June 15, 2013

Alternative Cooking Method for Preppers
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Related Topics: Camping Guest Posts Preparedness Survival    

The concept of “prepping” encompasses more than just having a supply of food to eat. The fact is veteran preppers will tell you in addition to a stash of food; you also need to have a plan and the gear to handle everyday tasks as well.

For example, let’s say your electricity or gas supply is gone. How would you cook for your family? Living without utilities can put a kink in your day. Keeping a normal routine is not always easy, especially when it comes to preparing meals. However, there is one alternative cooking option every prepper, homeowner and even campers should own and that is a traditional Dutch oven.

Dutch Oven Cooking Supplies

Everything you need to start enjoying delicious home cooked meals in a dutch oven.

A Dutch oven is a heavy iron kettle with a tight-fitting lid perfect for cooking meats, entrees, soups, breads and even desserts. This culinary workhorse is often used over a bed of hot charcoal or over an open fire. And because most meals prepared in this type of kettle are no-fuss, “dump and go” types of recipes requiring little attention, make the Dutch oven an ideal alternative method for cooking meals when electricity or gas is not an option.

Dutch ovens come in small, medium and large sizes. An average sized kettle is about 12 inches in diameter and holds about 6 quarts. It is important to know, not all ovens are created equal, some brands are only suited for light cooking in a conventional oven. Others such as the Dutch ovens by Camp Chef and Stansport designed for open fire or charcoal pit cooking are the perfect choice for preppers as well as campers.

Buying a Dutch oven may seem a little intimidating but it does not have to be so. When I spoke with Camp Chef’s Steve McGrath, he offered the following helpful tips for buying, baking, cleaning and storing a Dutch oven.

What to Look For

Lid fit is the most common and easy way to distinguish a quality Dutch oven. You want a lid that fits snug in the kettle it is paired with. Too loose of lid and the heat will not stay in the oven. A lid that is too tight often gets stuck once the oven heats up. Also examine the finish, is it rough, smooth or inconsistent? You want an all over smooth finish free of obvious flaws and small cracks.

Reason for the Season

Seasoning is a process used on cast iron ware such as Dutch ovens to cure or prepare the metal for the cooking process. This process eliminates the time-consuming step of self-seasoning an oven before its first use. Today most ovens come pre-seasoned. However, you will need to maintain the seasoning. It is a simple process that includes heat and thin layer of lard or vegetable oil. Just remember if you use your Dutch oven infrequently, this protective layer may go rancid.

Stack Dutch Ovens for one Complete Meal

Because the cast iron holds heat well try stacking two dutch ovens to create an entire meal.

What to Make

Dutch ovens have been around for a very long time and there are countless delicious recipes available using the oven as the only method of cooking. The recipes range from hardy stews and roasts, to complete one-pot entrees, to heavenly desserts and delicious breads. A simple Internet search will render many delectable Dutch oven delights.

Oven Maintenance

After enjoying a delicious meal from your Dutch oven, you need to make sure to clean it properly before storing it away. Hot water, a scouring pad and a little elbow grease will clean most things. Occasionally you may need a pan scraper for dry or stubborn pieces. Avoid citrus-based soaps or other acidic cleaning items, as they tend to eat away the seasoning. Store in a cool, dry place and fold a paper towel and wedge it under the lid to allow air to circulate plus it soaks up any additional moisture.

The image of a Dutch oven is often associated with camping trips or even chuck wagon cattle drives from days gone by, but the truth is Dutch ovens are still being used by many folks today. In a nutshell, the Dutch oven is a timeless alternative for cooking delicious homemade meals without using electricity and is a perfect tool for the home prepper.

Do you have a Dutch oven? How frequently do you use it? What’s your favorite recipe? Tell us in the comment section.

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

June 12, 2013

Can You Out Run a Tornado?
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Related Topics: How To Preparedness Safety Survival True Stories    

On the night of Wednesday, May 15, 2013, an EF-4 tornado ripped through the North Texas town of Granbury, killing six people and injuring many more. That same night, I was driving home from running errands 72 miles away in Dallas. As I was entering downtown, my passenger exclaimed, “Look at that weird car! What is that?” I glanced over to see a car pulling off the highway that appeared to be the Tornado Intercept Vehicle from Discovery Channel’s television show Storm Chasers. Being fully aware these professional guys know more about tornadoes and severe weather than I do, should I have pulled over as well or kept driving?

