Cooking without electricity and gas: This is how you can prepare food in an emergency

Created: 08/10/2022 17:06

By: Maria Wendel

Because of a power failure or energy problems in winter: can you cook without electricity and gas?

The good news: yes – if you get creative.

Many people are afraid of the approaching winter as electricity and gas prices are already skyrocketing.

But the fact that there is no electricity or gas for cooking does not have to be directly due to an impending energy crisis.

It could also be that a power outage hits your neighborhood or you simply want to go camping and are looking for alternatives to home cooking.

So it's good to know a few creative ideas on how to prepare a warm meal without electricity.

As a general rule, you should be prepared for an emergency, whether it's a power outage or a natural disaster.

In this context, the Federal Office for Disaster Control (BBK) also recommends an emergency supply of certain non-perishable foods that you should have at home.

Camping stoves or campfires are not only practical ways to cook when camping.

© Westend61/Imago

Cooking without electricity: camping stove

A camping stove with a gas cartridge is part of the basic equipment for most people when camping.

Traditionally, butane or propane gas is used.

You can use it to heat up cooking water for noodles or coffee, cook soup or warm canned meals.

But be careful: Most manufacturers advise against using them in closed rooms because gas can escape too quickly and a spark could cause a fire.

Therefore, you should only use camping stoves outdoors, i.e. in the garden or on the terrace.

Tip:

Use thin-walled aluminum pots: they conduct heat more quickly and you can save on gas.

Cooking without electricity and gas: barbecue

The grill - logically a charcoal grill, not an electric or gas grill - is a way to cook without electricity and gas at home, in the garden or on the terrace.

Not only the usual grilled food such as sausages, meat and cheese can be grilled - with the right accessories you can also prepare other dishes with the grill.

A Dutch oven, for example, can be placed directly on the grill or in an open fire.

And on a plancha griddle you can fry everything from vegetables to fried eggs and bacon.

Yuck, mold!

You can still eat these foods

View photo gallery

Cooking without electricity and gas: fondue set

Do you have a fondue set at home?

Perfect: This can not only be used for chocolate or cheese fondue, but also in emergencies without electricity or gas in the household.

With a tealight fondue set, however, this could be difficult.

It works better if you have a fondue set with denatured alcohol or fuel paste.

For example, you can heat water or soup.

Cookbook "Cooking without electricity"

The BBK has published the cookbook "Cooking without electricity" as part of a nationwide recipe competition.

The idea of ​​the project was, among other things, to give instructions to citizens when there is no electricity and fresh food.

At the same time, it should be possible to cook delicious dishes.

Recipes such as pancakes without eggs or curry apricot couscous show that this is not that difficult.

Cooking without electricity and gas: cold kitchen

Of course, you can also use the cold kitchen not to cook directly, but still prepare a delicious meal.

This includes salads, snacks with cheese, sausage, dips and spreads or cold soups such as gazpacho.