Top 20 Food Storage Mistakes

Prudence Not Paranoia ^ | 12/13/12 | Kellene Bishop

[Kartographer]

1. The Food Storage Mentality
2. Food Rotation
3. Production
4. Inventory Evaluation
5. Experience!
6. Food Storage Conditions and Containers
7. Food Nutrition
8. Not Enough Water
9. Appetite Fatigue
10. Comfort Food
11. Paying Too Much for Food
12. Making Food from Scratch
13. Prepare to Share Your Food
14. Throwing Food Out Too Soon
15. Rely on Your Own Research
16. Failure to Remember the Tools
17. Fall Into the Pigeon Hole
18: Failure to PLAN to Conserve Physical Energy
19: Special Diet Considerations
20: Protect the Investment

[greeneyes]

Yes, it is kind of a powder - cross between powder and brown sugar when it comes to the way it looks. Of course it is not sweet, it’s salty, like bullion.

Orrington Farms is the brand we have here. Not quite as good as the brand she got from the wholesalers, but still I think it dissolves better and has a little richer taste than bullion.

[Marcella]

“Yes, it is kind of a powder.”

I’ll check Sams and see what they have and get some. Thanks,

[Pollster1]

I just made a batch of the hoe cakes for breakfast - easy and very nice! One suggestion for these recipes, which experts like you probably already follow in some way but still should be mentioned: Preppers should store paper versions of SHTF recipe ideas with the food or with the SHTF cooking utensils. Having your post bookmarked online is not going to help those with stored flour and corn meal if they have to replicate these ideas without electricity, without recipe.com, and without that set of cooking DVDs.

I have a dozen bean and rice recipes with my beans and rice, a dozen dutch oven fruit dessert recipes with my canned fruit, and a similar variety for every other class of stored food. I could feed my family for a year without electricity, without supplementing by hunting, gathering, or growing food, and without repeating a meal in any month. For us, the issue is water, and we do have access to water and the means to make it potable.

[bgill]

True. Having paper copies of How To projects is important. And go with the most basic ones with the least number of steps because people won’t have an entire general store in their basement.

[dervish]

“I don’t use water in soup as water has no taste. I use canned broth, chicken or beef or veggie according to the soup. If no cans of broth, use bouillon added to water.”

Diluted tomato juice is a great base for many soups

[Marcella]

“Diluted tomato juice is a great base for many soups.”

Yes, that’s good plus I use canned diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, etc. in it. Plus, I use Rotel tomatoes when it’s a soup that’s better with “heat” in it. Then, I have long term stored tomato powder.

[Marcella]

“Preppers should store paper versions of SHTF recipe ideas.”

I noticed late yesterday, that in one post where I posted recipes, it double posted. I don’t know how I managed to do that.

Whenever I put a recipe on my computer, I print it off and the recipes are in a stack. I don’t like complicated recipes and don’t do them.

Glad your hoe cakes came out well. Our American pioneers only had basic food stuffs and that’s why I searched to find their recipes and found they also used Indian recipes. Any recipes the Indians had or settlers had, would be the ones best suited for no power. If they could do it in their circumstances, surely we can do it, too.

[mom3boys]

Thank you so much!!
Recipes printed and saved in my prep binder!

[Marcella]

“Thank you so much!! Recipes printed and saved in my prep binder!”

You’re welcome. I spent time researching to find the best old time recipes since it was the old timers that had to have basic food that was easy to do.

[greeneyes]

As I was reserching today, I ran across this discussion of alternative methods of refrigeration. In addition to the ceramic pots that Marcella discussed on one of the other threads, it talks about 2 others.

Interestingly the solar cooker can be used at night to cool stuff. It can also under certain conditions make ice (not in the heat of summer, but cooler like spring and fall I think).

Any how, I thought it was interesting reading and thought I’d share.

http://www.provident-living-today.com/Alternative-Refrigeration.html

[CottonBall]

When you add more sugar to your supplies you can add some cans of sweetened condensed milk. As long as the can is in good condition it will last for years beyond the date. It actually turns into caramel as it ages. Good to eat just plain but can be added to other food or drinks. I get mine at Aldi’s so I can afford to get more for both using now and for storage.

