6 Meals to Make during a Power Outage & a Guide to Saving vs. Tossing Cold Foods

Posted on January 4, 2016December 27, 2016 by Erin Meyering

 

No Power? No Problem!

With the increase in snow we’ve been experiencing in Northern Nevada, power outages may be on the horizon. Fingers crossed we make it through the rest of winter without a major power outage, but in the event that a storm leaves you in the dark, here are some tasty and nutritious meal ideas to serve up — no oven, blender, or microwave required!

Have a Tapas Party. You don’t need a power outlet to break out the cheeseboard and enjoy an array of tapas. Think: Olives, chickpeas (toss with olive oil and spices for a little more flavor — we like chili powder for a spicy kick), mashed avocado with a sprinkle of lime and salt, roasted red peppers, and whole-grain pita wedges. This is also the perfect time to use up cheese that may go bad if your power is out for an extended period of time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Think Ahead With Overnight Oats. If you think the power will be out until morning, combine 1 part oats and 1 part water, and let the mixture sit overnight. (Be sure to sub in water for milk since you won’t be able to refrigerate overnight.) In the morning you can add sliced banana, or apple and cinnamon, for a no-cook bowl of oatmeal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mash Up Some Homemade Hummus. For a tasty snack, use a fork or potato masher to smash chickpeas, then stir in lemon juice, minced garlic, and a touch of salt for a homemade hummus dip. Serve with sliced veggies and whole-grain crackers or pita for dipping. For a bean dip trio, mash up an assortment of beans, such as black, kidney, and cannellini.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Creative with Veggie Noodles. The wonderful thing about veggie noodles (other than their ability to transform your favorite pasta dish into a low-cal meal) is that they require no boiling water, making them the perfect meal base when you don’t have electricity. Carrots, cucumbers, and beets can all be spiralized into noodles or cut into ribbons with a veggie peeler, and then tossed with seasonings like oil, vinegar, and herbs for a no-cook pasta dish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wrap It Up. Veggie wraps are super easy to whip up and can be customized using whatever is left in the house — all veggies, beans, and seasonings are fair game. Start with whole-wheat tortillas (or use romaine, kale, or collard greens as wraps), then pack in canned beans, onion, tomato, cucumber, and any other veggies you have on hand, and drizzle with oil and vinegar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go Old School with PB&J. Throw it back to lunchbox days and enjoy a schmear of peanut butter and sweet jelly on bread. After two hours without power, all meat and poultry is a no-go, so peanut and other nut butters are a smart go-to protein source. Take the traditional sandwich up a notch by adding sliced banana, apple, or strawberries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip: Consider storing refrigerated/frozen foods outside to help preserve freshness during a snow storm.

Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out

Food Categories	Specific Foods	Held above 40 °F for over 2 hours
MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD	Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes	Discard
	Thawing meat or poultry	Discard
	Salads: Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, or egg salad	Discard
	Gravy, stuffing, broth	Discard
	Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef	Discard
	Pizza – with any topping	Discard
	Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated”	Discard
	Canned meats and fish, opened	Discard
	Casseroles, soups, stews	Discard
CHEESE	Soft Cheeses: blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, queso blanco, queso fresco	Discard
	Hard Cheeses: Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano	Safe
	Processed Cheeses	Safe
	Shredded Cheeses	Discard
	Low-fat Cheeses	Discard
	Grated Parmesan, Romano, or combination (in can or jar)	Safe
DAIRY	Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk	Discard
	Butter, margarine	Safe
	Baby formula, opened	Discard
EGGS	Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products	Discard
	Custards and puddings, quiche	Discard
FRUITS	Fresh fruits, cut	Discard
	Fruit juices, opened	Safe
	Canned fruits, opened	Safe
	Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates	Safe
SAUCES, SPREADS, JAMS	Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish	Discard if above 50 °F for over 8 hrs.
	Peanut butter	Safe
	Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, pickles	Safe
	Worcestershire, soy, barbecue, hoisin sauces	Safe
	Fish sauces, oyster sauce	Discard
	Opened vinegar-based dressings	Safe
	Opened creamy-based dressings	Discard
	Spaghetti sauce, opened jar	Discard
BREAD, CAKES, COOKIES, PASTA, GRAINS	Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas	Safe
	Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough	Discard
	Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes	Discard
	Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette	Discard
	Fresh pasta	Discard
	Cheesecake	Discard
	Breakfast foods –waffles, pancakes, bagels	Safe
PIES, PASTRY	Pastries, cream filled	Discard
	Pies – custard, cheese filled, or chiffon; quiche	Discard
	Pies, fruit	Safe
VEGETABLES	Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices	Safe
	Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged	Discard
	Vegetables, raw	Safe
	Vegetables, cooked; tofu	Discard
	Vegetable juice, opened	Discard
	Baked potatoes	Discard
	Commercial garlic in oil	Discard
	Potato salad	Discard
	Casseroles, soups, stews	Discard

Frozen Food and Power Outages: When to Save and When to Throw Out

Food Categories	Specific Foods	Still contains ice crystals and feels as cold as if refrigerated	Thawed and held above 40 °F for over 2 hours
MEAT, POULTRY, SEAFOOD	Beef, veal, lamb, pork, and ground meats	Refreeze	Discard
	Poultry and ground poultry	Refreeze	Discard
	Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart, chitterlings)	Refreeze	Discard
	Casseroles, stews, soups	Refreeze	Discard
	Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products	Refreeze. However, there will be some texture and flavor loss.	Discard
DAIRY	Milk	Refreeze. May lose some texture.	Discard
	Eggs (out of shell) and egg products	Refreeze	Discard
	Ice cream, frozen yogurt	Discard	Discard
	Cheese (soft and semi-soft)	Refreeze. May lose some texture.	Discard
	Hard cheeses	Refreeze	Refreeze
	Shredded cheeses	Refreeze	Discard
	Casseroles containing milk, cream, eggs, soft cheeses	Refreeze	Discard
	Cheesecake	Refreeze	Discard
FRUITS	Juices	Refreeze	Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops.
	Home or commercially packaged	Refreeze. Will change texture and flavor.	Refreeze. Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops.
VEGETABLES	Juices	Refreeze	Discard after held above 40 °F for 6 hours.
	Home or commercially packaged or blanched	Refreeze. May suffer texture and flavor loss.	Discard after held above 40 °F for 6 hours.
BREADS, PASTRIES	Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings)	Refreeze	Refreeze
	Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling	Refreeze	Discard
	Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough	Refreeze. Some quality loss may occur.	Refreeze. Quality loss is considerable.
OTHER	Casseroles – pasta, rice based	Refreeze	Discard
	Flour, cornmeal, nuts	Refreeze	Refreeze
	Breakfast items –waffles, pancakes, bagels	Refreeze	Refreeze
	Frozen meal, entree, specialty items (pizza, sausage and biscuit, meat pie, convenience foods)	Refreeze	Discard

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