Forget the milk and eggs: If your power goes out, the last thing you want is a fridge full of perishables. Instead, here’s what to stock up on and how to plan ahead for a loss of power.
Buy Stuff You Actually Like
Don’t stock up on tuna if you hate tuna (unless it’s literally the only thing left at the store). For protein, you can try canned salmon, chicken, or beans instead. “I’ll eat this by candlelight when I’m hungry and desperate” is only a romantic idea when it’s not happening.
And shop with meals in mind. Will you eat that canned chicken in a wrap? Better pick up some tortillas.
If the supermarket shelves are bare, don’t be afraid to get creative. You can make Vegemite and cheese sandwiches on hot dog buns — and don’t let anybody tell you it’s a bad idea.
Your Master List of Less Perishable Items
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Water. If there’s any chance you might lose water, fill every available container now.
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Bread, crackers, tortillas, buns
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Canned beans, chickpeas, lentils
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Canned fruit and vegetables
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Peanut butter and its kin
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Soy milk, almond milk, or any other milk-like substance that’s sold on shelves and not in the cooler section. You’ll want to chill these after opening, but they can sit in your pantry until then.
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Cereal (including oats if you’ll have a way to prepare it)
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Anything that comes in a pouch and only calls for a minute or two of microwaving or boiling. If it says “pre-cooked” or “ready to eat,” you can just eat them cold.
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Snack bars, protein bars… anything in bar form.
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Anything that’s sold on a shelf when you buy it. Just check whether the package says you need to refrigerate after opening.
Things in Your Fridge That Will Be Fine
We keep a lot of things in our refrigerators that don’t really need to be there. Jam, for example, keeps longer in the fridge, but it won’t kill you at room temperature. Some things you can rescue from the fridge even if the power has been out a while:
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Hard cheeses
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Jams, jellies, syrups
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Peanut butter
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Bread and baked goods
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Many condiments, including soy sauce and vinaigrettes
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Fresh fruits and vegetables
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Butter
Freeze Everything
Pack some strategic things in your freezer:
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Water bottles, which can then act as ice packs to keep the rest of the food cold
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Perishable foods, like meats or leftovers. After a few days, if they still feel partially frozen, you can cook and eat them as if they were refrigerated the whole time.
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Frozen foods that you plan to eat when they are partially thawed.
Plan Ahead for When Your Appliances Won’t Work
If the power is out, you’ll be missing most of your appliances too: no way to turn on the microwave or an electric stove. If you have a gas-powered stove that will still work when the power is out, you may be able to light the burners with a long-reach lighter — so grab that lighter now.
Is your can opener electric? Get a manual one.
Will you perish without hot coffee? Get a thermos, and make yourself some as soon as you start worrying about the power going out.
If you have a balcony or a yard, consider the old-fashioned way of cooking food — with actual fire. Get some propane or charcoal and grill all your meals, or dig out the camp stove that you use when you’re backpacking. Even if you can only boil pots of water, a hot cup of tea or bowl of noodles will be a luxury when everything else is lukewarm.
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