When it comes to stocking up on emergency foods, it's important to know what to buy and how to store it. Peanut butter is a great source of energy, packed with healthy fats and proteins. It doesn't need to be refrigerated after opening, unless otherwise stated on the bottle. Multi-grain cereals that are individually packaged are a great choice as they don't go rancid after opening.
Canned proteins such as tuna, salmon, chicken, corned beef, turkey, spam, and even bacon (yes, you can buy canned cooked bacon now) have a very long shelf life. As long as they are stored in a cool, dry place and are not damaged, you can expect a shelf life of three to five years past the expiration date.Nutritionists generally recommend brown rice over white rice due to its higher content of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. However, brown rice has a much shorter shelf life of just a few months. Apples can stay fresh and crisp for up to six months if stored in a cold, dark place such as a cool basement or cellar.
If kept in a fruit bowl at room temperature, they usually stay at their best for at least two weeks, sometimes up to a month.The shelf life of flour depends on the type of flour, its ingredients and how you store it. Most flours stay fresh for 3 to 8 months at room temperature, usually long after their expiration date. Salt will never spoil while pepper should be used within 5 years after which it may lose its potency. Bouillon cubes have a shelf life of 2 years making them a great choice for a reserve as broth is a source of great flavor.If the food has spent more than four hours above 40 F., it should be discarded.
But remember that a refrigerator is well insulated. If you don't open it, the temperature will stay at a safe level for an additional hour or two, even longer.Canned goods are known to remain edible 10, 20 years or more after storage. Cookies and most cereals usually have a shelf life of six months and maybe up to 18 months after which they become very bad due to the chemicals in them.In combination with boredom, having lots of sweets and junk food on hand can create a constant temptation. And don't forget to have a can opener handy at all times - all that food won't do any good if you can't open it! If you choose to store food for a longer period of time, divide the totals on your master list by 3 to get the number of servings the whole family needs for a day.Real Simple's emergency food supply list contains foods that not only don't need to be cooked but are also nutritionally dense and tasty.
Learning to store food for an emergency such as a global pandemic or natural disaster could save you money and save your life. Without access to the grocery store you can still prepare a full meal with lots of vegetables by taking advantage of the frozen food aisle.First of all make a 2-week food supply list - this is basically a fortnight meal plan with the shopping list included. Stocking up on the right non-perishable foods with an extended shelf life now will help you weather any storm (global pandemic, political unrest) with less stress.Having an emergency food reserve is a good idea regardless of whether you live in the city or in the country but you need to store the right food not just anything old. If you want to build a 3-month reserve multiply either of the two methods above to get your total list of emergency food supplies.
A basic supply of condiments and sweeteners will improve the taste of your food both fresh and packaged. These non-perishable foods (or close to them) have long expiration dates so you can store them for long periods of time even if it's not hurricane or tornado season.Use this emergency stock checklist as a guide to see what foods are best for an emergency stockpile or survival food kit. These airtight BPA-free plastic food storage containers are perfect for large quantities of flour sugar oatmeal and baking products.