Basic food storage

(Survival Manual/ Prepper articles/ Basic food storage)

A.  Bulk Food Storage: Build your Foundation On the Basics
2011, Provident-Living-Today.com, by
Pasted from: http://www.provident-living-today.com/Bulk-Food-Storage.html

 See how to build your One year supply of food . . . for $225
Every storage plan should include bulk food storage items. These basics are needed in everyone’s home storage. Long-term food storage is cheap, and healthy.

These provisions are your survival foods. At the bottom of this page, I’ll show you a simple six-step plan to enhance your bulk food storage. You’ll want to add in the extras; it will make all the difference in your emergency food supply.

Is the economic depression affecting your family? You can implement the ten money saving ideas and save lots when buying food. The price for whole grains compared to other food is very low. Your food budget will stretch a lot farther if you will buy and use these bulk foods. You can even feed your family on A Dollar A Day per person.

One Year Supply For 1 Adult- Mormon Food Storage
This list is a guideline for storing the bare minimum. The picture below shows you how much food you’ll get to eat everyday if you follow this guideline. And this is all you’ll get to eat. That is why I call it survival rations. You will stay alive, but eating probably won’t still be your favorite pastime. You get 1 cup Wheat, 1 cup Oatmeal, 1/2 cup Rice, 1/3 cup beans, 2 Tbs Oil, 1 glass Milk (2 T powdered milk), 1/3 cup honey, and 2 tsp salt per day. Your daily menu might look something like this:

Breakfast:  Hot oatmeal with honey & milk
Lunch: Tortillas and Sprouted Wheat
Dinner: Rice and Beans

With that said, whole grains are still the foundation of your food storage. You can use them in almost everything you cook. These are the dollar stretcher foods.I can feed my family of 12, breakfast every day for a month on one 50-pound bag of oatmeal (costs about $20). Add peaches, milk, and honey for taste, and you have a nutritious breakfast that children love.

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A one year supply for 1 adult should include:
400 lbs of Grain,
60 lbs of Legumes,
16 lbs of Powdered Milk,
10 Qts of Oil,
60 lbs of Sugar or Honey, and
8 lbs of Salt.The shelf life on these items is included in the chart below.

The chart shows how much it costs for a one-year supply for 1 adult. Adjust it to your individual needs. For example: rice and oats are a lot easier on a child’s digestive system compared to wheat. Store more of these grains for the children.

See Bulk Food Storage Containers to learn how to store your bulk food.

NOTE: You don’t want to start using wheat when that is all you have to eat. It will be hard on your system. Slowly add it to your diet, my family has been eating wheat for years and we don’t have any problems with a whole-wheat diet. Even my babies eat wheat and do great.

Cost of One Year Supply for 1 Adult
This chart was created in 2009. Because the price of food fluctuates, prices might be different than the ones represented in the chart.

*Not all olive oil lasts this long. Research the shelf life of the oil before buying it.

Wow, look at that. For $224.94 you can get a year’s supply of bulk food storage if you go with the cheaper sugar and vegetable oil. If you go with the Olive Oil and Honey, it will cost you $410.76. Getting your bulk food storage is a great place to start, and it’s cheap!

I found everything on the chart except for the oil, salt, and honey at the LDS Bishop’s Storehouse – bulk food storage at great prices. All are welcome. The shelf life of the food is also listed on their order form. Check it out. Bulk food has a very long shelf life – about 30 years.
Find a location near you in the USA or Canada.

A Note About Honey: When you are buying honey, make sure you can trust your source to give you pure honey. Cheap honey is actually corn syrup. You get what you pay for. Local Honey is actually the best option to buy if you have the opportunity because the bees are using the same plants and flowers that you encounter everyday. It helps you with your allergies

Picture of a 1 year supply of bulk food storage rations for one adult.

