Some foods can be stored because of their long shelf lives. These food items are very popular among preppers or survivalists who want to fight anticipatory calamity.
Earthquakes, floods, and natural disasters are great for humanity. The reason for spoiling other food is because it contains high oil or moisture in it. Your food will last for a long time if it is dried and canned properly.
1- DRIED BEANS
You can use air-tight containers for storing dried beans for a long time for future use. The air-tight containers prevent your food from moisture and spoilage. Airtight containers stop oxygen absorption and extend the shelf life of food.
This will help to keep your food safe for decades. If you add rice and spices with dried beans then you can make the contrast of an interesting mixture to food stockpiles.
2- ROLLED OATS
Oats can be used in all sorts of meals and snacks. Oats are not easy to cook but you can store them for up to 30 years. Normally oats can be stored for 6 to 24 months in your pantry but if you want to store odds for a long time then you should use oxygen absorbers in airtight packaging.
This will help to keep your food safe for up to 30 years. There are many benefits of oats as they are rich in antioxidants. They contain fiber Beta-Glucan that helps to control the cholesterol level in your body.
3- PASTA PRODUCTS
Dry pasta can be stored for emergencies because it can last over 25 years. Without using any particular method of storage, you can store dry pasta for a long time.
If you protect your pasta from moisture, it can last about 10 + years. Flavored pasta, egg pasta, and gluten-free pasta are best for storing. The following are the reasons why your pasta can go bad.
- If pasta is stored in a wet and dry environment then the chances of the growth of bacteria or mold will be increased. The color of the mold is dark greenish blue.
- The presence of heat and oxygen is also not good for storing pasta. In search conditions, the nutrients of pasta will be destroyed.
- If you store Parth at a high temperature then the natural oils will go rancid when exposed to the air.
- Over time, the taste of pasta starts becoming musty as it absorbs chemicals from its surroundings.
4- DEHYDRATED FRUIT
Some fruits such as raisins, apricot, dates, and apples can be stored if they are dried. You can store dehydrated fruit for a long time but raisins and dates can be stored for decades if you follow some tips.
5- CHEESE
Different types of cheese can be stored for a long time but never wrap your cheese in plastic and keep it in the fridge. Because the cheese has oil and fat. After a few days, it will take on the flavor of plastic.
Cheese bags or cheese paper is a good option for storing cheese for a long time. It will keep your cheese fresh and protect it from air exposure.
6- WHITE RICE
For storing, you must choose white rice, not brown because brown rice has the possibility of going rancid over time. White rice has a great long shelf life. You can store it for up to 30 years.
There are many kinds of white rice available so you must choose the type of white rice that is dehydrated and sealed. It is better to break the seal temporarily and examine the rice; after checking you can seal it again.
7- DEHYDRATED CARROTS
You can store dehydrated carrots for 25 years. Keep dried carrots in an airtight container. Make sure the location you choose for storing the dehydrated carrots must be cool and dark.
8- LEGUMES ( LENTILS AND PEAS)
Lentils are a good source of fiber and you can eat them with different dishes. Cool and dry places are perfect for storing legumes. Before storing lentils and peas, you should do little research.
During the storing process, you should keep an eye on the peas and lentils because special monitoring is needed as they sweat after being placed in storage. You should maintain the moisture and temperature level.
9- HONEY
You can sweeten your food by adding honey. This is a natural sweetener that has many benefits. A dry place is perfect for storing honey. Make sure the jar you are using must have a lid on at all times.
If you see crystals in the honey then don’t worry just put the container in warm water. Soon the crystals will melt and the honey reverts to its original form.
10- POWDERED MILK AND POWDERED PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS
You need milk for different drinks. Milk in powdered form can be stored for up to 20 years. Powdered milk is a good source of vitamins D, C, and Calcium. Powdered protein supplements are a good source of nutrients.
11- DRIED CORN
You can easily store dried corn or canned corn for 10 years. The container you are using for storing corn must be completely sealed. So the water will not enter and it will protect your food from insect infestation.
