Food storage Tips
Read these 3 Food storage Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Emergency tips and hundreds of other topics.
What to store
What to store in the way of food and how much really depends on the individual family members.
The first thing to do is to make a list of the basic items used in cooking everyday. These items would include: flour, sugar, oil, salt, milk, etc.
Be sure to include those food items necessary for immediate survival. Water, powdered milk, canned vegetables, fruits, and meats are all considered basic food items.
You must also take into consideration the likes and dislikes of your family. There is no use purchasing a case of canned Spam if your family will not touch it with a ten-foot-pole. When purchasing items, think on what your family likes the best that is the most nutritious.
Dried or dehydrated foods are great for storage. Hermetically-sealed items are now coming on the market as well, like milk, juices and casseroles in a bag. Military MRE's are a good way to go if you don't want to think of cooking. They now come in a wide variety of flavors and are nutritionally good for you. These work extremely well for the 72-hour emergency paks.
Canned goods, vacuum-sealed bags, vegetable seeds are also good to store.
The next to consider purchasing would be items that are not necessary but you would like to have. I will have basic checklists to print soon to help you see what you will need to begin with or you can make lists on your own with the entire family. This is a great family project.
How much?
How much to store is to be based on calorie requirements for each family member and how big their appetites are. My rule of thumb when calculating how much to purchase is for me and one more. (I am alone now, as my family is grown and away): This way if I have company or if I need to take in another person during a crisis, I am prepared.
A teenager needs more calories than a sedentary adult. Calorie intake should be considered when making the choices on how much to store of what.
How much to purchase for how long? The aim of the members of my church is a one year's supply of all that is needed for your family. This can run into a lot of money if you try to purchase the entire year's supply at once. Also, having the space to store it is another problem that we will discuss in another category.
I started my storage by beginning with a one-month extra supply. I calculated how much my family would need for one month of the basics and when I went shopping, I would purchase an extra can of peas or an extra box of wash powder. This way my pocketbook didn't feel so pinched and you would be surprised at how much you acquire in a short time.
Using Milk Jugs for Water Storage
This tip comes from one of my subscribers, Donna Willoughby. She writes:
"Last year we had a power outage and were unable to get water or flush our toilet because the well system is powered by electric.
Luckily, we were prepared. We saved old milk jugs, cleaned them thoroughly and filled them with water and kept them in the basement in case of emergency."
Good tip, Donna! I would like to add a couple of things to this tip. The first thing to do with the plastic jugs is to wash and disinfect them using a mixture of household bleach and soapy water. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue. To get the smell of old milk out of the plastic jug, fill with white vinegar and water. Let sit overnight. Rinse and leave the top off to dry inside. When filling with water from the tap, I always boil the water first, then cool and fill. This helps to sterilize the water and inhibit bacterial growth. Date each jug with a removable sticker and store capped tightly in a cool, dark place. Since the jugs are semi-transparent, storing them in a sunlit place encourages bacterial growth and algae formation. Be sure to rotate the water. I always empty the jugs on a three month rotation basis and fill with fresh water. Use the old water to water house plants or use in the garden.
Thank you Donna for a great and inexpensive tip on water storage!
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