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Kim BussingUpdated: Feb. 04, 2023
No electricity? No problem! From major storms to local blackouts, the inconvenience of a power outage doesn't have to leave you feeling, well, powerless. These recipes will provide plenty of food to eat when power is out.
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Just like that, a storm has hit. But the family still needs to eat! Planning in advance will ensure that there’s plenty of food to eat when the power is out. First, stock up on nonperishable goods like dried fruit, nuts and canned food. If you know a storm is coming, prepare some (again, nonperishable) snacks in advance, like energy bars or even homemade beef jerky, and fill the pantry with staples like oatmeal.
During a power outage, stay away from the fridge and freezer—keeping the door closed will help maintain the cooler temperature and keep food from spoiling. Instead, plan to make meals that use only shelf-stable ingredients.
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Tuna Wraps
Simple and packed with protein to keep energy levels up, a tuna wrap is an easy emergency dish. Skip any vegetables that require the fridge, along with dressing or mayo—for some extra flavor and creaminess, mash in avocado, roll and enjoy!
You can also purchase packaged tuna that comes preseasoned with sriracha or herbs. See our Test Kitchen’s favorite brands of tuna.
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Avocado Bread
Channel a fancy brunch, even when you don’t have power. You can store avocado (stock up on a few not-yet-ripe ones in advance) and bread outside of the fridge for a couple of days. Just mash the avocado onto your bread and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt for an ideal breakfast.
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Bean Salad
It’s easy to turn canned beans into a filling dish, particularly if you have a few varieties on hand. Some fresh veggies, like onions and bell pepper, can last on the counter for days, and are easy to chop and toss in. You can also pile your concoction on tortillas for a makeshift taco night.
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Overnight Oats
Nutritious, fiber-packed and versatile, oats are a reliable staple in almost any situation—including being the perfect food to eat when power is out.
To make overnight oats power-outage friendly, just swap in water for the milk or yogurt and add nuts or dried fruit, or fruit that doesn’t need refrigeration, like bananas.
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Banana Wraps
Amp up your sandwich game with a wrap. This one is sweet enough to be both breakfast and dessert. Bananas are great to have on hand during a storm (and there are plenty of creative banana recipes once the power is back). Pair with peanut butter and raisins for a twist on normally savory wraps.
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Bean Dip
As long as you replace fresh herbs with dried and mix by hand instead of using a food processor, this dip will take your cans of beans to a new level. You can scoop this up with tortilla chips or any veggies, like celery or peppers, you may have on hand, or spread it on bread for a tasty addition to your sandwich arsenal.
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Chicken Tacos
Power outages call for kitchen creativity. Rather than cooking meat for tacos, open up some canned chicken. You can season it if you want, but to save time, dollop it onto your taco shells with some avocado, canned corn and tomatoes, if you have them, for a delicious Mexican-inspired meal.
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Tuna Salad
Canned tuna can save the day when you need to feed your family without the usual appliances. Omit the mayo and put together a protein-packed healthy tuna salad. Enjoy it as is, or make a heartier meal by smearing it on a sandwich. Just be sure to finish the batch; tuna salad should be refrigerated once it’s prepared.
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Tomato Salad
Eating when the power is out doesn’t mean relying entirely on canned goods and cereal. Tomatoes and onions last several days on the counter, and can be chopped up and lightly seasoned for a fresh snack loaded with nutrients and flavor. Just replace fresh herbs with dry herbs to stay out of the refrigerator.
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Trail Mix
Since you can’t pair your granola with yogurt during a power outage (unless you’re transferring fridge items to a cooler and want to use it up), jazz up your granola by turning it into trail mix. Let everyone add in their own ingredient as a fun activity for surprising flavor combinations while you snack.
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Corn Salad
Canned corn is another staple for when emergency strikes—add some other shelf-stable veggies (celery and bell peppers, while often typically refrigerated, can also be stored on the counter) for more zest. To avoid opening the fridge to get dressing, sub in a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar.
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No-Bake Treats
Requiring nothing more than a mixing bowl and ingredients in your cabinets, these no-bake peanut butter balls make a power outage a little more enjoyable. They’ll keep kiddos happy and satisfy your sweet tooth, as well as provide a fun activity to lift moods.
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Hummus
Filling and tasty, hummus is an easy, savory solution when you can’t cook. Mash the chickpeas with a fork instead of using a food processor. Serve the hummus with crackers or use it beef up sandwiches and vegetable wraps.
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Peanut Butter Sandwich
It’s a classic for a reason: peanut butter sandwichesdeliver a healthy dose of comfort, particularly during trying times. Stock up on peanut butter that doesn’t need to be refrigerated before the storm hits.
And you don’t need to be basic. Try sliced bananas and chocolate chips on your sandwich for some extra sweetness and flavor!
Originally Published: December 31, 1969
Kim Bussing
Kim is a writer and creative consultant with more than a decade of experience publishing content about food and drink. She has told food and wine stories for top brands with household names, including Hilton and Marriott. Kim also writes about health and wellness topics, home decor and baking. For Taste of Home, she’s tackled stories about canned wines, co*cktail kits, wine Advent calendars and much more.Kim’s passion is bringing together nutrition and joy in every meal and she’s always on the hunt for the perfect gluten-free cinnamon roll.
