New to Prepper forum

edteach · Sep 21, 2016

I have been prepping with guns and ammo for a many years. Now I am starting to focus on food. I am looking at MREs. I also bought a seal a meal and made some of my own. I used Romen noodle packs, single pack oatmeal and grits, single serve coffee and tea bags. hard candy and foil packed tuna and chicken and foil packed instant mashed potatoes. I vacuum packed it and think it should last several years. I would also be interested in anyone who makes their own MREs or food storage. I have been doing rice and beans and they should last years. What do you do? Thanks for any help getting started. I also want to buy MREs and any guidance would be helpful.

Joe SA · Sep 21, 2016

Hello and welcome from South Africa.

Gazrok · Sep 21, 2016

The biggest challenge with stored food, is all of the expense, and just waste if it isn't used.
I'm more of an advocate of self-producing food, like a garden, having chickens that give eggs, etc.

In addition, you can bulk store things like rice, dry beans, dry pasta, cereals, etc. and still rotate and use them, so they aren't going to waste. Home-canning is another good idea, even if doing so with bought produce. Tends to last much longer than commercial canning (because they are trying to do it on the cheap).

jimLE · Sep 21, 2016

well,edteach.it sounds like that you've got a good start on things.i agree with storing foods in bulk,home canning to having your own garden..i haven't tried my hand at MRE'S yet.so i've been stocking up on certain store bought foods in cans.and some in the pouch.like knorr rice and pasta side's.right along with foods from places like,wise foods and food4patriots.and of course some home canning..

edteach · Sep 21, 2016

I have been looking at things like the soups that are dried at walmart in foil bags. They should last a long time. Also freeze dried foods. But when I can buy a pot of soup in freeze dried form at wally world I am not sure its worth buying and making my own. I have done rice and beans. If dry they will keep for decades. I read an article one time on a dry seed that germinated that was found in a burial site in Egypt thousands of years old.

jimLE · Sep 21, 2016

the thing about making your own soup,is you know whats going into it.and with no additives.and of course,you can dehydrate and/or home can your own soups.the dehydrated can be kept in a b.o.b or g.h.b...for less weight..

Maverick · Sep 22, 2016

Also keep in mind that many upon many store bought can goods will last longer than MREs, MREs is only a quick fix for up to 5/6 years if stored properly with many can goods storing 10 years or longer. I would only use MREs if bugging out. I prefer freeze dried products like Mountain House, Augason Farms, Wise Foods etc.. over MREs for long term storage. If you have the room a garden is the preferred choice followed by can goods then freeze dried.