Some advice needed please

[CottageLife]

Here is where I am in prepping, and what I need help with - I live in upstate, NY - 4 seasons, with basement/humidity, but have dehumidifier running. Food storage is in basement for the most part. I have PETE 1 containers that I've been saving - beans, pastas, white rice are all in these and I have O2 absorbers that I'll be adding to the bottles soon. The bottles are in cardboard boxes to keep light out and up off the floor.

Now, staples that I'm adding to my storage that I'm unsure of the best way to have some in 'long term storage' - (eat what you store aside as we don't eat enough of this normally so I want extras)
Flour - what types, and how to store for how long?
Sugar- how to store best and for how long?
salt- how to store best and for how long?
honey- how to store best and for how long?

I've read a lot and am thinking honey can be left in it's container on a shelf (all the ones I find are plastic PETE 1 containers with honey).
Salt -good forever if kept dry - so how should I store?
Sugar and flour I'm more confused on and know I really need more of these in my storage.


Also - I'm considering getting a dehydrator, and a vacuum sealer. Any good info to read on this or suggestions?
Thank you!

[sgl42]

if you haven't already checked, the source below probably has the storage life info you want, and will be more accurate than my foggy memory:

Alan's Stuff: The Prudent Food Storage FAQ and more.
http://athagan.members.atlantic.net/Index.html

i think white flour is 6mo-1yr, even under good conditions, and i think whole wheat flour is a little shorter than that. (wheat berries, ie, unground wheat, last far longer, which is why i bought a grain grinder to make fresh flour as needed. fresh ground also has more nutrients in the bran and germ and oils.)

if you get a vac sealer, get the adapters to vac seal mason jars (one for wide mouth, and another one for regular mouth).

--sgl

[AngieM2]

This may help in addition to Alan's information.

Tracy Rimmer's NewCenturyHomestead site
Check out the documents section:
www.newcenturyhomestead.com

[Browncoat]

I have salt, sugar and flour that my family vacuum sealed in quart jars for Y2K and they're still fine. I think that's the best way to go if you're not going to store the wheat to make the flour, at least it has been for me. I have some stored in empty plastic coffee containers and while it's easier to get to for use, it doesn't do as well as the vacuum sealed stuff. I also use the coffee containers for salt, which works really well. Mostly, I'm a firm believer in vacuum sealing dry goods. I don't know how well the commercial vacuum sealers work since ours is homemade, but I'm sure someone could give you lots of good information.

I also highly suggest getting the dehydrator - I'm addicted to mine. You can store a lot of food in a smaller space, it's very easy to do, and it's very satisfying to see your results. For resources, I suggest "The Dehydrator Bible" by Jennifer MacKenzie, Jay Nutt, and Don Mercer and "Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook." Both have been of great value to me, but I think Mary Bell's is the better of the two.

[Cindy in NY]

And now for a shameless plug - I have my extra copy of Mary Bell's book up on ebay (ending tonight). Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MESELX:IT

[unregistered29228]

Definitely consider a dehydrator and a vacuum sealer (or a much cheaper Pump-N-Seal if money is an issue), and a pressure canner. My food storage would be nothing without those things. I like the Pump-N-Seal because it's manual and allows me to use regular glass jars from the store to seal food.

I have switched over to about 75% jars for storage of dry goods. Buckets and plastic vac sealed bags are great too, but I sure do like glass jars.

Salt, sugar, rice, beans, wheat berries and honey will keep basically forever, if stored properly.

[CottageLife]

Thank you! I'm off to read the links. I have access to more glass jars from family who all have stopped canning, so I think I will take them up on the offer of taking them off their hands.

[Stephen in SOKY]

Never, ever, pass up a jar. They don't eat anything & they never spoil.

[CottageLife]

Originally Posted by Stephen in SOKY

Never, ever, pass up a jar. They don't eat anything & they never spoil.

LOL! Thank you -I will keep that in mind and go call the people who offered up the jars. Coupon was just in the paper for the lids so I can get new ones at a decent price.

Honestly, it is so overwhelming when I first started. I finally feel like I'm gaining some ground, but then I read 12 different things on the best way to store sugar or flour or whatever and I doubt myself.

Working on getting 5 gallon buckets now!

[Browncoat]

I passed up a chance to get seven dozen free jars earlier this spring. I've been kicking myself ever since. Not one of my better moments, but they were in the gang part of town, and I couldn't make myself go. Still, I really wanted those jars! I also have coworkers save their used jars for me. They think I'm nuts, but I'm used to that.

CottageLife - Don't doubt yourself. Keep in mind that you're already ahead of most people just by thinking ahead and even trying to prep. Figure out what works best for you and your circumstances. Maybe try a couple of ways of saving your dry goods, in case you find the one way that works better for you.

[CottageLife]

Thanks Browncoat. Can't say I blame you for not getting the jars-sometimes it is worth listening to our gut instinct.

The one thing I quickly realized is a lot of my family has done canning, dehydrating, cooking in iron skillets/dutch ovens so by asking around I've been getting some great OLD (which to me means the real deal not some of the new stuff that breaks easier) stuff! I got a skillet already seasoned, and a cast iron pot with a glass lid too

Those dehydrating books both look really good after reading reviews. I thought I'd get into canning, but the more I read the more I realized we don't eat a lot of those foods enough to make it worth it. Dehydrating would definitely work for us though!

I very much appreciate the help that this board has provided to me as I work through all this