[TekGreg]

I'm constantly looking for basic foods that can last a long time on the shelf and be ready to go in a SHTF situation. However, I also collect recipes that use items that come in #10 cans and five-gallon buckets: red winter wheat, dry milk, egg crystals and dehydrated fruits, just to name a few. I've noticed that many bread recipes including loaves, cakes, pies and other breads have an ingredient required that you can't just add water to a mix: cooking oil.

Obviously, most of us can go to Sam's Club and pick up a couple of five gallon buckets and that will keep us through several months of cooking, but what happens in an EOTWAWKI situation? Does anyone have a way to produce cooking oil without taking over a Kraft Foods plant? Is it as simple as collecting corn or soybeans and pressing them to death, or does it need further processing? Obviously the easier the better, but any ways to produce any sort of cooking oil with common tools and/or appliances would be appreciated.

[trip286]

Animal fat will do in a pinch. I've had birthday cake with bacon grease in it, didn't know the difference.

What I'm getting at, if you have meat, you can cook. Maybe not exactly what you want flavor and health wise, but it can do the job.

[bkt]

Holy cats. Crusty bread with BACON flavor? I just broke a zipper....

Seriously, trip's right - there are almost always substitutes for ingredients. Google a specific example and you'll see.

Check this out for some hints.

[c3shooter]

Other than a bit of olive oil, I was probably 14 before I saw my first "vegetable oil". The fat of pigs. rendered at time of slaughter, is called lard. Used for frying and baking. Think Crisco, and you will be close. Also used a lube for muzzle loading bullets.

Best biscuits you will EVER eat are made with buttermilk, lard, flour, salt, and baking powder.

[TLuker]

Originally Posted by c3shooter

Other than a bit of olive oil, I was probably 14 before I saw my first "vegetable oil". The fat of pigs. rendered at time of slaughter, is called lard. Used for frying and baking. Think Crisco, and you will be close. Also used a lube for muzzle loading bullets.

Best biscuits you will EVER eat are made with buttermilk, lard, flour, salt, and baking powder.

Same for me. I was probably 10 before I knew there was anything else other than lard for cooking. And C3shooter you're absolutely right about the biscuits, and the same is true for cornbread, pies, and just about everything else. Lard also has a ton of other uses.

[TekGreg]

Ah, so as long as there is enough ammo to take wild boar, there's a replacement for our standard, yellow, clear oils! Makes sense, thanks guys!

Remembering back to when McDonald's used to deep fry in pure lard - that was when they had the BEST french fries! Going back to lard for cooking might not be a bad thing, especially if you eat food for its taste. :-)

[trip286]

Hey, there wouldn't be a spear season in Alabama if you absolutely must use a gun!

[paintsplat]

who needs ammo? In that type of situation a bow, snare, deadfall, would probably be better, no noise.

[paintsplat]

just use a bow, (retrieve arrows) snare, deadfall. no noise, no unexpected company for supper.

[djl4570]

Originally Posted by TekGreg

Obviously the easier the better, but any ways to produce any sort of cooking oil with common tools and/or appliances would be appreciated.

If you have a patch of land for your preparations plant some olive trees. You'll need more than one so they can pollinate each other. The ripe olives can be cold pressed for sweet edible oil. The left over mash, pits and skins can be heated and more oil extracted. This secondary oil can be used for cooking, and it can be used for fuel in lamps.

Otherwise lay in a generous supply of edible oil.

Dolmas. The Greeks used these. Some seasoned starchy rice wrapped in a grape leaf and packed in olive oil. You can buy canned Dolmas at upscale grocery stores today. I'll bet the oil has more calories than the rice and grape leaf. I can imagine Leonidas eating one after replying "Molon Lave."