These days, we don’t really give the gift of electricity a second thought. We come home, flip the lights on, fire up the oven and cook a hot meal in no time. But, have you ever considered what you would do in the event that electricity wasn’t available? If you desire to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle, it’s important to consider all the possibilities and be prepared for the if and when scenarios. No matter how far-fetched it may seem in our current reality, there are several ways you can prepare food with no electricity at all.
Here are 5 ways to ensure there will be food on the table without any power to back you up.
Get Your Grill On
This may be the simplest and most obvious solution to cooking without electricity. If you have a gas grill, you’ll want to make sure you have extra propane tanks on hand, or it may be worth looking into a charcoal model.
The best part about this is, the sky is the limit when it comes to cooking a good meal over the grill. From steak and pork to chicken and veggies, you don’t have to sacrifice flavor or taste, even when the power decides to take a hike.
Go Old School With An Open Fire
No power, no problem – just build yourself a backyard bonfire and start cooking.
Through some trial and error (and a little patience) you will eventually figure out the best way to get an A-grade flame that will cook anything to perfection. You’ll need a good supply of kindling to get started, and it helps to have a metal rack to set the food on. Of course, if you don’t have one on hand, a large rock works too. Hot dogs are an obvious choice over the open flame, but you can also go big and cook up a meal of steak and veggies too.
Have fun with it, even when the power comes back on. You may even turn it into a weekly tradition with your family.
Let The Sun Do The Work
And guess what, they were right. Most of it has ended up in landfills and in our environment.
Now, here’s the thing – we often hear that we, as consumers, are the ones causing all this waste.
But that’s not the whole story.
It’s not just about what we do after we’re done using something, it’s about the whole process of making and getting rid of stuff.
There are other ways to tackle this problem.
This is a perfect eco-friendly way to serve up a hot meal without the use of any electricity.
A solar cooker allows you to use the energy of the sun to cook and heat up food without needing fuel or other outside material to operate. Most of these cookers are portable and extremely easy to move from place to place. Not only that, it may help you save a little money on your electric bill if you use it consistently.
You can cook anything from grilled cheese sandwiches to soups to chicken or fish, however these will require a little extra time and patience to cook all the way through. If you want to be prepped and ready for unexpected events in the future, solar power is the way to go.
Try It Before You Mock It: Tea Light Stove
If electricity is not an option, tea lights can be used as your go-to for emergency heating, cooking and lighting. They are safe to use indoors and can be stored for a long time without going bad. You may not be able to create a 5-course meal with these tiny candles, but you can heat up soup, cook rice and eggs, boil water for sanitation purposes and other smaller low-key items that will keep you nourished in the event of an emergency.
Although it may seem a bit far-fetched in today’s world, don’t underestimate the power of wax and a flame to get the job done.
Before They Were Ornamental; They Were Practical
If you have a fireplace in your home, this is another great indoor option if the elements don’t allow you to get outside.
Similar to an open fire in the backyard, you can cook a delicious meal in a few different ways. Place your meal of choice in some aluminum foil and let it cook away directly on the embers. Be sure to rotate often if you’re cooking meat, and always use a meat thermometer to ensure it is cooked all the way through.
If you have a fireplace grate, you can set this above the fire and use it as a spot to fry up something yummy in a cast iron skillet. Dutch ovens work well in this scenario too.
If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace, this is a great option to take advantage of when hard times come around.
Try out a few of these suggestions (or research your own) before an emergency strikes, so you can be 100% ready if/when that time occurs. By having a plan B in mind, you’ll be able to make it through a power outage or other crisis like a pro.