Aug222011
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Inquiring minds: Questions from a Survival Mom
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Thanks to S.T., a reader who submitted these questions. I think they’re the type of thing most every Survival Mom wonders but then gets too busy to ask! This is the nitty-gritty stuff that we’ll all want to know, sooner or later!
Q: Is it okay to plan on a charcoal bar-b-cue as a back up stove? Charcoal would be easy to store, I could handle it on my own, and it wouldn’t evaporate from non use like gas. I am going to buy the sun oven, but what if I want eggs or grits?
A: Absolutely, but I would suggesting going a step farther and getting a dual-fuel stove than can burn both charcoal and wood. That way, if/when you run out of charcoal, which is easy to store, you’ll still have the option of burning wood, which is generally easy to come by and safe to store. In addition to something like the Ecozoom Rocket Stove, I recommend the purchase of a good quality solar cooker or one that you make yourself.
Q: I know that my beloved Calphalon stainless steel would not last on a bar-b-cue, open fire, or whatever. I saw some affordable iron pots and pans under the “Lodge” name at Wal-mart. My grandmother and mom used to use iron pans for biscuits and really tender steaks. Would they hold up to “survival cooking”??
A: The main problem with using cookware over a fire is that it’s difficult to maintain a steady temperature. You can certainly use your regular pots and pans over a fire, but if they have a non-stick surface, you’ll need to be very careful the pan doesn’t overheat. When overheated (above 500 degrees Fahrenheit), the non-stick finish can begin to deteriorate and give off noxious fumes. Inexpensive, thin metal pots and pans work well but need to be closely monitored to avoid scorching food. Cast iron cookware is probably your best bet. You can read more here about its use and care.
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Q: What about cooking utensils? I guess I could still use my wooden spoons, but what are the best to use for spatulas, forks, etc. Bar-b-cue stuff?
A: Make sure your utensils have long handles in case you find yourself cooking over an outdoor stove or campfire. Other than that, plan on using whatever you have on hand. You’ll need long-handled spoons (including slotted spoons), spatulas, turning forks, tongs, and a ladle. Check out the Pigtail Food Flipper for a nice option!
Q: What type of coffee pot? I adore my expresso maker, but assuming there won’t be electricity (at least in the short run). I will need 
my coffee!! I hate instant, so please don’t go there. My grinder is electric, so I need to know if they make hand grinders for coffee.
my coffee!! I hate instant, so please don’t go there. My grinder is electric, so I need to know if they make hand grinders for coffee.A: Yes, you can find hand-grinders online. As far as a coffee pot goes, track down the old-fashioned percolating kind! I have an old one I found at a yard sale, and even though I don’t like coffee, it’s useful for heating up water and other liquids. I could also use it for heating up soup and then pouring it out of the spout into bowls. Here’s a bit more info about storing coffee for the hard-core coffee lover!
Q: Are Rubbermaid containers okay to store food in? Like packaged pastas, or flour, or coffee beans, etc. I keep my food stores in my house, in the bedroom on storage shelves from Ikea. The Rubbermaids, of which I must own 40, fit nicely on the shelves. It shares space with my sewing, so it is a constant temperature year round.
A: Hmmm….think about the enemies of food storage, and then you decide whether or not your Rubbermaid containers are doing the best job possible: heat, oxygen, pests, humidity/moisture, and light. Any of these will begin causing food to loose flavor, texture, and nutrition. Check out small mylar bags as a better alternative. Store smaller amounts of food in the bags, your coffee, for example, and then use the Rubbermaid containers to store like food items. You don’t mention how large the containers are, but they will also be very useful for storing non-food items, such as toiletries, soap, small tools, sewing supplies, etc.
image by epSos.de
Q: I know this will be a hard question, but how much cash is good to have on hand? I have thought of $3600. That is 3 months rent for me, or if we are in such bad shape that the owner doesn’t care about the rent, I can live for awhile knowing that if I have to, I can buy gas or food if it is to be had.
A: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question, but I recommend having enough cash to cover expenses for at least a month. That would include fuel, mortgage/rent, utilities, fresh food (to supplement what you have stored), and payment for hired help. Remember, that even during the Great Depression, banks insisted on being paid, and if utility companies are operating, they’ll require payment as well.
