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Lemon Thrower
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1588 Posts |
 Posted - 01/19/2009 : 13:03:33
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I know some of you are survivalists, so here are a few questions.
Assuming electricity is down, how does one cook? For example, rice?
I have propane cannisters and a back yard grill. Can you boil water on that or is better to have a coleman style grill for boiling?
Is propane safe to use indoors, or are the fumes toxic?
How would one make coffee? Is a French press the best way to go?
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Buying:
Peace/Morgan G+ at $15.00
copper cents at 1.3X
wheat pennies at 3X
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Neckro
1000+ Penny Miser Member
Saudi Arabia
2080 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 13:25:12
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| I don't know, but I'd go for instant coffee if you need it. Can be made cold, or just eaten to give you the same buzz. >.> |
Trolling is an art. |
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JerrySpringer
Penny Hoarding Member
669 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2009 : 14:06:52
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| When we lost power here in December, I dug into my backpacking gear and used the butane canister stove I hike with. It was nice to have hot water to use in the French press coffee maker. I grew up with a camping-prone family and acquired hiking gear over the years. If was not for where we lived, I'd seriously consider one of those small Honda type generators to have for back-up electricity. Oh also, I have a Sierra brand zip stove that burns wood. It takes a couple AA size batteries to power its fan, but it works with any burnable wood twigs or paraffin fire-starter. Leaves plenty of soot on cooking pots, but wood is usually abundant in most places. |
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Lemon Thrower
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1588 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2009 : 05:52:24
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generators are noisy and smelly and gas is hard to store.
propane I can stock up on.
have been searching. coleman makes a stove for about 20 bucks - single burner though - that fits on top of a small propane bottle. this looks better for cooking than a bbq grill because the heat is closer to the pot.
bought a camping coffee pot at WM. did some google research. they say to use coarse ground coffee, or retro fit a paper filter into the percolator. i'm good to go. |
Buying:
Peace/Morgan G+ at $15.00
copper cents at 1.3X
wheat pennies at 3X
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silverhalide
Penny Sorter Member
92 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 10:31:13
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| It is so funny to hear how clueless people are when presented by such a question by relying upon a modern gadget and fossil fuel. The most sustainable way to cook a meal minus electricity is to cook the way the colonists did in a camp style cast iron dutch oven. All you need is twigs and branches as a fuel source. Another consideration is to make a solar oven which can be made cheaply with cardboard and aluminum foil. |
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Gresham
Penny Pincher Member
184 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 17:07:03
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| Assuming that the gas is still running, I'll continue what i do now. Gas stoves are great. |
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silverhalide
Penny Sorter Member
92 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 21:25:07
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| If you are paying for gas then TS really didn't HTF. For a power outage a portable gas system is fine to use but it would be by far the most expensive and least feasible option if you are anticipating months or years of hardship. |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 22:09:14
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I'll offer a thought from the other side of the cooking equation: the food itself. I've got dozens of jars of dehydrated fruits and vegetables that rehydrate rather easily once water is added because the bit-size of the items is very small, thus requiring less time for rehydration and/or cooking. Think of it like the difference between boiling a whole potato versus cutting the potato up into small chunks and then boiling them--the smaller the volume of each piece, the more quickly it will cook and the less fuel will be necessary.
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Visit my new preparedness site: Preparedness.cc/SurvivalPrep.net
--Latest article: Stocking up on spices to keep food preps lively
---------------
Be prepared...and prepared to help: http://www.survivalblog.com/charity.html
Are you ready spiritually for hard times? http://www.jesusfreak.com/rapture.asp |
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fb101
Administrator
USA
2856 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2009 : 23:27:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Lemon Thrower
I know some of you are survivalists, so here are a few questions.
Assuming electricity is down, how does one cook? For example, rice?
I have propane cannisters and a back yard grill. Can you boil water on that or is better to have a coleman style grill for boiling?
Is propane safe to use indoors, or are the fumes toxic?
How would one make coffee? Is a French press the best way to go?
Here's something on using propane indoors safely.
