How To Make Bread Cubes for Stuffing or Dressing

If you’ve ever wondered how to make your own bread cubes for stuffing or dressing, you’re in the right place. Homemade dried bread cubes are incredibly easy to make, budget-friendly, and far more flavorful than the store-bought bags. Whether you’re planning a classic Thanksgiving feast or whipping up a cozy family dinner, learning how to cut and dry your own bread cubes gives you complete control over texture, seasoning, and ingredients.

In this guide, I’ll show you two foolproof methods for drying bread, air-drying and oven-drying—so you can choose whichever works best for your timeline. We’ll also cover the best types of bread to use, how to store dried cubes properly, and how many you’ll need for your favorite stuffing recipe. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have perfectly dried, golden cubes ready to soak up broth, herbs, and all those other delicious holiday flavors.

Making Your Own Bread Cubes Is Easy

Making your own bread cubes is one of the easiest ways to take your stuffing from ordinary to unforgettable. Let’s get started!

When it comes to the best holiday dishes, nothing compares to homemade stuffing or dressing made with perfectly dried bread cubes. If you’ve always relied on the store-bought bags, you’ll be amazed at how quick and budget-friendly it is to make your own.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn exactly how to make bread cubes for stuffing/dressing, which breads work best, how long to dry them, and the difference between air-drying and oven-drying methods. With a few simple steps, you’ll have flavorful, dry cubes ready to soak up broth, herbs, and butter for the most delicious stuffing ever.

Why You Should Make Your Own Bread Cubes

Homemade bread cubes are fresher, more flavorful, and customizable. Drying your own bread also helps you control:

• Texture
• Sodium content
• Bread type (white, whole wheat, sourdough, gluten-free)
• Cube size
• Amount of seasoning

Whether you’re preparing a classic Thanksgiving dressing or a savory herb stuffing year-round, making your own cubes gives you the perfect base.

A Brief History of Bread Cubes

Bread cubes might seem like a simple pantry staple today, but their history reaches back centuries. As long as people have been baking bread, they’ve also been finding clever ways to use up every last crumb, and that’s precisely where bread cubes began.

In early European kitchens, especially in France, England, and Germany, stale bread was considered far too valuable to waste. Instead of discarding it, cooks dried it out and cut it into pieces to add texture and stretch meals. This practice led to some of the earliest forms of stuffing, a technique used to fill poultry, meats, and even vegetables with seasoned bread mixtures.

By the 17th and 18th centuries, drying and cubing bread became common in both home and professional kitchens. Bread cubes were used not only for stuffing but also for thickening soups, soaking up sauces, and turning into early versions of croutons.

When European settlers came to America, they brought these traditions with them. Over time, American cooks adapted bread cubes made from local ingredients—cornbread, sourdough, and hearty farm loaves—and combined them with herbs, onions, and celery. By the 19th century, bread-based stuffing had become a Thanksgiving and holiday staple, with bread cubes as its foundation.

Commercially packaged bread cubes appeared in the early to mid-20th century as home cooking became more convenience-focused. Companies began selling pre-dried, pre-seasoned cubes, making stuffing faster and more consistent for busy families. Today, bread cubes remain a beloved building block in kitchens worldwide, whether homemade from fresh loaves or purchased ready-to-use.

The Best Bread to Use for Stuffing or Dressing

The secret to great stuffing is using bread that dries well and holds its structure. Here are the top options:

Best Choices

• French bread
• Sourdough
• Baguettes
• Artisan loaves
• White or wheat sandwich bread
• Brioche or challah (adds richness)

Bread to Avoid

• Extremely soft, sweet breads (unless well-toasted)
• Heavily seeded loaves that crumble easily

Mixing multiple breads creates amazing flavor and texture.

How To Make Bread Cubes for Stuffing (Two Methods)

1. Air-Dry Method — Best Flavor

This method produces evenly dried cubes without toasting, giving you the most traditional stuffing texture.

Instructions

1. Spread the cubes in a single layer on baking sheets.
2. Slice bread into ½–¾ inch cubes.
3. Let them sit out, uncovered, for 24–48 hours.
4. Toss once or twice to ensure even drying.
5. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

This method takes time but delivers excellent results.

