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How to Cook Without Electricity
In March of
1993, the “Storm of the Century” struck much of the eastern United
States. Experts have estimated that up to 40 percent of the nation’s
population was affected by this massive snowstorm. This storm struck
the southeastern states particularly hard, as authorities in this area
seldom plan for significant snowstorms. Many Southerners in rural areas
lost power for over a week.
If you have a stash of
food,[http://www.harvestonfarms.com/Starter-Food-Supply-p/fs3-hf.htm] a
storm cellar, and a heating plan for your home, you may consider your
preparation for power outages and extreme weather
complete.[http://www.harvestonfarms.com/Emergency-food-Storage-Survival-Handbook-p/plefs.htm]
But if you have not contemplated how to cook your emergency food, you
could end up in a bind. Of course, you can rely on peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches for a day or two, but if your power remains out for
longer than 24 hours, you will need a concrete plan for cooking without
electricity.
To cook without electricity, you have several options. Many people
count on cooking with a propane grill. This may be a short-term
solution, but you must keep in mind that propane cannot be safely used
indoors, as burning propane creates deadly carbon monoxide fumes. In
case of winter weather, you must have a protected outdoor area in which
you can cook. Additionally, propane cylinders are difficult to store,
expensive, and potentially explosive.
In good weather, you can cook outdoors over a wood or charcoal fire
using a Dutch oven. These pots can stew, fry, roast, or steam food. The
best Dutch ovens are made of cast iron, which retains heat longer than
aluminum pots. However, cast iron pots are quite heavy and can be prone
to rust if not properly maintained. If you have a fireplace, you can
cook using a Dutch oven in your fireplace.
Camping stoves are another popular choice for cooking without
electricity. These stoves burn butane or other fuels. However, these
stoves also release carbon monoxide and should not be used indoors.
Again, a sheltered outdoor area must be available to use a camping stove
in the winter.
In clear weather, you can also use a solar oven to cook and bake. A
solar oven is fairly simple to make yourself, or you can purchase one
pre-made. Solar ovens convert the ultra-violet rays of sunlight into
infrared rays. The trapped infrared heat in the oven causes food to
cook. However, these ovens are limited by the amount of sunlight
available. In the winter, you may only have a few hours in which to do
your cooking, so you must plan accordingly.
To cook safely indoors without electricity in the winter, you can also
use “canned heat.” These are the small, flaming canisters that caterers
use to keep food warm and can be found under the brand names of Sterno,
Heat-it, or Safe-Heat. These canisters use an alcohol-based, gel-like
fuel that will not spill. They are fairly easy to find in a department
store’s camping section. Although you will need a stand to hold the pots
of food over the heat, using this source of heat is fairly simple. A
seven-ounce can will burn for up to two hours.
If you do not have a wood-fueled cook-stove in your home, you will have
to plan for cooking without electricity. A good emergency
plan[http://www.harvestonfarms.com/How-to-Prepare-For-Any-Disaster-p/gb1.htm]
may include all of the above options, depending on the circumstances of
the power outage. Above all, be sure that you cook with safety in
mind.
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