How to Make a 45 Day Emergency Candle Out of Crisco

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How to Make a 45 Day Emergency Candle Out of Crisco

Edwin Tofslie

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Step 1 of 16

Did you know a very simple to make but extremely useful emergency candle is only a cupboard away? An interesting fact. The Crisco brand was originally a candle company.

Step 2 of 16

Gather your supplies. Any size tub will do but the standard 48oz lasts longer. You can pick up a candle wick at most craft stores or the Internet. 10" wick works well for this tub.

Step 3 of 16

Open the can. If you decide to taste it, it will taste bad.

Step 4 of 16

Take your stick, in this case a Chopstick. Find the center and poke a hole.

Step 5 of 16

Go all the way to the bottom of the tub.

Step 6 of 16

Place your wick on top of the hole. The good thing about pre-made wicks like this is the metal piece. You can use a standard wick / string, but the metal piece makes it a bit easier to push in.

Step 7 of 16

Use one hand to hold the string then use the chopstick hand to start working the wick down the hole.

Step 8 of 16

I found if you keep it pretty straight and taut you can get a good push on the metal piece.

Step 9 of 16

Work it all the way down to the bottom.

Step 10 of 16

The hole might seem a bit big but don't worry about this. It fills in naturally and when you burn. Smooth the top area around the hole with your finger and lock the wick in place.

Step 11 of 16

Light it!

Step 12 of 16

The top part will burn off in a few seconds. Once the fire hits the Crisco, it will start acting like a normal candle.

Step 13 of 16

That is it! Your candle will now burn for a very long time. I still have not tested the whole 45 days but from what I can see, it should hold up for a long time.

Step 14 of 16

When you are done. Blow it out and let it cool.

Step 15 of 16

Bonus, the lid makes it easy to store.

Step 16 of 16

This makes a very cost effective long lasting emergency candle. I recommend storing the items separately and making the candle when needed. A sealed Crisco container will last a long time.

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!

Edwin Tofslie

Hood River, OR

tofslie.com

Creative Director & Designer (of Snapguide even!), jerky maker, sports fan, fly fishing and lover of craftsman handmade & manly things.

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1 48oz tub of Crisco

1 10 inch wax coated candle wick or piece of string

1 Chopstick

Fire

A big ol' can of Trans Fats. This is the only and best use for this product. LoL Nice idea, thanks for sharing.

Joe Moynihan 4 months ago

I've been cooking with Crisco shortening for 40 plus years and when a flame hits melted shortening there will be a fire. Keep a bag of flour close by to extinguish it when it catches fire.

Connie Allison 4 months ago

That is the best thing I've learned in a while.* Zombie apocolypse survival kit boost unlocked* but seriously, thanks for the tip!

Ito Kaga 4 months ago

Super clever! Someone mentioned using patchouli oil as an essence which sounded really cool to me. The oil I use is really concentrated so I added about 5 drops inside the hole before pushing the wick down and it seemed to work just fine. This is truly a fantastic guide as candles can be very expensive and in a true emergency being economical can only prove to be a helpful thing. Really nice guide... thanks :-)

Shine W 5 months ago

Great job ! One more way ! I got it ! Thanks to you !

May Swan 5 months ago

That is such a good idea. I plan to try it out. Thank you.

Annie Chow 5 months ago

To help in pressing the metal disk on the bottom/end of the wick into the Crisco: Thread the wick through a small diameter tube (think drinking straw) that is longer than the wick and longer than the depth of the Crisco. Press metal disk at the bottom of the wick to the bottom of the Crisco can by pushing on the tube that contains the wick. A common plastic drinking straw might not be rigid enough, but a piece of small copper pipe or a glass straw should do the trick.

William Brown 5 months ago

thanks thanks thanks a lot mama :D

Aldhiaz Pradipta 5 months ago

Very nice, ideal for the home prepper and if you get hungry you can always eat it!!

John Thompson 5 months ago

Excellent!

Yvonne Flores 5 months ago

A brand of vegetable oil. See Mama's response!

Serene Snapguider 5 months ago

What's crisco?

Samuel Ellis 5 months ago

Great guide. I love survival and emergency tips.

Ron Jaxon 5 months ago

Hahahaha!! 👍😄

Serene Snapguider 5 months ago

Excellent idea. Thank you.