Adding to the Basics. . . Bulk Food Storage Expanded. . . A Six Step Plan

Add some variety to your bulk food storage.
STEP 1: IF I HAVE Wheat, Powdered Milk, Oil, Salt, Honey or Sugar, Water I CAN MAKE Popped Wheat ,Steamed Wheat, Sprouted Wheat, Cooked Cracked Wheat, Tortillas

STEP 2: IF I ADD Yeast, Baking Powder, Powdered Eggs, Baking Soda I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Custards, Puddings, Pancakes, Cookies, Waffles, Muffins, English Muffins, German Pancakes, Crepes, Egg Noodles, Pasta, Breads, Biscuits, Crackers, Mayonnaise. A lot more options huh? Keep reading.

STEP 3: IF I ADD Powdered Butter, Tomatoes, Powdered Cheese I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Meatless Dinners, Meatless Casseroles, Cream Sauces These really add flavor.

STEP 4: IF I ADD Unflavored Gelatin, Canned Milk, Canned Fruits I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Jello Salads, Whipped Cream Desserts, Baby Formula, fruit dishes Mmm, now we have desserts.

STEP 5: IF I ADD Soup Base, Rice, Legumes (Beans), Beef Broth, Chicken Broth, Alfalfa Seeds, Sesame Seeds I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Hearty Dinner Soups, Chili, Rice Puddings, Refried Beans, Rice Dishes, Fresh Sprouts, Gluten This would really expand your dinner menu in an emergency.

STEP 6: IF I ADD Canned Meats, Dried Potatoes I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Dinners, Casseroles, Sandwiches. This may not sound like a lot but a meaty flavor can make all the difference.

STEP 7: EXTRAS: Oats, Raisin, Nuts, Peanut Butter, Granola, Juices, Corn Starch, Soup Mixes, Spices & Flavorings, Lemon Powder or Juice, White Flour, Shortening or Margarine, Cream of Tartar, Junket Rennet Tablet, Molasses, Karo Syrup, etc. These are small things that you could do without but really add variety to your diet.
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B.  Food Storage List
30 Apr 2012, SelfReliantNetwork , by Jessica, Salt N’ Prepper
Pasted from: http://selfreliantnetwork11.blogspot.com/2012/04/basic-food-storage-list.html

My bare bones list for food storage necessities for one adult male. For an average adult woman multiply the amounts by 0.75. For a child ages 1-3 multiply it by 0.3. For children 4-6 multiply by 0.5. Children 7-9 multiply by 0.75. I’ve listed the category along with the weight in food you need. Under each category are the basics this weight should be distributed into. It is up to you how you distribute it. In the space provided before each item write in the amount in pounds you have of each. (This is figured as a 1 year supply) Remember you can adjust things as you need to for your family’s likes and dislikes. But I think Jessica did a really great job of giving everyone a starting point! SRN

Grains – 400lbs ____ Barley ____ Cereal ____ Cornmeal ____ Flour ____ Multigrain ____ Oats, Rolled Quick ____ Oats, Rolled Regular ____ Popcorn ____ Sprouting Seeds ____ Wheat ____ White Rice ____ Pasta Noodles Milk/Dairy – 75lbs ____ Canned Milk ____ Canned Sour Cream ____ Cheese Spreads ____ Condensed Milk ____ Dried Cheese ____ Dried Eggs ____ Infant Formula (If Applicable) ____ Powdered Milk ____ Powdered Cheese ____ Powdered Sour Cream Juices/Beverages – 25lbs ____ Apple Juice ____ Baby Strained Juices ____ Cocoa Drink Mix ____ Cranberry Juice ____ Dried Juice Mix ____ Kool Aid ____ Grape Juice ____ Tomato Juice Fats/Oils – 20lbs ____ Canned Butter ____ Cooking Oil ____ Margarine ____ Mayonnaise ____ Olive Oil ____ Peanut Butter ____ Powdered Butter ____ Salad Dressing ____ Shortening Meats (Canned, Dehydrated or Freeze Dried) – 20lbs ____ Beef ____ Beef Jerky ____ Chicken ____ Fish (tuna, crab, shrimp) ____ Ham ____ Pepperoni ____ TVP (Textured Vegetable protein) ____ Pork Fruits and Veggies – 90lbs Dried, 370qts Canned ____ Apple Chips ____ Applesauce ____ Apricots ____ Peaches ____ Berries ____ Fruit Cocktail ____ Olives ____ Pears ____ Pineapple ____ Raisins ____ Tomatoes ____ Celery ____ Potatoes ____ Corn ____ Peas ____ Spinach ____ Carrots ____ Onions ____ Mushrooms ____ Peppers ____ Pickles ____ Asparagus ____ Yams

