Long-Term Survival Food Storage Guide For Preppers

If you are aiming to enhance your prepper skills, our guide can assist you in developing a dependable and secure food storage plan to ensure you remain well-nourished in any circumstance. Preppers understand the significance of having an emergency food storage plan in readiness for various potential calamities or personal apocalypses.

Learning the best survival foods for you to store can help save money on food storage, which is one of the most crucial and costly aspects of prepping.

Whether we are talking about prepping food or food we eat daily, a large portion of our monthly budget goes to eating and feeding our family. When people first become interested in preparedness, they sometimes get sticker shock when they figure out how much it will cost to build up their long-term food storage.

The truth is when done correctly, putting together your survival food storage stockpile doesn’t cost anything extra. If you focus on food with a longer expiration date, you will save some money in the long run.

Why Food Storage is Important for Preppers

Not having adequate food storage poses a threat to your family’s safety during a disaster or emergency, making it crucial for preppers to prioritize. By having an emergency food supply, preppers can guarantee long-term survival for their loved ones.

By having a well-thought-out plan, you can ensure that your pantry is consistently filled with durable items that will not deteriorate and provide necessities during challenging circumstances. In recent times, even individuals who do not identify as preppers are starting to grasp the significance of relying on themselves and being prepared.

Prepping Food Storage Best Practices

If you are new to prepping or already have a prepper food storage plan in place, it is important to know and follow certain basic recommendations. By following the steps mentioned below, you can save time and money while maximizing the advantages of your survival food storage.

When building your prepper food storage plan, prioritize the basics. Regularly inspect the expiration dates of all items you store and consistently rotate them. Additionally, incorporate a diverse range of food options to guarantee an adequate supply lasting minimum one month, but preferably an entire year and more. Here are some factors to consider when preparing your prepper food storage strategy.

Long Shelf Life Pantry & Survival Food

Although it is beneficial to have long-lasting survival food with a 25-year shelf life, it is not essential. As long as we consume the food that we store, pantry items with a best-by date of 1 to 3 years will suffice.

Pantry foods generally outperform prepackaged long-term prepping foods in terms of taste, cost, and nutritional content. Nonetheless, if you seek to rapidly build up your food storage or have limited storage space, prepackaged long-term food is an excellent supplement to a prepper’s storage strategy.

Food that Get’s Eaten Regularly

Storing food that your family will consume is one of the most effective ways to save money in your long-term food storage strategy.

Your pantry should not be stocked with canned food and other products that your family does not consume, although this is of lesser significance due to the 25-year shelf life of food.

This food holds less value for long-term survival due to its extended shelf life. Additionally, during survival circumstances, hunger amplifies the taste of everything.

High Calorie Foods

When individuals engage in shopping, they typically prioritize examining the serving size rather than considering the calorie count. However, when it pertains to stocking food for emergencies, it is essential to focus on calorie count rather than serving size.

A serving size lacks a set standard, allowing companies to alter it strategically to create the perception of receiving a greater value for your money.

The recommended amount of calories for your survival food storage is typically 2,000 calories per day per person, although this can differ due to several factors such as age, metabolism, physical activity, and size.

Protein Rich Survival Foods

In addition to calorie counting, it is crucial to consider the intake of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. In the event of a disaster, our concern will not be excessive consumption of these nutrients, but rather ensuring that we consume enough of them.

Nevertheless, during a brief disaster event such as a natural catastrophe or personal doomsday, the priority shifts from nutritional value to the number of calories.

Easy to Cook Meals

We need to remember that our daily routines will be altered in a survival situation, natural disaster, or grid down event. Our modern conveniences may no longer exist, and we should prepare accordingly.

It is crucial to stock up on food items that are easy to prepare and do not rely heavily on resources, as the stove and refrigerator might not be accessible and there could be a shortage of water.

A helpful tip is to determine your cooking alternatives during a disaster situation and base your food storage plan on that as much as you can.

