30 Kitchen Items that Work When the Power is Out

Many
preppers
worry
about
what
they
will
do
in
a
survival
situation,
be
it
long-term
or
short-term,
when
the
power
is
out.

We
are
so
dependent
upon
electricity
for
so
much
that
things
will
start
to
go
sideways
fast
when
it
is
unavailable.
When
the
light
switches
don’t
produce
any
light
and
the
outlets
don’t
get
our
gadgets
and
appliances
going,
trouble
is
always
near.

Beyond
the
immediate
term
effects
of
a
loss
of
power,
we
should
also
consider
the
intermediate
and
long-term
effects,
particularly
the
degraded
or
near
total
loss
of
capability
in
the
kitchen.

Life
must
go
on,
and
that
means
meal
time
must
go
on.
The
kitchen
is,
in
many
ways,
the
nerve
center
of
an
operational
household,
and
if
your
kitchen
is
out
of
action,
life
and
tempers
will
begin
to
unravel
in
short
order.

But
it
doesn’t
have
to
be
that
way.
As
it
turns
out
there
is
a
huge
variety
of
kitchen
gadgetry,
tools,
appliances
and
implements
that
don’t
require
electricity
at
all
in
order
to
function.

These
items
are
the
perfect
hedge
against

a
long-term
loss
of
power
in
a
survival
scenario,
and
with
just
a
little
bit
of
adaptation
can
keep
your
kitchen
up
and
running.
Today
we
are
bringing
you
a
huge
list
of
kitchen
gadgets
that
will
work
when
the
power
is
out.

Low-Tech
Lasts

There
is
no
disputing
that
modern,
electric
appliances
and
kitchen
gadgets
are
marvelous
enhancements
to
our
efficiency
and
workflow
in
the
kitchen.
They
can
help
us
do
everything
faster
and
to
a
high,
consistent
standard.

I
don’t
think
it
is
a
stretch
to
assert
that
most
of
us
are
so
completely
used
to
working
with
electric
gadgetry
it
almost
feels
like
we
are
giving
up
a
limb
to
go
back
to
manual
power.

You
might
be
surprised
to
learn,
then,
just
how
effective
manual
kitchen
tools
can
be
when
it
comes
to
preparing
food
the
way
we
always
have.

Some
ubiquitous
tools
you
use
everyday
even
now,
things
like
mixing
bowls,
kitchen
knives
and
the
like,
but
other
mechanical
contraptions
that
were
the
predecessors
to
the
electric
gadgets
we
use
like
stand
mixers,
food
processors
and
so
forth
are
becoming
increasingly
rare
but
can
still
be
impressively
efficient.

What
is
important
to
our
purposes
is
that
these
manual
tools,
whatever
they
are,
give
us
a
hedge
against
the
loss
of
power
that
would
cripple
a
modern
kitchen.

By
making
the
transition
now
or
keeping
a
few
select
items
in
reserve
just
in
case
you
can
guarantee
that
your
kitchen
will
keep
on
cranking
out
homemade
meals
more
or
less
the
way
it
always
has
even
under
less
than
ideal
circumstances.

It
might
sound
quaint
or
even
like
an
affectation
when
so
much
of
our
survival
food
can
be
pre-made
or
ready
to
eat
as
is,
but
you
shouldn’t
underestimate
the
nutritional
and
morale
benefits
of
a
proper
home
cooked
meal.

Kitchen
Items
that
Work
When
the
Power
is
Out

Quick
disclosure:
If
you
visit
a
link
in
this
article
and
then
you
buy
something,
I
may
earn
a
commission.
As
an
Amazon
Associate
I
earn
from
qualifying
purchases.
You
can
read
my
full
disclosure

here.

Cast
Iron
Skillet

There
is
a
reason
that
many
families
so
covet
the

cast
iron
cookware
owned
by
their
grandparents
and
great-grandparents.
It
just
plain

works,
and
has
gotten
the
job
done
for
going
on
a
couple
of
centuries
now.
The
quintessential
piece
of
any
cast
iron
cookware
collection
is
the
large
skillet.

