An apartment renter facing a building-wide power outage used a backup battery to keep their refrigerator running but was left wondering how other people cook food when the electricity is down.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit thread, they explained that they had come home from work with groceries only to find the whole building's power was out and management had no estimate for when service would return.
Thankfully, the original poster had a Jackery battery backup on hand, which they used to power the fridge, a rice cooker, and a small electric burner. Amid all that usage, the OP kept checking how much power the battery had left and said, "It looks like the fridge should make it through the night, but I'm really hoping the power comes back before I leave for work tomorrow."
They then asked their fellow Redditors: "How do you guys usually handle dinner when the power's out? I hadn't really thought past keeping the fridge running."
What commenters had to say
"Butane single burner," one user said.
Another commenter backed that up, writing: "This. A simple camping stove will do the trick."
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"Yup," someone else agreed.
Others suggested using a smoker or an outdoor grill. However, all those solutions involved an open flame and required outdoor ventilation, two things that typically are no-gos for people living in an apartment.
Some commenters recommended combining solar panels with electric appliances, though that also would not be a realistic option for most renters.
"I built a completely off-grid solar+battery+inverter system that can power a 900w induction cooktop (along with my home office and fridge)," one person shared.
Another recurring recommendation was to avoid cooking altogether by eating foods that didn't require heat to prepare.
"Just gotta eat stuff that doesn't need to be cooked," a user said. "Sandwiches, snacks, raw veggies even."
"Or just go pick up some takeaway," another commenter wrote.
Other alternatives
For some on the thread, the most obvious solution was for the OP to expand their battery backup. In the comments, the renter noted that they owned a Jackery HomePower 3000 with 3,072 watt-hours.
With more battery capacity, the OP would have been able to power their fridge while also taking advantage of a number of other electric cooking options.
"Electric solutions if your power station can handle the load: induction cooktop, microwave oven, electric kettle, crockpot, rice cooker, air fryer, bread machine," one Redditor said. "All clean, quiet, indoor-safe."
Where can I learn more?
The following stories examine various backup options that will help keep the lights on when the power goes out.
• Renters have turned to briefcase-style backup batteries to keep lights and appliances running.
• Pila said its fridge-saving backup battery could prevent spoiled groceries.
• Preppers said simple fridge-cooling tricks can buy valuable time during blackouts.
• Portable units with solar-ready battery backup give households more outage flexibility.
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