Versatile Prepping Foods

By versatile prepping foods, we refer to foods that can be utilized in various ways to prepare different meals. Examples of such foods include canned vegetables, flour, beans, and rice, which can be incorporated into multiple recipes.

Having some diversity in our survival food storage and mixing things up is beneficial. Although any food is valuable in a disaster situation, a bit of variety will boost morale.

Normalcy Survival Foods (Comfort Food)

Occasionally, our focus on the essential sustenance in our food reserves can cause us to overlook the beloved food items and the “Essential Comforts”. These are the foods that may not be vital for our survival but play a crucial role in preserving our mental well-being.

Ensure that your family’s long-term food storage strategy encompasses commodities such as coffee, confectioneries, beverage blends, and any other items that bring enjoyment and can be preserved for an extended period.

Non Refrigerated Prepping Foods

Although not all disaster scenarios entail power outages, it is prudent to prepare for the worst outcome and remain optimistic. It is advisable to exclude perishable foods that require refrigeration from your emergency food storage plan.

Having electricity in a disaster situation would be advantageous as refrigerated foods could be preserved. However, in the event of a grid failure, perishable items such as milk, meat, and cheese will quickly spoil.

In short-term disasters like power outages, it is possible to maintain a cool refrigerator by utilizing solutions such as connecting a power inverter to your car or using generators. However, these options may not be practical or viable during prolonged or extended disasters.

Long-Term Food Storage Considerations

When preparing for a prolonged survival scenario, it is crucial to remember that food reserves will need to be periodically restocked. To ensure an adequate food supply, it is advisable to construct a menu and shopping list in advance of making purchases. Additionally, it is important to consider the nutritional content of your meals, including the essential vitamins, minerals, and calories necessary to maintain good health when relying on stored provisions.

Make sure to also consider the ways of cooking – acquire skills in open fire cooking or other alternative methods as there might be occasions where access to electricity is restricted or not possible. Being aware of these techniques in advance will alleviate future time and pressure concerns.

In addition to ensuring the inclusion of suitable food items and cooking methods in your long-term preparedness food storage plan, there are a few other considerations to bear in mind.

Food Storage Space

The main consideration for determining how much preparedness food to store typically revolves around the available storage space, although there are a few factors that come into play.

For some individuals, it may not be feasible to store a year’s worth (or even more) of survival food like most preppers do, in case a major disaster occurs.

Having any kind of food storage is beneficial, even if it is only enough to last a month. This amount should be sufficient for handling a majority of situations.

Your Prepping Budget

Another significant aspect is determining the amount of money you can allocate for your food preparations without exceeding your budget. Being ready for potential catastrophes entails purchasing necessary resources and acquiring new skills related to preparedness.

When it comes to being prepared, allocating a significant portion of your preparedness budget towards food storage is inevitable. However, this does not imply that you should spend more on food than your regular expenses, but rather that you might need to invest more initially.

If your budget is a major consideration for your food storage preparations, I recommend starting with limited supplies and gradually increasing them. Eventually, you will accumulate a substantial amount in your emergency food storage.

Include Cooking Accessories

It might sound quite evident, but it is essential to have a manual can opener if you plan on storing canned foods. Despite the convenience offered by modern electronic devices, they will become ineffective during a grid-down situation.

Do you have the necessary utensils to cook using a propane grill or an open fire, in case you are unable to use your kitchen stove? Cooking accessories also encompass the equipment you use for cooking.

The All American Sun Oven, propane grill, and fireplace are our primary choices for off-grid cooking. In order to use the sun oven, we have pots and pans that do not have plastic handles, and for cooking over an open fire, we utilize a cast iron dutch oven.

Your Family Size

It may seem obvious, but I feel compelled to mention it regardless, as it is often disregarded when estimating the duration of one’s long-term food storage.

If you have a bigger family, the chances of waste and excessive consumption increase, particularly when there are teenagers. Additionally, the presence of unexpected visitors will decrease the duration for which your food supplies will last.

In our plan for storing survival food, we incorporate a buffer of 25% (an additional person). This precautionary measure serves to counterbalance any potential spoilage, waste, or excessive consumption.

