There are numerous reasons why individuals may decide to build a food storage, besides being influenced by shows like Doomsday Preppers or The Walking Dead. Before discussing those reasons, let’s first understand what food storage entails.
What is Food Storage?
The concept of Food Storage involves preserving food for various contingency situations. Although it is essential to have a basic emergency plan in place for evacuations, it typically does not involve stocking up on food for an extended period. The principles of food storage that we emphasize at Food Storage Made Easy are as follows:
When considering water storage, make sure to store enough drinking water for situations where the water supply might face pollution or disruption. It is recommended to have a minimum of a 14 day supply of drinking water along with a reliable filter to treat any additional water once the initial supply is depleted.
To ensure a three-month food supply, start by gradually accumulating a small stock of food that you typically consume on a daily basis. Continuously add to this supply until it is adequate for a period of three months. Remember to regularly rotate these items to prevent them from spoiling. It is important to note that food stored in a freezer is considered as part of your three-month food supply.
When considering long-term food storage, it is important to gradually accumulate a stock of food that can sustain you for an extended period. It is recommended to focus on items like wheat, white rice, and beans, which have a shelf life of 30 years or more when correctly packaged and kept in a cool, dry location. Some of these items can also be included in your three-month supply and regularly rotated.
Why Food Storage?
For those who are unfamiliar with the topic, food storage may seem unfamiliar.
1. NATURAL DISASTERS
People are usually prompted to begin storing food and preparing for emergencies due to natural disasters. This was the case for us as well. As we became adults and started a family, we began to acknowledge our responsibility for our loved ones. If any crisis were to occur, we realized that we lacked the knowledge and readiness to handle it.
We would consider whether we have the necessary supplies on hand if an earthquake occurred and we were without power or water for an extended period of time. The list of potential disasters is extensive and we have identified only a few examples.
The following are examples of natural hazards: floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms and lightning, winter storms, extreme cold, extreme heat, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides and debris flow (mudslide), tsunamis, fires, and wildfires. Technological hazards include hazardous materials incidents and household chemical emergencies, as well as nuclear power plant accidents. Terrorism can involve explosions, biological threats, chemical threats, nuclear blasts, radiological dispersion devices (RDDs), and the Homeland Security Advisory System.
If these reasons seem scary to you, remain calm and trust the process. We strongly believe in the phrase “preparation breeds confidence,” as we felt better with each step we took in our journey, and you can experience that as well.
2. ECONOMIC CRISIS
Although Natural Disasters typically serve as the initial motivation for individuals to commence building a food storage, it is the concept of an economic crisis that sustains this practice. The possibility of financial constraints is significantly greater compared to the likelihood of experiencing a power or water outage disaster. Financial restrictions may arise from a national, local, or personal emergency, and it is impossible to predict what could transpire. Consequently, possessing stored food and a predetermined strategy are invaluable assets to rely upon during times when one may need to survive solely on their stored provisions.
Food storage can potentially save you money in the long run for economic reasons. There are several ways in which food storage can benefit your finances, such as cooking meals from scratch, shopping during sales, and reducing waste by purchasing limited fresh produce.
3. HEALTH BENEFITS
There are numerous health benefits to living a “food storage diet,” which is a much healthier choice compared to the fast and convenient food diets that many individuals follow nowadays. Although certain food items typically stored may not be the healthiest, such as white sugar, there are always alternative options available, like honey, that can be suitable for you. The following list highlights just a few among the abundance of health benefits associated with food storage.
Storing grains such as wheat is a highly effective method of incorporating whole grains into your diet. By utilizing a wheat grinder, you can produce whole wheat flour that can be utilized in various recipes like pizza, pancakes, and bread. It is important to note that when wheat is transformed into refined white flour, several essential nutrients are lost. These include 50% of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids, nearly all vitamin E, 50% of calcium, 70% of phosphorus, 80% of iron, 80% of magnesium, and 50-80% of B vitamins. These significant nutrient losses may convince you to always grind your own flour.
