Food is without a doubt one of the most important resources during any type of emergency. So naturally, we put a large focus on building up an ample supply of emergency food storage. But how often do we think about how we are going to cook and prepare that food? After all, electricity is often one of the first resources to be lost during an emergency, which many homes rely on to run their stoves and ovens. Even if your home stove and oven are gas-powered, there is still a possibility that it will also become unusable during an emergency situation. It is important to be aware of alternative methods to cook and prepare foods because it doesn’t matter how much food you have if you don’t have any way to prepare it.
The cheapest alternative cooking method is fire. Make sure to build a fire pit to keep the fire contained in one area, and have an adequate supply of tinder (small flammable objects such as wood shavings and crumpled paper), kindling (small- to medium-sized sticks), and fuel (larger pieces of wood) so that the fire will keep burning long enough to be of use. If you decide to construct a fire pit, make sure it is away from your home or other potential fire hazards such as low hanging tree branches.
Probably one of the easier methods to cook without electricity is to use a gas grill. Most gas grills use propane fuel tanks and are easy to use. However, it is important to remember to not store propane fuel tanks inside the house, as they do present a potential risk for explosion if accidentally ignited. Gas grills are especially useful for grilling and roasting food items.
CampChef stoves also provide a good alternative for cooking without electricity. There are a variety of stoves available, including stoves that run on propane and other types of liquid fuel. These stoves are also relatively lightweight and easily transported (they are designed for camping, after all), and could prove especially useful in a situation where your family has to leave your home.
Another interesting option is solar-powered ovens. Solar ovens do not depend on high outdoor temperatures or sunny weather to cook, rather, they rely completely on ultraviolet radiation to cook food. This means that even on cloudy winter days, a solar oven can get hot enough to properly cook food (some can even get up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit). Solar cookers work best between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and when the UV index is 7 or greater.
Having multiple options available for properly preparing your food during an emergency is crucial to your family’s ability to cope with any crisis. Examine your emergency plan and budget to determine what methods would work best for your family’s situation. Being prepared to cook without electricity will make a big difference in how well you can provide for your family in an emergency situation.