Ideal Conditions for Your Prepper Food Storage

Taking care of four common conditions is crucial in order to prevent your food from spoiling, as this will ensure that your money and efforts don’t go to waste, especially if you encounter a crisis.

Discover how conditions such as humidity, oxygen, light, and temperature can lead to food spoilage and why they are not ideal for storing prepper food. In addition, take precautions to prevent insects from infiltrating your storage area.

Humidity

Furthermore, it not only facilitates the decay of such food items but also expedites the proliferation of microorganisms and the development of rust on cans. Additionally, it is advisable to select foods with a moisture content of less than 10% either naturally or in their dehydrated form.

Oxygen

Furthermore, the presence of oxygen can lead to the emergence of molds and fungal growth on food supplies. Fortunately, certain industries have devised a remedy for this issue. Mylar bags are manufactured using an oxygen-absorbing material, while plastic zip-lock bags provide a reliable seal to protect our food.

Light

The use of various colors in glass containers is intended to block the entry of light. This is done to ensure that light cannot pass through the packaging or jars. In order to prevent any spoilage in your prepper food storage, it is crucial to effectively prevent this situation.

Temperature

Temperature is typically the primary factor leading to food spoilage. Our food is susceptible to damage under extreme temperature conditions, typically referring to excessive heat. In order to preserve your prepper food storage, it is crucial to carefully monitor temperature levels.

In general, the degradation of food and the reduction in nutrient value occur due to heat over time. It is advisable to store your emergency food supply in a consistently stable temperature. It is important to select a location that is either insulated or has temperature control.

6 Foods To Keep In Your Prepper Food Storage

Although not a comprehensive list, these foods serve as a convenient starting point. They have the longest shelf life, the lowest cost per calorie, and occupy the least space per calorie.

Beans

Because of their reduced water content, dried beans are an ideal choice for prepper food storage as they can remain usable for several years. These beans can be soaked and cooked using alternatives such as a dutch oven substitute.

As previously stated, keeping moisture away from your food is beneficial as it reduces its weight. Nevertheless, we recommend storing it in packaging that safeguards against spoilage. This is the ideal choice of staple food for preppers.

Oats

Oats are renowned globally and extensively utilized. They are an exceptionally nutritious dietary choice. Additionally, oats find application in various other products.

Similar to beans, oats can be stored in your prepper food storage for numerous years. Oats are favored by the majority of individuals due to their affordability and ability to be consumed at any time.

Just like beans, oats can be incorporated into meals in various ways. Oats possess antioxidant properties that aid in the prevention of several illnesses. The consumption of rolled oats has been found to lower the chances of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Rice

In certain Asian countries, rice is an essential component of a meal, being rich in carbohydrates which provide ample energy to effectively accomplish daily tasks.

Pasta

Pasta products, just like rice, are abundant in carbohydrates. For preppers, including starchy foods in your pantry is highly recommended. While they may not have the same extended shelf life as beans, rice, and oats, they still remain intact for a considerable duration without spoiling.

Dehydrated Fruits

Including fruits and vegetables in our diet is essential for maintaining good health due to their rich content of micronutrients. An alternative to consuming fresh fruits is to slice and dehydrate them using a dehydrator, or they can also be conveniently purchased in bulk already dried.

Even if you have stocked up on multivitamins, it is necessary to have common dried fruits like raisins, apricots, apples, and dates in your preppers food supply. This is because these fruits can significantly prolong their shelf life.

Furthermore, the drying technique can be applied to any fruit or vegetable of your preference. By doing so, you can store dried fruits in your preppers’ food storage for a period exceeding five years.

Legumes

If you are considering storing legumes, it is important to note that they are regarded as highly beneficial for preppers’ food storage. Generally, individuals tend to buy whole lentils instead of the split variety.

The reason for this is that whole lentils have a longer shelf life compared to the split ones. Additionally, they are rich in fiber and can be prepared in various cooking methods.

It should be noted that we did not mention canned foods and dehydrated meats, along with abundant water supply. Additionally, there are food supply buckets available that provide long-lasting and nutritionally balanced meals.

