Posted on 10/01/2012 12:20:57 PM PDT by djf
As food prices continue to skyrocket, having a bulk supply of food is a great investment. But it also provides security and peace of mind against potential emergencies.
By now most people should be aware that grocery stores only have about 3 days of food in stock when crises strike. So if anything was to disrupt the food supply chain for an extended period of time, there would be untold chaos in most communities.
Any number of events could trigger mass disruption to a fragile food system, many of which are well documented and even predicted. Even NASA has warned its staff to prepare for potential disasters with survival foods and other precautions with their "Family Preparedness Program."
Prepping for disasters can seem overwhelming with so many aspects to be considered. However, for those just beginning to recognize how perilous these times are and are new to prepping, you can find many great survival foods at your local grocery store.
There are many fancy freeze-dried food companies offering light-weight storable meals. These are cost effective and great for new preppers. But if you don't have $1000 laying around to by a large supply, it may be better to pick up a few key items each week at the supermarket to build up your food bank gradually. And by buying base foods at the store, you'll ultimately save money.
It's best to keep your survival food list simple, and concentrate on storing foods with the highest amount of calories and the longest shelf life. This list is geared toward foods that will help you survive a crisis that lasts for extended periods of time.
Here are the ten best and cheapest survival rations available at any store:
Rice: Every time you go to the store you should buy one 10-lb bag of rice. You can find them for around $5 at most supermarkets. Rice will stay in good condition for 10 years or more if stored properly. It offers high carbohydrates which is especially important if you are exerting a lot of physical energy during a crisis.
Beans: Beans are known to be one of the best all-round survival foods. They're high in protein, and if sealed in food-grade buckets with a small amount of dried ice, they'll stay for up to ten years. Make sure to store them in a cool, dry, dark location. Buy a 4-5 lb bags of dried beans every time you go to the store. All dry beans are good to store; black beans, red beans, pinto beans, lentils, etc.
Cornmeal: All-purpose flours are good to store, but cornmeal may be the best overall. Cornmeal is packed with dense carbohydrates and contains oils that helps extend its shelf life. Additionally, if the power grid is down during a mega disaster, it is much easier to make good corn breads and tortillas with cornmeal in a simple skillet or solar oven, where refined flour will need yeast and oil to make decent bread or biscuits. Get a 5-lb bag of cornmeal ($10-$15) at each grocery visit. Seal and store the same way as beans (buckets, salt and dry ice), and it will safely keep 8 months to 2 years.
Lard: If you're a health-conscious reader, hydrogenated lard does not sound very appetizing, but in a survival situation you can't afford to be picky. Animal lard or vegetable shortening both offer much-needed calories during times of crisis, cooking oil for multiple uses, and it will keep longer than cooking oils because of the hydrogenation. Buy a 6-lb can ($12) and store in a cool, dry, and dark place and it will stay good for 2-3 years or longer.
Salt: Salt is one of the most useful survival food items. It's used for storing food, curing beef, and flavoring most meals. Salt will stay forever, so always buy extra when you're shopping.
Canned Fruit & Vegetables: These are another obvious survival food, but not as practical as many would think. They're heavy and somewhat costly for the calories they deliver. Additionally, acidic fruits and any cans with tomatoes will not keep as long as most people think. But most canned food is good for 5+ years. Buy green vegetables and fruits like peaches and pears for long-term storage, but more importantly, buy what you already eat in case you need to rotate them into your diet before they go bad.
Canned Meat: Canned meats like ham, tuna, and chicken are excellent to store. They typically will keep for 6-10 years and they're an excellent source of protein. However, if the grid is down for a long time (apocalyptic), hunting and fishing will likely provide most meats. Therefore, it may be sufficient to buy extra canned meats every other time you go shopping.
Sugar: Brown and white sugar will add much-needed flavor and calories to a survival diet and they'll keep for ten years or more if stored properly. Honey is also excellent as it will store forever. Make sure to buy extra every other time you go grocery shopping. You won't need too much, but they'll be well worth having if a crisis strikes.
Pasta: Pasta is a good light-weight storable food that is also a great source of carbohydrates. Pasta will not keep as long as rice, but it can stay for around 5 years in good conditions. Pasta is also very inexpensive and extra should be bought at each trip to the store. It will take up more space in your food bank that rice, beans and cornmeal, so plan your space the best you can.
