Power outage Menues

[not2late]

Recently, we had some bad weather and lost electricity for a few hours. So, let's get some ideas going on for emergency situations, like no power, no water, etc.

Basic foods that don't need refrigeration:
For all phases:
Canned meat: tuna, chicken, turkey, corned beef
Canned vegetables: spinach, green beans, pumpkin puree
Dried meat: jerky,
Dried veggies: several camping stores sell "freeze-dried" vegetables.
Oil: peanut, safflower, olive etc.
Herbs and spices
Powdered cream: I haven't tried this product, but ExpertFoods sells it.
Powdered eggs and powdered egg whites

OWL and Beyond:
Nuts
Dried fruit: several camping supply stores carry freeze-dried fruits.
Canned fruit: there are no sugar added canned fruits on the market.
Canned or dried beans.
Canned vegetables: Phase dependent

If you still have refrigeration (all phases):
Dairy: cheese, eggs, cream,

OWL and beyond:
Dairy: yogurt

Cooking equipment:
If you have a grill, you're in luck. You can grill foods. Also if you have cast iron pots or a skillet, you can set it on the grill and fry or stew foods. Water can be boiled in a pot that has no plastic handles, etc.

Otherwise, you might want to invest in a butane powered hotplate.

Any other tips and ideas, post them here.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Power outage Menues

Good subject post.
Generally the lights are only out for a few hours at most, but one thing you should refrain from doing is opening the refrig during this time. In fact a little sign on it to remind the kids to stay out is a great idea.
Always have a "just in case" plan because you just never no when a widespread power outage will happen.

[not2late]

Re: Power outage Menues

Can't agree with you more. A couple of years ago, Hurricane Isabel came and I was powerless for 1 week. It was challenging staying on the WOE, but I managed to do it.

[chickaDee59]

Re: Power outage Menues

Great Post!! Something we don't think about until it happens and we are without power!

[not2late]

Re: Power outage Menues

I'm bumping this up because it seems timely at the moment.

[texwife&mom]

Re: Power outage Menues

summer sausage.
peanut butter.

water, water, water, water!!!!

[not2late]

Re: Power outage Menues

Drinking water tips:
http://www.nsf.org/consumer/natural_...ter_safety.asp

[angelsfort]

Re: Power outage Menues

you can also get smaller sized cooking things (like grills and stuff) at camping stores... these come in handy during a power outage.

[not2late]

Re: Power outage Menues

Bumping this up, in light of hurricane season.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Power outage Menues

Yep, we were just discussing our "hurricane prepardeness kit!" Getting things in order just in case.

[Weighless]

Re: Power outage Menues

"Digital, dial, or instant-read food thermometers and appliance thermometers will help you know if the food is at safe temperatures. Keep appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer at all times. When the power is out, an appliance thermometer will always indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer no matter how long the power has been out. The refrigerator temperature should be 40 ºF or below; the freezer, 0 ºF or lower. If you’re not sure a particular food is cold enough, take its temperature with a food thermometer."


Taken from here: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets...ency/index.asp

This has an excellant listing at the bottom of the page to help with decisions what to keep or discard after an outage.

[Barbde]

Re: Power outage Menues

Yep, we were just discussing our "hurricane prepardeness kit!" Getting things in order just in case.

Me too Mog. Sigh.
Well, we have a generator so we are able to keep the frig running. Got lots of stuff for the grill. And made sure I got veggies. Last time it was FOREVER before the stores got restocked with fresh foods.

[not2late]

Re: Power outage Menues

Oh yeah, be sure to have manual gadgets like can openers around...electric can openers won't work if you have no electricity!

And medications: if you are evacuated, be sure to bring your medications with you! I read somewhere that the some of the Katrina evacuees did not bring their medications and it made their medical treatment 100 times harder because the emergency centers weren't stocked with them.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Power outage Menues

Good luck Barb! We don't have a generator, but I have a freezer full off frozen meats, I'm going to put some gallon jugs of water in there tonite so I'll be able to keep things frozen for a few days if need be. It looks like we'll probably just end up with a lot of rain is all. I hope it misses you guys!

[Barbde]

Re: Power outage Menues

Thanks Mog. You stay safe too. It looks like it may strenghten after it leaves the State of Florida!
Another thing that I do to prepare for this is COOK up a lot of my stuff ahead of time. Like today, roasting a chicken, cooked up some pasta (for the boys) with sauce, etc. That way it's already prepared and can be eaten cold. We have a stockpile of coolers also, with ice. So food can be kept in them as well. Really, you just have to plan for "camping out".
ATM machines generally go down in these things. Make sure you have some cash on hand for after the storm passes!