Beans & Legumes – 90lbs ____ Pinto ____ Pink ____ White ____ Kidney ____ Nuts ____ Sprouting Seeds Sugars – 60lbs ____ Corn Syrup ____ Honey ____ Syrup ____ Brown Sugar ____ White Sugar ____ Powdered Sugar Auxiliary Foods – As Needed ____ Baking Powder ____ Baking Soda ____ Cake Mixes ____ Vitamins ____ Cookies ____ Cornstarch ____ Crackers ____ Cream of Tartar ____ Roll/Bread Mixes ____ Instant Breakfast ____ Instant yeast ____ Muffin Mixes ____ Pancake Mix ____ Pectin ____ Pie Fillings ____ Gelatin ____ Salt ____ Survival Bars Spices & Condiments – As Needed ____ Allspice ____ Basil ____ BBQ Sauce ____ Bouillon Cubs ____ Cayenne Pepper ____ Chili Powder ____ Chives ____ Chocolate Syrup ____ Cinnamon ____ Cloves ____ Coriander ____ Cumin ____ Curry ____ Dill Weed ____ Garlic Powder ____ Ginger ____ Gravy Mixes ____ Ketchup ____ Nutmeg ____ Onion Flakes ____ Oregano ____ Paprika ____ Pepper ____ Sage ____ Salad Dressing ____ Salt ____ Steak Sauce ____ Soy Sauce ____ Spaghetti Sauce ____ Thyme ____ Vanilla Extract ____ Vinegar ____ Worcestershire Sauce

 

C.  7 Last Minute Prepping Items
28 May 2013, By Gaye Levy
Pasted from: http://www.backdoorsurvival.com/7-last-minute-prepping-items/

Every single one of us has been in a situation where the weather forecasters and civil authorities have warned of an oncoming crisis.  It might be a winter storm, a spring flood or a wildfire.  It might be a hurricane or a minor pandemic.  All you know is that a crisis is brewing and you better be prepared.

For the experienced prepper, there is comfort in knowing that you have plenty of food, water and supplies to get you through for the short term.  You have candles, flashlights, batteries and light sticks.  You have a extra blankets and the means to cook without fuel.  And of course, you have a bug-out bag.

But imagine a scenario where a disaster is brewing and you have a bit of notice.  There is a possibility, however small, that you might be stuck indoors and in your home for two weeks, possibly longer, without access to common services such as power, sanitation systems, and access to the local supermarket.

Put on your thinking cap – what have you forgotten?  What has been overlooked?  And what can you pick up at the last minute to insure your safety and comfort?

While there are lots of lists floating around telling you what you need and what will disappear first, there is not much out there that addresses those items you might want to consider at the last minute – things that will be useful but of no interest to the mad mob of folks who have done diddly-squat to prepare.

Today I present a list of the last minute prepping items I will seek out when I have some advance notice of an oncoming storm, disaster or crisis.

SEVEN LAST MINUTE PREPPING ITEMS
1.  Bleach The Clorox Company acknowledges that their bleach product has a one year shelf life beginning with the day of manufacture. Allowing a few months for those white jugs to make it to the supermarket, it is best to assume that the jug of bleach you purchase at the supermarket will have a shelf life of about nine months.  Extreme temperatures will reduce this period to about six months.
Now understand that what I am referring to is the use of bleach as a disinfectant.  It has been my experience that old bleach works just fine for whitening your laundry.  But is simply does not make sense at all to stock up on bleach for survival and preparedness purposes.
With a storm brewing, this is the first thing I would purchase as I top off my last minute, short term emergency preps.

