More than just cooking tools
If there’s one thing living in South Africa teaches you, it’s how to improvise when life throws curveballs. Load shedding, summer storms, burst pipes, or simply being caught off guard at home have made many locals resourceful. And often, the best fixes are already lying in your kitchen drawer.
Everyday items we usually overlook can double as survival gear when things go wrong. Here are ten simple kitchen staples that South Africans have been leaning on in unexpected emergencies.
1. Aluminium foil
Beyond wrapping leftovers, foil reflects heat to keep you warm, doubles as a signalling tool outdoors, and can temporarily patch small leaks. Some even line cardboard boxes with foil to create solar cookers during long blackouts.
2. Duct tape
The ultimate fixer. Patch a torn bag, secure cables, or create a makeshift handle. It’s strong, versatile, and an essential addition to any home kit.
3. Tea towel
Cotton tea towels become water strainers, slings for sprains, or compresses when dampened and cooled. They’re easy to wash and endlessly reusable.
4. Wooden spoon
From prying open stubborn jar lids to propping up uneven furniture, a sturdy spoon is more useful than it looks. After storms, locals even use them to help shift small debris safely.
5. Kitchen knife
A reliable blade is more than a cooking tool. It cuts rope, trims cloth for makeshift bandages, or opens stubborn packaging. Handle carefully and store securely.
6. Pots and pans
Heavy cast iron pots retain heat for hours, making them perfect for blackout cooking. They can boil water safely and even radiate warmth in a cold room if used cautiously.
7. Plastic wrap and bags
Plastic wrap can cover wounds to keep them clean. Garbage bags make quick ponchos, ground covers, or waterproof linings for emergency shelters.
8. Candles and matches
When the lights go out, candles are a given. But melted wax can also seal tiny leaks and provide waterproof fire starters. Matches remain a crucial backup for cooking and warmth.
9. Baking soda and salt
South African homes swear by these for good reason. Baking soda calms minor burns, deodorises spaces and cleans surfaces. Salt helps put out small grease fires or scrub grime in a pinch.
10. Rubber bands and scissors
Elastic bands can secure bandages or hold loose items together, while scissors are handy for cutting cloth, trimming tape, or opening tough packaging.
Why these hacks matter
In a city where power outages and sudden storms disrupt daily routines, resilience often starts in the kitchen. South Africa’s disaster readiness guidelines recommend keeping supplies handy, but many households already own most of what they need.
By storing a few extras in an easy-to-reach box and checking them every six months, you’re turning your kitchen into a built-in survival hub. Add a manual can opener or mortar and pestle, and you’re ready for almost anything.
Your kitchen isn’t only for cooking. It’s often the first place you’ll find the tools to cope with a crisis.
Source: Joburg ETC
Featured Image: Adobe Stock