Great idea. What is an Aldi's?

[CottonBall]

Salt and sugar can play a role in preserving foods, and barter, as well as making comfort foods. Besides, stock up a lot in case the libs decide to outlaw sugar and salt.lol

I have quite a bit of salt already, but could always use more. But only recently considered that I would need sugar, both to make some comfort foods and to get my yeast happy when using the wheat berries to make bread. Luckily, both last almost forever ;)

[CottonBall]

It would be nice to have something left to survive on if all else gets used up, or plans go awry. I say put them away and don’t bother rotating them because one, they are expensive when packed for permanence, and two, who wants to adopt a permanent lifestyle of using many years old wheat and beans by rotating them?

We meet again. Maybe this time it will be more pleasant.

That's exactly what I do with my Superpails of wheatberries. They will out last me, most likely. So they are there in the event that I can no longer afford to buy flour or wheatberries. Instead, I've learned how to grind them and make bread and whatever else I want out of them, so that when the time comes, it's not all foreign and confusing. In fact, I now have a new hobby that my friends enjoy because they are getting lots of whole wheat bread, biscuits, pasta, etc., as I practice new recipes.

[ansel12]

We have never met and I don’t know who you are, if that was a reference to some other thread on FR, please follow the rules and do not drag baggage around from one thread to another.

As far as wheat goes, it is definitely the thing to have in long term storage, and you are right about the daily uses for homemade bread and pancakes and such.

People should know that with an electric grinder, and a bread maker, making truly fresh bread is no more difficult than buying flour.

Grinding wheat is no different than grinding coffee beans for the morning coffee, and it serves the same purpose, a vastly improved flavor (not to mention nutrition).

[greeneyes]

The LDS website advises 60 lb of sugar and sweetners such as honey and molasses. They only advise 8 lb of salt.

I keep about 8 lb of table salt and a little sea salt on hand. However I keep at least 5 boxes of canning and a couple of boxes of rock salt on hand too.

I didn’t use as many this year as usual though, because I had very little produce to put away. The drought really cut down on my produce from the garden.

We usually make a big batch of ice cream a couple of times a year in the summer. Also when the kids want a treat I make a batch just using a couple of zip lock bags, some crushed ice, and a little rock salt. Ready in about 20 minutes or so. Dairy Queen consistency.

[CottonBall]

The LDS website advises 60 lb of sugar and sweetners such as honey and molasses. They only advise 8 lb of salt.

Is that per person? I think I'm low, since I only have one SuperPail, probably about 45 lbs, of sugar. And maybe 20 pounds of honey and molasses combined. But I did just buy about 10 bags of sugar and a 5 gallon bucket. And have some mylar bags left over, so I can put that away. I probably ought to do another if the 60 lbs is just for one person. 8 lbs of salt sounds low! I'm sure I have much more than that. And was thinking of getting some salt licks, to draw in the deer, if need be. It's cheap, but my problem is that it is heavy - and I'm hoping to move to a rural area before TSHTF. Moving all my supplies would be a lot of work. I hope you - and all the farmers - have a much better year next year.

[greeneyes]

Yes that is per person. I am thinking that the salt does not calculate using it like the old time methods of salting meats etc. It is just the regular everyday cooking recipes, but I wasn't absolutely sure.

Also, In building your nutritious diet, you have to consider the proteins and essential fatty acids. Wheat and Beans, for example make a complete protein, you can get by with a ratio that is more wheat than beans.

Likewise, you can get by with a small amount of meat and add the beans or legumes. So to some extent you can vary these based on your preferences. If you store more meat and beans, you might get by with a little less wheat.

I can understand that you do not want to have to move so much stuff, but that is a decision you will have to make depending on how long you realistically think it will be before the SHTF/incident you are preparing for takes.

I think we will have better luck next year, because we will be better prepared and better organized. I am planting shorter day varieties so that the spring planting can yield a harvest earlier before the worst of the summer drought arrives. Also will do the same for fall planting.

In addition we have increased our storage water potential by 4000 gallons, so that will help the gardens and our water supply for emergencies/long term preps.

[NYTexan]

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