Any
chef
will
tell
you
that
cast
iron
has
much
to
recommend
it
as
far
as
heat
control
is
concerned,
but
for
our
purposes
a
cast
iron
skillet
is
just
as
much
at
home
on
a
stove
top
as
it
is
in
an
oven
or
outside
on
a
grill
or
even
directly
over
a
campfire.

This
versatility
is
unrivaled
by
any
other
cookware,
and
you
can’t
say
your
post-SHTF
kitchen
is
truly
ready
without
one.
The
one
your
grandma
had
has
probably
already
lasted
80
years,
and
if
you
give
it
even
a
little
bit
of
care
it’ll
last
another
80.

Dutch
Oven

The
Dutch
oven
is
another
piece
of
cast
iron
cookware
that
is
supremely
versatile,
and
these
are
greatly
beloved
by
campers,
overlanders
or
anyone
else
who
might
have
to
cook
and
cook
well
even
in
an
austere
environment.

You
can
make
everything
from
bread
and
casseroles
to
stews
and
steaks
in
a
Dutch
oven
thanks
mostly
to
the
design
which
allows
you
to
cover
the
oven
with
hot
coals
after
placing
it
directly
in
or
near
a
fire.

For
even
more
versatility,
you
can
get
a
combo
cooker
Dutch
oven
which
turns
the
lid
into
a
skillet
of
its
own
complete
with
a
handle.

Griddle

There
is
a
reason
we
are
front
loading
this
list
with
cast
iron
cookware.
It
is
just
that
good,
and
affords
you
maximum
versatility
in
cooking
what
you
need
to
cook
under
control
when
the
power
is
out.

For
feeding
a
larger
group
or
taking
care
of
the
largest
cuts
of
meat,
a
large
cast
iron

griddle
that
spans
two
or
even
four
burners
is
the
right
option.

Usually
consisting
of
a
flat
side
and
a
ridged
grill
side
on
the
opposite,
you
can
easily
whip
up
a
course
that
will
feed
four
to
six
adults
using
this
alone.

Highly
versatile
like
all
of
its
cast
iron
cousins,
the
only
downside
to
the
griddle
is
its
massive
size
and
weight.
This
is
not
something
you
want
the
kids
or
the
infirm
handling
lest
they
drop
it
and
break
their
feet
while
bashing
a
hole
in
the
floor!

Tongs

No
one
can
really
get
by
in
the
kitchen
without
tongs
unless
they
are
using
nothing
but
the
microwave,
and
the
need
for
tongs
will
be
even
more
pressing
in
the
post-electricity
kitchen
since
you
are
far
more
likely
to
be
working
with
open
flames.

Tongs
allow
you
to
flip
and
manipulate
food
when
it
is
directly
on
the
heat,
or
reposition
cookware
and
other
vessels
without
getting
too
close
to
a
roaring,
crackling
fire.

There
are
all
kinds
of
tongs
out
on
the
market,
but
you
would
be
wise
to
invest
in
all-steel
models
that
have
long
handles
sans
any
rubber
or
plastic
grip
inserts.

If
you
make
a
mistake
and
leave
your
tongs
too
close
to
a
heat
source,
those
can
melt
whereas
all
metal
ones
won’t.

Heat-Resistant
Gloves

Cooking,
in
the
kitchen
or
out,
entails
handling
hot
pots
and
pans
around
blazing
heat
sources,
and
in
the
post-electric
kitchen
you’ll
need
something
to
protect
your
hands
more
than
ever.

Sure,
a
folded
towel,
potholder
or
oven
mitts
might
be
okay,
but
for
maximum
protection
and
control
consider
investing
in

heat
resistant
gloves
with
gauntlets
that
cover
the
wrist
and
part
of
your
forearm.

They
will
afford
you
maximum
dexterity
while
protecting
you
from
hot
metal
and
the
errant
spill
or
spatter
of
grease.

There
are
plenty
to
choose
from
on
the
market,
but
if
you
want
to
save
a
few
bucks
you
can
use
conventional
welding
gloves
from
the
hardware
store
in
this
role.

