No matter where you live in the US, a prolonged power outage is a real possibility.

The fact is it is a real possibility just from weather events alone.

Here are seven vital gadgets and appliances you should store that can help you prepare food for those times when what we all take for granted, suddenly is not there.

Camp Stove Toaster – My second biggest concern after coffee. I love having toast for breakfast, and this thing will make up to four pieces of toast at once. Just place it over a small flame and flip the bread over halfway through. It takes a little longer than an electric toast but it’s worth the wait.

Manual Mixer – If you’ve been using an electric mixer for things like pancake batter or whipped cream, you should go ahead and get used to using a manual mixer. It actually works just as well as the electric version, anyway.

Hand Flour Mill – A top-of-the-line mill for turning beans, oats, rice, and wheat into flour. One of the reasons some preppers do this is because flour doesn’t store for nearly as long (usually less than a year). If you want to store food for years or even decades, but you also want to have flour, you’ll have to get a flour mill.

Manual Blender – As far as no-power blenders, the Vortex Hand Blender is probably your best option. It doesn’t work as well as an electric blender, but if you’re willing to use your muscles, it can get the job done.

Food Strainer – Use this to make your own jams, juices, and sauces. There’s no need to peel or core fruits and veggies. Just cut them in half or quarters, drop them in the top, and start cranking. The food strainer will separate the puree from the seeds, skins, and stems.

Meat Grinder – Absolutely essential if you want to make your own ground meat or sausage. This will grind beef, chicken, pork, rabbit, venison, and even vegetables so you can make delicious meals.

Wonderbag – This is a great slow cooker alternative. The concept is simple yet brilliant: Put your food in a pot, cover with a lid, and bring to a boil long enough to heat the food through. Then place it in a Wonderbag and close it tightly. The Wonderbag will use the heat that’s already there to slow cook your food for up to 12 hours.

Zeer Clay Pot Fridge – An interesting way to keep food cool when the power is out. You put a small terracotta pot inside a large one and line the gap between with wet sand. When the water evaporates, it pulls heat from the inner pot, making it 20-30 degrees cooler than than air outside. Corporals Corner made a great video that explains how to make one.

No matter where you live, with very few exceptions, chances are you will at some point experience a sustained power outage.

Even the federal government has warned that with the state of our electrical grid, plus weather events, a long-term outage is a real possibility.

If that happens, you need to have these critical tools in your kitchen to allow you to prepare meals and preserve food with or without power.

For other great ideas for gadgets and appliances that do not need electricity, please visit Urban Survival Site.