2. Oven-Dry Method — Fastest Option

If you need dried bread cubes today, this is your go-to approach.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to (300°F) = (148°C).
2. Cut the bread into 1/2-3/4 inch cubes.
3. Spread evenly on baking sheets.
4. Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
5. Remove when cubes feel dry but not browned.
6. Cool completely before storing.

Tip: You’re drying the cubes, not toasting them. Browning will change the flavor of your stuffing. I’m still using my toasted ones. I got busy and forgot the oven was baking them.

Oven-Baked Bread Cubes for Stuffing or Dressing

Step One: Gather Ingredients

Gather the ingredients: bread, oil, and spices of choice.

Step Two: Slice Bread

Slice the bread about 3/4 inches thick. If your bread is already sliced, skip this step.

Step Three: Place Cubes on Pan

Cut the slices into cubes about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in size, remove crusts if you want. I didn’t remove my crusts. Place the cubes on a cookie sheet.

Step Four: Drizzle with Oil

Drizzle with Olive Oil.

Step Five: Sprinkle Spices

Sprinkle salt and pepper or your favorite spices.

Step Six: Preheat Oven/Bake

Preheat oven to (300°F) = (148°C). Bake for 30-40 minutes until you reach desired crispness. Let them cool, and they will be perfect. Store in an airtight container until ready to use. These make great croutons for soups or salads.

Finished Product

Bread Cubes for Stuffing or Dressing Recipe

Print

Bread Cubes for Stuffing or Dressing

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 6 cups

Author Linda Loosli

Ingredients

• 1 loaf of bread, any size you need for your recipe
• Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

• Slice the bread about 3/4 inches thick. If your bread is already sliced, skip this step.
• Cut the slices into cubes about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in size, remove crusts if you want. I did not remove my crusts.
• Place the cubes on a cookie sheet
• Drizzle with olive oil
• Sprinkle salt and pepper or your favorite spices
• Preheat oven to (300°F) = (148°C)
• Bake for 30-40 minutes until desired crispness. Let them cool, and they will be perfect. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

To Air Dry Bread Cubes

• Spread the cubes in a single layer on baking sheets
• Slice bread into 1/2-3/4 inch cubes.
• Let them sit out, uncovered, for 24–48 hours. Toss once or twice to ensure even drying. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

How Many Bread Cubes Do You Need?

A standard 9×13″ pan of stuffing requires:

• 6 cups of dried bread cubes
  This is roughly:
• One medium homemade bread loaf

How To Store Homemade Bread Cubes

Once thoroughly cooled and dried:

• Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
• Freeze for 3–4 months.
• Always use an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag.

Frozen cubes can go straight into your stuffing mix, no thawing needed.

Why Drying Bread Is Essential

Dry bread absorbs flavors far better than fresh bread. Properly dried cubes ensure:

• No soggy stuffing
• Even moisture distribution
• Perfect texture
• Rich absorption of broth, herbs, butter, and aromatics

This single step truly transforms your stuffing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use stale bread instead of dried?

Yes, but stale bread is not fully dry. It still needs to be oven-dried for the best results.

Can I season the cubes before drying?

You can, but it’s best to season during the stuffing-making process so flavors stay vibrant.

Can I mix bread types?

Absolutely, mixing sourdough and white bread is a favorite combination.

Chicken and Dressing Casserole

The Best Thanksgiving Stuffing/Dressing

Green Bean Casserole

Final Word

Learning how to make bread cubes for stuffing is one of the easiest ways to elevate your holiday recipes. With just a loaf of bread and a little time, you can create a flavorful, homemade base that makes your stuffing truly unforgettable. Whether you choose to air-dry or oven-dry, your cubes will turn out perfectly crisp and ready to soak up all those delicious Thanksgiving flavors. May God bless this world, Linda

The post How To Make Bread Cubes for Stuffing or Dressing appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

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What To Stock Up On In November

It’s all about what to stock up on in November today. Here’s the deal: if we have a list of things we need, let’s try to purchase them at rock-bottom prices. I’m updating this post today; it’s good to know the typical items to stock up on this time of year. This year may be a bit different because of the recent Hurricanes that hit the southeastern states, droughts in the western states, and high gas prices to transport everything we depend on to its destination. Plus, the economy is in rough shape, so prices will not get any better soon.

If you see what you want or need, don’t wait for items to be discounted this year. We may have to buy a smaller turkey if you can even get one for Thanksgiving. I’m shocked at how high the prices have risen in just a few months. I mean, double in price, and yet the packages are smaller.

