Emergency Food Storage Fails You Should Avoid
Unfortunately, many people waste both their time and money on avoidable mistakes in their emergency food storage.
And nothing will piss you off quicker than finding out that your hard work has gone to waste due to some stupid, preventable error.
You need to be properly storing the right food and can prepare the food you have.
You will need access to the correct ingredients and equipment to prepare your meals, which takes quite a bit of planning.
For this reason, we highly encourage you to read up on the following smart food storage strategies and tips.
Follow these instructions and avoid emergency food storage fails.
Here are a few food storage mistakes to avoid while stocking up:
Dry food goods, while a great idea, do not last forever. Instead, we recommend storing the ingredients to make your meals from scratch. Raw ingredients will last years longer than pre-manufactured food.
Be sure to have plenty of stock in these ingredients:
- Molasses
- Sugar
- Liquid smoke
- Spices
- Salt
- Dried herbs
- Flour
- Durum wheat
- Whole wheat
- Whole kernel corn
- Vinegar
In addition to raw ingredients, remember to keep these tools in your stock room:
- Dutch Oven: A heavy, cast-iron pot that’s perfect for outdoor cooking, either on charcoal or right on the fire. You can make just about anything in a Dutch oven. Once properly seasoned, clean it by simply wiping it out with some plain hot water. Just be sure to dry it thoroughly, or it will rust.
- Wheat Grinder: What is the use of storing pounds of wheat without a way to grind it up?
- Pasta Maker: It may sound like we're over doing it, but pre-made pasta will not last forever. A pasta maker will allow you make pasta from raw ingredients.
- Food-Grade Buckets: These buckets are specifically made to be safe for food long-term food storage, up to 25 years or more if kept dry and cool.
- Multi-tool: How do you plan on opening canned goods and heavy-duty container? A combination tool – usually including a survival knife, saw, wire cutters, can opener, pliers, etc – can help universally.
- Mylar Bag: Mylar bags provide protection from sun, moisture, and even insects, and can provide storage of 25+ years.
- Paraffin Wax: This wax is a preservative that keeps moisture in (or out) and helps food last longer. It is often used for canning and is even edible.
- Oxygen Absorbers: Used with proper packaging, these little packets absorb oxygen, extending the life and flavor of food or pharmaceuticals.
- Solar Oven: Solar ovens or cookers use the sun’s energy to bake, roast, or heat foods. Aluminum reflectors focus the heat into a dark-colored oven and/or pot. These are also great for sterilizing water.
via Food Insurance
Check out these related articles:
- Long Term Food Storage – Our Favorite Dehydrator
- Best Long Term Food Storage Tips
- 16 Sustainable Gardening Foods That Re-Grow From Scraps
For awesome survival gear you can’t make at home, check out the Survival Life Store!
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on June 14, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
That’s a great point, Michael. Having a strong network can be a huge benefit in a survival situation.
Very nice article!
I saw a scenario where there was a co-op and the government seized it. It was about the time that the government made the law that you could not buy direct from farmers, like milk and cheese and things like picked products etc