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12- PEMMICAN
Pemmican is meat dried over the fire with fats and flavored berries and after that, they are pressed and made biscuit-sized snacks for future use in different dishes. This is a good source of protein and you can store it for a long time.
13- INSTANT COFFEE, COCOA POWDER, AND TEA
You can also store cocoa powder and tea for making your favorite drink. For storing instant coffee for long-term use you need oxygen absorber bags.
After putting your coffee in the bags, seal them so your coffee, tea, or cocoa powder will be protected from oxygen, humidity, and light.
14- BAKING SODA AND BAKING POWDER
If you love baking and making bread and doughy items then you can store baking soda and baking powder for a long time. You can store those items that are required a lot in cooking.
15- SALT AND SUGAR
Salt gives taste to your food so it should also be included in your list of stored items of food. This mineral is mined out of mountains and found in crystal form.
You also need sodium chloride to preserve meat for a long time. You need a large amount of salt for preserving meat. You can also store sugar for a long time but not as long as salt. The use of sugar is less than salt in your daily life.
16- POTATO FLAKES
You need mylar bags and an oxygen absorber for long-term storage. Moisture and oxidation are not good so you should seal the bags so the heat, light, and moisture did not enter the storing bags.
Mason jar is also an option for storing potato flakes but you must add oxygen absorbers to the jars. Make sure the jars have airtight lids.
17- HARDTACK
Before canned food and MRE, the soldiers used to carry hardtacks with them. They are very difficult to eat because they are very hard. But they become very soft when dipped in coffee, cocoa, or tea. You can also eat them with soup.
18- MAPLE SYRUP
Maple syrup contains high sugar content that’s why it lasts for a long time. You can use it in pancakes, toast, waffles, bacon, oatmeal, potatoes, vegetables, and ice cream.
19- SOYA SAUCE AND WHITE VINEGAR
I know most people don’t use vinegar and soya sauce in their daily cooking. But if you use these things regularly then you can store them for a long time. Soya sauce contains high sodium content that’s why it lasts for a long time.
20- WHOLE WHEAT GRAIN
Before storing grains in your emergency food pantry then you should learn some basics. Make sure the wheat grains you are buying must be well packaged and sealed tightly. You need airtight containers with lids for storing grains. When the grains are sealed then they will remain fresh.
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How Can You Dry Your Food For Future Use?
There is a science to the procedure of freeze-dried food. There are many benefits of freezing food. You can store them for a long time. You should dry and can food properly so it will last for a long time.
SNAP FREEZE METHOD
After cooking the fresh food you have to keep them in the special dryer. The temperature of this dryer is – 40 °F or colder. This is an instant method of freezing.
VACUUM DRIED METHOD
In this process, you have to keep it in such a dryer that a vacuum is created around the food you want to store for a long time. Food gets warm and ice evaporates. After that food is in a dry and frozen state for storing for decades.
Now you need moisture and oxygen-proof bags for keeping your food. Oxygen absorbers in such bags don’t allow oxygen to enter the bag so your food can be stored for decades.
When you add water to your stored food then it will bring it back to life and you will get a fresh taste, appearance, and smell.
How To Store Food For A Long Time?
In case, your place is overrun with people desperate for supplies or there is a disaster or threat. In such situations, you need emergency food supplies.
You should be careful when you are storing food because this food is susceptible to bacteria and other insects that cause food poisoning. For extending the shelf life of the food you have to follow some tips.
- You must use oxygen-proof bags to keep your food or mylar bags. These sealed bags keep your food safe from mould, heat, light, moisture, and oxygen. You can keep oxygen absorber packets in each bag.
- Natural sunlight and moisture are an invitation to bacteria so you should keep your food in our dark and dry place. The suitable temperature for storing food is between 70 to 80° F.
- Never store your food in bathrooms, garage, outdoors, attics, and shed because at these places bacteria easily attack your food.
- If you are storing your food in your basement then you should do something to reduce moisture and mould. If your basement has no windows then you must install a fan or a vent.
- Pests are a big problem for storing food then you must use metal buckets so they can not chew their way into them.
- If you want to extend the storage life of your food then you must rotate it every 6 months.