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(13) Readers Comments
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Youtube is a great place to see how to make rocket stoves, hobo stoves
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Thanks, PJ! There are so many great people in this community. Lots o
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The shop looks great. Going to get the book now. Thanks!!
teresa
Reguarding the coffee pot, I started using a french press a year ago and am hooked on it. You boil the water, pour over the coffee, let set a minute and press. It makes really good strong coffee and I no longer use my fancy coffee pot. You can buy a french press for around $15 dollars.
Jamie
I agree – I too have a French press and think it's awesome! It's quick and easy to use, and looks elegant/ sophisticated for every day use but is highly practical and efficient in an emergency too. :0)
beth
How do you all clean your presses? I always have a hard time getting all the grounds out without letting them get into my drain (on septic, no disposal). Thanks.
Erin
I love my french press……
teresa
We use washed cereal and cracker bags with 02 absorbers to store flours, grains and dehydrated vegetables. I refuse to pay for expensive meals saver bags and vacume sealers, I remove the air and seal with a think flour sack covering the bag and use an iron. I may sound thrifty, I am, but all money at this time is being used sparingly to help us prepare for hard financial times to come. My food saver bags are free, hey, can't beat free.
teresa
I forgot to add, that. I pack several sealed cereal bags into a larger mylar bag, then put into large popcorn tins to keep and mice from destroying any food storage, don't forget to put decon in your food storage room. I had one little mouse get into the food storage room last year and contaminate rice and other goods, I was so upset. Thank goodness this was a trial run tie and not a real emergency where I was fully dependent on that food storage.
bob
Cast iron pans are great for outdoor cooking, you never have to worry abot burning you pan or handle up. Cast iron dutch ovens with legs are even better! I can bake bread or anything else in one with just 18-20 charcoal briquettes. 14 on bottom and 8-10 on top, and coals from the fire can also be used. Just make sure you have a leather glove or other thing to handle the hot pan. I also use my chimney charcoal starter as a cheap rocket stove, put some paper in and then put small and med stick in and feed to keep going and you can boil water pretty quickly and fry some eggs or other quick thing. I also have a gas grill and camp stove also, follow the rule of threes and have three different methods or more and you will be okay. I store charcoal in 5 gallon buckets to keep dry a 5 gal will hold about 25 pounds and 2-3 of these will last for a while.
katzien
Hi Lisa, can you answer a question about how to protect radios, walkies, etc from an EMP event? I've looked up "Faraday boxes" and it looks like a regular steel filing cabinet will work with items inside wrapped in foil and other packaging. Also, what really needs to be protected? What devices or electronics? Thanks.
TheSurvivalMom
Kat, sorry I didn't get to answer this comment earlier. I suggest you look at the EMP bags at TechProtect.com They're a military grade mylar and very easy to use without getting into all the technicalities of aluminum foil, grounding vs. not-grounding, etc.
Paul & Terry
On radio storage, at the Survialist Conference in Dallas this year the Speaker on communications said , "Just storing rados in a small metal can, inside another metal can would be sufficient to protect them.
katzien
Really? I thought it was the touching of the metal that was the problem, which is why some sites recommended wrapping the item or padding the inside of the metal storage box. Thanks for the info.
Daniel
Hello, do you recommend joining the national guard at the age of 17 for much needed prepping money, with no job experience? I mean we really cant afford another war anyways.
Bets'
Not being able to afford something has never stopped the government from doing anything. I think the National Guard is an excellent idea, if you feel that's what suits you Daniel. We already have our feet in 5 wars so don't use the logic that it couldn't happen here. China is big, backed by Russia. If shtf, you would probably have insider info and access that others wouldn't. The gov't feeds it's armies well too. As far as prepping, I trade yard work for gallons of water with a person who has city water, mine is well and not pleasant tasting and weed gardens in exchange for some heirloom tomato seeds. Running errands or doing simple chores for the busy or invalid gets me cash for prepping. Good luck kiddo, glad to see you're awake and concerned.