Nothing can ruin your day like a power outage, especially if you rely on electricity to cook. The good news is that there are many hearty dishes you can make without a stove or microwave. Whether your next power outage is due to severe weather, high winds, or aging infrastructure, these five meal ideas can help you get through it.
1. Salads
If you want to enjoy something healthy and fresh while you patiently await power restoration, try a salad. A base of fresh greens like lettuce, romaine, and spinach sets you up for success. Top it with chopped lunch meat, cheese, canned legumes, croutons, or whatever else you have on hand. Consider making your dressing with lemon juice and olive oil.
Are you ready to get more adventurous with the ingredients in your pantry? Make a hearty salad out of beans, chickpeas, green beans, or corn. You can also make tuna or chicken salad or try a dessert salad made with gelatin cups, marshmallows, and nuts.
2. Sandwiches or Wraps
Sandwiches and wraps are easy to make, even when the power is out. You can fill them with lunch meat, sliced or shredded cheese, canned tuna, beans, hummus, or even leftovers from the day before. Because sandwiches and wraps are so versatile, they’re a great way to use up the items in your refrigerator that are likely to spoil without power.
3. Easy Taco Night
You don’t need the stovetop, oven, or even the refrigerator to make delicious tacos. Just open a pack of shells or tortillas and break out your supply of emergency canned goods. Beans, tomatoes, chilis, and olives are just some of the pantry ingredients you can use for a no-bake taco night. Add jarred salsa or nacho sauce if you have any on hand.
Do you detest cold tacos? Use an outdoor grill, fire pit, or solar cooker to heat up the shells. If you want more protein in your tacos, add some canned chicken, tuna, salmon, or shrimp. Don’t be afraid to try some unconventional taco ingredients like lentils, chickpeas, potted meat, or canned ham.
4. Charcuterie Board
Lunch meat is one of the first foods to spoil in your refrigerator when the power is lost. Use the meat and cheese in your refrigerator before they go bad by serving your family a tasty charcuterie board. A great thing about charcuterie boards is that they can contain almost anything. Fill out your board with additional goodies like crackers, fruit, raisins, nuts, and bread slices.
5. Overnight Oats
Whether you want a hearty breakfast or a sweet treat before bed, overnight oats are the perfect solution when the power is out. Just mix oats and water, and leave it overnight. Top it with anything you want, such as dried fruit, yogurt, cereal, or chocolate. You can even make savory oatmeal with ingredients like cheese, eggs, avocado, and herbs for a filling meal or a flavorful side dish.
Trying to come up with a meal during a power outage can be stressful, but there are easy meal options available that you can try.