Legumes are a highly versatile food option that can be stored. By sprouting legumes, you can further increase their nutritional value and have access to healthy vegetable choices. Beans offer various health benefits, such as being a low-calorie ingredient for making creams and soups, serving as an excellent source of protein, and forming a complete protein when combined with grains. Additionally, consuming 1 cup of beans provides the same amount of fiber as three doses of Metamucil. Moreover, the majority of beans contain only 2-3% fat and can aid in lowering cholesterol levels.
One advantage of having these long term food storage items is that you can easily control the portions. Unlike when purchasing baked goods or processed foods, you cannot regulate the amount of sugar, preservatives, or salt present. However, making foods from scratch allows you to regulate quantities according to your preference.
If you or a member of your family have food allergies or dietary restrictions, it is crucial for you to consider food storage. You can have full control over the ingredients used in your cooking, which can save you a significant amount of money compared to purchasing specialized food items from the store.
4. EVERYDAY EMERGENCY
Once you have accumulated food storage, it becomes apparent that it serves as a pleasant advantage for preparing for everyday emergencies. Here are a few instances where food storage has proven to be extremely helpful.
- Running out of ingredients in a recipe
- Needing a quick dinner when you’re short on time
- Last minute “food assignment” for a party or event
- Don’t have time to shop
- Convenience, saves time on chopping and thawing
- Food safety, no salmonella risk in powdered eggs
5. RELIGIOUS REGIONS
If you begin to research “Food Storage,” you will probably find that it is a widespread practice among individuals of various religions. Even in ancient times, people were advised to be ready, as seen in the story of Joseph of Egypt, who successfully endured a 7-year famine through preparedness. Leaders from different faiths have consistently encouraged their followers to be prepared for unpredictable situations.
Some religions not only advise their followers to be prepared but also promote self-reliance. By being self-reliant, you develop strong character and are better able to be generous and assist others. It is reassuring to know that you do not have to depend on external sources to provide for your family’s basic needs.
10 Steps to a Well Stocked Pantry
Before going out and making purchases, we recommend ten steps to consider if you’re motivated to stock up your pantry and establish long-term food storage.
- Don’t try to stock up all at once. You’ll waste a lot of food, you’ll waste a lot of money and you’ll end up discouraged.
- Start with a small goal and build up. Don’t try to stock up a whole year’s worth of food, instead, start with two weeks, then 1 month, 6 months, etc.
- Start with items that have a long year shelf life (or more), are inexpensive, and are easy to store such as beans and rice. NOT something you’ll need to bring home and can or preserve yourself.
- Get TWO full days of meals on the shelf (non-perishable) that you can just pop open the can and eat it. Make sure these meals don’t need to be cooked or heated (canned stew, crackers & peanut butter, etc.)
- Next, build up to having TWO WEEKS of regular meals up on your shelf. It’s like zeroing your bank account when it has $500 in it. You’re now zeroing out your food supply when you’re down to two weeks left.
- Before you buy any item, be sure you have a place to store it. When you buy in bulk, you’re taking the responsibility of dividing it up into individual serving sizes, which reduces the cost to you.
- Start eating your produce when it’s in season. Produce in season is ALWAYS cheaper than produce that’s out of season needing to be delivered from other regions.
- Make relationships with your local growers. Even if the economy goes haywire, your local grower is still going to need to sell their product.
- Once your pantry is full, then you can start figuring out how to bulk buy fresh foods and learning to preserve them yourself instead of buying it from the grocery store.
- Finally, start growing and preserving all your own food.
Why Should You Stock Up on Food at Home?
Buying in Bulk and Stocking Up Saves You Money
Purchasing in large quantities enables you to reduce expenses as the cost per unit decreases. By refraining from frequent trips to the supermarket, you also save money. Additionally, you are preventing unplanned purchases during your visits to the grocery store.