This pictures shows a large tornado in the distance.

Can You Out Run a Tornado?

Just 15 days later after the same night North and East Texas had 16 confirmed tornadoes on the ground, the widest tornado ever recorded tore through a congested stretch of Interstate 40 in El Reno, Oklahoma. Nine people died, including a woman and her baby sucked out of their car from the tornado’s violent winds. Sadly, the star of Storm Chasers Tim Samaras, his son Paul, and colleague Carl Young were among those who died.

A few days later National Public Radio reported on the El Reno tornado. Oklahoma City meteorologist, Gary England said, “If you want to live through a major tornado, and you have time—10, 15 minutes—and you know where the tornado is, what direction it’s going and you know what direction to go, you would be foolish not to evacuate the premises, get in the vehicle, and leave the area.”

Though we have no idea if the people stuck on Interstate 40 that evening were evacuating because of tornado warnings or not, I’m sure they would disagree with England’s suggestion. Experts advise that if you must remain in the car when a tornado strikes to keep your seat belt on, roll up your windows, cover your head with a blanket and bend down below the windows of the car—a seemingly impossible task. The weight of a vehicle—any vehicle—is nothing to a powerful tornado. A tornado can pick up a car, carry it for nearly a mile and then drop it back down from 100 feet. My car is the last place I want to be stuck in during a tornado.

But what are you supposed to do when on the road and a tornado is approaching? Can you outrun a tornado?

A widely accepted and incredibly incorrect assumption is to pull over and seek shelter under an overpass. This myth stems from an infamous video of a group of people who successfully survived a direct hit from a tornado by crawling under an overpass on a Kansas highway on April 26, 1991. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these people were extremely lucky. Because of the rural area, there was not much debris, the winds shifted as the tornado passed, and the group had something firm to grasp. NOAA put together a presentation to explain the situation. However, all-weather and tornado experts agree that an overpass is one of the most unsafe places to seek shelter. Instead, foul weather experts, meteorologists and storm chasers all agree— if you can’t find a sturdy building, lay in a ditch or other low-laying area and cover your head.

Picture shows strong and dark storm clouds

Know the signs of a tornado.

Due to the Venturi Effect, overpasses act like a wind tunnel during a tornado. Sitting or laying in an overpass, you have an increased chance of debris hitting you—the main cause of death from tornadoes. Further, tornado winds tend to be worse higher up in the funnel, than lower. The lower to the ground you are, the safer you will be.

So, where is the safest place to be during a tornado? Unless you live in a mobile home, experts say, stay home instead of trying to outrun a tornado. A mobile home is one of the most unsafe places to seek shelter during a tornado. Finding yourself in a mobile home in a tornado is one place that experts say evacuate and find alternative shelter.

In any building, whether you’re at home, the office, grocery store or other sturdy structure, the safest area is in an internal room without windows on the lowest floor.

If you are lucky enough to have a basement, it’s the best place when a tornado is coming; however stay away from the west and south walls. Tornadoes, generally, but not always, move from southwest to northeast or west to east. Cover yourself with a piece of heavy furniture such as a workbench or heavy table. If you have room under the stairs, this is a good place, too. Make note of what is sitting above you—a piano, wood hutch or other piece of heavy large furniture could come through the floor.

If your house does not have a basement, you need to seek shelter in an internal room, such as a closet or bathroom. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can. Experts believe a bathroom is safer because they tend to have smaller windows and theorize that the pipes surrounding a bathroom add protection. Crawl into the bathtub and cover yourself with blankets or a mattress.

Evacuating an area is only safe when you know your route will be clear of debris, congestion and flash floods. If you see a tornado developing in the distance, watch it for a few minutes. Is it moving right or left in relation to stationary objects such as a building, tree, or power pole? If not, then assume its path is straight for you. If you can see the direction it is moving, drive at right angles away from its direction.

Picture is of a woman standing inside her storm shelter.

The safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement or other underground storm shelter.

Nothing can guarantee 100 percent you will survive a tornado. However, the safest place to be during a tornado is in a basement or other underground storm shelter. If neither of these are plausible where you live, FEMA recommends reinforcing a room in your house as a safe room and even has free plans how to build a shelter in your house.