Drain
Board

Aside
from
food,
hopefully,
all
of
your
kitchen
cooking
forays
are
going
to
generate
dirty
dishes,
dishes
that
will
need
to
be
washed
manually
since
your
dishwasher
is
going
to
be
offline.
To
boost
efficiency,
speed
drying
and
keep
your
counters
clear
invest
in
a
drain
board.

You
might
already
have
one,
but
if
you
don’t,
a
drainboard
is
exactly
what
it
says:
a
plastic
holder
or
rack
that
will
allow
your
washed
dishes
to
drip
dry
while
preventing
puddling
on
your
countertop.

It’s
not
glamorous,
and
it
is
a
particularly
fun,
but
it
will
definitely
help
keep
your
kitchen
operating
after
the
electricity
is
no
more.

Kitchen
Timer

So
much
of
what
we
do
when
cooking
revolves
around
precise
measurement
of
time,
particularly
when
applying
high
heat
during
searing
or
frying
and
baking.

Chances
are
you
use
your
stove
top
or
microwave
timer
for
the
purpose
or
any
of
the
innumerable
timer
apps
built
into
modern
smartphones.

Sure,
the
timer
on
your
phone
will
still
work
at
least
for
a
time
once
the
power
is
out
but
you
can
wave
goodbye
to
the
ones
built
into
your
stove
top
and
microwave.

Thankfully,
reliable,
accurate
mechanical
timers
are
plentiful,
affordable
and
a
breeze
to
use.
Pick
up
a
couple
of
these
mechanical
egg
timers
and
you
won’t
have
to
worry
about
guessing
whether
or
not
you
had
that
bacon
frying
in
the
oven
for
five
minutes
or
only
four.

Water
Pump

Another
thing
we
take
completely
for
granted
in
our
modern
era
is
the
reliability
of
water
on
demand.
For
washing,
cooking
and
drinking
alike,
water
issues
for
readily
and
endlessly
from
any
tap
in
our
house.

Though
your
house
may
or
may
not
be
entirely
dependent
upon
public
water
supplies,
no
matter
where
you
get
your
water
from,
be
it
a
well
or
the
civic
supply,
widespread
loss
of
electricity
is
going
to
interrupt
that
flow
sooner
rather
than
later.

A
working
kitchen
without
access
to
water
on
demand
won’t
be
a
working
kitchen
for
long,
so
you’ll
need
a
solution.

And
you
can
have
a
solution
if
you
have
a
classic,

manually
operated
water
pump,
and
sometimes
called
a
pitcher
pump.

Long
before
public
water
was
a
thing,
these
small
and
easy
to
use
pumps
would
draw
water
from
rain
barrels
or
other
large
reservoirs
into
the
sinks
and
basins
inside
kitchens.

Mixing
Bowls

Mixing
bowls
are
one
of
those
basic
kitchen
items
that
you’ll
need
day
in
and
day
out.

You
likely
won’t
even
be
using
them
for
proper
mixing
much
of
the
time,
but
instead
for
holding
various
ingredients
in
the
correct
proportions,
disposing
of
scraps
out
of
your
workspace
or
even
themselves
as
a
vessel
for
cooking.

Big
and
small
you’ll
need
them
all,
so
make
sure
you
stock
up
while
you
can.

As
always,
a
simpler,
streamlined,
all
metal
design
will
provide
you
with
the
very
best
versatility
and
completely
eliminate
any
concerns
about
melting
or
scorched
coatings,
handles
that
can’t
handle
the
heat
and
other
mishaps
attendant
with
cheap,
modern
interpretations.

Colander

A
colander,
or
strainer,
is
your
go-to
tool
for
draining
the
water
off
of
freshly
steamed
or
boiled
food
like
pasta
and
also
for
washing
any
produce
prior
to
processing.

This
is
another
kitchen
gadget
that
requires
no
electricity
and
one
that
is
also
virtually
unchanged
over
the
many
long
decades
of
use.

Trying
to
get
by
without
one
of
these
will
quickly
prove
frustrating,
maybe
even
a
little
dangerous
if
you
are
handling
hot
liquids.

