Food Storage Tips: Whether we are storing food for long term disasters, or, a short term power outage, you need to be prepared with a handy food supply. Eating from emergency food storage supplies can be pretty boring. It’s bad enough the electricity is off, but we don’t have to turn off our taste buds while eating food, too. These are some suggestions to spice up our food storage supply.
Herbs and Spices to add to food
Adding herbs and spices to meals goes a long way in adding power and taste to our foods that have been in storage. Just mix into the cooking and instant taste and nourishment. The following are some suggestions to keep in your storage area.
Herbs – basil, bay leaves, chives cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme
Spices – allspice, black pepper, caraway, cardamom, celery seed, chili powder, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, fennel fenugreek, garlic powder, ginger, mustard seed/dry mustard, nutmeg, onion powder, paprika, red pepper flakes, saffron, turmeric, vanilla, and white pepper. All of these can be stored in mylar bags for preparedness purposes. I then recommend putting them in bins or containers.
Canned food for storage
Canned food is always great to store as-is in the original cans. You can buy a few every time you shop to put in your storage. Add them to other food storage supplies when preparing a meal. There are a variety of soups, vegetables, gravies, and tomatoes that have herbs and spices in them or add them from your storage supplies. Another advantage of canned food is they contain some water.
- Vegetables – corn, carrots, beets, peas, green beans, sauerkraut, lima beans, spinach, collard greens, tomatoes/diced and whole and sauce.
- Meats and Fish – tuna, chicken, salmon and such
- Gravies of all flavors
Powdered food storage supplies
These can be mixed with herbs, spices, and vegetables and gravies from the emergency supplies. Use your imagination to spice them up.
- Eggs
- Milk
- Sugar
- Salt
- Flour
- Baking Soda
- Baking Powder
Dehydrated and Freeze Dried Foods
This is a way to preserve food by taking the water out of it. When reconstituted they are delicious and retain their vitamins and minerals. Add them to your food or eat alone.
- Fruits – apples, bananas, pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, lemon peels, and orange peels
- Meats – beef, chicken, deer and buffalo
- Mushrooms – porcini, oyster, white or button, morel, portabella, and shitake
All of the above food can be mixed and matched and then keep them in bags and boxes. Many people pre-mix the food supplies before storage. Here is a great idea for tasty and spiced up food all ready mixed and just needing water to cook.
Meals in Jars
Use a combination of ingredients and store them in canning jars for the ready made emergency supplies. Once mixed just put an oxygen absorber on top and put on the lid. Reconstitute with water and you have a tasty meal all in one. Store the jars in the boxes they come in with the separators for cushioning.
Here is a little jar meal – Add together; quinoa, lentils, dehydrated vegetables, dried onion, dried garlic, dried herbs and spices, salt, and two bay leaves. Layer in a jar and just reconstitute with water for a soup.
Keep the food storage items dry and safe in your home. Buckets or light plastic containers are the best for saving space and keeping your food storage free from moisture. I hope these items will help you spice up your emergency preparedness food.