When we discuss the concept of stockpiling food, we specifically refer to food that you are certain your family will consume. It is unnecessary to invest in emergency preparedness food kits or freeze-dried foods/survival food such as MREs, in which water is simply added.
Although those foods may be good, you will end up spending a lot of money on something you might not want to consume in case an emergency never occurs. It is wiser to store food with a lengthy shelf life that you will eat all year long and regularly replenish your stock.
Having a Well-Stocked Pantry Means You’re Saving Time on Weekly Tasks
Reducing the number of trips made to and from the grocery store results in additional time. Additionally, you will save time as you won’t have to load and unload your children into and out of the car. Moreover, there will be less time spent on creating the weekly grocery list.
Although some may argue that you are spending a greater amount of time on preparation for storage, this does not necessarily have to be true. When you reach a point where you are prepared to preserve your own food through methods such as canning, fermenting, or dehydrating, the additional time will be embraced.
Being Prepared in Case of an Emergency or Natural Disaster
Emergency situations such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and others cannot always be anticipated, thus it is prudent to be ready for unforeseen events.
In times of emergency, the food available in grocery stores will be quickly grabbed, so it is crucial to be prepared in advance to avoid missing out or going hungry.
Even during minor emergencies such as illness, job loss, or financial strain, having food rations readily available can be incredibly beneficial, especially if regular trips to the grocery store are not easily accessible. Whether it be dried meals, canned goods, or frozen food, having these supplies on hand can provide significant assistance during times of heightened stress.
Less Waste From Packaging
For smaller quantities of food, each element of the packaging incurs costs such as energy, labor, and more, thereby increasing the price per unit of the product.
There is a reduction in wasted food. We have all experienced situations where we only require 2 cups of rice, but our package contains 2.5 cups. As a result, we cook the entire bag, store the remaining rice in the refrigerator for later consumption, and often find ourselves discarding it a few days later. When purchasing in larger quantities, there is no pressure to consume the remaining portion of the package simply because it is available.
5 Rules for Stocking Up Your Long-Term Food Storage.
- Stock up on what you WILL and DO actually eat.
- If you don’t eat canned asparagus, don’t stock up on it! It will inevitably sit on your pantry shelf for years to come, never getting consumed.
- Stock up on items you and your family will be excited about eating, this is super important! Think about the foods you enjoy on a regular basis and start there.
- Stock up on items that make a quick meal from your pantry.
- Things like pasta sauce, dry pasta and canned veggies. These items can quickly be cooked and tossed together to make a complete meal.
- This will save you money on days you don’t feel like cooking because you won’t run to the grocery store for a quick convenience meal, and you won’t order out from a restaurant. This will free up more money for the following month to keep building your food supply.
- Prepare your storage space and/or storage method before you stock up.
- Know how you’re going to store everything you buy so you have a place to properly store it all. There’s nothing worse than buying 100 pounds of potatoes, only to come home and realize you don’t know where you’re going to store them all.
- Don’t feel like it has to be the ideal storage space, you can still find places to make long-term storage work, but have a plan.
- Change to a producer mindset: Start learning to buy in bulk, and grow and raise your own food.
- Again, think first about the ingredients you use all the time and start there.
- For example, don’t buy bread in bulk, instead, bring in wheat and make your own bread. You’ll end up with a better and fresher product and it will save you a lot of money.
- Buying in bulk really helps prepare you to be a homesteader because so much of your food on the homestead comes in in bulk. You butcher an entire cow and need to preserve it quickly. You harvest all your onions and need to put them up. The plum trees are ripe and you need to preserve them before they go bad, etc.
- Know how long what you’re buying is going to last and plan accordingly.
- For example, dry beans can sit on your shelf, if stored properly, for a very long time and maintain their high quality, so buying more than you’ll consume in a year isn’t an issue. However, olive oil has a short term shelf-life. It just isn’t as shelf-stable and you’ll want to buy only the amount to get you through until you need to replenish your stock.
