You can save money when you buy the basics for cooking while traveling. If you know about the duration of your stay in each place, you can make a perfect plan for the meals you can cook.
If you want to stay only one night in one place then you can enjoy a meal out. For a long stay, you should cook breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks.
Travel With 15 Ingredients That Last Forever
Cooking while traveling must be simple and easy food. You can cook noodles, rice, and pasta. I know these dishes are not nutritious but they are cheaper than going out for a meal.
You can also add some veggies to make your meal more nutritious. This strategy will save you money especially if you are on a tight budget. You can travel with dry ingredients that can last for years. Following is a list of ingredients that you can easily travel with.
1- RICE
You can easily cook boiled rice and eat it with beans. You should cook such recipes that are very simple and easy. Some rice recipes don’t need a lot of ingredients.
In Asian countries, each family has a drum of raw rice at all times. This dry food item is the best car fruit that can be stored for the long haul. Uncooked white rice can last 4 months because it contains a low level of moisture that’s why it prevents the growth of bacteria and mould.
You should be careful about moisture because it is the greatest enemy of rice. Keep in mind moisture is not good for your health because it can cause food poisoning. It is better to discard moist rice. Brown rice has a short shelf life, that’s why you should prefer white rice.
2- PASTA
Pasta is included in food items that can be stored for over 25 years. Long shelf life and easy-to-cook make pasta one of the best foods for the long haul.
Moisture is not good for storing any kind of food so you should protect it from moisture. Moisture encourages the growth of bacteria and mold. For long-term storage, you can keep pasta in air-tight containers or jars. Cooked pasta can be kept for up to 5 days.
This is a nutritious food if you choose whole grain varieties rather than using white pasta. The digestion process of pasta is very slow. You can enhance the taste of pasta by adding tomato sauce as a topping. Never use high-fat cream sauces.
3- NOODLES
This is a lightweight meal and can be your best friend if you like to travel frequently. This is an emergency food that can last for decades. Instant noodles are best in the situation when you are starving and you want to eat something tasty but quickly.
This food is quick to cook and you will get flavor at a cheaper price. Instant noodles come in safe packaging but you must be careful about the moisture for long storage.
4- SALT
Salt enhances the taste of your favorite food items. You always have salt and sugar on the long haul with you. It has a long shelf life as you have never seen mould growing in salt. It never goes stale in a perfect place.
In an air-tight jar heat and moisture can’t damage the texture of salt. If you want to store salt for a long time then you must prevent it from moisture.
Because it is the greatest enemy as it reduces the storage period. The interesting thing about salt is that you can use it for preserving many food items.
5- BLACK PEPPER
There are many health benefits of black pepper. This is a rich source of minerals and vitamins. During camping, you can use it to enhance the flavor of food.
This spice also helps to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream. You can easily digest the food as black pepper stimulates hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach.
6- OLIVE OIL
A cool dark location is perfect for storing olive oil. This oil is healthier for you so you should have it if you are going for a long trip. You can not only cook but also use it as a salad dressing.
For storing olive oil for a long time you must prevent it from oxygen because it can cause an oxidation process. You can limit the exposure to oxygen by keeping olive oil in airtight cans.
These cans are made of steel and have an internal tin lining. Glass bottles are also an option but these bottles are susceptible to light penetration, these bottles are best if you want a smaller quantity of olive oil for use.
7- VINEGAR
This is a dilute solution of acetic acid in water. Due to its high acidity, it will last long in glass bottles that have secure caps. Vinegar has a sharp taste and can be used in cooking.
You can use vinegar to enhance the flavor of meat and vegetables. You can also use it in sauces, salad dressing, and tomato catch chips. When you make vinegar with salt and oil then it tastes great.
The flavor and aroma of different dishes become very pleasant after the addition of vinegar due to its sweet and sour flavor. If you don’t want to cook during your long stay and you have fruits and salad vegetables then cut them in a bowl. Now make a dressing of olive oil, salt, black pepper, and vinegar and eat it.
8- SUGAR
You can keep any type of sugar such as brown, white, or powdered for your long haul as it never goes bad. You will never see any bacterial growth in it just like salt.
The one thing you have to do to keep it in an airtight jar to prevent it from the humidity of its surroundings. One thing about sugar is that it becomes harder with time. You can apply the same technique that you do for honey, just warm it and stir it to break up the chunks.
9- HONEY
Pure honey has a great taste and as time passes you will see crystals start appearing in it but it doesn’t mean that you can’t use it. If you see crystals in it then here is a tip for you.
You just warm it and stir it continuously until all the crystals are removed and you will get the right consistency. This could be said for honey that it never goes bad if you store it properly.
You must use any attire for keeping pure honey. You must keep this food item while traveling because it contains high sugar and low moisture content. The best thing about honey is that it is a better substitute for refined sugar and it can be used as a sweetener.
10- TEA
For a long haul, you must keep a jar of tea in your luggage but make sure the tea is away from heat, light, moisture, and air so it will keep fresh.
A tea lover can’t live without drinking tea. Normally tea never goes bad but as time passes its flavour will weaken but you can still drink it. It is better to buy tea that is packed in an airtight jar. You can satisfy yourself by making tea any time during your stay.
11- COFFEE
Most people like coffee rather than tea. If you are a coffee lover then you must keep a jar of coffee with you. If you are staying for a long time in a place then you can easily make your own coffee when you need it.
It will not affect your budget and you can drink coffee anytime. You will get the best taste of coffee if the coffee beans are fresh. You must keep your coffee beans in a vacuum-sealed jar so they will not be exposed to the air.
12- NUTS
If you are looking for food items that are rich in protein then nuts are the right option. Nuts are one of those items that can be stored for a long time. You can eat them as snacks during your long haul.
They are the perfect items for keeping while traveling. Always keep your nuts in an air-tight container or jar so you can use them for a long period.
13- DRIED BEANS
If it is possible for you to take dried beans with you then you must keep this food item in your luggage because it is a good source of protein. Proper storage techniques can extend the shelf life of dried beans.
You must store dried beans in an airtight storage jar or container. You must put in oxygen absorbers that will help to remove oxygen from the surroundings of the beans.
When you are cooking dried beans during your long haul then you must add baking soda it will help to software beans faster.
14- JERKY
This food item can last for years and you can take it for the long haul. The life of the beef jerky relies upon the moisture level. It means if the beef jerky is too dry then it will last for a long time.
Air is the enemy of your preserved food so you should keep your beef jerky in an air-tight jar or container. Now keep your beef jerky in your freezer. Take the container or jar with you on your trip and use it as soon as possible.
15- DRIED FRUIT
If you use the right technique for preserving fruit then they will last for years. Dry fruit can be a great snake during traveling. Keep your dried fruit airtight jar in your bag until you use it because light and heat can deteriorate dried fruit.
If you see the colour of the fruit start changing then it is a clear sign that your dry fruit is going bad. The appearance, smell, and taste of bad dried fruit are slightly rancid and it’s not good for you to eat it.