Cooking Fuel
What's for dinner?
Power's out! What kind of cooking fuel do you have stored so that your family will have a hot meal?
During World War II, the army discovered that men fighting in the bitter cold would do well if they had one hot meal a day. Without it, they would die from the living out in the cold. It would be true for your family too under certain disastrous situations. So here are some ways you can provide your family with hot meals when there is no electricity or natural gas coming into your home.
Propane Barbecues: Many of us already have a barbecue in our back yards so the cooking fuel of choice here would be propane, of course. The kind that uses charcoal briquettes would work also. If your patio barbecue is your emergency preparedness cooking choice, plan ahead now and figure out how you'll make it work during potentially stormy weather. If your barbecue is not in a covered area, you may have to rig a roof or windbreak in order to use it. Are you prepared with a piece of plywood, an awning, or maybe a patio umbrella to shelter it? A heavy tarp held up with a makeshift frame of 2x4s would work, if you have some 2x4s in your storage plan. Being creative is the answer to solving this dilemma.
Liquid Fuel Camping Stoves: If you are a frequent camper, you probably have a camp stove on hand that uses either propane or liquid fuel such as white gas or Coleman fuel. These are very handy, and not too expensive, to have on hand in case of a power outage.
Wood-Burning Stoves: If your cooking fuel of choice is wood, these stoves can be practical and economical and wonderful to have in an emergency. If you buy one, make sure the model you choose allows for cooking on top, as well as heating your home, so it can be used in an emergency to cook hot meals.
Fireplaces: If you need to use your fireplace for cooking, a grill or rack is essential, unless all you want to eat is something you can cook on a stick. Hot dogs are fine except they're probably not in your food storage as they are perishable. If you have some on hand, roast them before they perish. Camp grills can be purchased in a sporting goods store. They consist of a heavy-gauge metal and most have legs that fold away for storage. Another essential item would be some thick potholders that protect your arms. Be sure to have a ready place to set hot pans as you remove them from the flames so you don't burn the flooring around the fireplace.
Sterno stoves/Canned Heat and Backpacking Stoves: In a pinch, the backpacking stove or pocket stove is easily stored. Some can be used with either sterno canned heat or solid heat tabs. Others use white gas or Coleman fuel. You won't be cooking any gourmet meals on this little stove, but they are capable of boiling water and warming ready-to-eat foods. It wouldn't hurt to have several of these in your storage, along with several small pans to use on top, as they are inexpensive and easy to use.
CAUTION*****NEVER USE CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES INDOORS. ALSO, WHEN HEAT TABS BURN, THE FLAM CANNOT USUALLY BE SEEN, SO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WITH THEM.
