Food Storage Staples. When planning long term food storage for disasters or an emergency such as job loss or illness, it’s important to know the five staples of an emergency food storage supply. These five staples will be responsible for supplying the family with nourishing food so it’s important to not only store these food staples, but also, know how to cook them so that your family will eat them willingly as well.
There are many varieties of rice. Rice stores well and is easy to cook and delicious to eat. Choose a variety of types such as wild rice, jasmine, brown or white for a varied diet. The recommended amount of rice for food storage is 70 pounds for one adult for one year.
Beans
Beans also store easily and as a food item provide the necessary protein for helping bodies stay strong during an emergency. Beans should be stored in a cool dry place and cooked thoroughly prior to eating. A good variety would be to have kidney beans, black beans, and other similar types of beans on hand. The recommended amount of beans for food storaage is 98 cans for one adult. It is recommended to use canned beans as dried beans will continue to get drier and drier thus rendering them too dry to cook after three or four years of food storage.
Powdered Milk
Powdered milk can be mixed with water and served as a beverage for growing children. It can also be combined with the wheat to make a bread, mixed in with rice for a rice cereal and added to other meals to help flavor them. The recommended amount of dried milk food storage for one adult is 16 pounds per year.
Wheat
Wheat is a perfect food to have in any food storage supply. Ground it can make a bread or thicken any meal. Cooked it can be served as a cereal and served for breakfast. The recommended amount of wheat food storage is 70 pounds per adult per year
Water
No food storage would be complete without a water supply. Water is an important element in everyday living. Water can be used to drink and quench thirst. It can be used in cooking, cleaning, bathing, laundry and to provide moisture to plants that can then be used as food.
Many people also include oatmeal in their food storage. Oatmeal is rich in fiber and also helps to lower high cholesterol. Additionally, it can be combined with wheat to make breads, granolas, cookies and more.
While many of the above are available in boxes it’s recommended that they be stored in water-tight and air-tight containers boxes.
Most of these foods will be a part of daily life for people. Using them daily will help to prepare the prepper to use proper cooking techniques and provide for proper nutrition.
Emergency bags and food storage should be ready at all times. Food is a vital part of living and you never know when you will be faced with a situation requiring food storage.
3 comments
i thought this was going to be freeze dried staples. being alone it is very dificult to store staples like this for me. I already have the year put away. would like some of the newer products freeze dried. an emergency bucket
thank you
You always advise to store wheat. Some of us can’t eat wheat so what would be the best substitute for those on a gluten free diet. Would you recommend oats (oatmeal)?
Author
I would say a good substitute for long-term food storage would be our rice for gluten free diets.