2.  Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Sure, as an experienced prepper I have a good supply of freeze-dried fruits and vegetables.  But once a #10 is opened, it’s 25 year shelf life is reduced to one or two years.  So if a short term disaster is predicted, I will want to pick up fresh vegetables and fruits that require no refrigeration.
Let the frantic mobs go after the canned goods.  I will take the fresh stuff since I am already well stocked with canned and packaged items.

3.  Over the Counter Remedies and Prescription Drugs With my survival first aid kit nicely packed and tucked into my bug out bag, I will head over to the first aid section of the drug store and pick up some extra over the counter items such as eye drops, throat spray, and bandages.  If I have refills remaining on my prescriptions drugs, I will get those too.
Of course if things get really serious, I still have my well stocked kit but for just a few days or a week or two?  It will not hurt to pick up some extras while I can still get them.

4.  Cooking Oil, Peanut Butter and Other Short Shelf Life Items These three items have a very short shelf life.  Have you ever opened up a bottle of cooking oil or jar of peanut butter and stepped back due to the overwhelming rancid smell?  If the power is going to be down for awhile, it might be nice to have a fresh supply of these items so that you have no surprises as you try to cook and eat while waiting out the storm.

Another short shelf life item to consider is yeast for baking bread – outdoors if necessary in your cast iron Dutch oven over an open fire.

5.  Wine and Spirits You may or may not have a long term supply of spirits.  If you do partake of an occasional drink, why not pick up a few extra bottles to see you through?  For years, folks in hurricane-prone areas of the United States have had “hurricane” parties where families and friends wait out the storm.
In an adult environment, it is common to have a cocktail or two at these parties.  There is even a famous drink called the “Hurricane”.  Heck, why not?

6.  Aluminum Foil You can use foil to fashion cooking utensils or to line your pots and pans before cooking so that you do not have to waste precious water cleaning up. If you do cook on you pans directly, a crumpled up piece of foil can be used as a handy scrubber to remove the crustiest. You can even use foil to create an im promptu Faraday cage.

7.  Chocolate Let’s face it.  You are going to be stressed so accept that.  Get yourself some chocolate – okay a lot of chocolate – and ride things out while indulging in your favorite chocolate treat.  My favorite is the Endangered Species dark chocolate bar with cranberries and almonds.

If chocolate is not your thing, then perhaps some cookies or graham crackers or just this once, some seriously unhealthy packaged caramel corn.

THE FINAL WORD This list of seven last minute prepping items represents my list and more than anything, is shared so that you can start thinking about your own list of last minute preps.  Personally, the first and the last items – bleach and chocolate – should be on everyone’s list.

I leave it up to you to think about the other things that you may need.  Perhaps there are some tools or utensils that you were waiting to purchase.  Or a heavy duty sleeping bag or hiking boots.  How about some FRS radios?

You might also want to read “5 Things You May Not Have Thought of When Planning for an Emergency” for some other ideas.

The challenge today is to think about the prepping supplies and gear that either have a short term shelf life or that are still on your to do list.  Keep this list handy and located somewhere accessible so that if you have the luxury of some advance notice, you can pick up some uncommon last minute preps.

Plus some chocolate, of course.

