When the power goes out, you have several options for preparing meals – 1) find a restaurant with power (this may not always be possible especially in widespread disaster), 2) use a grill, hibachi, Dutch oven, or camp stove (this must be done outside and can require special cookware), 3) prepare “heat only” foods like canned soup, stew, chili or “just add water” foods like instant soup or oatmeal on a canned heat stove, 4) prepare raw foods or canned foods that do not need heating, or 5) prepare easy to cook meals on a one burner butane stove. All options are viable (except maybe #1!) if prepared for adequately.
Option 5 has many advantages. The butane stove will accommodate larger size cookware than will the canned heat stove and normal kitchen cookware can be used. The butane stove can be used indoors with good ventilation. The gas flame is easier to regulate than canned heat and is hotter. These advantages allow the preparation of recipes rather than just heating up of canned foods thus giving more variety to menus while the power is out.
The following is a list of recipes found in Pantry Cooking: Unlocking Your Pantry’s Potential that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less (to conserve fuel). "#" indicates no cooking necessary. An additional list includes those that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less if you have quick cooking rice available or canned lentils. Some recipes should be prepared the first day or two after the power goes out in order to use ingredients such as mayonnaise that would need to be discarded if the power remains out for more than a day and you have no way to refrigerate food. The last list includes recipes archived on this web site. Look for new additions to that list. When choosing recipes, keep in mind that leftovers cannot be stored if the power remains off and there is no ice to cool and keep them.