Junie Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 We are expecting to lose electricity this weekend, so I have to plan meals that do not require cooking or heating. We've done this before, of course, but I'm looking for some new ideas! TIA! Quote
KungFuPanda Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 My mother does this routinely because she lives rurally and can loose power for a week at a time. She relies on her gas grill and warms things in a pot on top of her kerosene heater. 2 Quote
Arcadia Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 What canned food do you have at home? How long are you expecting to lose electricity? We use up whatever leafy vegetables and salad dressing we have in the fridge for a mixed salad since the fridge would have no electricity anyway. We also make burritos or sandwiches with canned ingredients. My hubby can eat a can of baked beans and call that a meal :) 1 Quote
Faithr Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 We have one gas burner that still works when the electricty goes out. We live on oatmeal, canned soup, hot chocolate, pb&j, scrambled eggs. 1 Quote
wendy not in HI Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 We are concerned about losing electricity, too. I have hamburgers and chicken for the grill. I also have things for pasta and soup that I can fix on our camp stove. I have crackers and tuna and sandwich fixings for lunches, and eggs, oatmeal and cereal for breakfasts. I am feeling prepared, but I think I'm going to go pick up some ice (to keep temps up in our freezer) and a couple bundles of firewood - we have a fireplace, but I doubt it would do much as far as heating the house. I also want to get a puzzle.... 2 Quote
Miss Peregrine Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 Do you have a camp stove? I've been cooking for 7 on one for a month. 1 Quote
Carrie12345 Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 We use the grill or eat sandwiches. I do have a fondue pot and little emergency "cooker" with plenty of sterno, too. 2 Quote
prairiewindmomma Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 muffins, granola, fruit salad, eggs, yogurt, cereal, energy balls,roast beef sandwiches (pre-made without mayo), pita with roasted red pepper hummus + veg, trail mix + fruit & veg Our garage is always cool enough to use as a refrigerator--the problem for us was no heat. We finally purchased a gas grill (outdoor) and a propane camp stove. Hot soup + hot cocoa is really nice! 3 Quote
Jenn in FL Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 Have empty coolers (or in a pinch,cardboard boxes lined with trash or yard bags) ready to fill with refrigerator items and set outside. It will be colder outside than inside a non-working refrigerator after a few hours. Making the decision to empty a freezer depends on how long you are out of power. Are you planning on shopping or using what you currently have at home? What do you have on hand? Lots of ideas depending on what you have... What kind of staples? This is fun! :lol: Do you have any meat items in your freezer that you can prepare in advance? Stew a chicken perhaps, or broil some chicken breasts? Make some chili, or rice and beans, your favorite homemade soup, a casserole, etc? Bake a quick cake or a batch of brownies or a yummy dessert or two. Good for morale! Do you have an outdoor grill or as already mentioned, a camp stove? If meats are already thawed, they are quick easy to cook outside. You can also warm up soups or make items on top of the grill grate. Be sure to coat the bottom of your cookware with dish soap before using them on the grill...makes for easy clean up. 2 Quote
mommymonster Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 If it's cold and we've lost power, I focus on soups that can be heated on the propane stove (like boxed tomato soup). We also do things like grilled sandwiches and quesadillas. If you have a propane stove, pasta and sauce is a quick meal, as well. Pizza on the grill, if you're feeling sassy. Another thing that's super important for my kiddos: hot chocolate mix, tea, and miso (for miso broth to sip). Warm drinks make everything better! Make sure to have instant coffee or a french press... You don't want caffeine withdrawal symptoms. 2 Quote
Ali in OR Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 I'd be baking up a storm right now. Definitely some cookies and muffins. Assuming you're losing power due to the snow storms that will go through the eastern part of the country, I wouldn't worry about food in the garage freezer. Food in the fridge or fridge's freezer could get moved to ice chests in the garage, but I would probably try to use up fridge stuff if I could. I would make sure I have a few things of propane for the camp stove (which I would have to use on the chilly front porch), but if the outrage doesn't last too long we'd have a lot of PBJ's (after lunchmeat is gone), the cookies and muffins, granola bars, chips and salsa, fresh fruit, etc. Not a lot of cooking. 4 Quote
Chris in VA Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 Apple pie keeps well on the counter. I count it as breakfast. :) 8 Quote
lynn Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 We pull out the grill and cook what is in the freezer. Or eat out camping mre's. We have also have a generator and plug in the coffee maker and use the hot plate to cook whatever is on hand. 1 Quote