Know the signs of a tornado:

  • Clouds moving quickly towards each other or rotating
  • Flying debris
  • A sickly green or green-black sky
  • Hail
  • The sound of rushing air, turning to a roar or sounding like freight train
  • The development of a wall cloud
  • Tornado watch- conditions are ripe to produce a tornado
  • Tornado warning- confirmed tornado in the area

I did not pull over that night. All the areas I drove through were tornado-free. Being alert, aware, knowledgeable, and listening to NOAA weather alert radio helped me.

Further reading about severe weather:

Do you have a tornado survival plan in place? Share your stories with us in the comment section.

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

June 7, 2013

Three Bright Options for Flashlights
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Related Topics: Buyers Guide Camping Guest Posts Preparedness Reviews Survival    

Ask any hiker, camper or outdoorsman, what their top picks for must-carry equipment would be. Chances are a quality handheld flashlight will be on their short list of essential gear. A flashlight is certainly on my list.

You can find flashlights at nearly every price point; from cheap one-dollar throwaway types all the way up to quality handheld models that cost hundreds of dollars. When it comes to flashlights, many of us have learned the hard way—you often get exactly what you pay for. Here are three quality flashlights worthy of serious consideration.

Browning Crossfire Flashlight

Browning Crossfire Flashlight

Browning Crossfire

The Browning® Crossfire offers two different levels of light. The highest level of output gives 125 lumen of brightness reaching out to 100 meters with a run time of three hours. The low setting casts a beam out to 25 meters and can run up to 24 hours. Browning also enabled this flashlight with a lockout tail cap that prevents accidental turn on which can drain batteries. Speaking of batteries, another great feature is the Crossfire uses AA batteries instead of the more expensive lithium batteries but still generates the same power and bright beam of light associated with lithium-powered models. Manufactured from high-grade durable aluminum and sealed with an O-ring make the Crossfire water-resistant.

SureFire Fury PX2 Flashlight

SureFire Fury PX2

SureFire P2X Fury

The SureFire® P2X Fury™ model stays the course with SureFire’s legendary commitment to producing premium gear. The P2X Fury, constructed of super strong aerospace grade aluminum anodized body and paired with a micro-textured reflector, delivers a brighter, wider, smooth beam of brilliant light. Its high-efficiency LED generates a long-range intense light beam. Surefire also builds the P2X Fury to meet tough military specifications. Although the P2X Fury is a mere 5.40 inches long it still offers two levels of intense light. The 15-lumen mode is perfect for general work and medium range viewing or switch to the more intense 500 lumens mode that will make this handheld pocket-size flashlight a perfect, powerful option for a searchlight.

MagLite XL50 Flashlight

Maglite XL50

Maglite XL50 LED

The Maglite® XL50™ LED Flashlight measures less than five inches long and weighs fewer than 4 ounces when loaded with three AAA batteries. However, do not let its smaller size fool you, as this compact model is a real powerhouse. Made of corrosion resistant high-grade anodized aluminum, this performance-oriented solid light delivers 104 lumens of light. The XL50 is easy-to-grip and offers three modes of power: high power, energy-saving and an emergency strobe mode. Additionally, the Maglite  XL50 offers spot-to-flood adjustable LED beam as well as an intelligent Energy Source Management component that continuously monitors the power usage helping prolong battery life. The XL50 fits perfectly into a pocket and is ready when you need it.

Although handheld flashlights come in a variety of sizes and various levels of lumens in addition to other cool features, what really counts is reliability, especially if you find yourself in a survival situation. Simply put, will your flashlight perform when you need it too? Tell us about your flashlight preferences in the comment section.

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!
Mountain House: Comfort Food You Can Count On
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Related Topics: Camping Food Hiking Manufacturers Preparedness    

As Mountain House/Oregon Freeze-Dry, Inc. celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, it is safe to say the company has the longest proven shelf life of any modern-day preserved food in the industry. In fact, the company recently pulled out 30-year-old pouches archived in its warehouse for a taste test. Since Mountain House packaging contains such low levels of moisture, oxygen and a foil barrier, the food tasted almost as good as the day it was packaged.

Mountain House cooks its foods together—always using 100 percent real meat—just as you would make a meal at home and then freeze dries it. Mountain House is the only brand that cooks its food in this manner. This means its food rehydrates faster and tastes better.

 

This graph explains the freeze drying process.