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D.  How Much Food Fits in a Container
USAEmergencySupply.com
Pasted from: https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information_center/packing_your_own_food_storage/how_much_food_fits_in_a_container.htm

Estimated Pounds per Gallon

Estimated Pounds per Gallon

1 Gallon

1.5 Gallons

2 Gallons

5 Gallons

6 Gallons

 

Cracked Red Wheat			5.83		8.75	11.66	29.15	35.00
Hard Red Wheat			7.50		11.25	15.00	37.50	45.00
Hard White Wheat			7.50		11.25	15.00	37.50	45.00
Pearled Barley			7.33		11.00	14.66	36.67	44.00
Whole Corn			7.50		11.25	15.00	37.50	45.00
Hulled Buckwheat			7.00		10.50	14.00	35.00	42.00
Flax			6.33		9.50	12.66	31.67	38.00
Long Grain White Rice			7.33		11.00	14.66	36.67	44.00
Long Grain Brown Rice			7.17		10.75	14.34	35.83	43.00
Par Boiled Rice			7.00		10.50	14.00	35.00	42.00
Rolled Oats			4.17		6.25	8.34	20.83	25.00
Oat Groats			7.00		10.50	14.00	35.00	42.00
Oat Bran (Fine)			5.00		7.50	10.00	25.00	30.00
Rye			7.00		10.50	14.00	35.00	42.00
9-Grain Cereal			6.33		9.50	12.66	31.67	38.00
Hulled Millet			7.17		10.75	14.34	35.83	43.00
Wheat Bran			2.50		3.75	5.00	12.50	15.00
All Purpose Flour			6.67		10.00	13.34	33.33	40.00
Cornmeal			6.67		10.00	13.34	33.33	40.00
Beans			7.00		10.50	14.00	35.00	42.00
Anasazi			6.67		10.00	13.34	33.33	40.00
Black Turtle			7.00		10.50	14.00	35.00	42.00
Black Eye			6.33		9.50	12.66	31.67	38.00
Garbanzo			6.67		10.00	13.34	33.33	40.00
Great Northern			7.00		10.50	14.00	35.00	42.00
Green			1.67		2.50	3.33	8.33	10.00
Green Peas			6.67		10.00	13.34	33.33	40.00
Kidney			6.67		10.00	13.34	33.33	40.00
Lentils			7.17		10.75	14.34	35.83	43.00
Lima			7.17		10.75	14.34	35.83	43.00
Mung			7.50		11.25	15.00	37.50	45.00
Pink			6.83		10.25	13.66	34.17	41.00
Pinto			6.83		10.25	13.66	34.17	41.00
Refried			4.17		6.25	8.34	20.83	25.00
Small Red			6.83		10.25	13.66	34.17	41.00
Small White Navy			7.50		11.25	15.00	37.50	45.00
Soy			6.67		10.00	13.34	33.33	40.00
Pasta – Macaroni			4.17		6.25	8.34	20.83	25.00
Pasta – Egg Noodles			2.67		4.00	5.34	13.33	16.00
Pasta – Spaghetti			5.83		8.75	11.66	29.17	35.00
Alfalfa Sprouting Seeds			7.50		11.25	15.00	37.50	45.00
Diced Carrots			3.33		5.00	6.66	16.67	20.00
Cross-Cut Celery			1.33		2.00	2.66	6.67	8.00
Chopped Onions			3.00		4.50	6.00	15.00	18.00
Potato Dices			2.67		4.00	5.34	13.33	16.00
Potato Flakes			2.50		3.75	5.00	12.50	15.00
Potato Granules			7.50		11.25	15.00	37.50	45.00
Potato Slices			1.67		2.50	3.34	8.33	10.00
Split Green Peas			7.50		11.25	15.00	37.50	45.00
Tomato Powder			5.83		8.75	11.66	29.17	35.00
Applesauce			3.33		5.00	6.66	16.67	20.00
Apple Slices			1.67		2.50	3.34	8.33	10.00
Banana			2.33		3.50	4.66	11.67	14.00
Butter Powder			4.17		6.25	8.34	20.83	25.00
Margarine			4.17		6.25	8.34	20.83	25.00
Cheese Blend			4.17		6.25	8.34	20.83	25.00
Non-Fat Milk			5.83		8.75	11.66	29.17	35.00
Morning Moo White			5.83		8.75	11.66	29.17	35.00
Powdered Eggs			4.17		6.25	8.34	20.83	25.00
Powdered Whole Eggs			4.17		6.25	8.34	20.83	25.00