Here
you
have
more
options
in
use
since
it
won’t
be
enduring
any
applied
heat
in
cooking.
As
always
I
prefer
metal
but
you
can
make
a
good
case
for
high
impact,
heat
resistant
plastic
here
as
they
are
easier
to
handle
and
it
less
prone
to
denting
or
breaking
when
being
taken
in
and
out
of
the
pantry
and
placed
in
the
sink.

Peeler

As
time
goes
on
in
any
long
duration
survival
situation,
you’ll
be
able
to
rely
on
preprocessed,
prepackaged
food
less
and
less
as
stocks
get
consumed.
Soon
you’ll
be
switching
over
to
fresh,
whole
produce
that
you’ll
need
to
process
yourself.

Save
yourself
a
ton
of
grief,
speed
up
the
process
and
make
it
a
little
safer
by
using
a
vegetable
and
fruit
peeler.
Simple,
a
cinch
to
use
and
highly
versatile
this
ingenious
little
tool
will
save
you
a
ton
of
time
whether
you
are
appealing
potatoes
or
apples,
no
electricity
required.

Do
keep
in
mind
the
blades
on
peelers
can
dull
over
time,
just
like
any
other
cutting
edge,
and
you’ll
need
to
be
prepared
with
the
right
kit
to
sharpen
them
and
restore
them
to
service.

Kettle

For
that
perfect
cup
of
tea,
hot
cocoa
or
even
coffee,
a
kettle
is
what
you
need
to
quickly
and
safely
bring
water
to
a
roaring
boil,
and
once
the
electricity
is
out
you’ll
need
something
that
is
strong
enough
to
withstand
substantial
application
of
direct
heat.

Almost
any
conventional
tea
kettle
is
up
to
the
task,
and
the
shrill,
built-in
whistle
ensures
that
you’ll
know
when
your
water
is
ready.

Although
there
are
various
so-called
electric
kettles
on
the
market,
as
you
have
doubtless
figured
out
you
want
a
traditional,
no
frills
tea
kettle
without
any
such
accoutrement.

Can
Opener

I’m
pretty
sure
there’s
a
law
somewhere
that
says
you’re
not
even
allowed
to
call
yourself
a
prepper
if
you
don’t
have
a
huge
stash
of
canned
good
somewhere.

Okay,
I
may
or
may
not
be
exaggerating
but
the
truth
of
the
matter
is
that
most
preppers
do
have
canned
goods
as
part
of
their
survival
food
stash.

That
means
if
you
want
to
avoid
being
the
subject
of
an
ironic
comedy,
you’ll
need
a
good
can
opener
to
allow
you
easy,
timely
access
to
those
goods.

You
probably
already
have
an
electric
can
opener
on
your
countertop
or
stashed
in
a
cabinet
nearby,
but
that
is
a
no-go
for
our
purposes.

What
you
want
is
a
sturdy
manually
operated
model,
the
kind
with
heavy
duty
handles
and
an
oversized
knob
or
crank
to
afford
you
maximum
leverage
for
getting
through
tough
lids.

Percolator

Maybe
you
aren’t
a
tea
drinker.
Maybe
you
are
a
bean
juice
fanatic
who
cannot
contemplate
life
on
Earth
without
that
morning
and
evening
cup
of
joe.

If
this
describes
your
outlook,
you’ll
want
to
add
an
alternative
way
to
brew
coffee
to
your
kitchen
readiness
arsenal,
one
besides
your
tried
and
true
electric
drip
machine
or
K-Cup.
Time
to
kick
it
old
school
like
your
grandparents
and
great
grandparents
did
with
a
percolator.

Still
the
choice
of
some
coffee
aficionados,
a
classic

percolator
can
easily
turn
water
and
grounds
into
a
strong,
hearty
pot
of
coffee
in
no
time
flat,
and
can
do
it
just
as
easily
on
a
stove
top
as
it
can
over
a
campfire
or
on
a
grill.
This
is
the
coffee
worshipers’
survival
gadget,
right
here!