You must be logged in to see this link. |
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Lemon Thrower
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1588 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 06:06:18
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quote:
Originally posted by silverhalide
If you are paying for gas then TS really didn't HTF. For a power outage a portable gas system is fine to use but it would be by far the most expensive and least feasible option if you are anticipating months or years of hardship.
rice is a cheap staple to stoor, but you need to boil it to eat it.
what is better than gas? I'm talking about the large propane tanks you would attach to a BBQ grill. I get them full at Costco under $30. |
Buying:
Peace/Morgan G+ at $15.00
copper cents at 1.3X
wheat pennies at 3X
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Lemon Thrower
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1588 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 06:10:43
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quote:
Originally posted by fb101
quote:
Originally posted by Lemon Thrower
I know some of you are survivalists, so here are a few questions.
Assuming electricity is down, how does one cook? For example, rice?
I have propane cannisters and a back yard grill. Can you boil water on that or is better to have a coleman style grill for boiling?
Is propane safe to use indoors, or are the fumes toxic?
How would one make coffee? Is a French press the best way to go?
Here's something on using propane indoors safely.
You must be logged in to see this link.
thanks. that was the sort of thing I was looking for. I have a carbon monoxide monitor but its not SHTF-compliant. |
Buying:
Peace/Morgan G+ at $15.00
copper cents at 1.3X
wheat pennies at 3X
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 06:14:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Lemon Thrower
quote:
Originally posted by silverhalide
If you are paying for gas then TS really didn't HTF. For a power outage a portable gas system is fine to use but it would be by far the most expensive and least feasible option if you are anticipating months or years of hardship.
rice is a cheap staple to stoor, but you need to boil it to eat it.
what is better than gas? I'm talking about the large propane tanks you would attach to a BBQ grill. I get them full at Costco under $30.
Heat sources will be a given for all of us, and cooking food will be just one of the many uses we get out of our heat sources, so since we'll be making use of heat sources anyway, rice's cooking time shouldn't be an issue. You could always carry a portable, hand-cranked grain grinder (or a pepper grinder with coarse settings might work as well) to pulverize the rice into smaller bits for faster cooking time. |
Visit my new preparedness site: Preparedness.cc/SurvivalPrep.net
--Latest article: Stocking up on spices to keep food preps lively
---------------
Be prepared...and prepared to help: http://www.survivalblog.com/charity.html
Are you ready spiritually for hard times? http://www.jesusfreak.com/rapture.asp |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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n/a
deleted
51 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 16:18:44
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Has anyone tried cold brewing coffee? I just started using this and, to me, it tastes way better than regular brewed coffee--and way less acid. It makes a concentrate that takes 12 hours to make. But it lasts a week or 2 in the fridge. Of course during TSHTF you'd have to find a way to refrigerate the concentrate.
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silverhalide
Penny Sorter Member
92 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 16:43:20
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Lemon- A dutch oven is actually much more versatile than a propane setup since I can boil, stew, fry, and BAKE anything in it. Dutch ovens distribute even heating so there will not be any hotspots. If you don't mind sourcing and paying for a fossil fuel by all means go for it. In the meantime all I have to source is embers from wood waste.
A Chinese made dutch oven runs about $20 in cost about the same price as a cheap propane stove.
I use one quite often especially during the winter months since my primary home heating source is firewood and in the process I have been very proficient with it.
I will admit using a cheap homemade solar oven you are generally limited to 300 F temps max during the summer months but if you live in sunny equatorial areas it would be of more use.
Nickelless energy savings isn't the utmost concern for me since I am getting a free source of fuel from wood waste or sunlight to cook my food.
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TenBears
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1021 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2009 : 16:44:07
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| Dutch ovens if TS truly HTF. Propane and outdoor grill if only electricity is down. |
"Rich," the Old Man said dreamily, "is not baying after what you can't have. Rich is having the time to do what you want to do. Rich is a little whiskey to drink and some food to eat and a roof over your head and a fish pole and a boat and a gun and a dollar for a box of shells. Rich is not owing any money to anybody, and not spending what you haven't got." Robert Ruark
there are too wild Indians...
there are too wild Indians...
there are too wild Indians...-----still taunted
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Gresham
Penny Pincher Member
184 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2009 : 14:17:47
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quote:
If you are paying for gas then the S has already HTF
Its not a portable gas system, its part of the gas pipeline system. Which would probably also be down, but who knows. I suppose that if it was also down, then I would add a tank to the stove instead. |
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n/a
deleted
105 Posts |
Posted - 01/25/2009 : 23:44:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Lemon Thrower
[quote]
rice is a cheap staple to stoor, but you need to boil it to eat it.
what is better than gas? I'm talking about the large propane tanks you would attach to a BBQ grill. I get them full at Costco under $30.