Darkhuntress Notlisted 5 months ago

Aldhiaz, Crisco is vegetable oil that has been hydrogenated to be solid at room temperature. It is similar to lard.

Mama Schollaert 5 months ago

Very helpful!

P Carlson 5 months ago

someone please explain me, what is crisco ?

Aldhiaz Pradipta 5 months ago

Thanks, Ed!!

Mama Schollaert 5 months ago

Mama, I bought the "Gelly Candle 9' Wick" package on Amazon. You can use pretty much any wick though. I would recommend at least 9". Even a shoe string or any string can be used in the case of an emergency. And yes there is a crisco type oder, but again, in an emergency, I think that is the last of your worries :)

Edwin Tofslie (author) 5 months ago

What size wick do you use? Does it smell bad?

Mama Schollaert 5 months ago

You can use the smallest crisco can and have a candle you can use for backpacking.

Joseph Machulsky 5 months ago

Thanks. Very good info to store away for the timesafter the normal emergency supplies run out.

Rafael Dimas 5 months ago

@Jessica, regular shortening. Try Trex.

Diana Christian 5 months ago

Jessica, Crisco is vegetable oil that has been partially solidified to not be liquid at room temperature.

Milton Esquinaldo 5 months ago

Really cool

Jose Zepeda Galvez 5 months ago

This stuff would taste gross!

Devon Lamoureux 5 months ago

Love this idea

Anita Trudeau 5 months ago

What is "Crisco"? Animal fat? What would be a UK equivalent ? Very useful for power cuts...

Jessica John 5 months ago

That's a great use for Crisco....I would certainly never put it in my mouth!

E.J. Ashcraft 5 months ago

Great idea, thank you!

Susan Bears 5 months ago

You're awesome for this! Blackout rescue

Evette Johnson 5 months ago

very clever, esp. to keep around for emergencies.

Kat Foote 5 months ago

is that a mustard brand?

Aldhiaz Pradipta 5 months ago

Cool!!!Thank u for sharing.

Tonja Johnson-Dunlap 5 months ago

Awesome!!!!

Terry Henry 5 months ago

Bravo! Awesome idea

Zane Hazelman 5 months ago

I honestly do not know if oils will be ok. You could always test in a fire pit or something outside in a safe area.

Edwin Tofslie (author) 5 months ago

See that's the fun part if sharing ideas! I love this idea and now adding essential oils to it- great! Going to try this out with patchouli :)

S A 5 months ago

Just found this site...great! Tanks for the candle info...since the world hasn't ended yet (it's early ;)) I am going to give it a try. Do you think you could stir in some essential oil to scent it with out burning the house down?

BUNNY TRUDE 5 months ago

You should totally let it go for 45 days..... :) a good test to see if it can.

Brig Atwood 5 months ago

Fantastic!

Arlene Frank 5 months ago

Great for the end of the world. Dec.21,2012

Jonica Rasi 5 months ago

Very useful , thank you for posting!

M M 5 months ago

Me too!

Edwin Tofslie (author) 5 months ago

Awesome!! 👍👏 I ❤this guide!!

Serene Snapguider 5 months ago

Ingenious.

Jeremy Macdonald 5 months ago

Way cool!

Y P 5 months ago

Excellent idea.

Judy Fitz 5 months ago

I'm n Japan and already had to buy a ton of emergency candles. I'm going to try this one for sure. Thanks! seems cheaper than the ones I have to buy here.

Crystal Helton 5 months ago

Does it has any odor?

Jan Collado 5 months ago

Of course.

Edwin Tofslie (author) 5 months ago

Couldn't i use more than one wick?

Leanna Kysar-Mercer 5 months ago

Oh yeah! ^ Thats awesome!

Anna Rebel 5 months ago

Now, the flame instead of a dot above the 'i' makes sense!

Kelly Tofslie 5 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 2.

Haha thanks, it looks tempting

Mark Bordeaux 5 months ago

LOL

Barbara Milton 5 months ago

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Perfect for when the electric goes out or for camping. Thanks so much, I really learned something. I will be making a big one for home and a small one for camping.

Cherub Ayers 4 months ago

Is there any foul odor when burning it?

Mark Bordeaux 5 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 15.