Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Could You Really Survive the Apocalypse by Eating Freeze-Dried Food?
IO9 ^ | Mar 23, 2012 | Keith Veronese

Posted on 03/23/2012 4:00:55 PM PDT by DogByte6RER

Could you really survive the apocalypse by eating freeze-dried food?

Is it really a good idea to store freeze dried food for a long-term survival situation? It may be an attractive proposition for the survivalist in you, but you probably didn't bargain on what exactly the process of freeze drying involves — and its price.

HOW TO CARRY A TON OF FOOD ON YOUR BACK

The process of freeze drying plays with the properties of water within food. When freeze drying, a cooked portion of food is flash frozen under a vacuum. At low pressure, all but 2-5% of the water in the food sublimes, moving quickly from a solid to gas form. The evaporation of water in this process allows the food to maintain its shape and decrease the weight by up to 90% -a big plus for those who need to "bug out" in a hurry due to a disaster.

You can even freeze dry ice cream.

SHELF LIFE OF FREEZE DRIED FOOD

Freeze dried foods last a little bit longer than dehydrated ones. Most freeze dried foods that you buy are sealed under nitrogen in resilient packaging, allowing for anywhere from a two to twenty-five year shelf life. Freeze dried fruits are on the lower end of the shelf life spectrum, lasting a little over two years.

Once the seal on a package of freeze dried food is broken, the shelf life clock is ticking, with most palatable for six months. There's a rapid falloff in shelf life if it's stored in a humid area.

POST-APOCALYPTIC EATING IS EXPENSIVE

Freeze dried foods are rather expensive - $1 to $2 per serving of a side dish like macaroni and cheese and $3 for a serving of ground beef. These are bulk prices - individually packed entrees cost $6 to $8 a piece.

One is easily looking at $10 to $15 dollars a day per person to sustain a diet of freeze dried food. Remember, this is food you might end up eating for hundreds of meals if a breakdown of society never comes.

Dehydrating food yourself is a slightly cheaper alternative, but requires a large amount of work and is far more susceptible to contamination.

THE WATER PROBLEM

In addition to price, another problem rears its head with freeze-dried foods. Freeze dried food must be reconstituted in order to be eaten, necessitating a large (and clean) water supply in order to dine — and that's on top of the clean water you need for drinking.

Clean water will likely be in short supply in a post-apocalyptic survival scenario. Water can be boiled or stored in advance, while bleach and iodine are useful in killing pathogens like Giardia lamblia in fresh water. But that's a lot of work to decontaminate your water, and you might want to use that water for drinking rather than reconstituting up your freeze-dried ice cream.

Making matters worse is the fact that eating freeze dried food without reconstitution could hypothetically cause you to dehydrate.

THE VERDICT: THE POST-APOCALYPSE WILL NOT BE FREEZE-DRIED

Surviving a long-term disruption in the food supply with freeze dried food would take enormous planning, a considerable amount of money, and one variable - a good, steady water supply. So it's probably not a good long-term solution after civilization falls.

If, however, you are concerned about preparing yourself for a small disruption in the food supply due to a hurricane or other natural distaster, storing some freeze dried food in the house might be a good idea. 72-hour food kits are sold on Amazon and in some big box stores.

In the meantime, don't forget about the canned food lying in your pantry. Canned goods are hefty, but they are safe for several years and, in the case of vegetables like corn and green beans, also contain a water supply. It might not taste good, but in a pinch, asparagus water could keep you alive.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; Health/Medicine; Miscellaneous; Reference; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: apocalypse; cookbook; freezedriedfood; itstheendoftheworld; justaddwater; postapocalypse; prepperping; preppers; recipes; selfreliance; shtf; survival; survivalping
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last
To: Tijeras_Slim

Build ya an air well Slim......;o)

http://www.rexresearch.com/airwells/courneya.gif

Mine is like the pic I linked to. On humid days I can fill the cistern up, it’s 200 gallons. make other water traps like dew tarps etc and then make your rain gutters work for ya with some water barrels under em. A 12 x 12 tarp with 1/2 inch of rain will produce 30 gallons.

http://www.rexresearch.com/airwells/airwells.htm

link here is the main page of some good ideas for water on the homestead.

Stay safe !


41 posted on 03/23/2012 9:29:24 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Freddd
I once repaired a home made freeze dryer used for saving documents from flooding.
It was an office water bottle stuck inside a top freezer with the mouth
sticking out the side. The mouth was cut back allowing for a 8in opening and
a plain metal plate with a rubber seal around it stuck to it being held in place
by two latches.

Very simple to make. The vacuum pump is the expensive part though. Over all the
whole system would cost about $700 on the DYI cheap.

42 posted on 03/23/2012 9:55:28 PM PDT by MaxMax
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: MaxMax

Have you heard about a zeer for storing produce? It is still being used in Africa today. It is probly several thousand years old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKgOpJc7Ps&feature=related

I wonder if meat and chese could also be used.


43 posted on 03/24/2012 1:25:37 AM PDT by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: molson209

“,freeze dried is like eating sand from a dirty cat box “

You’re supposed to add hot water to them before eating.


44 posted on 03/24/2012 2:56:47 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: DogByte6RER
U.S. Economy Dead Man Walking, The Crash Of 2012
45 posted on 03/24/2012 2:57:35 AM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

I have muddy water about 2’ down here in florida. If I get ambitious I can go about 60’ and hit crystal clear aquifer water.


46 posted on 03/24/2012 2:59:46 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: APatientMan
“Water can be boiled or stored in advance, while bleach and iodine are useful in killing pathogens like Giardia lamblia in fresh water. But that’s a lot of work to decontaminate your water...”

Why is this a lot of work? Seems pretty easy and cheap too. Why don’t more people store water this way, instead of buying it? Honest question...