Rice doesn't need to be boiled, you can soak it in cold (well room temperature) water for about 9 hrs and it'll be just like you boiled it, except not hot.
Dutch ovens are nice, but if you're cooking with coals and what not, a camp stove is quite nice too. Not the kind that are propane powered or whatever. It's like a dutch oven, but with little legs so it can sit over a tiny fire. Also, it has a lid with that is recessed and has a lip to keep ashes out of your food. It's meant for putting hot embers on top to heat -- and more evenly cook food. |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2009 : 00:37:01
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quote:
Originally posted by drs499m
quote:
Originally posted by Lemon Thrower
[quote]
rice is a cheap staple to stoor, but you need to boil it to eat it.
what is better than gas? I'm talking about the large propane tanks you would attach to a BBQ grill. I get them full at Costco under $30.
Rice doesn't need to be boiled, you can soak it in cold (well room temperature) water for about 9 hrs and it'll be just like you boiled it, except not hot.
Dutch ovens are nice, but if you're cooking with coals and what not, a camp stove is quite nice too. Not the kind that are propane powered or whatever. It's like a dutch oven, but with little legs so it can sit over a tiny fire. Also, it has a lid with that is recessed and has a lip to keep ashes out of your food. It's meant for putting hot embers on top to heat -- and more evenly cook food.
That makes sense about soaking rice, just as beans are presoaked as well, but will rice get soggy from soaking since it's more porous? I think I'll give this a try...
EDIT: Check out the second message in this thread on rice:
You must be logged in to see this link.
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Visit my new preparedness site: Preparedness.cc/SurvivalPrep.net
--Latest article: Stocking up on spices to keep food preps lively
---------------
Be prepared...and prepared to help: http://www.survivalblog.com/charity.html
Are you ready spiritually for hard times? http://www.jesusfreak.com/rapture.asp |
Edited by - Nickelless on 01/26/2009 00:59:03 |
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Lemon Thrower
1000+ Penny Miser Member
USA
1588 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2009 : 05:36:45
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thanks guys.
i live close to the city so building a fire strong enough to cook a dutch oven if not practical.
I probably have a 3 month supply. if we had an emergency where the city/suburbs weren't restocked within 3 months, warm food would be one of the last of my concerns.
still, I think a katrina type even that could last anywhere from a few days to a few months is the most likely thing to prepare for. civil war and general lawlessness is another. so if you have that covered you are way ahead of the game. |
Buying:
Peace/Morgan G+ at $15.00
copper cents at 1.3X
wheat pennies at 3X
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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n/a
deleted
105 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2009 : 22:27:08
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Why buy a food dehydrator? You most likely have 75% of the items needed to make one. To get dried fruit and veges with the freshest flavor (for possible re-hydration), you want to dehydrate them with as little heat as possible. An easy way to do this is with a box fan, some of those home air filters that are something like 20x20x1, tape or bungee cords, and some of those food dehydrator tray liners. Take the box fan, place the filter over the fan, place a tray liner over the filter, add fruit or veges, add a tray liner, another filter and so on. I suggest a filter - fruit - filter - fruit - filter layer at most, or else the subsequent layers will start to not dry. Place is an area where its likely to be undisturbed for something like 8-12 hrs depending on temperature and humidity. Another option would be your standard household oven, a reptile heat lamp, an extension cord, and a small battery powered fan. Place the ceramic bulb in the oven on the bottom, add the fan and position to blow air from the bulb to the food. Prop your oven door open about an inch or two with a tin foil ball. This will protect your cords and allow humid air to escape allowing food to dry faster.
What I'm trying to say here is don't bother with commercial items and buy an iguana :P. Worst comes to worst, it'll taste like chicken ;). |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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n/a
deleted
105 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2009 : 17:02:49
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| I figured those who already were in the mindset would like the cheapest/most cost effective/efficient way of doing things. |
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Nickelless
Administrator
USA
5580 Posts |
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jadedragon
Administrator
Canada
3788 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2009 : 04:18:04
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| Visiting family in rural Malaysia now - not all homes have electricity, and if they are electrified sometimes its down for days. Gas is the cooking medium here. Gas can be stored in small or large tanks or piped to the house. In most areas for many disasters, I would think gas would continue to be available - and if not, figure out how to build a fire. |
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Cooking after TSHTF
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