One of the fun parts of emergency preparedness is all the gear. But we shouldn’t neglect the skills we need to really thrive when times are tough. Kitchen know-how is at the top of the skills list. Below are five broad skills that you should aim to master. These aren’t specific (except for number 2!), but rather are general skills you can tailor to your needs and tastes.
- Master 1 grain and 1 legume – these are essential building blocks of long term food storage. Mastering cooking them without gadgets and tech (like a pressure cooker) is essential. Learn how to make a grain (like rice or corn) and one legume (like black beans, or lentils). Preppers love rice and beans for storage – so get confident in cooking them up!
- Master Overnight Rustic Bread – a hands-off bread that is easy for beginners. This is a low-effort side dish to add easy calories. It’s key to practice now so you’re not trying to figure out how to make bread when everyone is already overwhelmed and hungry! With just water, flour, salt and yeast, you don’t have to worry about storing a lot of extra ingredients in your food storage plan. Check out this recipe!
- Master Flavor Combos – know your flavor profiles without relying on prepackaged mixes. Pick one or two flavor combos to memorize and work with (I recommend a taco/ chili seasoning, and a general italian seasoning – though a curry blend would make a strong third place). This will allow you to take what you have on hand and make delicious, simple meals.
- Adapt a Meal to What You Have – break free of the recipe! learn how to adapt recipes with what you have on hand. This comes with practice – and knowing flavors. In disaster situations when communities may be pooling resources, practice with adapting recipes (and knowing good flavor combos!) will give you more versatility to get everyone fed and satisfied.
- Master Using Everything – learn how to stretch every bit of food you have. Low food waste is a preparedness skill! It’s a privilege to throw out tough cuts of meat, tips and ends of veggies, and leftovers you’re just not “feeling.” But in a crisis, every bit of food will need to be put to good use. This si a good skill to carry into everyday life, as we want to decrease our over all waste, and save money on not buy food we end up just tossing in the trash.
What other skills would YOU want to have mastered before a disaster strikes? While there are a bunch of technical skills that are useful (like knife skills, campfire cooking, and even home canning), these simple kitchen skills will take you a long way toward safety and security with your food storage.
Want more information? Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/oNTFrR5Mi-c
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