Grater

A
grater
is
another
awesome,
multi-purpose
kitchen
implement
that
doesn’t
require
any
electricity
whatsoever.

You
can
obviously
use
it
for
grating
cheese,
like
normal,
but
it
is
also
useful
for
such
things
as
garlic,
ginger
and
a
variety
of
herbs
and
spices.

The
standard
box
grater
that
has
multiple
surfaces
for
a
variety
of
sizes
and
textures
is
your
best
bet
and
will
easily
stand
up
to
constant,
rigorous
use.

Slicer

The
slicer
is
another
kitchen
gadget
that
requires
no
electricity
and
will
still
dramatically
speed
up
your
meal
prep,
especially
when
processing
fruits
and
veggies.

Although
a
good
chef’s
or
paring
knife
can
do
everything
the
slicer
can
do
and
potentially
just
as
quickly
in
the
hands
of
a
master,
for
us
normal,
“Earth
people”
a
slicer
gives
us
speed
and
consistency
in
equal
measure.

Consider
this
a
must-have
tool
if
you
make
a
lot
of
dishes
with
root
vegetables
or
firm
fruits,
and
it
is
also
essential
for
processing
both
for
dehydration
if
you
are
into
that
sort
of
thing.

Chopper

There
are
quite
a
few
of
us
who
couldn’t
live
without
our
food
processors,
but
that
is
exactly
what
we
will
have
to
do
if
the
power
goes
out
for
a
long
time.

Not
to
worry,
though,
because
no
matter
what
you
are
processing
and
what
the
desired
result
is
you
can
probably
do
much
the
same
thing
using
a
handheld
chopper.

These
old
fashioned
devices
are
very
much
out
of
style
right
now,
again
owing
to
the
abundance
of
electric
replacements,
but
they
worked
well
for
a
long
time
and
still
work
well
today.

Consisting
of
a
handle
with
a
grid
made
from
sharp,
thin
metal
panels
intersecting
at
right
angles,
a
chopper
can
reduce
larger
slices
of
fruits,
veggies
and
even
meats
into
consistent,
convenient
morsels.

Crank
Mixer

For
the
bakers
and
bread
makers
in
the
audience,
the
thought
of
giving
up
our
stand
mixers
is
tantamount
to
asking
us
to
give
up
a
limb.

How
will
we
ever
go
on
without
it?
Well,
go
on
we
can
and
go
on
we
must,
but
luckily
we
won’t
have
to
mix
everything
by
hand
or
using
a
spatula.

You
might
be
surprised,
and
I
hope
happily
so,
to
learn
that
there
are
stand
mixer
equivalents
that
are
manually
cranked
and
surprisingly
effective.

You’ll
have
to
use
a
little
more
muscle
power,
but
these
old
fashioned
mixers
utilize
impressive
gearing
ratios
that
can
generate
plenty
of
power
and
speed
for
any
mixing
application
without
wearing
you
out.

Kitchen
Shears

Kitchen
shears
are
a
little
more
than
heavy
duty,
Stout
scissors,
and
though
they
can
be
used
for
many
of
the
same
tasks
you
would
use
common
scissors
for,
they
are
designed
for
processing
meat,
particularly
meat
on
the
bone,
and
other
intensive
cutting
tasks.

Compared
to
using
your
kitchen
knife
or
a
significantly
clumsier
cleaver,
kitchen
shears
will
still
provide
you
plenty
of
control
and
all
the
power
you
need
for
anything
but
the
most
demanding
of
chores.

Mortar
and
Pestle

For
hardcore
grinding
or
reducing
certain
items
into
a
paste-like
consistency,
you’ll
need
a

mortar
and
pestle
in
place
of
your
trusty
standby
food
processor.

The
mortar
and
pestle
combo
has
been
around
since
basically
forever,
and
it
nearly
every
culture
around
the
world
has
an
equivalent
other
ubiquitous
version.

Consisting
of
a
domed
stick
for
crushing
and
a
gently
sloping
bowl
for
holding
the
item
being
crushed,
working
it
over
for
a
few
minutes
will
reduce
almost
anything
to
a
fine
powder
or
paste.
This
is
just
the
thing
for
making
your
own
seasoning
and
spice
blends.