Freeze-drying is the only way to preserve food that protects its nutritional value, flavor, color, and texture.

History

To bring more business into the Albany Valley region of Oregon, a group of local businessmen interested in freeze-dried technology started Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. At the same time, General Foods was looking to expand its cereals by adding freeze-dried strawberries. An engineer from General Foods changed positions and began working with Oregon Freeze Dry. Soon, the company began making freeze-dried strawberries for General Foods.

The company knew it could not sustain its business by freeze-drying strawberries alone, so the research and development team decided they could create a better-tasting C-ration for U.S. soldiers. In 1968, the company received its first contract with the U.S. military to provide food for soldiers stationed in Vietnam. The troops loved the new food produced by Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. After the war ended, the company received calls from veterans looking to purchase the same food they had overseas. Imagine an MRE you actually chose to eat! Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. sold the remaining rations to Army/Navy surplus stores, where the freeze-dried food flew off the shelves. After the initial success from sales of the surplus food, REI contacted Oregon Freeze Dry requesting its products to sell on its shelves and Mountain House was born.

Since then, Mountain House freeze-dried food has been everywhere from the bottom of the ocean in submarines, to the highest peaks of the Alps—even on board Apollo missions to the moon.

One thing Mountain House prides itself on is creating top quality, tasty products its consumers demand with the experience of a company that has met U.S. military and NASA specifications for decades.

Freeze Drying—The Process

Freeze-drying is the only way to preserve food that protects its nutritional value, flavor, color, and texture. Mountain House begins by cooking the meals first. Then meals are placed on trays in a large freezer and carefully frozen. Afterward, Mountain House places it inside a vacuum chamber that draws out approximately 98 percent of the food’s moisture by sublimating the ice to a gas at very low pressure. It simulates atmospheric conditions 46 miles above the earth. Adding water to the food returns it to its original state, making it look and taste just like it did when made fresh.

 

 

Packaging and Shelf Life

What does shelf life mean exactly? Shelf life, as defined by Mountain House, is not when the food goes bad, but when the quality of the food still tastes the same as newly produced food. Mountain House provides two different types of packaging in its freeze-dried products: cans and pouches and is the only brand to actually test its food after 10, 25 and even 40 years. The #10 cans have a shelf life of 25 years, while the pouches have 10. This means that after storing Mountain House products, the food inside will taste the same after 10 or 25 years as it does when it is first cooked. This is what Mountain House means by shelf life. Just because a product advertises a 20-year shelf life—meaning it will not make you sick if you eat it—does not guarantee it will still taste good.

The key to Mountain House foods’ high quality and longevity is the specialized packaging. The pouches have a continuous foil barrier and include an oxygen absorber. Light and moisture—two of the biggest reasons why food spoils—cannot penetrate the pouch. The #10 cans are also impermeable to light and moisture.

The key to Mountain House foods’ high quality longevity is the specialized packaging.

The key to Mountain House foods’ high quality longevity is the specialized packaging.

Calories and Servings

Serving sizes are relative. An active 16-year-old boy needs much more food than an elderly woman does. Foods measured in servings are not as important as how many calories are contained in a meal, so it is important to purchase by calorie count and not by serving count. When weighing your options in long-term food storage, figure out the cost per calorie not the cost per serving. Some companies may try to tell you their two or three servings of food a day in an emergency food kit will suffice. However, if there are only 200 calories per serving, you most likely are not going to be able to sustain a family of four—especially if you are being active.

In an emergency or disaster situation, you need to remember that being on the move and doing hard labor means you need more calories and more sodium than you do on a regular basis. Sodium is critical to staying hydrated.

Not Just for Emergencies

One-in-seven Mountain House customers eat its freeze-dried foods regularly, much as we all use boxed dinners when we are in a rush or on extremely busy nights. The three-minute active preparation time means busy families can get a yummy and nutritious meal and not lose time getting to games, practices and other afterschool activities.

For hiking, backpacking, camping, long-term food storage, during a disaster, when you fall on hard times or for a quick and tasty meal, Mountain House foods “feed and comfort in times of need.”

