Food prep in the wake of a major event might look a little different than it does right now. If the grid is down, you won’t be using a microwave, Instant Pot, or air fryer. In many cases, it might just consist of heating water or canned foods.
The importance of being able to serve up a hot meal to your family cannot be overemphasized. Sure, survivalists are all about embracing the suck. And that’s absolutely crucial, being able to survive and thrive under adverse conditions. But y’know what? If you’re dealing with a stressful situation, it’d sure be nice if some things didn’t suck. And a hot meal can go a long way toward making people feel better about what’s happening around them.
On top of that, boiling water is one of the best ways to make it safe to drink. So, even if you decide to tough it out and decline the steaming bowl of chili for dinner, you’ll still want to be able to get water hot enough to kill any pathogens swimming around in it.
Let’s take a look at just a few different options. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list. Hopefully, it will get you thinking about the best ways you can tackle the problem in your own situation.
Off-Grid Food Prep – Grills
Many people have gas or charcoal grills sitting on their patio or deck. Sure, they’re great for burgers and steaks, but they’ll do okay heating up other foods as well as water in a pinch. The best would be a grill that has a side burner, but not all of us are that fortunate. Charcoal grills aren’t that pricey. You can sometimes find them secondhand at rummage sales, too. If you run out of charcoal, you can use branches and sticks for fuel.
Off-Grid Food Prep – Patio Fire Pits
These have become very popular in the last several years. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. These fire pits consist of a large metal container on legs, inside which you burn firewood. They’re great for ambience as well as for providing a little warmth on a chilly late summer evening. You can also use them just like you would a campfire when it comes to heating food and water.
Off-Grid Food Prep – Camp Stoves
This option is pretty obvious to anyone who has camping gear sitting in the garage. I mean, food prep and boiling water are precisely what a camp stove is supposed to be used for, right? Just be sure you’ve stocked up on fuel canisters.
Off-Grid Food Prep – Campfire
While not everyone has a backyard, this is definitely an option for many people. Food cooked over an open campfire just tastes better. The downside is making sure you have plenty of wood on hand, as well as taking care that nothing gets out of control.
Off-Grid Food Prep — Helpful Hints
With the possible exception of the camp stove, these food prep options can take a little experimentation to get the hang of them. Cooking times are going to differ, given that you can’t precisely control the cooking temperature. My recommendation is to play around with these methods on a regular basis. Make dinner with them at least once a month, if not more often. Yes, I know many of us run our patio grills constantly when the weather is decent. But how often are you cooking the entire meal that way?
Also, bear in mind that most common kitchen cookware isn’t going to hold up well to the higher heat generated with these cooking methods. Cast iron? No problem. Thinner stock, not so much. Either pick up some cast-iron cookware or invest in a set that’s specifically intended for camp use. The family cook will thank you.
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