How to Make Survival Foods

You don't have to be a radical to think about stocking up on survival foods. There are natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and ice storms that may leave you without electricity for days at a time. During those times, having food that requires no refrigeration is a plus in order to keep your family fed.

Things You'll Need

• Dehydrator, or oven and cookie sheets
• Beef brisket
• Fresh vegetables
• Fresh fruits

Instructions

Jerky: A Protein Source

1. Purchase a good-sized beef brisket at a grocery store or butcher shop. Have the butcher slice the brisket into ¼-inch slices across the grain.

2. Marinade the brisket in a mixture of soy sauce and black peppers. For every 2 pounds of brisket, you'll need 1 cup of soy sauce and a teaspoon of pepper. Let the brisket slices soak in the marinade overnight.

3. Lay the strips out in a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Turn the machine on and let it run until the strips are dry yet still slightly bendable. Alternatively, preheat the oven to approximately 170 degrees, or whatever your lowest oven temperature is. Lay the beef strips on cookie sheets and dry in the oven overnight. Turn the strips over in the morning and let the strips dry for another two hours.

4. Store the beef strips--now called jerky--in plastic bags or other airtight containers.

Fruits and Veggies

1. Purchase extra fresh fruits and vegetables when you find them on sale. Bananas, apples, apricots and pineapple are good choices for fruits. Squashes, green beans, okra and other dense vegetables are perfect for drying. Tomatoes and onions can also be dried for future use.

2. Chop or slice the fruits and vegetables into even-sized pieces. Spread the slices evenly in a single layer on the trays or the cookie sheets.

3. Start the machine or heat the oven to its lowest setting. Depending on the fruit or the vegetable, begin checking for dryness after about six hours. Turn the fruit or vegetable if using the oven method.

4. Store in plastic bags or airtight containers when the drying is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• The easiest way to tell if the food is dry enough is that it can be bent like stiff leather without breaking into pieces or crumbling. Canning fresh meat, vegetables and fruits in jars with a pressure cooker is another way to make your own survival foods. Any canned foods should be boiled for at least 10 minutes before eaten. The number-one thing a person needs is water. If you fill empty soda bottles or other containers with water after they are rinsed out, a good supply of water can be kept on hand for emergencies. If bad weather is predicted that may cause a power outage, stock up on those items that need no refrigeration for your pantry shelves. Be sure they are ready to eat from the can, as you may not be able to heat them up. Have a method of cooking available that doesn't require electricity. This could be a barbecue grill, a wood stove or a camp stove. Store extra fuel in a safe place to make sure you will not run out.