Many years ago, I decided I’d try cooking my very first turkey. It was just a week before Thanksgiving and some good friends of ours were moving and I wanted to give them a great memory and a home cooked Thanksgiving meal. I was mortified to cook my own turkey, I fretted over my mashed potatoes, and I can’t even begin to tell you how I worried over the gravy. Despite my distress, the meal turned out wonderful. I believe its success was because I had three important things. Good ingredients, and a little know-how from my mom, and the right tools for the job.
Preparedness cooking is no different. You must begin with the right foods. We’ve spent the last several months discussing the different types of foods to store and which ones are right for your family. We’ve also spent some time learning about recipes and discussing how best to prepare many of the foods available for your preparedness pantry. Now, I’d like to discuss a few of the cooking tools you should have to help you serve up a feast, no matter what conditions you encounter.
Having a good emergency stoveis essential to cooking with confidence. There are many different choices, and what you choose will depend upon your needs and your budget. For your emergency kit, or if you are on the go, you may wish to rely upon a simple flat fold stove. This stove stores flat, is lightweight, and each canister provides about 5 hours of cook time. The fuel is free from toxic fumes and biodegradable. It can also be used for warmth. Always use this in a well ventilated area. Most stoves need to be used outside. To be safe, be sure to read the instructions.
Another option is a backpacking stove. This is a more deluxe option for your emergency kit. These small cooking stoves are mainly used to fry or heat water for various applications. They are generally easy to set up, quick to heat up, and will have a meal done in no time.
If you are at home, don’t forget your simple charcoal briquette patio barbecue! Yes, that wonderful backyard cookout can be an emergency cookout too. You might want to consider storing extra briquettes in buckets for just such an emergency.
If you prefer using propane, you have more options available for your cooking needs. A propane barbecue can be used in an emergency. A very versatile unit is the Volcano stove. It can be powered with three different fuels: propane, charcoal and by wood. It can even be used with dutch ovens, woks, pots, pans, frying pans, or its grill. It can be used to bake, boil, barbeque, and fry. It folds flat and can be stored easily.
These are just a few of the options available to you as you decide how to cook in an emergency. Study your options and make sure your choice accommodates your different cooking needs and your family’s situation. Don’t be afraid to take the time to try out your emergency cooking tools, you may be pleasantly surprised at how you will soon be cooking with confidence!