How do I need to store and preserve my food for winter after SHTF.

[TeenGunner]

How do I need to store and preserve my food for winter after SHTF. Been trying to think of ways to preserve foods from my garden for example, drying corn and beans or making rasins. I wanted to know if anyone had any ideas to store foods after SHTF because you can't can forever. Was looking for something sustainable. Just wondering what your thoughts were.

 

[jontte]

smoking meat and fish, drying meat and fish, salting meat and fish, so yes you need salt, lots of it.
building a good, big root cellar will help you go a long way.
ladies here are canning their produce, that's an option too..

 

[TeenGunner]

Thanks I'll keep it in mind

 

[Brent S]

Drying, smoking, salting and canning are all skills worth learning. Freeze drying is by far the best but it’s a pricey option and needs both electricity and maintenance on the equipment.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

Look into building a root cellar. Learn what keeps longest in root cellars. For instance, apples. Tart thick skinned keep longer than sweet thin skinned ones. They do get sweeter over time. Store the items properly. Wrap apples carefully in newspaper and store in a crate or box. Carrots store well in boxes with sand in them, or even sawdust. Never store fruit near potatoes. It makes them go bad. Get a book and read up on root cellaring so you won’t starve to death because of lack of knowledge on how to store food.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

Wanted to add that learning what people lived on and how they did it before electric is the key.

 

[user 7704]

I choose canning and dehydrating over freezing. Electricity could be nonexistent

 

[rachaelk]

My dad used to do his canning in the yard. With a big fire. And a really big pot. He used a pressure canner. So, it can be done, even after there is no electricity. Stock up on lids. I stocked up in March and its a good thing because you can't find them now. Even so, alas, I am out of wide mouth lids and must be forced to resort to pickling my okra in regular mouth jars. I have canned till late at night about every day the last three weeks. But now that school/work has started back I have to cut back a little.

 

[user 7704]

I'm running out of jars. That's never happened before. I can't find them in stores.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

smoking meat and fish, drying meat and fish, salting meat and fish, so yes you need salt, lots of it.
building a good, big root cellar will help you go a long way.
ladies here are canning their produce, that's an option too..

Speaking of salt,do you have an opinion on water softener salt being used for brines? I’ve seen different opinions, but would like to know if it is safe....just in case I ever run out. Some have even said they have used plain salt licks for animals.

 

[jontte]

back a few years ago ( many,many many years ) when I sold household appliances, dishwahers had a pack of watersoftners with them, pure salt, same stuff you got from the store, I would use it, this is just my opinion.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

back a few years ago ( many,many many years ) when I sold household appliances, dishwahers had a pack of watersoftners with them, pure salt, same stuff you got from the store, I would use it, this is just my opinion.

The reason some preppers have decided to store the water softener salt instead of table salt is the bulk packaging, readily available and cheaper. I would think if one read the label and made sure that specific brand did t include anything else, it would be fine.

 

[DrHenley]

Water softener salt is ridiculously cheap at Home Depot - 16 cents a pound. On Amazon you'll pay 60 cents a pound for the same brand - they are rolling their "free shipping" costs into the price.
Diamond Crystal Bright and Soft Water Softener Salt Pellets-100012420 - The Home Depot

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

Water softener salt is ridiculously cheap at Home Depot - 16 cents a pound. On Amazon you'll pay 60 cents a pound for the same brand - they are rolling their "free shipping" costs into the price.
Diamond Crystal Bright and Soft Water Softener Salt Pellets-100012420 - The Home Depot

That’s the exact kind I have in notes that is best to use. What do you think about using it for brine?

 

[DrHenley]

I don't see any problem, but I don't claim to be any kind of expert in this matter.

 

[jontte]

what I was able to find out here about this salt type, it's extra clean salt..

 

[Illini Warrior]

Speaking of salt,do you have an opinion on water softener salt being used for brines? I’ve seen different opinions, but would like to know if it is safe....just in case I ever run out. Some have even said they have used plain salt licks for animals.

just make sure there's no additives to that water softener salt - they add chem crap for iron and other impurities - it's the same for salt blocks >>> extra additives

some of the salt products don't get refined much - like ice melting rock salt - there's plenty of actual dirt embedded that's visible ...

 

[tmttactical]

Water softener salt is ridiculously cheap at Home Depot - 16 cents a pound. On Amazon you'll pay 60 cents a pound for the same brand - they are rolling their "free shipping" costs into the price.
Diamond Crystal Bright and Soft Water Softener Salt Pellets-100012420 - The Home Depot

I have started to notice price increases too. Wondered if they were trying to cover the "FREE SHIPPING" cost with the price increase.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

just make sure there's no additives to that water softener salt - they add chem crap for iron and other impurities - it's the same for salt blocks >>> extra additives

some of the salt products don't get refined much - like ice melting rock salt - there's plenty of actual dirt embedded that's visible ...

Thank you Warrior!


(edited to remove silly question)

 

[jontte]

would say the opposite Georgia,

 

[Brent S]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...er-salt-faqs&usg=AOvVaw1EjiJeoKAx_wv5_3Zgb_zllooks like some brands have potassium added but most are just pure salt. I would have no problem using it. The dirt and other impurities in ice melt products would stop me from trying them too.

 

[GeorgiaPeachie]

would say the opposite Georgia,

You are right Jontte. Wishing you great day!

 

[jontte]

same to you GergiaPeachie,same to you.

 

[TeenGunner]

Thanks for all the information. Never thought about water softener salt and have been stocking up on table salt for a while now. I very much appreciate all of the responses so fast.

 

[Illini Warrior]

simpler alternative to a full blown root cellar - and/or major modifying your basement - bury your veggies in sand

https://www.askaprepper.com/how-to-preserve-your-vegetables-using-sand/#comment-576696

 

[TeenGunner]

simpler alternative to a full blown root cellar - and/or major modifying your basement - bury your veggies in sand

https://www.askaprepper.com/how-to-preserve-your-vegetables-using-sand/#comment-576696

Wow, I've never heard that. After researching this exact topic on and off for the past 4 months I've never heard about this. I genuinely appreciate it.

 

[lonewolf]

I used to keep my excess vegetables in an old chest of drawers in a cool, dry, darkened room.

 

[Amish Heart]

I keep my potatoes and winter squash in the basement. I keep greens in water in an icechest. Lately though, I only cut greens when I need them from the greenhouse.

 

[Gracieboo]

simpler alternative to a full blown root cellar - and/or major modifying your basement - bury your veggies in sand

https://www.askaprepper.com/how-to-preserve-your-vegetables-using-sand/#comment-576696

Great idea