6 Beginner Tips to Take Your Food Storage Long Term
Long-term food storage takes planning and commitment. If you're just starting, you'll need to consider why you're storing food, how long, where you'll keep it, and how. You'll also need to make sure you pick the right foods. It may be a bit overwhelming, but we've come up with our favorite 6 tips to help take your food storage into the long term.
#1 – Consider Why You Are Storing
Buying staple foods in bulk and keeping them stored can be a cost-effective way of making sure your family has a stable source of nutrition. However, you may choose different foods and containers if you are preparing for an emergency. For example, it's hard to carry a full 5-gallon bag of beans if you must travel on foot. So make sure you know why you are storing food long-term and factor that into your preparations.
#2 – Understand Your Environment
Understand your local environment before you finalize your storage plans. For example, what happens to your stored food if you lose electricity and running water? Is your area prone to flooding? What about extreme weather events like hurricanes or tornadoes? In addition, excessive heat and cold can shorten the shelf life of stored foods. Finally, if your government can suddenly restrict your movement, you may need more than just food in your stores.
#3 – Consider Non-Food Items
You can survive for several weeks without food, but only about three days without clean water. You may also need water to prepare some of your dried food, so make sure you have enough water! While you're at it, give some consideration to medicines and vitamins. If stored properly, many of them will keep for years and will surely come in handy.
#4 – Don’t Store Foods You Won’t Eat
Make sure you pick foods you and your family already know you will eat. It makes no sense to store something you know will last if everyone in the house hates the taste. Varied flavor and nutrition are part of this, but there are also medical considerations. Therefore, ensure that nobody will be forced to eat something they are allergic to.
#5 – Know the Best Foods for Long-Term Storage
Foods that have moisture or a lot of fat will not last long-term. Therefore, restrict yourself to foods that will stay flavorful and edible for the longest possible time. Hard grains and white rice are excellent choices. Regular flour and dry pasta will remain edible for many years, as will powdered skim milk, salt, and sugar. Many dried herbs and spices are worth keeping so your meals are not bland.
#6 – Use the Best Storage Containers
Many people swear by cans and jars for food storage. Professionally canned fruits and vegetables can stay good for several years. Still, if you want to keep food safe for the longest possible time, you'll need mylar food storage bags and oxygen absorbers. They provide the best protection from light, gases, and other contaminants. The real food storage pros use sealed mylar bags in food-safe plastic buckets to keep dry goods safe for up to 30 years.
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