3 ladybugs Posted January 21, 2016 Posted January 21, 2016 This is why I love my Big Green Egg. I could cook pizza and wings on that thing if I wanted... Though without football, what would be the point? I can also slow cook and roast marshmallows. I would try to get a cheap camp stove to heat things up. Cold food when it is cold outside doesn't sound good to me. 1 Quote
Junie Posted January 21, 2016 Author Posted January 21, 2016 We do not have a grill or any alternate heat source for cooking. So far, we are planning on pbj, chicken salad, cold cut sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, pop-tarts. We have also made boboli pizza without baking them (kind of like a really large lunchable). And we mix canned chicken with pizza sauce and serve it in pitas with pepperoni and mozzarella. (These are better heated, of course, but they are edible at room temp.) Quote
Junie Posted January 21, 2016 Author Posted January 21, 2016 (edited) What canned food do you have at home? How long are you expecting to lose electricity? We use up whatever leafy vegetables and salad dressing we have in the fridge for a mixed salad since the fridge would have no electricity anyway. We also make burritos or sandwiches with canned ingredients. My hubby can eat a can of baked beans and call that a meal :) My mom does this! My 6 kids, however, would starve. We are concerned about losing electricity, too. I have hamburgers and chicken for the grill. I also have things for pasta and soup that I can fix on our camp stove. I have crackers and tuna and sandwich fixings for lunches, and eggs, oatmeal and cereal for breakfasts. I am feeling prepared, but I think I'm going to go pick up some ice (to keep temps up in our freezer) and a couple bundles of firewood - we have a fireplace, but I doubt it would do much as far as heating the house. I also want to get a puzzle.... Good ideas! Thanks! Have empty coolers (or in a pinch,cardboard boxes lined with trash or yard bags) ready to fill with refrigerator items and set outside. It will be colder outside than inside a non-working refrigerator after a few hours. Making the decision to empty a freezer depends on how long you are out of power. Are you planning on shopping or using what you currently have at home? What do you have on hand? Lots of ideas depending on what you have... What kind of staples? This is fun! :lol: Do you have any meat items in your freezer that you can prepare in advance? Stew a chicken perhaps, or broil some chicken breasts? Make some chili, or rice and beans, your favorite homemade soup, a casserole, etc? Bake a quick cake or a batch of brownies or a yummy dessert or two. Good for morale! Do you have an outdoor grill or as already mentioned, a camp stove? If meats are already thawed, they are quick easy to cook outside. You can also warm up soups or make items on top of the grill grate. Be sure to coat the bottom of your cookware with dish soap before using them on the grill...makes for easy clean up. We have lots of groceries! Dh and I made separate shopping trips. :) I'd be baking up a storm right now. Definitely some cookies and muffins. Assuming you're losing power due to the snow storms that will go through the eastern part of the country, I wouldn't worry about food in the garage freezer. Food in the fridge or fridge's freezer could get moved to ice chests in the garage, but I would probably try to use up fridge stuff if I could. I would make sure I have a few things of propane for the camp stove (which I would have to use on the chilly front porch), but if the outrage doesn't last too long we'd have a lot of PBJ's (after lunchmeat is gone), the cookies and muffins, granola bars, chips and salsa, fresh fruit, etc. Not a lot of cooking. Great idea on the baking. My dd11 loves to bake!! Apple pie keeps well on the counter. I count it as breakfast. :) Lovely idea!! Thank you everyone!!! Edited January 21, 2016 by Junie Quote
ScoutTN Posted January 22, 2016 Posted January 22, 2016 Hot dogs over the fire! Followed by s'mores, of course! Popcorn for later on. With zero heating ability: sandwiches, fruit, nuts, cheese, crackers, hummus, hard boiled eggs, muffins or quick bread, yogurt, pickles, olives, already cooked bacon! and leftover of anything already cooked: mexican, stir fry, meatloaf and cheese urgers are favorites here. Oh, and don't forget the wine! Yes, I know it actually makes you colder, but .... It is crummy to have no hot food or drinks, though. A small propane stove is absolutely worth the money if you seriously expect to be out of power for more than a day in the winter! A gas grill with a burner is even better, though clearly more of an investment. 2 Quote
Liz CA Posted January 22, 2016 Posted January 22, 2016 When storms of any kind break in over us, we need soup! I make chicken stock regularly in winter. All I have to do is heat it up and toss in some veggies, even hot dogs. We used to heat soup on camping stoves, wood stove or light the gas burners with matches. :) 1 Quote
J-rap Posted January 22, 2016 Posted January 22, 2016 Assuming you won't have any way of heating food at all, one of our favorites is kind of a yogurt/granola/fruit parfait. We layer granola in a bowl, then plain yogurt, then fruit (any kind). Add a little milk or juice, or both. Works for any meal! 1 Quote
Chris in VA Posted January 22, 2016 Posted January 22, 2016 When storms of any kind break in over us, we need soup! I make chicken stock regularly in winter. All I have to do is heat it up and toss in some veggies, even hot dogs. We used to heat soup on camping stoves, wood stove or light the gas burners with matches. :) Oh! Oh! I can tell you how to make chicken soup! :D 3 Quote
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