Food Storage Information

[Weedygarden]

@Weedygarden yes it was the electric kettle that stopped working this morning and we had a spare. We also have non electric as well for stove or fire pit.

Thank you. I have one, but it wasn't at home for a while, and I have gotten out of the habit of using it. They really are nice for those of us who use instant coffee or for making tea, or instant drinks.

 

[hiwall]

Here is the whole article for those who do not want to wait.

 

[Sewingcreations15]

Thank you @hiwall I have saved it in favourites and will have a read of it and thank you too @Weedygarden.

 

[Weedygarden]

Here is the whole article for those who do not want to wait.

Thank you for sharing this! I have downloaded it.

 

[hiwall]

Thank you for sharing this! I have downloaded it.

You're welcome but honestly there is very likely no information in that short article that you don't already know. It is more tuned for a beginner.
I know for a fact that many on this website know way more than me. I just happen to be the one that writes about it.

 

[hiwall]

I sometimes think about cooking oil storage. All kinds do have a shelf life and do go rancid at some point. No one in my area has pigs so lard after SHTF is unlikely. I could shoot a bear and render the bear fat but that would be an iffy proposition. Does anyone have cooking oil ideas? Here is a chart of shelf life...............
Oil Expiration Date
(Unopened) Pantry Fridge
Avocado Oil lasts for 9-12 Months 1 Year
Blended Oil lasts for 2 Years --
Canola Oil lasts for 2 Years --
Coconut Oil lasts for Months-Years --
Corn Oil lasts for 1 Year 1 Year
Chili Oil lasts for 9-12 Months 1 Year
EVOO(Extra Virgin Olive) lasts for 2-3 Years --
Grape Seed Oil lasts for 3 Months 6 Months
Hazelnut Oil lasts for 1 Year 1 Year
Macadamia Nut Oil lasts for 2 Years 2-3 Years
Olive Oil lasts for 2-3 Years --
Peanut Oil lasts for 3 Years 3 Years
Sesame Oil lasts for 1 Years 2 Years
Safflower Oil lasts for 2 Years 2 Years
Sunflower Oil lasts for 2 Years 2 Years
Truffle Oil lasts for 1 Year 1 Year
Vegetable Oil lasts for 1 Year 1 Year
Walnut Oil lasts for 1 Year 1 Year

I would like to report that I was Wrong!
Extra virgin coconut oil has about an unlimited shelf life! Problem solved.

 

[Weedygarden]

You're welcome but honestly there is very likely no information in that short article that you don't already know. It is more tuned for a beginner.
I know for a fact that many on this website know way more than me. I just happen to be the one that writes about it.

You wrote the article, and that is worth something right there. Not one of the rest of us put it together to do so.
I believe collectively, there is a lot of knowledge here. The discussions are great.

I'd bet that some people roll their eyes when I post about food storage or message their buddies with snide comments. I belong to other groups, and fairly regularly see posts from people who have no food storage and no idea where to start. I think your article covers those bases. I got my information by researching, reading lots of articles and websites. As a young forum, these basic ideas have not been developed here yet, and take time and effort. I believe they are important, even though they might seem monotonous to some.

I think the ongoing discussions keep us motivated, thinking and prompting all of us to move forward with it. I also think that these discussions help us all to figure out pieces we might not have considered before.

I have gotten some new food storage since the first of the year. I had felt stagnant about food storage for a while.

Those storage baskets on the wall in the photo of your article are very cool. Maybe you found it online? I think a root cellar with those would be great to have.

 

[hiwall]

There is live food storage also.
Besides wild game there are a few domestic animals also.

Cows 94 million
Pigs/hogs 70 million
Goats 2.6 million
Horses 20 million
Sheep 5.3 million
Tame Turkey 100 million
Chickens 9+ Billion
Deer 30 million
Elk 1 million

Please just think about chickens. Over 9 billion, a number that is impossible to even imagine. The above list is missing many other edibles both wild and domestic. But think of all the meat in just the above list.