Thank goodness most of us have stocked up; we must be optimistic. Gloom and doom are not my forté. If you see something, get it now.

Every month, stores reduce their inventory by marking down products we may need or want. If you haven’t signed up for newsletters from the stores you shop at the most, do it now. They notify their loyal customers before the public hears about a sale.

This month is no exception when it comes to saving money, lots of money. Just think, Thanksgiving and all the trimmings, yay!

You can buy fresh or frozen turkeys, then add the stuffing mixes and the pie crusts.

Before you head to the store to save money, organize your pantry and freezer to make room and inventory what you have and what may be needed. Be ready to stock up big time with just about anything you can use in November and December. I always make it a point to put together a list of what I need; that way, I’m less likely to forget an item or be tempted to buy things I really don’t need. I have this great app, Any List, for my phone that I use now, and it works super.

If you have plans for Christmas Eve or New Year’s Day, be ready to stock the food, snacks, and appetizer fixings.

What To Stock Up On In November

Thanksgiving

Everything you need for that special day, you can find on sale this month—everything from turkeys, spiral hams, yams, potatoes, whipping cream, etc. Yes, the prices may be higher than last year, but they are still on sale in many locations.

I love this month as I fill my freezer and pantry with items marked way down from their original prices in anticipation of the holidays.

November 3rd is National Sandwich Day

Now, if you have a favorite sandwich shop, they may have a special like two sandwiches for the price of one! Watch Facebook and Instagram for specials, too.

Don’t forget to check your email for coupons, and check your mailbox or the newspaper for the weekly flyers. The stores will send out emails to their customers, so sign up for their newsletters today.

Budget Laptops

November is a great time to consider buying low-end laptops. If you don’t need a super-fast notebook, you can look for great starter-unit deals.

It may fit your budget if all you’re looking for is a computer to check your emails, do some word processing, or follow your favorite blogs. Although Apple is seldom on the cheap side, it just made a significant announcement about new iPhone and laptop offerings. That usually means that the previous generations will be reduced enough to pique your interest.

TVs and Other Electronics

If you’ve been wanting a new TV with more gadgets, or your current TV is on its last leg, watch the Sunday paper or your weekly ads in the mailbox.

You will see specials on televisions to purchase, so keep an eye out for what you want to buy before the sales hit.

In other words, shop BEFORE you need the TV. Then be patient and watch for the rock-bottom prices on the model you want.

You’ll also find discounted prices on some of your favorite small electronics. Watch for stocking stuffers or Christmas gifts at reduced prices on last year’s models of many items. Be sure to check out the small appliance aisles for specials.

Halloween Leftover Stuff

This is when you’ll want to grab some leftover candy and use your FoodSaver to remove the air in the containers for the candy you love to eat. Please remember, if they have nuts in the candy, I would freeze them.

Nuts have a high oil content and can go rancid very quickly. Yes, even in candy. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

• Leftover Halloween candy
• Costumes
• Candles
• Decorations
• Halloween masks
• Halloween lights

Pumpkins and Winter Squash

Watch for pumpkins after Halloween and also winter squash. They will be marked way down in price. You can store the squash and enjoy it throughout the next couple of months. Have you tried cooking a pumpkin in your Instant Pot?

Garden Seeds

We all need to keep garden seeds so we can grow our own food, even if it’s not until the next planting season. I have two of these containers below. They are perfect for storing my garden seeds. Photo Case 4″ x 6″ Photo Box Storage and my label machine are easy to use to organize my entire house. Brother P-Touch Label Maker

Wedding Dresses

Yes, the stores mark down wedding dresses. Just think of it this way, out with the old and in with the new spring styles. The long-sleeved dresses have to go, and the new summery dresses are on their way to being hung up for the warmer weather.

If you know any bride-to-be, tag them about sales on wedding dresses; they are out there. Be ready to save a lot of money —up to 70% off.

Yes, the supplies may be limited, but someone can alter the sleeves or length if you need something a little different. It’s all about saving money while getting something nice for that very special day in your life.

Veteran’s Day Sales

Woohoo! This is the holiday weekend people wait to snag a large appliance they need for the kitchen or laundry room. You will see markdowns on this year’s models, along with specials on the previous year’s units.

The stores want to get rid of the old to make room for the new models coming in December.