 

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

June 2, 2013

Ammo Can 72-Hour Bug Out Kit
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Related Topics: Firearm Storage Gear Gear Guides Military Surplus Preparedness Survival    

The average ammo can, whether new or military surplus, usually holds .50 caliber ammunition and averages close to the same dimensions—11 inches long, 7 inches tall and 6 inches wide. Can you pack a 72-hour bug out survival kit into such a small area? Sure you can! Working with a small space means you eliminate heavy and unnecessary items. When you gotta get outta Dodge quickly, food, water and shelter are your main priorities. These three essentials, plus a few extras all fit in a .50 caliber ammo can.

Why an ammo can? Ammo cans take up little space, be stored virtually anywhere and are stackable. I have seen ammo cans used as center consoles in vehicles and as alternative to saddlebags on motorcycles. An ammo can, be it metal or plastic, can withstand temperature extremes and have water-resistant O-ring and gasket seals. So storing them in basements, attics, crawl spaces, and even buried underground means the gear inside stays dry. Metal military surplus ammo cans are durable, while new plastic ammo cans are untraceable to metal detectors—in case you want to cache your gear.

This picture shows a black plastic burial case.

New plastic ammo cans are untraceable to metal detectors.

Multi Purpose Gear

Fortunately, there is plenty of compact survival gear that performs double duty. For example, a three-pack of double-sided insulate emergency blankets not only keep you warm and prevent hypothermia, but two of them together will also make a shelter. They come packed folded up equaling about the size of a deck of cards.

Another item that serves multiple purposes is Goghlan’s stainless steel camp cup. It holds two cups of liquid and will withstand the direct heat of an open flame. Further, you may use it to gather water from a variety of sources.

Even though the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate survival knife is not as compact as the other items, it serves multiple purposes. At 10 inches overall, it has a 4.8-inch partially serrated blade and includes a sheath with blade sharpener, fire starter and an emergency whistle.

Water

Water is bulky and can take up a lot of room. Obviously, you will not fit enough water to survive in your ammo can. Throw in the Aquamira Frontier emergency straw that allows you to drink straight from a questionable water source. It kills 99.9% of Cryptosporidium and Giardia—two contaminants that will make you very sick. When not expanded, the straw is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket.

Food

This is a picture of a metal, military surplus ammo can.

Metal ammo cans are durable, water-resistant and can be buried.

Though you would not want to depend on the Millennium energy bars for too long, the 409-calorie-packed bars will sustain you until you can secure a better food source. If you still have room in your can, you can add a package of Mountain House food. Fold and tape down the top of the package and it takes up 6 by 8 inches of space. The beef stroganoff, chili mac, and chicken a la king offer some of the highest calorie counts of all the meals and offer over 10 grams of protein per serving.

To heat up food, you will need a compact emergency stove and fuel. The military-issued foldable stove includes three packs of gel fuel that is odorless, smokeless and lightweight.

Five more things make you kit complete:

The CRKT Eat’N Tool is flat and not very long. Choose between two sizes, the smaller original Eat’N Tool and the XL Eat’N Tool. The small tool is only 4-inches long. The small model has a fork/spoon, screwdriver blade/pry tool, bottle opener and gear clip. The XL tool has the same fork/spoon utensil plus a box wrench, driver/pry tool, can/bottle opener, and gear clip.

A basic first aid kit such as the Adventure first aid kit 2.0 includes everything to treat minor aches, cuts and burns. It even includes a compass. Packed all together it will take up 6 by 8.5 by 1.5-inches of room. Some of the items in the kit might be unnecessary, so you can pick and choose what you need to cut down space.

Last, throw in 50 feet of paracord.

Emergency lighting, such as glow sticks, guarantee light without the extra weight and space for batteries.

Extremely important is a box of self-defense ammunition for your carry weapon.

Copies of important documents, identification and insurance cards should be included in all of your bug-out kits. I recommend scanning each document, such as deeds to your house, car titles, insurance cards, social security cards and other identifying information into your computer. Back up those files on a flash drive. Put the flash drive, along with some cash in a waterproof bag and put in your ammo can bug-out kit.

A picture of a plastic ammo can with organizer trays.

Trays keep small parts organized.

Quick Buy Check List

 

Recommended Ammo Cans

 

What other items do you think would fit in an ammo can? Tell us in the comment section.

 

 

 

 

 

Like this article? CLICK HERE to get stories like this, useful tips, and valuable resources every other weekend in your e-mail inbox.

The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!’s blog, “The Shooter’s Log,” is to provide information—not opinions—to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!
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