Food for short term storage

Usingmyrights · #1 02/10/11, 12:44 PM

I was thinking of things that I use often enough and have a shelf life of several months to a year. Stuff that doesn't make since for long term storage because it won't last, but would be good to have on had to get you through the first few months or so with some variety. PB last awhile and most people use it often enough that could just buy two at a time so that they always have a backup one of things go bad. I get the PeterPan in the 6lb tubs. I like the taste and its pretty cheap compared to buying it in the standard size jars. Also salsa. It'll last 6 months or so and is a way to spice up other meals, or just use it as a dip. Another thing thats cheap to buy if you get the larger containers. (I paid $6 for a half gal, and the store brand was even cheaper). I don't recall the other things of was thinking of before offhand because I don't use them as often, but my point is that there's stuff out there that can be part of our food preps and we may not even release it. Its as simple as buying extra to have a spare just in case instead of buying on an as needed basis. While this isn't my main food preps, its nice to have on hand since eating beans and rice and rice and beans everyday will get old pretty quick.

Callieslamb · #2 02/10/11, 12:47 PM

Yep...I call this my garden. Except for the peanutbuter.

Usingmyrights · #3 02/10/11, 12:54 PM

Gardens definately help. TSC had some salsa mix packs on closeout and I picked some up so that I can make my own. There's one problem with relying on a garden though. The weather. From blizzards to hurricanes, the weather can really screw up a garden/gardening plans. While its good to have and I plan on putting in a small orchard, blueberry field and garden in this spring/summer, weather can ruin it all. I already have on citrus tree that I bought but haven't planted that may ahve died off form the cold. The other doesn't look as bad, but still has some freeze damage.

Charly · #4 02/10/11, 06:46 PM

I sort of have two different food storage plans. One is a three month plan and the other is for long-term storage items.

The three month plan came together because of the threat of a pandemic and the possibility of needing to quarantine for up to three months. After having a short illness, I tweaked this a bit. I thought if I were ill and my family had to cook with long-term storage items, we'd all starve. They wouldn't want to or have the know how to fix powdered milk, make powdered milk cheese, cook wheat, make bread, etc. So, my three month supply is meals they could easily fix in a pinch. Also, I think these types of food will be useful as folks might be transitioning their body to getting use to eating wheat and such.

I thought I started a thread at one time on three month recipes, but I can't find it. Here's an example.

Souper Beef
2 pints home-canned beef roast and broth from in jars
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can golden mushroom soup
1 can French onion soup

Heat through and serve over potatoes, noodles, etc.

oregon woodsmok · #5 02/10/11, 06:51 PM

Absolutely. Keep a few luxuries and then if the crisis lasts longer, you just do without. My stash of chocolate won't last long, but it is always a comfort to have a bit of chocolate when life isn't going particularly well. I can live without it. Don't want to, but I can if I have to.

I think that unopened jars of peanut butter store pretty well.

Salsa mix???? Do I have to teach you how to make salsa?

mpillow · #6 02/10/11, 06:58 PM

Salsa will last awhile.. its vinegar based...

2 yrs ago I found a 7yo frzn turkey at the bottom of a chest freezer and it was delish!

Get yourself some hot sauce...it makes everything nice!

milk...fresh for up to 2 weeks...I won't drink day old! 'cause I got a daily supply!

Moldy cheese...just cut off the mold (we did this when I worked at a grocery store in the deli)

olivehill · #7 02/10/11, 07:10 PM

Since when does salsa only last six months? Fresh doesn't last that long and canned should last longer so I'm confused there. I intend to have salsa until the day I die. Non-negotiable.

We eat fresh ground peanut butter, so it wouldn't last long, but I can't imagine the jarred types wouldn't last for quite a while. Haven't had a jar in a long, long time, I guess, but... I'm not thinking that's a short term storage item only.

Honestly, I can't think of anything that we use that I could store enough for just a few months, but couldn't feasibly store it for longer.

I guess I'll keep thinking...

Ohio dreamer · #8 02/10/11, 07:21 PM

Brown rice is on of our "short term" stock items. It will only keep for so long, but oh so good for you compared to white rice. I want to get more so we have enough for six months to a year, but not one grain more. A few months into SHTF we'll be ok with the white rice in LTS, but we will have had the good brown when we were at the height of stress trying to adjust to the "new normal".

radiofish · #9 02/10/11, 08:07 PM

Six pound tubs of peanut butter may be fine for a large family, but a bit much for just a single person. So I get the 18 or 32 ounce jars of peanut butter or almond butter, etc..when they come up on sale as loss leaders.. Peanut Butter does have a good shelf life, and don't forget the preserves/ jams/ jelly to go with it..

My short term preps are my everyday items in my pantry/ cabinets. I could go 6 months or more depending if my chest freezer is still working. Way longer period of time, if I were to go into my "Earthquake Emergency Kits" and MRE's.

I may need to watch the shelf life of various cooking oils, and shortening. That may be my only short term item I would need to be concerned about.

Before a daily diet of only beans and rice becomes the everyday routine, the local produce and fruit hopefully would come along.

Or I could just go outside and get myself one of the world's dumbest deer, that are living up here on the hill.

Usingmyrights · #10 02/13/11, 11:27 AM

I haven't been able to get online for awhile to check on this thread. I'm going to tough on some of the things mentioned without quoting everyone. First, I'm not talking about luxury items. This is about food that had some food value. As far as the 6 months I'm going off of what the date is on container that I bought. Yes, it doesn't last that long as it gets eaten quickly, but again, thats where you keep an extra one in the rotation. As far a peanut butter. I'm a single guy and will go through the 6lbs before it goes bad. Its much cheaper to buy that way to, so even if you didn't quite finish it you'd at least break even if not still coming out ahead. I forgot to add beefjerky to the list. Again, its something to keep extra of, because it'll probably get eaten often. Could also add raisens or other dried fruits. I think that some of these items, will help the transition period into eating off of our long tierm storage preps. For me, if everything goes well, this spring I'll be planting enough citrus and berry bushes to have fresh fruit year around assuming that there's no weather severe enough to kill it off.

Our Little Farm · #11 02/13/11, 11:42 AM

We store what we eat every month. We have some stuff that can last for years, and some that is short life. Everything is rotated. We have meat on the hoof and in the freezer and canned. We have seeds for our garden and a lot of dehydrated foods. Lots of fruit trees and berries.

I need to keep chocolate for my teenage daughter and 12 yr old son. LOL Guess that is my downfall as it never lasts long here.

Would be a nice treat if SHTF

stef · #12 02/13/11, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

We store what we eat every month. We have some stuff that can last for years, and some that is short life. Everything is rotated. We have meat on the hoof and in the freezer and canned. We have seeds for our garden and a lot of dehydrated foods. Lots of fruit trees and berries.

I need to keep chocolate for my teenage daughter and 12 yr old son. LOL Guess that is my downfall as it never lasts long here.

Would be a nice treat if SHTF

I also keep on hand a couple cans of unsweetened cocoa. Not as tempting as chocolate chips, but easily converted into beverages, brownies, fudge, sauces, cakes, etc. (:

bee · #13 02/13/11, 12:20 PM

mmmmm hot cocoa now that is a comfort "food"!!!

I was trying to think of what I store that could be considered short term and I can't come up with anything so long as I have refridgeration ...... cheese,milk and anything canned that I have leftovers. Maybe oils..don't like brown rice, ummm eggs, fresh fruits and veggies(white taters last longer than sweets)guess I can can up the f&v if they get ahead of me. If I store it for preps then it is something that "stores" well.