3 Emergency Cooking Ideas Anyone Can Do

Going Without Power Because of a Natural Disaster Can Be Stressful. There Are Steps You Can Take to Plan for the Next Storm and One of These Is to Set Up a System for Emergency Cooking.

 

I think it is fun when the power goes out and we have a chance to pull out the camp stove and use it. I actually have separate pots and pans to use on my outdoor stove and even though we almost always use this as our emergency cooking source, it’s a good idea to plan for more than one way to cook in an emergency.

When the storm hits and you are without power for a few hours, days, or even weeks, how will you heat water and cook food?

Those of you who go camping regularly will probably have today’s topic covered. For the rest of us, who don’t take the time to “rough it”, we will be taking a look at the things you can set up for emergency cooking without power.

Plan for More than One Way to Cook in an Emergency

A camp stove works great, but if you run out of fuel you will be stuck. With a little advance preparation, you can make all of these ideas at home and they will cost pennies to make.

Tin Can Stove

This stove is created using a #10 can, a tuna can, wax, and cardboard. A tin can stove and buddy burners have been around since the Great Depression. It was our “go to” cooking source when I was a Girl Scout!

I found all of the necessary supplies in my house today. You can download simple directions for how to Make a Tin Can Stove. It doesn’t take much to make them, so save a #10 can and a few tuna cans, and store it in your garage for the future. This is easy emergency cooking!

Dutch Oven Cooking

Dutch ovens have been used as cooking vessels for hundreds of years. Dutch ovens are well suited for long, slow cooking, such as in making roasts, stews, and casseroles. Virtually any recipe that can be cooked in a conventional oven can be cooked in a Dutch oven.

Learn how to start Charcoal Briquettes and be successful with Dutch Oven Cooking with these two handouts. There are many websites offering Dutch oven cooking advice and recipes. This type of emergency cooking does take some practice, and supplies, so read up if you are going to use this as one of your main types of cooking without power.

You will need approximately 25 pounds of briquettes for 1 weeks use. Don’t forget to store an adequate supply of charcoal starter too.

Backyard Fire Pit

Are you lucky enough to live in the country and have a fire pit in your yard? Even those who live in the city can purchase patio fire pits that can be put to use in an emergency cooking situation. Make sure to have plenty of fuel (wood or charcoal) for the type of cooking you want to do especially if you are going to incorporate Dutch oven cooking with the campfire fire pit.

Make a wire toaster out of a hanger with these directions. This is a fun project to do with kids and the finished toasters are easy to store for future use. Also, consider having plenty of heavy-duty foil on hand for foil dinners. Here is a link for 9 foil dinner recipes and instructions from The Art of Manliness.

Baking in a Box

With some advance planning, a large cardboard box, and aluminum foil you can be cooking in no time! It’s another simple way to plan for emergency cooking with the items you have on hand.

These directions to bake in a box use charcoal briquettes as the fuel source. You can also learn the skills to build a Solar Cooker from Solar Cookers World Network.

Today’s Challenge:

GOOD – Choose three main ways you will cook in an emergency then download the five emergency cooking handouts for your preparedness library. At least you’ll have a plan if power fails.

BETTER: Download the emergency cooking Food Equipment List and see how many items you have on hand. Are you going to use utensils from your kitchen or have special (used?) ones packed away.

BEST: Purchase or make your own “three ways of emergency cooking” so you will really be prepared for the next power outage. Make sure you have enough fuel to use them.