How to Cook with Survival Foods
Survival foods are designed for a long shelf life, and some products may be guaranteed for 20 years or more. Processing methods require special preservation to store food in an edible condition for decades. For most survival meals, this means the food is either dehydrated or sealed in specially lined cans. Rehydrating the food with boiling water is the common preparation method, which can be improved upon with a few simple steps.
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Things You'll Need
- Prepackaged survival food
- Saucepans
- Bottled water
- Bottled juices
- Spices
- Fresh vegetables
- Sharp knife
- Can opener
- Spoon
- Vacuum sealer with plastic vacuum bags
- Propane-powered camp stove with propane canisters
Instructions
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1
Boil approximately 1-1/2 cups of water for each package of survival food you wish to prepare, using the propane camp stove.
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2
Open and pour a foil pouch or a can of survival food into a saucepan. A can opener is a useful backup tool, although most canned survival food is packaged with a pull tab on the top for easy access to the contents.
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3
Pour the premeasured boiling water into the saucepan and stir, letting the food rehydrate for 10 minutes, after which it will be ready to eat.
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4
Improve the flavor of survival food by adding fresh chopped vegetables to the boiling water.
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5
Prepare for survival situations by sealing individual spices in plastic bags with a vacuum food sealer to preserve freshness. Emergency rations and survival foods taste better with a bit of spice. A teaspoon of Italian seasoning, for example, adds zest to rehydrated spaghetti and meatballs, topped with a sprinkling of dried Parmesan cheese. Meat seasoning and dried garlic flakes improve the flavor of instant beef stew. Dried celery seed and white pepper enhance the taste of reconstituted vegetable soup.
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6
Substitute water in the rehydrating process with fruit juice to vary the consistency and taste of survival food. Boiling apple juice with a pinch of cinnamon adds a new dimension to pork dishes, for instance.
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Tips & Warnings
Any fresh ingredients that you can add to survival food will enhance the taste of the meal.