Meat
Grinder

Hopefully
you’ll
have
planned
accordingly
so
you
can
acquire
a
steady
influx
of
fresh
meat
in
the
aftermath
of
some
major
disaster
or
society
toppling
event.

But
assuming
that
is
the
case
you
won’t
necessarily
be
cooking
huge,
whole
cuts
all
the
time.
Ground
meat
in
particular
is
a
vital
component
of
sausages
and
those
ever
tasty
burgers,
so
you’ll
want
to
be
ready
for
the
occasion
with
a
manual,

crank
operated
meat
grinder.

These
used
to
be
a
fixture
in
every
kitchen
throughout
the
land,
whether
they
were
huge,
heavy
countertop
models
or
the
somewhat
more
compact
versions
that
would
clamp
on
the
edge
of
a
counter
or
the
ubiquitous
kitchen
work
table
that
was
a
popular
piece
of
furniture
in
the
day.

You’ll
have
to
take
pains
to
keep
these
clean
after
use,
but
most
of
them
are
easy
to
disassemble.

Rolling
Pin

When
making
any
kind
of
dough
or
crust,
a
rolling
pin
is
a
must.
You
don’t
need
anything
fancy.
A
classic
wooden
rolling
pin
can
work
just
as
well
as
one
of
the
fancy,
rich
stone
versions
that
are
becoming
popular.

Keep
it
clean,
keep
it
lightly
oiled
and
flour
your
work
surface
and
you’ll
be
cranking
out
pastries,
pizza
crust
and
more
in
no
time.

Grain
Mill

Peppers
who
live
on
a
farm
or
have
access
to
local,
farm
grown
grains
can
expect
a
bounty
of
cereals
they
can
put
to
use
in
a
variety
of
ways.

Most
people
naturally
think
flour
when
they
think
of
whole
grain,
but
before
you
can
make
use
of
it
in
that
way
you’ll
need
to
process
it,
and
that
means
you
need
a
grain
mill.

A
grain
mill
will
reduce
whole,
intact
grains
into
flour
far
easier
than
you
could
with
any
other
method,
at
least
on
the
small
scale.

They
take
time
and
a
little
bit
of
muscle
to
operate,
but
for
families
who
are
just
wanting
to
bake
their
daily
bread
they
are
more
than
adequate
and
very
convenient.

Meat
Thermometer

A
good
meat
thermometer
is
a
chronically
overlooked
kitchen
gadget
that
is
going
to
be
even
more
important
once
you
are
deprived
of
your
typical
cooktop
and
microwave
arrangement.

Temperature
control
is
the
other
major
element
of
cooking
skill,
and
even
though
you
likely
have
not
ever
taken
the
time
to
figure
out
exactly
what
temperature
a
certain
burner
on
a
certain
setting
produces,
you
probably
have
enough
experience
to
know
about
where
you
need
to
be
on
the
dial.

Deprived
of
this
intuitiveness,
you’ll
need
to
carefully
assess
the
temperature
of
your
food
to
ensure
it
is
done.
A
good
thermometer
will
help
you
do
that.

Fermenting
Crock

A
fermenting
crock
is
a
relatively
unknown
kitchen
gadget
to
most
people.
As
you’d
expect
from
the
name,
a
fermenting
crock
is
used
to
produce
fermented
foods,
items
like
sauerkraut,
kimchi
and
similar
items.

Consisting
of
a
little
more
than
an
earthenware
pot
with
a
lid
that
nestles
inside
a
trough
at
the
top,
water
is
poured
into
the
trough
so
that
the
lid
produces
an
airtight
seal,
allowing
anaerobic
bacteria
to
do
its
work
and
ferment
the
food.

Used
by
a
variety
of
cultures
in
one
way
or
another
around
the
world
for
centuries,
fermentation
produces
notably
iconic
cultural
dishes,
but
is
also
a
critical
method
of
preservation
for
certain
foods.

No
refrigeration,
and
thusly
no
electricity
required!