We bought our gas stove with a massive 50% discount. It was truly worth the wait to get an older model. I didn’t need one with all the bells and whistles, so to speak.

If you have been looking for a sale on a special baking pan, look at your local stores this weekend and save a lot of money.

Baking Supplies

Look for mailbox flyers with coupons galore and emails from your favorite grocery store to save money throughout the month. This is the month I stock my freezer with butter and my pantry with canned pumpkin.

I typically buy 10 packages of cream cheese this month when it drops to around $1.00 per 8-ounce package. I’m not sure if I will see that this year (2025). Other things to consider stocking up on are listed below:

• Sugar
• Flour
• Spices
• Cream cheese
• Canned pie filling
• Chocolate chips
• Baking mixes
• Butter
• Pie shells
• Canned pumpkin
• Marshmallows

Fresh Items

Did you know you can freeze whipping cream in the carton as shown below? Buy it at rock-bottom prices and thaw it in the refrigerator the day before you need it. Gotta love it!

If the turkeys get down to $.89 a pound or less, I like to buy three or four of them and fill the freezer. I love baking a turkey on Sunday and freezing the leftovers in 2-cup freezer bags.

I also freeze cranberries to use throughout the year.

Ready to bake frozen pumpkin pies for those who want to buy ahead of time and bake them the night before Thanksgiving, or anytime during the holidays.

• Whipping cream
• November)
• Hams
• Cranberries-Cranberry Jalapeno Cream Cheese Dip
• Russet potatoes
• Sweet potatoes/Yams

Frozen Food

Here again, if the turkeys get down to .89 cents or less per pound, I grab a few for the freezer. Cool Whip isn’t my favorite choice for cream, but if the large container goes for just over $2.00 now, I buy 4 or 5 for the freezer.

I have a few salads I use Cool Whip in, like this Watergate Salad.

• Turkeys
• Hams
• Cool Whip
• Pie crusts

Then let’s talk about making soup with the turkey carcass. Life is so good. It’s all about saving money, and this month rocks with savings.

November is a great month for spiral or regular hams. I love baked ham and then enjoy ham sandwiches for a quick meal.

Canned/Boxed Items For Your Pantry

It’s a great month to stock up on some of these items. With the holidays ahead, I’ll be using several of these, so it’s a great time for me to stock my pantry.

• Broth
• Canned soups
• Green beans
• French’s Fried Onions
• Stuffing mix
• Cranberry sauce
• Pumpkin 100% and Pumpkin Pie Mix
• Pumpkin donuts
• Pumpkin cookies
• Pumpkin cake
• Crackers
• Spices
• Olives, green and black
• Canned vegetables
• Yams
• Peanut butter

I love having peanut butter in the pantry! I just bought a bunch since I heard there may be a shortage this winter due to the recent hurricanes in states like Georgia.

This is a great time to stock up on frozen pie crusts.

Do you make a green bean casserole? We make it every year.

Small Appliances-Black Friday & Cyber Monday

This is a great time to find that special gift for someone at Christmas time. You’ll find just about every kitchen appliance for holiday, wedding, and housewarming gifts.

If you need a FoodSaver, this is the month to watch for one. My other favorite is the Dicorain for sealing (not for canning) mason jars!

Black Friday

These two days (the day after Thanksgiving and that Saturday), you will find the lowest sales of the year, literally. Watch for Amazon, Target, and Best Buy first, as you look for prices that may be below their cost. You may call them “teasers,” but they are real. I bought the camera for my blog, so it was a great deal.

What to Stock Up On Each Month:

• What to Stock Up On In January 
• What to Stock Up On In February 
• What to Stock Up On In March 
• What to Stock Up On In April 
• What to Stock Up On In May 
• What to Stock Up On In June 
• What to Stock Up On In July 
• What to Stock Up On In August 
• What to Stock Up On In September 
• What to Stock Up On In October
• What to Stock Up On In November 
• What to Stock Up On In December 

