Cooking Tools & Equipment for Emergency Use Applications

For families who camp and still prepare home cooked meals, you will likely have a number of the tools we talk about on this page. However, you'll want to be prepared so you are not completely reliant on electrically operated kitchen tools such as electric knives, hand mixers, food processors, microwaves, etc. There is nothing wrong with these great inventions for the modern age; but make sure you still have the hand tools required to get the job done to conserve any power that may be coming from a portable generator while waiting on the power to be restored.

Fire Starters

No, I have yet to learn to start a fire by rubbing sticks together, but one day I will. Until then, here are some handy fire starters to keep on hand.

• Matches – tradition Diamond strike anywhere matches
• Waterproof matches – preferably in a case
  • Resource: https://www.diamonddoesitbetter.com/product-category/matches/
• Bic Lighter
  
  • Resource: https://us.bic.com/en_us/bic-lighters.html
• Butane Lighter
  • Resource: https://knifeworks.com/shop-all-brands/ultimate-survival-technologies/ust-fire-starters-lighters/
• Hot-Spark
  • Resource: https://www.scoutshop.org/camping/health-safety/fire-starters.html
• 9 Volt battery and steel wool
  • Seriously! Learned this trick at Camp Geronimo. Touch the steel wool to the battery and you will have red hot steel wool very capable of getting a fire started. Just so long as the battery has a charge.

Camping/Backpacking Stoves

Many stoves are gas powered or operate on a manufactured heat source, which allow for fast cooking at a controlled temperature. If this is the option you choose, make sure you have a safe, dry place to store the heat source in a certified container. We would also recommend having a small wood burning stove for backup.

• Coleman
  • Resource: https://www.coleman.com/camp-kitchen.html
• Mountain Safety Research
  • Resource: https://www.msrgear.com/shop/stoves
• BioLite
  • Resource: https://www.bioliteenergy.com/products#cooking
• Kelly Kettle
  • Resource: https://www.kellykettleusa.com/accessories

Open Flame

Our favorite form of cooking for the taste and flavor.

• Charcoal and or Gas/Propane Grill
  • Resource: www.weber.com
• Over Fire Grill
  • Resource: https://www.campchef.com/catalogsearch/result/index/q/lumberjack
• Cast Iron / Dutch Oven
  • Resource: https://www.lodgecastiron.com/
• Brick/Pizza Oven
  • There are great online resources for building your own, or you can order pre-fab units that are available on the market. https://www.belgard.com/products/outdoor-kitchens-and-fireplaces/

Solar Cooking

This is our favorite way to make bread! We never have burnt crust or blackened bottoms and it doesn’t heat up the kitchen. Check out the website Cooking With Solar Energy | Bob's Solar Power Hobby Site for a guide to cooking with solar energy.

• Sun Oven
  • Resource: www.sunoven.com
• GoSun
  • Resource: https://gosun.co/collections/solar-ovens
• How To Make A DIY Solar Oven | Home Science Tools
  
  • Resource: https://www.homesciencetools.com/article/how-to-build-a-solar-oven-project/

Utensils

Any hand operated, stainless steel utensil you can get your hands on will be a well worth investment. Consider: 

• Knives! – Steak, Butcher, Chopping, Chef, Fillet and yes, even paring knives! We also suggest a good quality sharpening stone.
• Flatware - Forks, spoons, serving spoons/forks, dinner knife, etc.
• Stir & Mix – Ladles, whisks, spatula, roux sticks, etc.
• Stew and Bake – Pots, pans, casserole dishes, etc.
  • Resource: https://www.nambe.com/shop-dining-flatware
  • Resource: www.cutco.com

Food Processing

Hand cranked processors have multiple uses, will last for generations and will always be there when you need them.

• Meat Processor
  • Resource: https://westonbrands.com/meat-processing-equipment 
• Flour/Grain Grinder
  • Resource: www.thewondermill.com
• Coffee Grinder
  • Resource: www.lehmans.com
• Salt & Pepper Grinder Mills

Cleaning Cooking Related Equipment

If you can heat water to a boil and pour it into the kitchen sink or some type of heat resistant container if you're not at home, then you are pretty much set for sanitizing your supplies. Extra scrubbers and Biodegradable soap are a good idea to have on hand. Check out a few of our other articles in relation to emergency preparedness below!

Retailers

Local and online retailers for the items listed on this page.

Retailer	Arizona Location(s)	Online Store
BassPro Shop	Mesa	www.basspro.com
Cabelas	Glendale	www.cabelas.com
Gear Up	ONLINE ONLY	www.gearupcenter.com
Lehman’s	ONLINE ONLY	www.lehmans.com
Sportsman’s Warehouse	Multiple Locations	www.sportsmanswarehouse.com

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Photo Credit

• Shutterstock

 

Related Content

• DIY FAQ: Protecting Your Home and Family with Emergency Preparedness Plans
• DIY FAQ: Home Preparedness Resource Guide
• DIY FAQ: Preparing To Hunker Down at Home
• DIY FAQ: Preparing and Riding Out Flash Floods
• DIY FAQ: Emergency Preparedness Plans Sources
• DIY FAQ: Must Haves When Leaving The House