Storing enough food to survive on your own and without any help for three to six months, an entire year and maybe even longer tends to get overwhelming to new preppers.
Even though I do concur that storing and rotating such a huge amount of food on a continuous basis can be tedious and requires commitment, it is in no way undoable, and when it is done right, it can even be pleasurable. You just need to keep in mind the following food storage list.
Where does one begin?
A good rule of thumb is, to begin with the basics first including, wheat (or other types of grains, for individuals who are gluten intolerant), beans, rice, salt, cooking oil, honey, and powdered milk.
Hard Red Winter Wheat
This is the foundation of your survival diet. In nature, wheat is the seed with the longest lifespan. In fact, when stored in the appropriate conditions, it has an indefinite shelf life. Even during winter, wheat (and various grains) can be grown, adding fresh greens to the diet.
White and Brown Rice
Rice is my preferred storage foods, as a matter of fact when it comes to food storage, I prefer rice over wheat. However, this is just a personal choice and I very much enjoy rice and rice dishes. In terms of shelf life, white rice stores better and has a longer shelf-life. But when it comes to the nutritional value of the two varieties, brown rice is more nutritious than white rice.
In spite of the trade-off in shelf life, I still opt for brown rice for storage as it has more nutritional value.
Pinto Beans
The combination of rice, beans, and corn make for a wholesome meal. This because they provide pretty much everything needed for survival. Include some fresh greens or nursery produce and extra vitamin C in your meals to ensure that you are getting sufficient to prevent scurvy. This way you will not only be properly fed, but you’ll also be healthy.
I prefer to stock up a mixture of black beans, mung beans, and pinto beans. The amount you need to store depends on your personal taste.
Oats
Do not overdo it when it comes to storing oats. 20 pounds per adult is more than enough. Typically, oats have a shelf life of about four to six years. This is depending on the storage conditions and if or not their packaging for long long-time storage has been opened.
Whole Corn
Any type of food that you prepare using corn seed is considered corn, be it cornmeal, cornbread, corn cakes, cornmeal mush, or any other type of food. Whole corn stores much better and has approximately twice the storage life of cracked corn and that’s why I store it.
Salt
Even though salt is a mineral and not a food, it is still very crucial to your diet and individual health. Same as wheat, salt has an indefinite storage life. In addition, it can be used in the preservation of food and animal products. Ensure that you stock up a minimum of 10 pounds of iodized salt per individual per year.
It is similarly prudent to store salt blocks to lure game animals for future hunting. Salt blocks can be purchased in sporting goods stores and other stores that cater to hunters. Local farmer’s co-ops usually sell salt blocks for domestic livestock supplementation and you can buy them here.
Honey or Sugar
Honey is a natural sweetener and it offers an unmatched addition to your diet. Just like wheat and salt, honey does have an indefinite storage life. You should stock up a minimum of 10 pounds per person. In case the honey hardens and crystallizes, you should heat it slowly in a double boiler for it to reconstitute.
Cooking Oil
There has been some debate over whether vegetable oil or olive oil is the best for storage in the preppers pantry. However, both are viable and the decision as to which one you should store depends on your personal choice. Stock up to 10 quarts per person per year.
Dehydrated food
A great way to make food last is by dehydrating it. It makes it a lot easier to keep and ensures that it doesn’t take up as much bulk. It’s also nutrition-rich. If you’re interested then you get more information at Foodal.com on the best dehydrators available.
Powdered Milk
A majority of people are put off by the thought powdered milk and opt for whole milk from the supermarket. Understandably, powdered milk tends to have a somewhat unique taste, however, it’s not terrible to drink, and after a week or two, you’ll get used to it. Research has found that non-fat powdered milk, if packaged (nitrogen-packed) and correctly stored will have a shelf-life of two decades or more.
Storing Hard-to-Store Foods
I like to purchase those difficult to store foodstuffs such as powdered milk, butter powder, buttermilk powder, dry margarine, shortening, powdered eggs, and cheese powder pre-packaged for storage for the long-run in number 10 metal cans, from Augason Farms and any other credible survival food stores.
Chris Cullen is a writer and reviewer of hunting and survivalist gear. Since his earliest days in the scouting movement, it has been something he has truly enjoyed.
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