Unique November Holidays

• November 1: All Saints’ Day 
• November  2: Deviled Egg Day 
• November 3: Sandwich Day 
• November 4: King Tut Day 
• November 5: Men Make Dinner Day 
• November 6: National Nacho Day 
• November 7: Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day 
• November 8: Cook Something Bold Day 
• November 9: World Freedom Day 
• November 10: Forget Me Not Day 
• November 11: World Origami Day 
• November 12: Chicken Soup for the Soul Day 
• November 13: National Indian Pudding Day
• November 14: World Diabetes Day 
• November 15: Clean Your Refrigerator Day 
• November 16: National Fast Food Day 
• November 17: Homemade Bread Day 
• November 19: Have a Bad Day Day 
• November 20: Beautiful Day 
• November 21: World Hello Day 
• November 22: Go for a Ride Day 
• November 23: Eat a Cranberry Day 
• November 25: National Parfait Day 
• November 26: Thanksgiving
• November 27: Black Friday 
• November 28: French Toast Day 
• November 29: Square Dance Day 
• November 30: Stay at Home Because You’re Well Day

Final Word

Let me know your thoughts on what to stock up on in November. I love to hear. What do you have on your “I need list”? Let me know what you hope to buy in November that will save you a lot of money. It’s all about being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Small Pumpkins in Wooden Box Deposit photos_84642240_s-2019

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Rainwater as a Backup Supply: Why Preparedness Starts at the Roof Edge

Water is the first item on almost every preparedness list, and for good reason. Ready.gov, the federal preparedness site, advises households to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. For a family of four that adds up quickly, and storage space runs out long before the need does. That is why many preppers add a rain barrel or two as a backup source for everything that is not drinking water: flushing, washing, cleaning and keeping a garden alive when the taps are off.

What most people overlook is that the quality of that backup supply is decided before the water ever reaches the barrel. The roof and the gutter are the first stage of the system, and a gutter full of leaves turns a clean resource into a smelly, clogged one. This guide follows the water from the shingles to the spout, using the Kansas City area as the example, and covers what to fix at the roof edge so a stored supply is still usable when you need it.

How Much Water Can a Roof Give You in a Storm?

More than most people expect. A widely used rainwater harvesting rule of thumb holds that one inch of rain falling on 1,000 square feet of roof produces roughly 620 gallons of runoff. Even a modest house can fill a standard barrel in a single storm, which makes the roof one of the largest water sources a household has.

For a prepper, that number reframes the problem. Capacity is rarely the limit. The limit is how clean the water is when it arrives, and how reliably it gets from the roof into storage instead of spilling over the edge. Every gallon passes through the gutter first, so a blockage there does not just slow collection. It redirects the whole flow onto the ground beside the foundation.

Why Does Gutter Debris Ruin Stored Rainwater?

Because organic debris does more than block flow: it decays, stains and travels. Kansas City neighborhoods with mature pin oaks, maples and elms drop leaves, seed pods and twigs from September well into December. Once that material sits wet in a gutter, it leaches tannins that turn water the color of weak tea, and the decaying mass feeds algae and gives mosquitoes a place to breed.

The problem then moves downstream into your storage. A first-flush diverter is designed to throw away the dirtiest opening portion of a storm, but its small openings and floats can jam with seed pods and grit. The usual sources of fouled barrel water are:

• Leaf litter that breaks down and stains the water
• Seed pods that lodge in diverters and inlet screens
• Shingle grit and twigs knocked loose by hail
• Standing water in clogged gutters that turns stagnant before it ever reaches the barrel

In a grid-down situation, you cannot afford to dump a barrel because it went bad. Keeping debris out of the gutter in the first place is far easier than filtering it out later.

Is Collected Rainwater Safe to Drink?

Not without treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that rainwater is not necessarily safe to drink without first removing germs and chemicals from it, and advises regular testing if you drink, cook or bathe with it. Roof water picks up dust, pollen, bird droppings and residue from roofing materials along the way.

The practical approach for most households is to treat a rain barrel as a non-potable supply: water for toilets, laundry, cleaning, livestock and the garden. That alone stretches stored drinking water a long way, because sanitation uses far more water than drinking does. If you plan to drink harvested water in an emergency, it needs proper filtration and disinfection first, and clean intake water makes every one of those steps easier and more reliable.

Which Gutter Covers Keep a Rain Supply Cleanest?

There is no single best cover for every home, because the right choice depends on roof pitch, the trees overhead and the size of the gutter. Micro-mesh guards, solid covers and foam filters each handle debris differently, and they differ in how well they pass water during a downpour, which is exactly when a barrel fills. The Kansas City page at thegutterguys.llc/services/gutter-protection/kansas-city-missouri describes all three options and explains that a recommendation depends on the trees, the roof, the gutter size and condition, and where each downspout drains. That last factor matters here, since a downspout feeding a barrel has a different job than one that simply empties onto the lawn.

