If honing your survival skills includes food storage, you’ll want to know what foods keep the longest, yes? Before you start storing and canning your little heart out, take a look at some of the best foods for long-term storage and consider adding them to your emergency kit…or emergency basement shelter. Or panic room.
Grains
Ah, whole grains. Not only are they crazy-nutritious, they also last an incredibly long time when stored in dry, vacuum-packed containers. It’s essential you store whole rather than cracked or ground grains, as cracked/ground options don’t last nearly as long. Vacuum-packed containers are also necessary to avoid problems with assorted rodents.
Honey
An amazing food similar to sugar, honey’s pH balance is such that it won’t fall victim to assorted microbes, and it’s chemically-stable to boot. While it will eventually crystalize, honey can easily be reheated and used in assorted applications. Make sure the sticky stuff is tightly sealed and enjoy honey’s many amazing benefits for years–its antibacterial properties make it an excellent treatment for cuts, scrapes and acne! Sealed mason jars often work well in the storing of honey.
Dried Legumes
When stored correctly, dried legumes can last up to seven years! Lentils often spring to mind when thinking of legumes, as well as beans and peas. All come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and offer fabulous health benefits. Store legumes off the ground in dry, vacuum-sealed containers.
Dried Fruit and Veggies
Dried fruit and vegetables have a shelf life similar to legumes, and also must be stored in vacuum-sealed containers kept off the ground. Canned fruit and veggies also work for long-term food storage. Examples of dried and canned fruits/vegetables that work best for storage include apricots, asparagus, beets, blackberries, blueberries and tomatoes.
Dry Milk
Milk spoils in no time when kept in moist conditions, however if stored properly dry milk lasts up to five years! Small, vacuumed-sealed containers are your best bets.
Dry Pasta and Dry Cereal
Dry pasta and dry cereal have comparable shelf lives to the other foods on this list so long as they are–you guessed it–stored properly in vacuumed-sealed containers kept off the ground.
Have you attempted to store food before? What was your experience? Leave a comment and share your tips!