What arrangements have you made for cooking should the energy be turned off?

I only have electricity in my kitchen so no alternative cooking source.

It's unlikely we'd have long power cuts, especially if they are planned as in the 70's so I suppose I'd aim to eat when we had power. I think I would simply get meals ready in advance and microwave it when the power came on, or cook something in a slow cooker and keep the whole thing wrapped in towels if necessary.

If you keep a cooked joint you can always make sandwiches which we like, particularly gammon. I have a manual rotary slicer which is very useful for this.

Or things to eat cold like spanish omelette are always nice for a meal.

Hot plate on top of the log burner plus camping gas ring. But will try to be prepared if given notice with flasks etc.

Have a wooden box with hay. Bring food to the boil on the (gas) cooker, and put it in the box (lid closed) for it too cook by residual heat (save fuel). Also, the candle thing for cheese fondue works, too, if all you need is to keep food warm... Or you can go in the yatrd and tinker with crayons and cloth and bits of oil to make a flame in food tins (on soil not on the ground because they will leave a mark), and place the pot on a tripod. Also - learn to like raw vegetables.

I'm not too fussed about having a hot meal but will miss my hot drinks if I am caught unawares.
Snuggled in a blanket in candle light sounds ok to me. Who knows what we might find to do to keep warm !
I do have some solar panel table lights that will come in handy. Now where did I put those?

I'm very much a prepper (and I wouldn't be any other way) but I hadn't prepped for possible power cuts particularly as yet. Seeing this thread I dug out loads of tea lights and put them ready in tea light holders and replaced batteries in a torch. Then I ordered four hot water bottles with knitted covers at half price online ( from a chemist beginning with L). If we arrive in power cut land I shall keep cooked casseroles and stews ready in the fridge and pop them onto the woodburner (which I had fitted this February in anticipation of Russia messing with Gas prices) to warm up and fill the whole with the scent of safety and warmth. I will get my wool blankets out of the loft next and wash them ready to sit on the arms of sofas and chairs. I don't think I'll buy a camping stove as back up as yet- but might give in later on.

I've already got a cast iron kettle for hot drinks on the wood burner.

Have battery operated lamps, battery operated candles for a cosy glow and torches. My iPad and iPhone are always pretty well charged so I can read and watch TV for a while. Sandwiches are fine! Will only be for a few hours so I’m not too concerned. And there’s always chocolate!!

Luckily our touring caravan is on the drive with batteries charged. We'll just go & sit in there with the dog - it has Calor gas heating/cooker, lights and fridge + sockets are battery run and there is a toilet in there too. I can cook in there, make hot drinks, watch tv & if I run an ext lead into the router we'll have Wi-fi as well. I might not want to come back indoors lol.

Daisyanne, it's a good idea to plan ahead. I have a gas hob which I can light with a match of there is no electric. I also have a gas fire for heat. And of course plenty of candles. If you have an idea when it's going off you could charge your phone and tablets ahead of time.

Have a camping stove and extra gas cylinders - used this when elecricity was being installed - alsi top if the wood burner. Have the usual candles and a wind up lantern. Because of where I live we are used to losing electricity, especially in stormy weather!

Sipti1983

DaisyAnne

I hope I'm not beginning to sound like a prepper, but this is another little niggle I have. I have realised I need another flask (unless I find where I have hidden the second one) and then I can have soup and hot drinks, but I do wonder if there is anything I can do so I can actually cook.

(I think the other flask was "borrowed" to be honest)

To be honest, if this does happen (and I am not convinced it will - no proof just a gut feeling) the power will only be off for a couple of hours - I think 2 hrs at a time twice a week, so I think it will be easy enough to eat before or wait until it comes back on. Its a pain but its not the end of the world. Shouldn't happen (if it does) but most folk can wait for 2 hours before they eat.

I think you have missed earlier posts Siptil983.

Like you, I would like to believe it will not happen. However, the conversation was about people suggesting what they, knowing their age, limitations and circumstances, have found they could include in their own homes to suit them.

The information Elegran passed on to us earlier was that far from just being a simple 2-hour switch-off, the plan suggests it will be an initial three hours at a time. That is not just a one-off 3-hour block but, at Level 1, it is three, three-hour blocks in a week. Some would have four such blocks. Sometimes they are on a separate day but sometimes two blocks are on the same day.

By Level 3 of a plan that extends to Level 18, most would have three three-hour blocks on each of two, sometimes consecutive days, plus other single blocks.