Cover type	What it stops	Note for a rain supply
Micro-mesh	Leaves, seed pods and smaller debris	Fine screen, may need surface brushing after pollen season
Solid cover	Leaves and sticks	Performance depends heavily on a correct fit
Foam filter	Leaves and larger debris	Fine seeds can lodge, so check it seasonally

Installation quality counts as much as the product. Spring hail, summer downpours and winter ice all test a system, so fastening and fit decide whether a cover stays in place and keeps water moving into the gutter rather than over the edge.

Roof pitch plays a part too. Water coming off a steep slope arrives fast and can skip past a poorly matched cover, while a gentle slope sheds slowly and leaves debris sitting on top. That is why two neighboring houses can need different products.

What Should a Prepper’s Barrel Setup Include?

A simple, reliable setup beats a complicated one. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists using a rain barrel to capture rain from your roof, through its Soak Up the Rain program, among the basic steps homeowners can take, and the same few parts make a barrel dependable as a backup supply:

• A gutter cover that keeps the bulk of the debris on the roof
• A fine screen over the barrel inlet to stop mosquitoes and smaller debris
• A secure lid that keeps out animals, children and sunlight
• A first-flush diverter to discard the dirtiest opening water of each storm
• An overflow hose that carries surplus water well away from the foundation
• A labeled spigot so everyone in the house knows the water is not for drinking untreated

The overflow matters more than it looks. Many older Kansas City houses have basements, and a barrel or gutter that overflows at one corner can send water straight to a foundation wall. A wet basement is the last thing anyone wants in the middle of an emergency.

What Does Year-Round Maintenance Look Like?

It follows the seasons. Autumn brings the leaf load, spring brings hail and storm debris, and summer brings the downpours that test every overflow path. Winter adds a risk of its own, because a full barrel can freeze and crack, so many people drain and disconnect it until spring.

A short routine keeps the whole system ready:

• After leaf drop, check covers and downspouts for matted debris
• After hail or high wind, look for loosened covers, bent hangers and grit in the barrel
• Each spring, flush the downspouts and clean the first-flush diverter
• Before the first hard freeze, drain the barrel or switch the downspout back to its normal outlet
• Rotate or empty stored water that has sat for a long stretch and refill it from fresh storms

A downspout confirmed open is what a barrel connection depends on. A professional cleaning that flushes each downspout and checks the hangers, seams and end caps covers the parts of the system that are hardest to inspect from the ground.

The Bottom Line for Preparedness

A rain barrel can stretch a household’s stored water supply a long way, but only if the water going into it is reasonably clean. The roof edge is where that is decided. Keep debris out of the gutter, give the overflow somewhere safe to go, treat harvested water as non-potable unless it has been properly filtered and disinfected, and check the whole path after every season. Do that, and the backup supply will be there when you actually need it.

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The First 10 Things You Should Do in a Blackout

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

An aging infrastructure, frequent storms, planned outages to reduce the risk of wildfires, and an ever-increasing demand for electricity are all combining to make blackouts more commonplace in the U.S.

Rating the nation’s energy infrastructure at a “D,” the American Society of Civil Engineers noted in a 2017 report that the electric transmission and distribution lines, which were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s with a 50-year life expectancy, are at full capacity. And problems with sustaining that aging grid have only worsened since then.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), there are about 3,000 electric distribution systems serving roughly 155 million customers in the United States. A November 2020 EIA report reveals that electric customers experienced an average of five hours of service interruptions in 2019. That average includes 3.2 hours during major events (such as hurricanes or snowstorms).

For a growing number of Americans, power outages are not a matter of “if” but “when” and “how long.” The initial steps you take during a blackout can make a difference in terms of the safety of your home, your belongings, and the people who live there.

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Here are the first 10 things you should do in a blackout:

1. Determine The Cause

Is the outage affecting your neighbors or just your home? If it is just your home, there could be a number of reasons, from a blown circuit breaker to an animal chewing on your wires.

Common causes of neighborhood outages include wind and ice damage from storms and grid failures during high usage times such as heatwaves. If the problem appears to be widespread, contact your power company to find out if they are aware of the problem and, if so, see if they have an estimate of the repair time. If you see a downed power-line, stay away from it and report it to your local authorities.

