2-Year Food Storage Directions
After natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes or tsunamis, many people re-evaluate their disaster preparedness. Stocking non-perishable staples such as dried beans, rice, flour and powdered milk gives you a base for long-term food storage, but does not provide much variety. By purchasing pre-packaged food or packaging food at home as well, you can build a rotating or static two-year food supply. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Basement pantry
- Dehydrator
- Pressure canner
- Vacuum sealer
- Oxygen absorbers
- Meals, Ready-to-Eat
Instructions
-
-
1
Select an appropriate storage area. Food stores best in a dry environment at a temperature between 50 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A finished basement pantry with an independent thermostat and air conditioner is best. If you intend to use the food on a regular basis, bring food from the basement to an upstairs pantry for immediate use.
-
2
Dehydrate or can homegrown fruits and vegetables. For large gardens, store surplus in hermetically-sealed, oxygen-depleted environments. By including oxygen absorbers with dehydrated foods, you can increase the storage life of the food. Unless you have experience with home dehydration, canning, and/or vacuum packing with successful storage beyond two years, depend on prepackaged food for the bulk of your initial 2-year food reserve.
-
-
3
Purchase prepackaged, long-term storage foods. General grocery store cans often last at least two years. For canned or bucket-sized quanties of dried beans, flour or other typically bagged products, locate a survival or bulk store such as USA Emergency Supply.
-
4
Select food products that hold their shelf life best. Pastas last longer than flour. Dried milk products are better than canned milk. Staples like honey, salt and sugar will survive indefinitely in the absence of moisture. Though nutritionally inferior, white rice stores longer than brown rice because the removal of the outer husk also removes oils that cause the rice to become rancid.
-
5
Purchase civilian Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE). Outdoor camping and survivalist stores sell individual MRE packets and can often order bulk cartons upon request. Purchase brands such as Ameriqual APack, MREStar, Wornick Eversafe and Sopacko Sure-Pak12 online. Under the same conditions as the rest of your food storage, an MRE can last a minimum of five years. If you are storing for emergency purposes, a one- to two-week supply of MREs will supplement your supplies until you have appropriate facilities to cook again.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
