Recipe Ideas and Tips for Cooking in Severe Weather (2024)

The United States is at a historic moment with hurricanes, getting hit back-to-back by huge storms—first Harvey, now Irma. Among the dangerous and disruptive effects of these hurricanes is diminished access to food and kitchens. Severe weather conditions can cause power outages, grocery shortages, and prevent people from leaving the house (to shop for food, say) for several days. All of which makes the act of eating and cooking more difficult.

Below you'll find some information that may help. This guide will help you navigate the grocery store and kitchen in times of heavy rain, snow, tropical storms, hurricanes, and other extreme weather conditions.

Simple recipes (including no-cook meals that don't require refrigerated ingredients) are below. But first, some important tips straight from the government. The following information comes from the CDC and the Department of Homeland Security.

How much food and water will you need?

In times of emergencies, the CDC recommends you plan for a 3-day supply of water and food per family member, including pets. You'll need one gallon of water per person, per day. In very hot weather, you may need more.

What foods should I stock up on?

When you know that bad weather is on the way, it pays to stock up on non-perishable items that can be stored without refrigeration for a long period of time. Choose foods that are:

• High in calories
• Nutritious
• Familiar to you and your family (this is not the time to try new things)

Some foods that are particularly good in these situations:

• Canned Beans
• Dried Fruit
• Dry Crackers
• Canned Vegetables and Fruits
• Cereal
• Powdered Milk
• Peanut Butter
• Jam and Jelly
• Dry Pasta
• Canned Nuts
• Tinned Fish (Tuna, Sardines, etc.)
• Rice
• Instant Coffee and Tea
• Trail Mix and Granola Bars
• Jerky

What if the refrigerator turns off?

If you lose power—or if your refrigerator turns off for any other reason—the CDC recommends that you be strategic. Eat the food from the refrigerator first (the food will generally be safe to eat as long as the refrigerator has been off for less than four hours). Smell and look at your food first to determine if it has gone bad. After you eat the food from the refrigerator, turn to the food from the freezer. Do not eat foods that have been left out at room temperature for more than two hours.

Easy Recipes for Severe Weather

The following recipes are fast, simple, and utilize non-perishable pantry items such as those listed above. Some recipes require cooking, others don't. You'll need a can opener for most of these recipes—we like this OXO model, which opens cans without leaving sharp edges—as well as some basic kitchen supplies, such as a mixing bowl, spatula, cutting board, and knife. It's also handy to keep stick lighters around (here's a 2-pack) for lighting stovetops and candles.

3-Ingredient Tomato Soup

A useful recipe that uses canned tomatoes, heavy cream (which can be bought in shelf-stable packaging), and hardy onions.

No-Cook Chickpea Salad

Combine a can of chickpeas with sliced cherry tomatoes, herbs (if you have them), enough olive oil to coat, and a squeeze or two of lemon juice (use a little vinegar if you don't have lemons). Season with salt and pepper.

Sardines on Toast

Find a flat, crispy cracker (such as Ak-Mak) and slather on some mayo. Top with one or two oil-packed sardines. Finish with plenty of salt, a splash of lemon juice or vinegar, and chopped parsley (if you have it). (Hate sardines? Do this with tuna or any other tinned fish.)

No-Cook Tuna, White Bean, and Onion Salad

If you have a jar of pesto in your fridge—or access to any herbs you need to use up—go ahead a throw them in. If not, no worries—this combination of canned beans, tinned tuna, and red onion (with a little olive oil and salt) is pretty complete on its own. (You can toss tuna with any raw vegetables, really; check out this radish, carrot, and tuna salad, pictured above.)

No-Cook Lentil Salad

Toss cooked lentils (canned lentils are fine) with diced tomatoes (again, canned work fine—drain them before adding), chopped red onion, any fresh cheese you may have on hand (goat, feta, etc.), olive oil, a little lemon juice or vinegar, and salt.

Spaghetti with Tuna, Tomatoes, and Olives

Canned cherry tomatoes are out there if you can find them; otherwise try regular canned tomatoes and give them a chop. The parsley is purely optional.

Rice Noodles with (Very) Basic Peanut Sauce

Pour hot water over the rice noodles to hydrate and soften them. Meanwhile, thin peanut butter with one or more of the following: lime juice, soy sauce, or rice wine vinegar. Use water to thin the sauce more, if necessary. Adjust the seasoning of the sauce with salt and sugar or honey.