The events of 2020 have us all on edge, but another possibility to consider is an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event. EMPs are intense bursts of energy that can occur naturally from the sun blasting charged particles or human-made sources like a nuclear explosion.

Depending on the cause and extent of an EMP event, there could be short-term regional outages or long-term national chaos. Here's how to tell if it's an EMP or a power outage. 

2. Contact Family Members

A widespread outage will cause streetlights and traffic lights to go out, making driving unsafe in many cases. If you have family members away from home, it might be safer for them to stay put for a while. You should have an emergency contact plan in place to follow in case the current situation worsens.

3. Prepare for Power Surges

When the electricity comes back on, it can cause a powerful and damaging surge. You should already have your sensitive electronics plugged into surge protectors.

Even so, it’s a good idea to unplug electronics and kitchen appliances for added protection. Turn down your thermostat to protect your HVAC system from a surge as well.

Tip: Remember, you can use your car battery when it comes to charging your devices.

4. Conserve Alternate Power Sources

Use your batteries and chargers efficiently to help them last as long as possible. For example, turn off your phone when you’re not using it.

Also, disable any power-consuming apps, switch to low power mode, and turn off WIFI to save battery life. Select one room where people—and pets—can spend most of their time together. Only light or warm this area.

Tip: You can get power from a phone line during a blackout. 

5. Keep Refrigerator and Freezer Doors Closed

Only open your refrigerator and freezer doors when necessary. An unopened refrigerator will stay cold for about four hours without power. A full freezer will maintain its temperature for about 48 hours.

Eat perishable foods first. Discard refrigerated poultry, fish, meat, eggs, and leftovers after four hours without power. Go by the “when in doubt, throw it out” rule for food spoilage. Here are more guidelines for food safety during a blackout.

Related Article: 6 Ways To Keep Your Food Cold Without Electricity

6. Fill the Bathtub, Sinks, and Buckets With Water

In a widespread outage, municipal water may be unsafe to drink or may stop flowing altogether.

When you quickly fill large containers with water, you’ll have a supply for washing, drinking, and flushing the toilet. If you are not sure if the water is safe to use for drinking or cooking purposes, boil it first.

Tip: You could have 40 gallons or more of water in your water heater.

7. Stay Warm

Winter storms are common culprits behind many power outages. Layer up your clothing and use blankets to conserve emergency heating sources (like wood).

Capture any warmth from the sun that you can by closing all curtains and shades except those on south-facing windows. Also, close window coverings at night to trap heat. Seal any doorways or windowsills that may be leaking air.

Related Article: 17 Ways You Can Stay Warm When The Power Goes Out

8. Prevent Burst Pipes

An easy way to keep pipes from freezing during a power outage is to keep a small stream of water flowing through your faucets.

For a long-term outage during cold weather, you may need to drain your electric water heater and winterize your plumbing system with an antifreeze solution.

Tip: A gas water heater will still work during a power outage, but it may have an electric ignition. Check the appliance instructions. If you do drain a gas water heater, you need to turn off the pilot. Call your gas company when you are ready to re-light it.

9. Make Safety a Priority

Power outages can cause many safety hazards. Here are a few of them to watch out for:

• Increased fire risk. Never leave candles and kerosene lamps burning unattended. Keep flames away from clothing, furniture, and curtains.
• Poisoning. The indoor use of generators, camp stoves, and charcoal grills can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Use them outdoors and at least 20 feet away from doors and windows. Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas that can build up to lethal levels in unventilated areas.
• Electrocution. Generators can pose an electrocution risk when not used properly. Here are safety guidelines from the Red Cross for generator use during a power outage.

10. Know When You Need To Leave Your Home

Older adults and very young children are especially vulnerable to extreme heat or cold that might result from a long-term blackout.

Even if your family members are safe at home, a neighbor may not be doing well. Check to see if you can be of assistance, especially if your neighbors are elderly.

At some point, it may become necessary to seek shelter at a community-run emergency center. Assuming the roads are safe, take your emergency survival kit, including medications, with you and let friends and family know where you are going.

Originally published on Urban Survival Site.

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You May Also Like:

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• 10 Indoor Heating Options for Winter Blackouts
• How to Build a Survival Community

The post The First 10 Things You Should Do in a Blackout appeared first on Homestead Survival Site.

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