Comments on: Cooking without electricity

By: Threadbndr

Threadbndr — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:21:33 +0000

I always stock up on charcoal when it goes on sale at the end of the outside grilling season and we usually have a rack of wood. If you have a wood burning fireplace, I recommend a few cast iron cooking pans (Dutch oven with lid, fry pan and the footed rack to put the fry pan on). Just be sure to practice with it first – maybe on a family campout. You work with live coals, not flame, with cast iron cookware.

I can even bake in a dutch oven – quick breads like cornbread or biscuts. I would do meat on the outside grill, though – due to the greasy smoke.

A couple of large coolers are a good idea – for saving the freezer contents (we’d just got out yearly meat order when the weather hit) but our power was pretty stable and the limb that came down missed the power line.

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:46:42 +0000

If your house or yard gets plenty of sunshine, it might be worth building or buying a solar cooker/oven.

By: Festival of Frugality #105 | Sense to Save

Festival of Frugality #105 | Sense to Save — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:49:21 +0000

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By: Festival of Frugality-Holiday Edition at Mommy Gets PAID

Festival of Frugality-Holiday Edition at Mommy Gets PAID — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:42:12 +0000

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By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:17:10 +0000

As for the perishables, I suggest going out side to get a big chunk of ice and put it into two bowls. One for the fridge and one for the freezer.

By: Bouncing Betty

Bouncing Betty — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:54:13 +0000

I have a gas stove, so I can at least cook. It does have an electronic ignition, but I bet I can use a match to light the burners if need be. I have a gas grill and will grill food about 10 months out of the year. I guess if push came to shove, I’d use the gas grill.

Water is a different issue, living in the country on a well, if the power goes out, the water goes out. I keep a couple gallon jugs of bottled water for me and the dogs. If the storm is supposed to be severe, I do fill the tub up halfway, as others have said, at least I can fill up dog water dishes, flush the toilet, and use the water to rinse my plates.

I do keep a supply of candles, matches and various food stuffs that don’t need tons of cooking in the cupboard,(instant oatmeal, instant soups) just in case.

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:23:24 +0000

When the power went out for a whole day a month ago, my husband was outside in the dark cooking hamburgers on the grill with a head lamp on his head. It was the funniest thing! He also has a little emergency stove and lots of other handy things since he is an Eagle Scout. His motto is “always be prepared.”

By: Jes

Jes — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:58:36 +0000

We have a camping stove that runs on propane- it’s a handy thing to have for emergencies. You can pick up a small one for around $20 at walmart- we were given ours by my sister- they were upgrading. :) I love hand me downs!

By: Bethany

Bethany — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:57:39 +0000

My parents heat their house with a woodstove, and they use it to cook quite often, heating chili or soup. When the power would go out, my mom would make hot chocolate and eggs and toast or oatmeal on the woodstove. But like you with your chafing dish, they never cook raw meat on it.

If you live in an area that has lots of storms and you lose power a lot, you might want to invest in a camping stove that uses those sterno things, or little propane tanks. Or even if you camp a lot. Then it could do double duty.

I can’t even stand just having a stove top and not an oven, so I think I’d be terrible in a no stove situation, lol. I might have to insist on having charcoal around all year, just in case.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:54:05 +0000

You can use more candles under it for a little better heat! Or if you are really a candle freak, I mean collector, you could put 8 or 9 together and either hold or devise a holder and cook pretty well and get a little bit of heat, too.

If you don’t have city water and a storm is coming remember to fill the bath tub! Then you can use the water to FLUSH, water the dog, etc. This is a big problem if you live in a house with an electric pump!!!! I also keep a big jug of sealed drinking water just in case.

Remember, too, to close off as many rooms as you can in a storm to conserve heat!!

We live rural and the fools who built our house [and the fool who bought it!! :)] didn’t bother with a fireplace!!!