Survival Cooking

Simple Cooking without Electricity

If you have a power outage or your utilities are off and you have no refrigeration , you can still have interesting and nutritious meals—as long as you have taken the time to prepare for emergencies before you have a problem!

Photo courtesy of kathryn

Here are some ideas to help you. Depending on what you have to work with and how severe the energy crisis is, you should find some that will work for your family, even if you have limited survival skills:

Simple Cooking without a Stove

Remember that you won't be able to use an electric coffee maker. Keep an old fashioned percolator on hand. It can be used with many of the cooking alternatives listed below.

Also remember that you don't have to have hot meals 3 times a day. Consider having only one hot meal a day. You will also save fuel that way.

Be creative. You will be able to think of many meals that can be served cold. Canned foods can be eaten right out of the can. They just don't taste as good that way.

Barbecue Grill

Use your barbecue/grill in a well ventilated area. Don’t use it in the house or garage. Make sure that you have enough fuel and lighter fluid in storage.

Portable Propane or Alcohol Stove for Camping

Store enough fuel to cook for a couple weeks. Propane comes in small plastic "tanks" (camping stores, Wal-Mart, K Mart, etc.) or you can use the 20 lb. refillable tanks (assuming that you are not installing the huge tanks that can be placed in your backyard). If you use the refillable steel tanks, check them frequently and make sure that they do not have rust spots. If they do, make sure that you repair those areas promptly. Also make sure that your propane tanks are protected from weather. Keep away from open flames. Propane is highly explosive.

Fireplace

If you have other alternatives, this may not be your best choice. It's a bit more primitive, but you could use it once in awhile for roasting hot dogs on sticks. The kids will have fun! Make sure you have a supply of wood.

Campfire in your Backyard

Build a makeshift campfire with a circle of rocks. You’ll need wood or you can gather it if you live near a wooded area.

Wood Stove or Coal Stove

If you have a wood or coal stove, you have a source of heating AND survival cooking. This only works in the winter, though. You could get sick from being too warm if you used either of these for cooking in the summer!

Generator Backup for Electric Stove
This is a great short term solution for electrical power outage. It will help you to preserve food in your refrigerator and freezer, as well as cook. However, its shortcoming for long term emergencies is that, eventually you will run out of fuel. In addition, the less expensive generators are gasoline—and it is highly volatile!

If you don't have a fire extinguisher, you need to get one. The above methods of survival cooking are more dangerous than cooking on your regular stove, and you will feel better, knowing that you have a way to extinguish a fire if you have a problem.

As you can see, survival cooking, including water conservation , is a little more work than you are used to, but it isn't the end of the world. Make some preparations now, and you will be able to cook for your family – simple cooking , but meals that they will enjoy, just the same.

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