It does seem at least a little arrogant to come on to a thread, not read it, and then decide you know better than others what they should do. If you can wait your assumed 2 hours, great. If others want to be prepared for the proposed 3 hours, 6 hours or greater until they have a hot meal, that is their choice. They know what they need or what they would like to be in a position to do. Opinions on what others choose to do are irrelevant.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/995049/esec-guidance.pdf

I’ve Got a gas hob and electric oven…so I’m safe from whatever gets turned off. My friend is all electric….so she’s got herself a little calor gas camping stove…. and her son uses it for camping trips as well….I think you have to just refill the little canisters of gas or buy a new one…. it’s so handy.

Oopsadaisy1

Forgot to mention that I have replaced the under cupboard lights in the kitchen with ‘motion detector under cupboard lights’ they are plug in to recharge lights, are just as bright as the electric ones which kept going out, after an expensive visit from an electrician they packed up again after a year or so, so we’ve replaced them.
I’ve bought another one to tuck under the bathroom cabinet and another to light the hallway. Handy for anyone getting up in the night who has a step in the way and handy for power cuts.
One charge lasts us for about a month for the kitchen lights, then I just plug them in with a usb to recharge.

Many of these are really useful for "staying safe" at any time regardless of electricity cuts. Thank you Oopsadaisy. I had thought of looking at the under-cupboard lights for general use so will put that one on my list.

Esspee

I thought cookers today wouldn’t allow the gas to flow if the electric ignition wasn’t functioning. It is a compulsory safety feature, so I was told.

Our gas cooker works when the electric ignition cannot - our cooker is very basic due to its size. Perhaps posher cookers have more safety features?

Sorry not read all posts but several mention hot water bottles. Be careful of older ones as the rubber degrades even if not used. There are new ones now for a couple of pounds more maybe but made out of silicone so hopefully last better.

I have a gas hob, so that should be ok to light manually. But we bought a camping gaz thingy and topped up with more canisters after the war in Ukraine started. I’ve put by bottles of water and tins of soup. Strong flour and dried yeast if push comes to shove, some ‘survival’ and ordinary crackers. Wind up torches and radio. Granted we’d all be blown to smithereens if Putin goes nuclear, but we’re ready for another lockdown if Covid or anything else rears its ugly head. It’s just a gradual stock increase over the weeks so no ‘panic’ buying.

We were worried in last lockdown because we had to shield and couldn’t initially get a regular supermarket slot so supplies were a bit ’hit and miss’, but now we have peace of mind and although neighbours are younger than us, we can help out if they run short - oh and we have good stocks of toilet paper too [?]

Esspee

I thought cookers today wouldn’t allow the gas to flow if the electric ignition wasn’t functioning. It is a compulsory safety feature, so I was told.

Yes, pretty sure this is a thing. I've tried using my hob in a power cut and it won't light with a match, only with the electric ignitor.
In a power cut, if I really need to cook anything, it'll have to be the barbecue out in the garden. Wouldn't be the first time - we never used to have a grill so could be found barbecuing lamb chops outside in the snow!

I have two camping stoves and lots of gas canisters. Open fire and plenty of wood. Torches and bike lights with ample spare batteries, rechargeable PIR lights, solar table lamp and hanging lights, dozens of candles and tea lights, three paraffin lamps (and paraffin!), and lots of matches. Power bank to charge my phone, or I’d charge it in the car.
And most canned food can be eaten cold if necessary.

I have a rusty old bbq on which to cook .
I'm so glad that I didn't throw it out !

Unfortunately, if we have no electricity, we also have no water as we have a bore hole & the supply is pumped to the house. It's easy enough to store supplies for drinking and flushing the toilet isn't always strictly necessary...but sometimes it is! We still have a working generator from our farming days which can be pressed into service if push comes to shove. In the meantime we have a logburner which we can boil water on so it's Pot Noodles all round!

I have a few motion sensing lights in stands, they can be charged by usb from my power bank. Very useful for safety in the dark, stairs, tripping, bumping into things. My power bank is anker and it held almost a full charge for two years. I am now using it to re-charge anything that needs charging via usb as the anker needs to be just about empty to re-charge, at least for the first charge.

I'd go out for a meal!

One thing I did think if we got to the point where it was going off for more hours is checking on family and friends' letter (I'm A). Where they are different, we could spend time with them if cold is the problem.

The Area Letter is at the top of your bill.

Have a gas cooker so be ok with electric off, have lots of tin foods to have sandwiches etc if gas off ( not sure if they can cut the gas on and off?

Quote icanhandthemback
Can you get your mum a Kindle ( can get with back lights )
Just a thought ..