 

[SheepDog]

Rabbits are good too. They are easy (more or less) to breed and reproduce ... well ... FAST.
Gerbils and hamsters reproduce faster and are good eating. They take less food and almost no water but they are small enough that it takes four to make a meal for one person.
Whatever you choose to eat you should eat the major organs as well. Heart, liver and kidneys hold a lot of nutrients so learn to deal with it.
Fish can be raised economically in aquaculture sets or caught in traps provide meat and fertilizer for your plants.
Worms make a pretty good hamburger substitute while some bugs taste like shrimp and go well with rice. Snails are very good (in all there forms) but again it takes a lot to make a meal. They go further if served with lentils or pea soup. Wild cats (from bobcat to cougar and panthers) have a sweet taste to their meat much like monkey and are great to have on occasion. Snakes of all kinds make a pretty good meal if they are large and its a good way to get rid of the poisonous ones.
Variety is the spice of life so get out there and experiment!

 

[Weedygarden]

Here is the whole article for those who do not want to wait.

hiwall, I see that your article on food storage won honorable mention for the first quarter of the year writing contest on Survival Blog. Congratulations!

I had also seen your article on Shelter Preparedness. It is great information as well!
https://survivalblog.com/shelter-preparedness-pt-1-pete-thorsen/

 

[hiwall]

I have a couple more articles that will hopefully be on there at some point in the future. I am just trying to keep busy. The next one is called
"The Myth of Stored Food". You might find that interesting.

 

[Amish Heart]

So, when do we get to read that, Hiwall?

 

[Caribou]

So, when do we get to read that, Hiwall?

He won't know until Rawles publishes it.

 

[Weedygarden]

He won't know until Rawles publishes it.

I know that SurvivalBlog has certain days of the week that they focus on certain things, such as financial, ReDoubt news, etc. I would also imagine that they rotate topics as well, such as guns, preparedness, investments.

 

[hiwall]

Just so everyone knows- -I am Not promoting SurvivalBlog. I am not promoting it or saying anything bad about it, it is just another prepper site. I never went to that site but then I did check it one day and saw the writing contest there and submitted a couple articles. It is Way different than this site. I like it here with all of you guys. We are not Rambo-preppers here and I like that. Granted there are some good articles occasionally on SurvivalBlog just like on other sites.

 

[Caribou]

I know that SurvivalBlog has certain days of the week that they focus on certain things, such as financial, ReDoubt news, etc. I would also imagine that they rotate topics as well, such as guns, preparedness, investments.

SurvivalBlog has a writing contest to draw articles. I have submitted a couple of times but I never had any idea when my work would be published.

 

[Weedygarden]

Just so everyone knows- -I am Not promoting SurvivalBlog. I am not promoting it or saying anything bad about it, it is just another prepper site. I never went to that site but then I did check it one day and saw the writing contest there and submitted a couple articles. It is Way different than this site. I like it here with all of you guys. We are not Rambo-preppers here and I like that. Granted there are some good articles occasionally on SurvivalBlog just like on other sites.

I agree. They are a different kind of site than this. They have good information, but the idea and ability to interact with others over ideas here is great. I just looked at another forum this morning and there is so much slamming on others and their ideas there. I so appreciate that people get along here and are mature in their interactions and comments.

 

[Weedygarden]

Hiwall had another article posted today on Survivalblog. Good food for thought.

https://survivalblog.com/myth-stored-food-pete-thorsen/#comment-139033

 

[SheepDog]

One note about nuts. They need to be stored in an oxygen free environment or the oils will turn rancid. Some need to be washed (a chemical process to remove toxins) and others have to be exposed to heat before you can eat them. Either learn how to process the nuts in your area or buy canned nuts for storage.

 

[Patchouli]

Freezing meats...
In a regular side by side fridge/freezer, how long is too long for meat to be in the freezer?
@Grimm was talking about clearing out her freezer recently and I think it is time for mine as well.
(hi Grimm)
Recently I cooked some chicken breasts that had a date of 6 months ago, they looked freezer burnt, but everything tasted fine and cooked fine. I've seen people throw away frozen meats because it was freezer burnt looking.