Storage Options for Food Storage for Preppers

#10 cans are an excellent choice for food prepper storage containers because of their size and stackability. They effectively serve as a protective barrier against light, air, and moisture. In case you have pre-ordered food stored in mylar bags or foil pouches, it is advisable to keep them untouched until you are prepared to consume them.

PETE plastic bottles, such as those made of polyethylene terephthalate, are ideal for storing loose grains like corn, beans, and wheat due to their ability to effectively prevent the entry of oxygen and moisture. To determine if your 2-liter bottle or juice container is suitable for this purpose, check for the presence of the “PETE” or “PET” mark located beneath the recycling symbol on the bottom.

Your average canned foods work well too and can be arranged and stacked to optimize space. Although stacking them on their sides, as shown above, may require a little more space, it is worth it as you can make selections without having to unpack the entire pantry.

Grains and legumes can also be stored in spacious 5-gallon buckets with secure lids. Glass jars could be used as well, as long as they are not fully transparent to prevent light exposure. However, the downside is the potential risk of breakage.

Prepper Food Storage Motivation

The discussed foods are easily accessible and affordable. They can be obtained from nearby supermarkets or grocery stores. Additionally, these provisions are sufficient to maintain the health and survival of you and your family. Implementing prepper food storage is the ultimate approach for surviving a crisis.

After water, food is the next vital component that sustains our lives. Without consuming the necessary nutrients, we would not be able to survive beyond a few days. Additionally, it is fair to say that we cannot fathom a day without food.

During times such as pandemics or disasters, it is common for us to feel the necessity of stockpiling food for ourselves and our families. Additionally, there exist fundamental concepts that can be employed to conserve and keep food.

Our bodies need food as fuel to carry out daily activities, and if we do not receive the necessary amount of energy, we cannot function properly.

A person who stockpiles necessary items essential for our survival during a critical life or death scenario is referred to as a prepper. Certain individuals are consistently ready for the most unfavorable circumstances, ensuring their refrigerator and pantry are consistently stocked with food and water.

Taking all the necessary precautions is crucial for a prepper to ensure the lasting of their food for a couple of months. Occasionally, even experienced preppers may make errors in food storage. Nevertheless, for newcomers, food storage can prove to be a daunting task, often seeming like a challenging endeavor initially.

The significance of prepper food storage has been acknowledged by people for centuries. In the past, individuals would set aside a designated area within their homes for storing food, commonly referred to as pantries or larders.

Prepper food storage can be practiced by anyone, as some individuals still utilize their basements for this purpose. This is due to the fact that even in the present time, certain people continue to make use of their basements.

We are fortunate to have numerous convenient options available today, particularly when it comes to prepper food storage. Nowadays, there is a wide range of products designed to have a prolonged shelf-life, lasting several months or even years.

In addition, these products assert that they provide all the necessary nutritional value for us. However, canned foods have a few specific prerequisites.

When it comes to prepper food storage, the requirements for ideal conditions vary depending on the type of product.

Prepper Food Storage is Easy!

While it is convenient to store these foods in your prepper food storage, it is advisable to utilize suitable containers and bags that prevent spoilage. It is important to keep in mind that the tips mentioned earlier are suggestions to bear in mind.

Your prepper food storage has multiple applications. It can simply function as a storage area for the surplus food you purchased at a reduced rate. Our suggestion is to store the types of food that you enjoy consuming.

Have a Well-Rounded Survival Food Storage Plan

A comprehensive food storage plan is crucial for the long-term survival of any prepper. This entails having a diverse range of items that fulfill all essential nutritional needs, such as protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

During stressful periods, it is important to include comfort food items that can boost morale. Non-perishable items, such as canned meats, canned vegetables, grains and flour, sugar and honey, coffee, tea, hearty soups, and stews, are ideal as they do not spoil over time and can be stored indefinitely.

By following all the aforementioned steps, you will develop a comprehensive long-term food storage plan that includes food your family will enjoy consuming.