When it comes to stocking up on emergency food, it's important to have a plan. You don't want to be stuck in a situation where you don't have enough food to last you for the duration of the emergency. To ensure that you and your family are well-prepared, it's important to know what emergency food to buy and how to store it. Apples are a great choice for emergency food, as they can last up to three months if stored in a cool, dry area.
Tomatoes can also last several days at room temperature, while canned proteins such as tuna, salmon, chicken, corned beef, turkey, spam, and even bacon can have a shelf life of three to five years past the expiration date. Nutritionists recommend brown rice over white rice due to its higher vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, and dietary fiber content. 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.
If kept in a fruit bowl at room temperature, they usually stay at their best for at least two weeks. 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. Salt will never spoil, pepper should be used within 5 years, after which it may lose its potency.
Bouillon cubes have a shelf life of 2 years. Root and hardy vegetables such as potatoes of all varieties, whole carrots (small carrots do not have the same shelf life), winter squash, cabbage, celery, and Brussels sprouts have an extended shelf life and will provide your family with much-needed sustenance. Store potatoes and other root vegetables in a cool, dry, dark place with good ventilation. Keep carrots without the green top, celery wrapped in foil, and Brussels sprouts on their stems in an open plastic bag in the refrigerator for two weeks.Ready-to-eat emergency foods such as granola bars and soup can be found at your local grocery store.
However, these foods tend to lack nutritionally and should not be relied upon for long-term sustenance. The federal government recommends that you have a basic emergency supply kit that includes enough food and water for each member of your household for at least three days.For an all-in-one shortcut, you can order 3-day emergency preparedness kits from the American Red Cross. Basic foods such as flour, oatmeal, peanut butter, pasta, and noodles are among the cheapest foods to store. Make sure you have a manual can opener and some eating utensils with the food stack so you have everything you need for emergency meals in one place.Getting emergency food for 30 days may seem daunting but with proper planning and preparation you can ensure that your family is well-stocked with nutritious food that will last them through any emergency situation.