Comments on: Friday Food Storage Quickie: The Three Sisters

By: curiousalexa

curiousalexa — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:42:11 +0000

I adore my Dietz lanterns. They have a lever that lifts up the globe for lighting, versus needing to remove the glass chimney and then replace it accurately after lighting. They also have handles for moving about, but be cautious of hot handles. I know at least one of mine was cheaply purchased at Big Lots, so check the discount stores.

I also make it routine to wipe the globe clean and trim the wick when refilling the fuel. (Different wick trims cast different light, so experiment!) Be aware that if you don’t use your lamps/lanterns regularly, the fuel can evaporate – very disconcerting to discover during an emergency!

I am sensitive to smells, so I prefer to use high-grade lamp oil. One of my long-term goals is to find a plant that I can press my own oil from, but right now that’s a much lower priority than food sources. But do make sure you store fuel and a funnel. Citronella oil will also work, and might still be available on clearance just now.

By: Grandma Misi

Grandma Misi — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:54:00 +0000

Even cheaper than “on sale” – I have bought numerous oil lamps at the goodwill stores and other thrift stores. For some reason there always seem to be at least 2-3 of them on the shelves, easy pickins!!!! I’ve never paid more than a dollar or two for them, even cheaper at yard sales. There really isn’t much that can go wrong with them, no matter how old they are. Can be refurbished to like brand new with a good cleaning (usually not even necessary from the thrift stores), new oil and probably a new wick. Wicks btw are very inexpensive. I don’t know, maybe I’m just a misfit oil lamp collector? I find them everywhere for next to nothing…

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:29:14 +0000

Alan, thanks for the clarification – I tend to just use “lamp oil” as a general term for all the things you could conceivably put your lamps. I agree that kerosene is much cheaper, but I also know some people prefer (and can afford) olive oil and have olive oil lamps.

So get whatever your lamps appropriately burn .

Sharon

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:06:46 +0000

I keep a candle and matches in the bathroom medicine cabinet after learning that it gets very very dark in that little room when the power goes out. ;o)

We also found you get much more light from candles if you put a reflector of some sort behind it. I use a folded piece of cardboard covered in tinfoil. When I had small children in the house, we practiced lamp and candle safety when there wasnt an emergency. It helps to get the novelty off a little so you dont have to deal with scared kids in an emergency.

By: aimee

aimee — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:42:20 +0000

A wonderful way to use dried bean that is not usually familiar to westerners is to slightly sprout them – just for about 24-36 hours – then grind them or puree roughly in the blender, add spices and a little baking soda and make pancakes. This is a common way to use beans of all kinds in India. Good spice3s are fresh ginger, fresh chiles, garlic, turmeric, cardamom, etc. If you get sick of bean soup, try bean pancakes!

By: Alan

Alan — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:47:39 +0000

Just a note about the distinction between lamps and lanterns. There are kerosene versions of both. Lamps are usually for indoor use only and must be carried around very carefully if at all. They are usually almost entirely made of glass and designed to look nice on a table or mantel.

Lanterns are fully enclosed with handles for safe carrying. They are designed for outdoor and work use, (some can be used for simple cooking!) but can be used indoors as well.

Lamps are widely available at discount and hardware stores and can be quite inexpensive (unlike the “lamp oil” which is sold beside them). Lanterns are harder to find and you may have to order them from someplace like Lehman’s.

The “lamp oil” that is sold for lamps is just deodorized kerosene. Kerosene can be bought by the five-gallon or one-gallon can in many places including Home Depot and is usually much cheaper than “lamp oil”.

By: Judy

Judy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:10:42 +0000

I bought a whole bunch of candles last January in the ‘after-the-holiday’ discount baskets. If it’s dark and the power is out, I don’t care if they are holiday colors. But thanks for the reminder about lamp oil. We have multiple oil lamps that we use as back up in the winter.
Also, after Halloween, I purchased several chemical glow sticks that were only 37 cents each. I never leave candles or lamps lit when we’re sleeping and our battery lamps are old and not that reliable. The glow sticks cast just enough light to make things safe when the power is out.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:06:35 +0000

I just bought a Crockpot and it has a regular ceramic coating.

Thanks for your opinion on the lighting, Sharon. We have some rechargeable solar lights too, but I think I’ll get a less expensive oil lamp as a back up. I was looking over at Lehmans and they seem to have a pretty good selection.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:55:15 +0000

Susan, thanks so much – I didn’t know that. Honestly, I dont’ worry as much about BPA as I probably should – it is so hard to avoid. But I do try and mention it.

Robin, I’m not aware of nonstick junk – mine just has a regular ceramic coating. But it isn’t one of the newest ones, either.

Sharon

By: Susan in NJ

Susan in NJ — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:36:30 +0000

Just a reminder that even though Eden uses “BPA-free” packaging, the contents may not be BPA free. The recent consumer reports testing found an average of 20 ppb in Vital Choice “BPA free” tuna and 1 ppb in Eden Baked Bean. They didn’t test other Eden products, to my knowledge. But their testing suggests that the issue is much more complicated than it seems and not predictable. I recommend the article which is available to the public at the consumer reports website to any who haven’t read it. It has made us seriously reconsider our habit of storing Progresso soups for emergencies of the extreme and more domestic kind.

On the other hand, there are no small children in our household and in a true food emergency, BPA would not be highest on my list of stuff to avoid (as in cleaning out the supermarket before the asteroid hits in 2012).