 

[Grimm]

Freezing meats...
In a regular side by side fridge/freezer, how long is too long for meat to be in the freezer?
@Grimm was talking about clearing out her freezer recently and I think it is time for mine as well.
(hi Grimm)
Recently I cooked some chicken breasts that had a date of 6 months ago, they looked freezer burnt, but everything tasted fine and cooked fine. I've seen people throw away frozen meats because it was freezer burnt looking.

The turkey I cooked last weekend was in the freezer for 2+ years. Tasted fine and roasted fine.

Our house freezer (under fridge) is set to the same temp as our deep freeze.

 

[Weedygarden]

Freezing meats...
In a regular side by side fridge/freezer, how long is too long for meat to be in the freezer?
@Grimm was talking about clearing out her freezer recently and I think it is time for mine as well.
(hi Grimm)
Recently I cooked some chicken breasts that had a date of 6 months ago, they looked freezer burnt, but everything tasted fine and cooked fine. I've seen people throw away frozen meats because it was freezer burnt looking.

Sometimes it is more about them being properly packaged than it is to the age of the food. Using a food sealer that takes the air out is a big help for keeping food fresh in the freezer as well as shelf life for dry foods. Also, the packaging that you can get for food sealers helps to protect the food.

 

[Amish Heart]

I food savered the chickens we did the other day. Pieced them, them food savered them. They'll last a long time

 

[SheepDog]

Freezer burn is dehydration. It doesn't spoil the meat it just looks weird. Keeping freezer packages air tight will prevent freezer burn. Frozen meeat will keep almost as long as canned goods as long as they are kept frozen. My freezers are kept very cold - "deep freeze cold" at -25F if the thermometer is reading correctly.

 

[Patchouli]

Thanks all. I appreciate your experiences.

 

[Weedygarden]

I have mentioned before that I took a food preparedness class at an LDS church with a friend of mine about 40 years ago. The class was based on 4 basic foods. I know the guidelines have changed for LDS, but I found the basic four list today and wanted to share it.

KIND OF FOOD	LEAST/MOST IN POUNDS	LEAST/MOST IN KILOS	SHELF LIFE	THOUGHTS
Salt	1-12​	.5-5.4	Unreckonable Long Time	Keep more, if you will salt your food for long keeping​
Honey or sugar	35-100​	16-45	Unreckonable Long Time	Keep sugar dry and free from pests
Powdered Milk	60-100​	27-45	1-5 years	None
Wheat	200-365​	91-166	Unreckonable Long Time	Hard Red Wheat, nitrogen-packed

I know that they suggest hard red wheat, but white wheat is preferable for some. Is this the only thing that we want to eat? No, but it is a basic.
One time I was at the LDS cannery and a man was talking about a time 30 years ago when their church ordered wheat and got a great price. He and his family loaded up large trash cans with lids that they taped shut. I no longer remember the quantity they got. He said they have baked bread at least once a week ever since and still had wheat left.

 

[SheepDog]

The reason for those four foods is because wheat is a super food. You can make breads of all kinds but to make bread you have to have salt. To eat cereal cake and waffles you have to have milk. To make cake you need sugar. There is true pleasure in having honey on bread, hotcakes, waffles and biscuits. You use wheat to make gravy and sauces. You sprout wheat for the vitamins and minerals that the wheat does not provide.
You can survive on those four foods. With some other foods added you can thrive. So you expand your stores after you get the basics.

 

[Amish Heart]

And then there's chocolate.
My superfood.

 

[SheepDog]

Not just any chocolate, it has to be at least 70% chocolate. Milk chocolate is NOT chocolate!

 

[Weedygarden]

Not just any chocolate, it has to be at least 70% chocolate. Milk chocolate is NOT chocolate!

I beg to differ!