Peanut Butter: Peanut butter is a terrific source of protein, fat, and calories. Plus, it's just a great treat to have on hand. Peanut butter can last up to five years in root cellar conditions. Stock up whenever there are good deals at your grocery store. You'll be happy you did if the SHTF.
If you consistently buy these items 3-4 times per month, you'll quickly acquire a year's supply of survival rations for your whole family.
How to store it?
A really basic way to store the rice, beans, cornmeal, sugar and pastas is to buy several 5-gallon seal-able paint buckets or food-grade buckets from your local hardware store. Put a cup or so of salt into a sandwich baggie (opened) at the bottom of the buckets. Then fill it with food stuffs and add a couple of ounces of dried ice (found at large grocery stores) which will remove the oxygen from the bucket after it's sealed. Finally, label each bucket with its contents and the date, and place it in your cellar.
Please let us know what other food items you think will be useful for new preppers....
Dadgum! You’re serious aren’t you?! - Oh, those crackers in those boxes will pick up moisture pretty quick; they need to be vacuum sealed with some moisture packs. - Oh, and some cans of survival garden seeds; you may have ‘em, I just couldn’t see ‘em. oh, and canned salmon is good. alaska wild.
Dadgum! You’re serious aren’t you?! - Oh, those crackers in those boxes will pick up moisture pretty quick; they need to be vacuum sealed with some moisture packs. - Oh, and some cans of survival garden seeds; you may have ‘em, I just couldn’t see ‘em. oh, and canned salmon is good. alaska wild.
How ‘bout Twinkies? 127 year shelf life...
I would add two:
Coconut oil — lasts for a very long time, in all kinds of conditions. It is very healthy, and packs a lot of calories.
Small canned fish (with bones and skin) — nutrient dense, palatable, and inexpensive. Inexpensive, and being smaller fish, less contaminated with toxins than tuna.
Those two, coupled with multivitamins, and the obvious (salt, the more nutrient dense canned vegetables, etc.), are all that you need.
About 30 years ago my hubby and I used to do a lot of camping. We had an old large skillet with a lid and a steam vent in the lid. I measured Bisquick into ziplocs with the right amount of powdered milk. Easy to mix up with water and I did drop biscuits in the skillet with the steam vent open. On low heat they “baked” really nice, one flip needed.
I have about 50 cans of sardines (Chicken of the Sea, in oil, lightly smoked).
Plus probably still have some Y2K tuna...
I’ve got 3 Survival Seed Bank Kits/Cannisters:
http://www.survivalseedbank.com/
The crackers all have silica gel packs surrounding them, and the basement’s heavily-dehumidified, but dry-sealing them, as you suggested, would be a very good idea. I also rotate-out the crackers and saltines every 6mos. (I make and eat a lot chili, soups and PB. I’ll look around for some canned wild Alaska salmon; love it. Maybe Yoder’s has it. I also have some other sources for canned meats.
About 30 years ago my hubby and I used to do a lot of camping. We had an old large skillet with a lid and a steam vent in the lid. I measured Bisquick into ziplocs with the right amount of powdered milk. Easy to mix up with water and I did drop biscuits in the skillet with the steam vent open. On low heat they “baked” really nice, one flip needed.
We love our smoked ham hocks and 15 bean soup. Our local butcher vacuum seals his smoked ham hocks. I keep at least 3 in the freezer at all times. I figure if the power goes they will last the longest.
We love our smoked ham hocks and 15 bean soup. Our local butcher vacuum seals his smoked ham hocks. I keep at least 3 in the freezer at all times. I figure if the power goes they will last the longest.
Thanks for the link to the bucket lids. I already need those yearly (far from cities and sometimes months of deep winter ice pack).
Don’t all of those beans require lots of your most precious resource, water, to be edible? What happens if clean water becomes a commodity? Do you feel that they are worth the tradeoff?
“However, if the grid is down for a long time (apocalyptic), hunting and fishing will likely provide most meats.”
For the very few in the backcountry, yes. But for the others, don’t bet on it. Visualize being a rabbit or deer within 20 miles of Denver, St. Louis, or Philly. It’d be roughly akin to being a Marine on the Tarawa beachhead.
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Only so much water can be stored in an average home.
Drawing a blank on this “dried ice” thing. Never heard of it. Dry ice (frozen CO2) of course, but this sounds like some sort of desiccant.
Looks like you are prepared! I would take care of all that exposed fiberglass in the ceiling though. That is a health hazard while you are down there breathing that in!
Haha!
This guy's obviously never seen me fish or hunt.
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