Dried Vs Canned Beans: Water Usage
Dried Beans require a substantial amount of water to prepare. If youre new to storing food for survival, you may not know how important water is to survival.
According to FEMA, you need to store at least 1 gallon of water per day, per person to stay clean, hydrate, and to prepare food.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
To conserve water supply, canned beans are better for short-term emergencies because they require no additional water to make edible. Preparing dried beans requires approximately 3 cups of water per cup and 10 cups per 1lb.
Crises And Emergency Preparedness
Having a stocked-up pantry and food storage is like having a shield of protection during difficult times of crises where public movement is restricted or halted. There are various factors which could cause this such as a breach in security, a viral pandemic or even power outages due to snowstorms. I am sure that these would be stressful times unless you have a backup plan, because I did feel that way when I didnt have storage.
Advantages To Buying True Survival Food
So as seen in the list above, one of the best ways to make your own survival food is by simply buying the right food items. The advantage of buying true survival food from someone like Mountain House or Thrive is that you can purchase many years worth of food that you can store away and forget about. As stated before, the shelf life of properly freeze-dried food is up to 25 years. If you are considering purchasing a year or more of long-term food storage, you should look into getting a freeze-dryer.
This leads us to another option: freeze-drying your own food.
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Designing Your Personal Long Term Food Storage Plan
It is obvious that there are a lot of varying opinions about long term food storage. The only consistent opinion is that you absolutely should have a supply of food in your home that can see you through a crisis. Our world is a fragile place and it makes sense to do everything you can to be self-reliant.
Use A Vacuum Sealer For Storing Bulk Foods Long
A vacuum sealer is a great tool for long-term food storage, as it removes the air from the packaging and creates an airtight seal around the food. This helps to prevent the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms, as well as preserve the quality and flavor of the food. Find out if a vacuum sealer is worth it for you.
Heres how to use a vacuum sealer for long-term food storage:
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How To Store Food For Maximum Shelf Life
The best advice I have heard for food preservation is to create an environment that is inhospitable to bacteria by removing the presence of oxygen and moisture. There are products that its nearly impossible to do this because theyre very water dense. Most likely, the shelf life of those products will be significantly less than a product which contains less moisture.
Some products can have a longer shelf life if theyre stored in the refrigerator or freezer but they risk losing flavor or nutritional value.
The simplest way to extend the life of your food is to keep it away from light, heat, moisture and oxygen. Typically this is in a pantry or basement where temperatures remain stable year-long. Its recommended that shelf stable food be stored in the home rather than the garage because the garage typically has greater temperature fluctuations.
One more tip is to rotate your food as you eat it. By rotating your food, you can make sure youre eating what expires first while maintaining a stocked pantry that can remain fresh for long periods of time.
If you want to prepare your own dehydrated foods from fresh fruits and vegetables look into purchasing a freeze dryer or dehydrator, as well as Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. These things will increase your foods shelf life significantly if properly sealed. If youre in doubt about how many oxygen absorbers to use, remember that it never hurts to add an extra oxygen absorber.
Store as much food as you feel is necessary.
Fermenting For Food Preservation
Foods preserved by fermentation can be fermented for several purposes. Fermented foods may be fermented to increase the acid content or the alcohol content, and decrease water activity. Bacteria in the fermentation process have certain requirements for living, such as oxygen and sugar, and do not tolerate a harsh environment. Lactic acid bacteria in particular thrive in anaerobic environments, as they produce lactic acid and kill other microorganisms.
The earliest known examples of fermentation are found in ancient times when humans left grains of barley outside to break down the starch in the grain. Over time, these microbes turned starch into ethanol or other substances. Fermented fruits and vegetables are other examples of food products, from wine to Kimchi to sauerkraut. The ancient civilizations who learned the process of fermentation found that it was beneficial to their survival food kit and developed new, more nutritious foods.
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Which Foods Are Most Suitable For Long
The first step in ensuring a reliable food supply over the long term is making the proper product choice. High-moisture foods spoil more quickly than their dry counterparts. Long-term storage requirements include a low oil content and a moisture content of 10% or less. Oily foods spoil quickly after being stored. It’s for this reason that white rice can keep for 30 years whereas brown rice lasts less than a year in the pantry.
Wheat, Kamut, spelt, corn, white rice, pinto beans, black beans, white beans, kidney beans, split peas, lentils, rolled oats, and pasta are just some of the dry foods you can choose from.
