Hi, I am new to the board. Just checking to see what is the best way to store food. Now I am looking at the long run. Like maybe 7 to 8 years. Is freeze drying too expensive? How long does canned or mason jars last?
Best way to store food?
- Thread starter wiserphil
- Start date
For really long term, I lean toward dehydrating and then vacuum sealing. The freeze drying equipment is pricey. I do a lot of solar drying, because it is very hot for four or five months out of the year where I live. I have a FoodSaver vacuum sealer and have used it just a whole lot.
I have purchased commercially dried whole eggs, which should be usable in ten to 15 years, unopened. I am preparing for a time when I might not have a job, and our economy may collapse in a heap, so I have a lot of staples, and some home made dehydrated meals ready for boiling water. The home dehydrated foods ought to easily last five years, or more.
The others can speak to how long you can keep home canned foods. I haven't been at it long enough to speak with authority.
I have purchased commercially dried whole eggs, which should be usable in ten to 15 years, unopened. I am preparing for a time when I might not have a job, and our economy may collapse in a heap, so I have a lot of staples, and some home made dehydrated meals ready for boiling water. The home dehydrated foods ought to easily last five years, or more.
The others can speak to how long you can keep home canned foods. I haven't been at it long enough to speak with authority.
- Thread starter
- #3
Blackbird
Goat Whisperer
Welcome!
If your interested in dehydrating I would visit the 'What are you dehydrating today' thread, theres some pretty good info on there:
http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2788
If your interested in dehydrating I would visit the 'What are you dehydrating today' thread, theres some pretty good info on there:
http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2788
dragonlaurel
Improvising a more SS life
Here's an article that covers the various methods.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real...campaign=FG&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real...campaign=FG&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email
mrs.puff
Lovin' The Homestead
There's a very good book out there on food preservation called "Putting Food By". It has info on canning, freezing, dehydrating, root cellaring, smoking etc.
I would also suggest checking out the wild foods available in your area. After many years, preserved foods can lose nutritional value, and there are innumerable wild foods out there which you can get fresh if you're in need. Some "wild" or "gone wild" foods we eat at my house:
Deer
turkey
squirrel
rabbit
fish of many kinds
apples, pears, cherries etc (from old farms)
many types of mushrooms
hazelnuts, hickory nuts, walnuts
"wild" asparagus
blackberries and raspberries
etc
ps: remember that the body can live without vegetable matter, but not without fat (found in meat). If you're stuck on a desert island, you're better off with hotdogs than with a bunch of spinach. Raw meat is very high in vitamin C, if you're really worried. Check out some of Michael Pollan's books, or one called "Real Food" by Nina Planck.
I would also suggest checking out the wild foods available in your area. After many years, preserved foods can lose nutritional value, and there are innumerable wild foods out there which you can get fresh if you're in need. Some "wild" or "gone wild" foods we eat at my house:
Deer
turkey
squirrel
rabbit
fish of many kinds
apples, pears, cherries etc (from old farms)
many types of mushrooms
hazelnuts, hickory nuts, walnuts
"wild" asparagus
blackberries and raspberries
etc
ps: remember that the body can live without vegetable matter, but not without fat (found in meat). If you're stuck on a desert island, you're better off with hotdogs than with a bunch of spinach. Raw meat is very high in vitamin C, if you're really worried. Check out some of Michael Pollan's books, or one called "Real Food" by Nina Planck.
tamlynn
Lovin' The Homestead
For home-canned foods (in glass jars) the recommendation is 1 year. I personally would eat stuff up to about 2 years old if the seal was intact.
Are you talking about storing home grown/made food or staples like rice, dried beans, flour, sugar, etc? Many of the staples will last 30 years or more if stored properly.
Are you talking about storing home grown/made food or staples like rice, dried beans, flour, sugar, etc? Many of the staples will last 30 years or more if stored properly.
Pirtykitty
Lovin' The Homestead
Can I use a seal ameal( food saver ) to store Rice???? I have 6 lbs that was bought last year.. we don't eat alot of it as hubby doesn't like it.. I do.. Also how long does food last in #10 cans ( like dehydrated items, beans, grains, veggies etc)...
It seals thick plastic bags on each end and takes the air out.. I'm still learning to work it.. Hubby uses it for sealing meat for freezer, and we got 5 lbs of beans and portioned them out and he sealed them..
It seals thick plastic bags on each end and takes the air out.. I'm still learning to work it.. Hubby uses it for sealing meat for freezer, and we got 5 lbs of beans and portioned them out and he sealed them..
