amount of food to store

[COvigilance]

I used to store large buckets but went to smaller packaging for a few reasons. I now store most items in #10 bags. For smaller things like spices I can make 1/2 or 1/3 size bags out of the bigger ones.

I have a list on what I store and what is in the each box alond with the pack date. In my case I had a supply of boxes that were about 20"X15"X15" that work well and at best weigh 25-30lbs I always try to pack a few heavy items like rice and beans along with lighter stuff. This makes it easy for a number of reasons.

I would start with some simple items that you might like and use. Rice, beans, pasta, flour, sugar. Some powdered milk and other items.

Also take a look at the sticky links page. Add some freeze dried or dehydrated veggies and fruit along with some of the other items. Do not forget things like the tomato powder. Short term keep small cans of paste.

Whatever you think of getting or storing always think of how to prepare it and items that go along with it.

Example. You have some MRE's. Most of the entrees I can take and add some pasta or rice, a little water and extend it to two servings. Anything that is canned can be bulked up with the right and cheap items. I always try something different just to see what the outcome is and if we like it.

One must also practice with the food one stores. No good to have a bunch of one thing and find out later your not sure what to do with it.

Hope this gets you started.

Thanks for the help...I think I have a direction now.

[Mick-Boy]

Regarding Farris Survival, I visited their storefront last week as I needed some mylar bags and thought I might pick them up locally rather than waiting to get from online. The store is small and not really much stock on hand. Seemed very disorganized. They had a few of the blue plastic drums for water, etc in various sizes, some other plastic storage containers. I saw about 4 or so 25lb bags of wheat, rolled oats. The price on their 5 gal pail size mylar bags was $5 and I buy them online for $1.47. I expected to pay a little more, but thought that was excessive. Oh - and theirs were 3mil and the ones I buy online are 5mil.

Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed.

Thanks for the input. You saved me a drive.

[jerrymrc]

One other thing. I always look and buy on sale for my canned goods. This week King Soopers has cans of tuna on for 50 cents with no limit. Albertsons has it 2 for a $1 as well but a limit of 4. The last I bought a couple of weeks ago had a best use by feb of 2014.

Now I do not know about some but we can eat some tuna. My oldest is dated 06 of 2013 and I keep at least 40 cans on hand for that price.

And for the canners out there Rancho Liborio has boneless/skinless chicken breasts on sale for $1.47 a pound. They also have center cut loin chops for $1.77 per pound as well as Knorr chicken bouillon 1Kg (2.2lbs) for $4.99.

[gnihcraes]

scene from msnbc of japan...

[gnihcraes]

[jerrymrc]

Takes about 4 days of no supply to look like that here. That is without the disaster. All ya have to do is look at one of those news stories when the hurricanes are coming in Florida.

[solomon751]

Can you imagine trying to make a descent family meal out of a trip to 7-11 muchless a few months of meals? I think this Japan tragedy serves as an effective reminder of how relevant planning and preparation is.

[hollohas]

I also need to make sure that I have enough yeast to go along with that.

Lots of discussion about bread and very little mention of yeast. Sure the stuff lasts forever in the freezer but what if the freezer goes down?

How many have made their own sourdough starter? Many of you already make/produce what you need to survive (Grow fruits/veggies, can/pack/dehydrate, make bread/grind flour, reload ammo, produce power with solar/wind, hunt for meat, etc, etc.) so why not take it one step further and make your own yeast?

It's easy to do and takes nothing more than Flour, milk/water, sugar and time. You can just set it out and let it catch "wild" yeast or you can use a little of your active dry yeast to make a starter.

If you know how to make it, it is one less thing you have to worry about running out of.

I have a long way to go before I am fully prepared and become self sufficient but making my own sourdough starter was an easy step to take.

Check here for some info

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/tips/...gh-primer.html

[jerrymrc]

Lots of discussion about bread and very little mention of yeast. Sure the stuff lasts forever in the freezer but what if the freezer goes down?

I keep it in the vacuum sealed Mylar in the freezer. I would say that once you pull it out it would be good for 2 years at least. Just refrigerated I have had it last 3 years past the date. I keep a jar that I pull yeast from the freezer to use that year in the fridge. I also keep powdered butter and milk along with the other stuff. Once opened I reseal the bag when it goes back in the freezer. In the 1lb bags it is cheap enough that everyone should have at least one in the freezer.

[sroz]

Good. Got an expert on this stuff. I found online that canned chili, Dinty Moore beef stew and Spam have an indefinite shelf life. I don't always believe what I read on the internet and you obviously have a lot of knowledge on this. Is this true? I dug up a can of Dinty Moore with a date of Feb 2014. Would it really still be good in say 2020? - Thanks!