Fruits and vegetables used in dehydration must have an extremely low moisture content and be dry enough to snap. Among the most popular long-term dehydrated food storage goods are potatoes, carrots, celery, peppers, onions, and potato flakes.
Freeze-dried fruits, vegetables, and meats that have undergone the right preparation processes are also viable options for long-term storage. Read our post, The Difference Between Short-Term and Long-Term Food Storage, to find out more about the distinctions between these two types of food storage.
To get started on your long-term food supply, check out our piece, Long Term Food Storage: Creative Solutions to Build a Critical Asset.
But There Is No Wheat And No Flour On This List
So you noticed!
There are no wheat berries or other whole grains on this list and there is also no flour. While there is a place for these items in a long term storage plan, I consider them part of the second phase of food storage.
The truth is that many preppers would not have a clue as to what to do with wheat, so why push the envelope?
The same goes with flour. To make flour usable, you also need yeast and baking powder plus the skill and know-how to bake. Not only that, you most likely will need an outdoor oven of sorts especially if the grid is down post-disaster. That, and more, will come later, but for now, while covering the basics, it is much simpler and far more practical to stick with easy to cook foods that can be combined into interesting meals without the need for much experience other than opening a can or a package.
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Brigham Young University Food Storage Recommendations
In the report, An Approach to Longer-Term Food Storage, BYU recommends a basic food storage plan that should provide adequate calories and protein for one adult for one year .
- 132 lbs of wheat 24 cans
- 65 lbs white rice 12 cans
- 29 lbs rolled oats 12 cans
- 21 lbs pasta 6 cans
- 62 lbs legumes 12 cans
- 49 lbs dry milk 12 cans
- 70 lbs sugar 12 cans
- 6 lbs dried apple slices 6 cans
- 22 lbs potato flakes 12 cans
- 8 lbs dried carrots 3 cans
- 2 lbs dried onions 1 can
- 4 lbs baking powder
- 365 Vitamin C tablets
Along with those basic supplies, BYU recommends storing these items in shorter-term storage 2 gallons cooking oil, 3 cans shortening, 6 pounds butter/margarine , 3 quarts mayonnaise/salad dressing, 6 pounds peanut butter, fruit drink mix , dried eggs , 2 pounds yeast along with other sweeteners. Storing other canned or dried fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. will increase the variety and nutritional value.
Learn more about these storage basics by visiting these posts:
- 1/2 gallon vinegar
Your All American Long Term Food Storage Solution
My Patriot Supply focuses on helping Americans be prepared for emergencies. It seems like they have thought of just about everything including the coffee! Ammo cans are sold for short-term emergencies. They stand apart from most long term food storage companies because they promise 2,000 + calories in each meal. Their black and white packaging is very classy looking with their Ready Hour logo.
When you shop on their website you will see the option to buy not only long term food storage but other emergency preparedness items such as water filtration systems, First Aid Kits, and Heirloom Seeds.
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What Else Do You Need
In addition to food, Andress and Harrison recommend including water, personal hygiene items, flashlights, blankets, and other essentials, like a first aid kit and backup medications, in any survival kit.
Its also important to make sure you have everything you need to prepare and eat your food, like scissors or a knife for cutting open pouches, disposable utensils, and a grill or camping stove if the food you have requires cooking. Most food survival kits include dehydrated food that you need to add boiling water to. Because of this, its wise to have extra water and a pot for boiling on hand, as well.
The CDC recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person in your household per day for three days in your household. A two-week supply is even better, if possible, and keep in mind that sick or pregnant people will require more, as will those in hotter climates.
Freeze Drying Your Own Food
The biggest hurdle to freeze-drying your own food is the price of a unit.
The cheapest freeze-dryer is $1995.
However, if you consider the cost of purchasing freeze-dried food, it would be cheaper, in the long run, to do it yourself. The best freeze-dryer is from harvest right. Weve tested it out on the youtube channel and have had great results. DIY Freeze-drying is superior to other food preservation methods like dehydration because it preserves the nutritional value of the food.
Freeze drying is a great way to store crops that you grow even if you do not consider yourself a prepper. Fruits like strawberries and blueberries make excellent snacks. If you can afford to purchase a freeze dryer, it is by far the most efficient way to store food for long term use. Freeze-dried foods can be stored without the use of chemicals and dont need to be refrigerated.
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Survival Foods That Have The Longest Shelf Life
These are the 48 foods that last a very long time– some of them never expire! They are ideal for long term storage, therefore you should definitely consider stockpiling them for survival!
