Food for Long-Term Storage

Long-term foods can be prepared yourself or bought at the grocery store.

While most people prefer fresh food, you'll want non-perishable canned and dehydrated items in your pantry or survival kit in case of emergency. As a rule of thumb, canned food bought at a grocery store has a shelf life of 16 months to two years. Any foods kept for a long time must be stored in a cool, dry place, away from light, heat and moisture. Use airtight containers, such as glass jars, plastic containers or tins.

Water

Assume that each person in your household will drink one gallon of water a day and base the quantity on how long you may need the water. Also keep in mind whether you will be using any water for cooking or personal hygiene or if you will be feeding any animals. If buying the water pre-bottled, make sure to check for an expiration date.

Canned Foods

Canned food is ideal for long-term food storage. Store canned fruit, whole or diced tomatoes, pickles, olives, beets, sugar syrups, tomato sauce, chili sauce, salsa, relish, beef and chicken stock, soup, jams and jellies, sauerkraut, ketchup, chutney and more. Canned tomatoes are especially useful since they can be used in chili, spaghetti sauce, soups and stews.

Dehydrated Foods

When stored properly, grains and dried foods can last years in your pantry or kit. Choose a wide variety of grains to keep your palette from getting bored -- rolled oats, rye, mullet, wheat, spelt flour, kidney beans and adzuki beans. Also store various dried and dehydrated vegetables such as garbanzo beans, dehydrated carrots, celery, broccoli, cabbage and onion. Other dehydrated items can include cocoa powder, powdered milk, cornmeal and granola. Properly stored pasta, such as macaroni, spaghetti, ribbons, linguine and ramen should keep up to 10 years.

Spices and Herbs

Spices will keep your meals from growing dull. Some spices you can store are cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, cinnamon, chili powder, cayenne pepper and garlic powder. When stored correctly, spices won't go bad, although they may lose flavor. Store dried herbs such as oregano, thyme, basil and sage to add flavor to your cooking.

Dessert

Honey, powdered pudding, sugar and dried fruits such as cranberries, bananas, apples, mango, cherries and peaches will be a sweet treat. Tightly sealed dried fruit will last for several months.

References

• FEMA: Are You Ready? Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit
• Backpacking Chef: Dehydrating Fruit
• Family Survival Planning: Long Term Storage of Spices and Herbs
• USA Emergency Supply: Storage Life of Dried Foods

Resources

• Food Storage Made Easy: Food Storage Shelf Life
• Canning Food Recipes: Recipes for Canning and Preserving Fruit