Hey, if it's the apocalypse, really, what else are you going to be doing, anyway?

47 posted on 03/24/2012 3:11:40 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

I have a deep well also. When we first moved into the house intense water usage would draw it down and we had to wait for it to recharge. I put in a buried 1400 gallon cistern which I fill from the well as a buffer. I then pump from the cistern to the house. In a SHTF situation I have a generator and sufficient gas to allow me to fill the cistern several more times. After that the roof will become our water source.


48 posted on 03/24/2012 5:12:25 AM PDT by Starstruck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Doomonyou; Kartographer
>> might as well hunt <<

You might want to re-think that. The only reason wild game is still plentiful is because it is regulated via seasons and bag limits. Once the food supply is cut, wild game will quickly disappear.

We are planning on raising rabbits for protein because of their fast reproductive rate and they don't need a whole lot of space.

Another thing we're planning is using rat traps to catch squirrels.

I dismissed the hunting option long ago.

Back on subject, we're storing both freeze-dried foods and bulk rice, flour, yeast, etc., and canned foods. The canned foods will be eaten first, then the freeze-dried, then the bulk stuff.

Remember, your stores are just to buy you time until you can get your garden growing and livestock old enough to harvest.

Folks with security skills might team with local farmers to provide security in exchange for meat.

AD

49 posted on 03/24/2012 6:51:08 AM PDT by appalachian_dweller (Live each day as if it's your last. It might be.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Freddd

If you can get some good tasting freeze dried food, and eat some of it now why not? Just think of how much food an average person wastes in their lives, so looking at it this way, incorporating freeze dried food can reduce food wastage now, thus saving money (of course this depends on the person’s rate of food wastage, and I know that some people never waste food) At the very least, the freeze dried food can act as an inflation hedge. Same thing with vodka, red wine etc.


50 posted on 03/24/2012 7:49:01 AM PDT by grumpygresh (Democrats delenda est; zero sera dans l'enfer bientot.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

Have you looked at treadle or pedal pumps? Some of them will work at deeper depths than most hand-powered ones.


51 posted on 03/24/2012 9:33:02 AM PDT by Ellendra ("It's astounding how often people mistake their own stupidity for a lack of fairness." --Thunt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man
As for water Big Berkey filters will last a long long time. Prefiltering out stuff before putting that water into a filter will make it last longer.

Test your Berkley filter using red food coloring first. They've been having a problem with the seals on the filters failing, sometimes even right out of the box.
52 posted on 03/24/2012 9:48:51 AM PDT by Ellendra ("It's astounding how often people mistake their own stupidity for a lack of fairness." --Thunt)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: molson209
...freeze dried is like eating sand from a dirty cat box...

Uh, I don't know how to break this to you, but... you're supposed to put water in it first.

53 posted on 03/24/2012 9:53:35 AM PDT by Talisker (He who commands, must obey.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: DogByte6RER

Regarding availability of potable water, search for SODIS, it is a fantastic method of treating water completely free, no chemicals just solar UV


54 posted on 03/24/2012 10:03:19 AM PDT by Riflema
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim

Our well is relatively shallow so lowering a small container down the pipe and pulling it up is no problem.

I can’t afford freeze dried so am sticking to canned goods. Besides, I won’t be hiking out to anywhere.

Fish and wildlife are plentiful. I want to study up on foraging edible plants. I’m trying to get the mustang grapes back on the property for jelly making (hubby keeps chopping them down). I used to make prickly pear jelly but sadly, much of the catus has been cleared out of surrounding pastures in recent years but I suspect there’s still some to be found. There are plenty of pecan trees and wild onion and garlic. We expanded the teeny vegetable garden this year and next year I’m hoping to put in an herb garden for teas and medicinal herbs.


55 posted on 03/24/2012 11:34:37 AM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man
it gives you time to start planting sustainable sources. Also finding sustainable sources (ie an apple tree nearby).

You can't eat all those apples before they're out of season so print out plans now on how to make a dehydrator using just sun and air.

Wow, there's a red squirrel in the yard. Hadn't ever seen that color here. Pretty thing. Yeah, they're first on the fresh meat list.

56 posted on 03/24/2012 11:46:09 AM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: appalachian_dweller

Tip - Store flour, grains, rice, beans, etc. on the upper shelves of both dry storage and the freezer. Store water, canned goods, and anything with a water content on the lower areas. If a container were to leak, it won’t ruin your flour, etc.


57 posted on 03/24/2012 11:59:04 AM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: NTHockey; Kartographer
“Have you heard about a zeer for storing produce?”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot-in-pot_refrigerator - this says meat can be stored in it but I would imagine ymmv and I'd keep a thermometer in it just to be sure. Still, I wouldn't chance it for more than overnight or a couple days and then well heated through before eating. Hard cheeses would probably be fine.

I haven't found anywhere it says if it's better to keep it in the ground or above. Or in the sun or in the shade on the cooler side of the house. One would think the obvious place would be buried up to the rim and in the shade but don't know if that would mess up the evaporation process. Still if it's hot outside then it's going to evaporate no matter what. You'd want to use potable water for safety sake. All in all, it's a most interesting concept and something to keep in our files.

58 posted on 03/24/2012 2:20:42 PM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: bgill

” You can’t eat all those apples before they’re out of season “

Apples can be stored for quite a while in a root cellar - they may get a bit soft and wrinkly, but still edible and sweet enough to be a ‘treat’ during off-season periods...


59 posted on 03/24/2012 2:30:21 PM PDT by Uncle Ike (Rope is cheap, and there are lots of trees...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Ike

True.


60 posted on 03/24/2012 2:37:53 PM PDT by bgill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-69 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson