The freezer is mostly a convince for today in my opinion. With extended power loss it would basically become a storage cabinet. For now though it enables me to buy when things are on sale, and ensure I always have the convince of knowing I always have something for dinner on hand. If we do loose power then whatever is in there would become several loads of canned soup pretty quickly. Even with the generator, which is for short term power loss, I wouldn’t waste the fuel on keeping the freezer going in a long term event.
I have frozen veggies and meat, but those I consider my everyday food. . . the 'crisis' will be preserving all that food if the power stays out for days on end and we run out of propane and gas for generators. We grow our own in the garden and then use different methods to preserve. . . freezing, canning and dehydrating. Look for heirloom seeds so you can harvest the seeds for next planting.
If your just starting out, just buy a little here and there. You'll be amazed at how fast you can grow your pantry levels by just picking g up a couple cans here and there along with a bag of beans or rice. I stock up on basics baking supplies along with beans and rice. Making from scratch will also be friendly on your budget to allow you to spend money on this thingS you need to buy instead.
Check our food threads. There are several suggestions there. I will compile a list and post.Great advice, where is a food source or list for what type of baking supplies to have on hand for long term use to be able to make your own fresh breads grains etc when food chain is gone?
Also, the LDS has compiled a list. Their goal is enough for 1 year at least. You can Google it.Check our food threads. There are several suggestions there. I will compile a list and post.
If the power is going to be out for a long time, buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days.
What? This is just poor advice. First off, do you know how much 50 lbs of dry ice would COST? Not to mention the hassle of transport, handling, etc. and of course, WHERE the hell you are supposed to get that much of it.
And bagged or block ice is a horrible idea...as it melts, you get a MESS. (trust me, I know this from experience).
Instead, you should always have two freezers anyways. Can get them for like $60 on Craigslist, so not exactly breaking the bank. In my overflow freezer, I always have at least a case of bottled water frozen in there.
IF we lose power, we simply consolidate the expensive items in one unit, then pack every nook and cranny with those frozen water bottles. Will keep things fine for about 4-5 days, as long as you only open the unit a couple of times per day, and quickly.
Thank your govt. It's from their website.
I use both gallon water jugs and 16-20 bottles. It helps to have a chest freezer, it doesnt lose as much cold when opened.LOL, yep.....
The added bonus, as the water bottles thaw, second purpose, drinking water. Win-win.
Dry ice melts, you got nothing. Block ice melts, you have a puddle to clean up.
EDIT - During Hurricane Irma, I STILL had to thaw some chicken breasts to grill them, on DAY 3 of no power (because I did the water bottle method). The trick is to fill up nearly every inch of space with those frozen water bottles. (why I like them better than jugs of water).
It helps to have a chest freezer, it doesnt lose as much cold when opened.
Interesting point.
I just like standing freezers as it is easier to see what I have. Things tend to get buried too easily in the chest freezers (at least for me), then I've got no idea what's in there.
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