Chef’s
Knife

Probably
the
most
ubiquitous
and
important
tool
in
any
kitchen.
The
kitchen
knife,

chef’s
knife,
or
just
the
knife,
this
large
blade
is
the
cutting
implement
with
which
you
will
handle
the
vast
majority
of
your
kitchen
chores
when
it
comes
to
food
prep,
both
big
and
small.

Keep
it
sharp,
learn
to
use
it
well
and
you’ll
rarely
need
to
reach
for
anything
else
when
tackling
the
basics.

Butter
Churn

If
you
want
to
make
your
own
butter
you’ll
need
a
butter
churn.
Hard
to
imagine
getting
by
without
butter
today,
and
it
is
available
so
freely,
so
cheaply
and
virtually
everywhere
that
we
take
for
granted
will
always
have
access
to
it.

Obviously,
that
won’t
be
the
case
when
the
power
is
out
and
the
manufacturers,
shippers
and
groceries
that
sell
it
will
likewise
not
be
keeping
their
refrigerated
stocks
cool
for
very
long.

You
can
make
your
own
butter
if
you
have
access
to
the
appropriate
dairy
components
but
you’ll
need
to
supply
a
lot
of
elbow
grease
in
the
bargain
if
you
want
to
get
that
creamy
goodness.

Dough
Mixer

For
the
hardcore
bread
makers,
an
electric
dough
mixer
might
as
well
be
a
heaven
sent
boon.
Sadly,
it
too
will
go
the
way
of
the
dodo
along
with
our
stand
mixers,
microwaves
and
other
electric
kitchen
gadgets.

As
you
can
probably
guess
by
now,
there
is
happily
a
non-electric
equivalent
in
the
form
of
a
manually
operated
dough
mixer.

Purists
may
scoff
at
the
idea
of
not
kneading
their
dough
themselves,
but
a
manually
cranked
dough
mixer
is
less
messy
and
generally
more
consistent
than
a
human
being.

This
is
one
of
those
tools
that
has
long
been
out
of
fashion,
and
there
are
very
few
new
versions
produced
today
so
you
might
need
to
go
antiquing
or
yard
saling
if
you
want
to
come
up
with
one
and
then
you’ll
be
facing
the
task
of
restoring
it.
Even
so,
they
are
generally
worth
it.

Zeer
Pot

A
zeer
pot
might
be
just
the
thing
for
replacing
your
refrigerator.
This
ingenious
and
ancient
device
is
nothing
more
than
two
clay
jars,
one
smaller
than
the
other
and
capable
of
nesting
inside
it,
with
a
layer
of
wet
sand
packed
in
between
them.

For
the
power
of
condensation,
this
keeps
the
interior
of
the
innermost
pot
significantly
cooler
than
the
outside
air,
and
can
make
the
difference
for
preserving
certain
perishable
goods.

These
are
easy
enough
to
make
yourself
using
common
pots
and
sand,
but
bespoke
models
are
available
if
you
need
something
larger
or
for
a
specific
size
application.

Ice
Cream
Maker

It
might
be
a
luxury,
but
if
you
have
access
to
ice,
milk,
and
sugar,
you
can
crank
out
some
delectable
homemade
ice
cream
with
absolutely
no
power
needed
except
muscle
power.

You
can
imagine
how
refreshing
and
morale-boosting
a
treat
like
that
would
be
in
the
middle
of
a
paradigm-altering
situation.

You’d
need
to
eat
it
fast
lacking
any
other
means
of
refrigeration,
but
you
should
not
underestimate
the
value
of
a
little
dash
of
normalcy
in
tough
times.

Conclusion

The
post-electric
SHTF
survival-ready
kitchen
remains
surprisingly
productive
if
you
have
the
right
gadgets
and
equipment
on
hand.

Humans
were
turning
out
marvelous
dishes
and
wholesome
feasts
for
generation
upon
generation
well
before
the
advent
of
electricity,
and

you
can
do
the
same
thing.

Use
this
list
of
non-electric
kitchen
gadgets
as
a
guide
and
you’ll
be
ready
to
go
on
cooking
as
normal
even
in
the
worst
of
times!