? I thought I had heard this and that peoople have done so with dire consequences. Please emphasis this BIG if there is a warning to using them. So many things could happen that all of us need to know what to do to the best of our ability and so we can help others. :) Sarah
Sarah, you are right ... NEVER use a grill inside! Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement!
DeletePatsi,
ReplyDeleteSterno cans are usually cheap to buy don't take up a lot of space and are great for emergency cooking.
XOXO
Vicky
Vicky, you're right! Thanks for adding that option!
DeleteSince I'm in a second floor apt w/o a balcony for outdoor cooking, I have a fondue pot and sterno for heating water for instant coffee/tea or soup. Shirley near Seattle
DeleteThere you go, where there's a will, there's a way! Thanks for sharing Shirley!
DeleteI am less than optiomal in this area. Have the propane BBQ. Fondue pot with
ReplyDeletefuel. A small rocket stove. We have lots of wood it burns fast and hot is eucalyptus. I think I will get more Sterno. I just do not have that much more room. Maybe I will get a small camp stove. They are 19.99 at Wal Mart.
I thought we were having an emergency the other day I was in the shower and it turned off. It was just the neighbor and her plumber. Good thing I had not used soap yet.:)
Have a great week.
Patti
Patti, it sounds like you are well on your way to being able to cook in a disaster situation. Sure glad that all that was wrong with your water was just the neighbor and her plumber!!!!
DeletePatsy, here in Australia we have a lot of disasters in our state in summer so there are ads on TV all the time encouraging people to prepare ahead of the storm season. We often lose power in bad storms so are prepared for that. We have a rocket stove and a gas cylinder for cooking. Our state government has a list available for everyone to get their storm kit ready so we really have no excuse not to do so.
ReplyDeleteNanna Chel, that is wonderful! Sounds like you have listened and are prepared. You go girl!!!!
DeleteWe are good in this area also, a camp stove, a fire pit and a BBQ. We also have a fireplace insert and I can put a pot on the top of it if I need to.
ReplyDelete