Pro tip: Canned beans saved my week after a hurricane knocked out power

Last August in Tampa, we lost electricity for 5 days after Hurricane Idalia came through and I had nothing in my pantry but canned black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes. I ended up making a no-cook bean salad with some olive oil and vinegar that actually kept me full and didn't need any refrigeration or heat. Has anyone else had a situation where canned stuff unexpectedly became your only option?

3 comments

3 Comments

brianreed25d ago

and honestly the unsung hero in these situations is canned tuna or even canned chicken. I keep a few cans in the back of my pantry specifically for power outages now. You can mix it right in the can with some mayo packets from fast food places and have a decent meal. Also, dried herbs last forever and don't need any special storage so I stock up on those little jars. One thing nobody talks about is how canned fruit can be a total lifesaver too. It gives you sugar and hydration without worrying about spoilage. I always grab a few cans of mandarin oranges and pineapple chunks whenever I see them on sale.

-1

river95225d ago

@brianreed that's a solid list right there. I do the same with canned chicken, it's way underrated. Last time the power went out I just mixed it with some ranch packets I had saved and ate it cold with crackers. Canned fruit is genius too, I always forget about that but it really does hit different when you're stuck without power for a few days. Mandarin oranges are my go to as well, the syrup in those things is like liquid gold when you're tired of plain water.

jessica70725d ago

Oh man, the syrup trick is genius, do you ever save it for baking later or just drink it straight?