“Rebel Canning” Keep Your Freezer Meat Safe When the Power Grid Fails — Here’s How

Imagine this: the power grid goes down, and suddenly, you’re faced with losing all the meat in your freezer. In a survival situation, wasting food is not an option. But what can you do to save all that meat quickly and safely? According to Marandia Wright from the YouTube channel Survival HT, a tried-and-true method has been used for generations, especially by the Amish and other countries, to preserve meat without refrigeration.

This method, known as “Rebel Canning,” can save your freezer stash in a grid-down emergency, and it’s surprisingly simple.

Canning Meat Without a Pressure Cooker

Wright opens by explaining that in an emergency, traditional pressure canning might not be an option. “If the grid goes down and you have an electric stove, you can’t use your canner,” she says. Even if you have a gas stove, the process can be slow and labor-intensive, and time is critical when it comes to preserving meat. The alternative is water bath canning, a method that allows you to quickly preserve large quantities of meat using just a large pot, jars, and a heat source like propane or wood.

Equipment You’ll Need

Wright points out that many people, particularly in Louisiana where she’s based, already have the necessary equipment because they use it for boiling crawfish. “You can buy a large pot and propane burner pretty inexpensively,” she notes. This setup allows you to fit multiple jars of meat into the pot at once, boiling them in bulk to preserve their contents. Wright demonstrates how 12-quart jars fit easily into her large pot, and by stacking another 12, you can process 24 jars at once. This method allows you to save large amounts of meat quickly without needing to babysit a pressure canner.

Water Bath Canning Explained

So, how does this method work? According to Wright, it’s simple: pack the meat tightly into sterilized jars, fill them with water, and boil the jars for three hours. This process creates a vacuum seal, preserving the meat for months, or even years. “This is how it’s been done for generations,” she says. The key is boiling for the full three hours to ensure the jars are properly sealed and safe to store. “By the next day, your jars will be sealed, safe, and ready to last on the shelf,” Wright assures.

Rebel Canning: Time-Tested but Not FDA Approved

It’s important to note, as Wright does, that this method is not FDA-approved. However, it has been used safely for centuries. In her words, “The Amish still do it to this day, and it’s a method that has worked for generations before modern refrigeration and pressure canners were available.” The key is proper boiling time and careful handling of the jars to ensure a tight seal.

Addressing the Botulism Concern

One of the most common concerns with canning meat is the risk of botulism, a rare but dangerous bacteria that can grow in improperly preserved food. Wright addresses this head-on: “Botulism is found in dirt, so you’re more likely to get it from root vegetables than from meat,” she explains. She also points out that botulism spores are killed within minutes at boiling temperatures, and since this method involves boiling for three hours, the risk is minimal. If you’re still unsure, Wright recommends boiling your canned meat again before serving, which eliminates any remaining danger.

Canning is a Lifesaving Skill

Learning how to can meat is a skill that can pay off long before an emergency strikes. As Reddit user ProjectClean suggests, “Learn to can NOW, not in an emergency situation. Start canning your meat little by little and don’t have such large quantities frozen.” Practicing these techniques ahead of time will ensure that when the grid fails, you’re ready to act. This comment echoes Wright’s message about preparation and being ready to preserve food when time is of the essence.

Smoking and Salting as Alternatives

While canning is the focus of Wright’s method, there are other ways to preserve meat in a grid-down situation. Reddit user TlN4C offers some additional suggestions: “Smoke, salt, can it as part of a meal (stew, chili, bolognese) or by itself.” These methods have also been used for centuries and require minimal equipment. Salting, in particular, is a no-energy solution that only requires containers and plenty of non-iodized salt. Another user, dittybopper_05H, points out that salting “takes no energy, just containers and a lot of non-iodized salt.” It’s an excellent option if you’re low on fuel or other resources.

Solar Power: A Long-Term Solution

For those looking to keep their freezers running longer during a power outage, solar power may be the answer. Reddit user TheSensiblePrepper shares their experience with solar-powered freezers: “Most people don’t realize that if your chest freezer is 10 or less years old and at least half full, you can easily run it off of minimal solar.” Solar setups can extend the life of your freezer, giving you more time to can, smoke, or dry your meat.

How Much Meat Can You Save?

One of the most surprising things about Wright’s method is how much meat you can pack into each jar. “When I pressure can, I can fit about 17 pounds of meat into seven quart jars,” Wright says. By deboning the meat, you can maximize the space in each jar, ensuring that you preserve as much as possible. The larger the jar, the more meat you can save, and Wright shows how even half-gallon jars can be used for this method.

Preparing for the Inevitable

As Wright emphasizes, power outages happen, whether due to hurricanes, storms, or larger grid failures. By learning how to preserve meat using this traditional method, you can avoid losing your food supply during these emergencies. “Even if you never have to use it, having the knowledge is invaluable,” Wright says. Stocking up on the necessary supplies and practicing the method can ensure that you’re prepared for anything.

A Simple, Life-Saving Method

In a world where power grids are increasingly vulnerable, knowing how to preserve meat without refrigeration is a crucial skill. Marandia Wright’s Rebel Canning method offers a simple, effective way to save your freezer meat when the power goes out. Whether you’re using propane, wood, or even solar backup for your freezer, the key is to be prepared. As Wright puts it, “This is how they’ve done it for generations, and it still works today.”

Incorporating additional methods like smoking and salting into your emergency plan, as recommended by Reddit users, can provide even more options for preserving your meat when the grid fails. Whether you choose canning, smoking, or salting, having a plan in place will help ensure your family stays fed during any crisis.

Do You Have the Necessary Skills?

What are your thoughts? Are you prepared for a long-term grid-down scenario, and do you have the skills necessary to preserve your food without relying on modern conveniences? What methods have you considered for preserving meat or other perishable foods in case of a power outage, and which one do you think would work best for your situation?