1. SOFT GRAINSSoft grains, such as barley, quinoa, rye and grits, can last up to 8 years if their package is sealed with oxygen absorbers. If possible, purchase these from a supplier who sells long-term food storage because their packaging and sealing process is designed to preserve whole wheat grains longer than the packages you often find at the store.
2. HARD GRAINS Hard grains such as, buckwheat, hard red wheat, soft white wheat and millet, can last around 10 to 12 years when stored properly. For a maximum shelf life, the sealed package must have an oxygen absorber. Purchase these in bulk from a supplier who sells long-term food storage, if possible.
3. ROLLED OATS Oatmeal containers from the store will last up to 24 months, according to the package, if stored at room temperature. So long that there is no moisture or oxygen present, they can last up to 30 years. It might help to store your oats with an oxygen absorber. You can tell if they went bad if they develop a rancid flavor or smell. Oatmeal is also an option provided by many food storage companies and is guaranteed to last long-term.
9. CANNED SPAGHETTICanned spaghetti can easily last up to 2 years and perhaps longer if its kept in ideal conditions. Make sure no botulism is present when opening.
How To Store Food Long
Long-term food storage sounds intimidating at first. The costs seem daunting and the repackaging of food is a time-consuming task. However, in the long run, you will save both time and money by starting today.
It will result in fewer trips to the store, less gas used on your vehicle, and more food in the house for easier preparation. Not to mention the peace of mind you can have knowing that you and your family are well protected in an emergency.
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What Are The Best Treatment Methods To Ensure Stored Grains Stay Fresh And Free From Bugs
Buy only high-quality food products for long term storage. Weevils, small flour beetles, dermestid beetles, larder beetles, moths, and other pests will infest, destroy, contaminate, and consume food. Insects come in various life stages and require special handling to destroy each stage. Storing food in a container with an oxygen-free environment will eliminate insects in all stages.
Grizzly Gear Emergency Food Rations
Grizzly Gear Emergency Food Rations is a rugged and durable emergency food ration that comes in individual 3600 calorie bars.
These can be eaten without any water and they arent so dry that they provoke thirst. As such, theyre very popular with sailors and outdoorsmen who want a food storage solution that can take extreme temperatures.
One thing to note: the foil package is not going to be sufficient to deter rodents, so for longer term storage, get a plastic tub to keep these rations out of the reach of vermin.
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Jones Family Storage Plan
Our storage plan is unique to our family, just as yours should be. I cook almost everything from scratch and we consume a lot of whole grains and beans. I bake bread from scratch using a natural yeast fermentation process, also known as sourdough. I am sensitive to gluten and by fermenting the bread dough or batter overnight the gluten is digested. I am able to eat wheat without issues by preparing it this way.
We have fruit trees, berry bushes, a vegetable garden, and chickens. We spend time bottling, freezing, and dehydrating during the harvest. The eggs provide a consistent source of protein and fat. It is a lifestyle which is not possible, or even desirable, for some but we love it.
Food is stored in a cool basement on sturdy shelves which make rotation easy, organization possible, and quick assessment of needs simple. It is our own little store. When there is an incredible sale on an item, such as peanut butter or canned soup, we purchase a few cases.
We have a kitchen pantry that we take supplies from to cook every day. When the pantry gets low, we replenish from our basement stores. Newly purchased foods are always taken to the basement storage room and placed behind the older food. Our grocery budget is much smaller than most people would spend on food. Yet our plan allows us to eat well and have a healthy supply of food stored.
The Best Food Storage Methods
There are several ways to prepare food for survival storage, and the best method depends on what you’re preserving. Consider using several of these methods in your food storage plan so you have a variety of food when disaster strikes. Below, weve listed the most common food storage methods as well as how long they can preserve food.
Freezing – The FDAs Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Chart helps you determine if you can freeze a food and how long it can be kept in the freezer before spoiling. For example, steak and roasts keep in the freezer for up to 12 months, making them some of the longest lasting freezer foods. That isnt long compared to other food storage methods, but it can be helpful if youre in a short-term pinch. You might want to consider getting a dedicated food storage freezer. Just keep in mind that should your electricity go out, frozen food will go bad rather quickly.
Drying – According to the Food Safety Hotline, drying is the oldest method of food preservation. Fruit and meat preserve really well with the help of a food dehydrator . According to Dehydrator Living , dehydrated fruit can last five to 10 years if properly stored. This is longer than canned food, which only lasts up to five years.
To learn about other food preservation methods, check out the Food Safety Hotline .
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