Food that keeps without refridgeration.

[i386]

Looking for some food ideas that can be stored without energy. Staples like flour, corn meal, oats and beans come to mind. Other veggies? What about salt cured meats? How long do they keep?

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Food that keeps without refrigeration.

Re: Food that keeps without refrigeration.

I don't know what you're planning but if you want to store food that doesn't require energy, you may want to plan on being able to eat the food in a way that doesn't require energy.

In that case, I'm not sure how to use flower, corn meal, or beans if they are dried unless you can build a fire (which may not be an option if you need to be sealed up in your house).

Canned food can last a long time and usually doesn't require any prep work or heating for eating.

The shelf life on canned food is usually 2 or 3 years but it probably last longer (in my opinion).

We keep a tub of emergency supplies in the basement with a lot of things like canned tuna, soup, crackers, maybe some canned chili.

When the Boy Scouts come around looking for food donations, we usually give them our emergency supply food and replace it with new stuff.

 

[dave11]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

Buy some MREs.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

Cured back bacon will last for month or so but must be kept cool. There's also dried meat or fish. Dehydrated fruit and veggies will last for years if done right. Flower,Baking soda,salt and water made into a bread and cooked on the BQ in a frying pan with some oil is good (natives up here call it banik). Just think how the pioneers lived with out refrigeration.

 

[i386]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

Just think how the pioneers lived with out refrigeration.

That's what I'm thinking.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

We have to stock up for hurricanes. Canned foods seem to be the easiest and best. Stuff like deviled ham, Spam, Beenie weinees, peaches-you get the idea. For heat, have plenty of LP gas on hand for your grill or use a small fire in the fireplace. We donate the food from year to year if we don't use it and replace the stock. I've had some that was several years old and it was still good.

 

[JB]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

Winter squashes (butternut, acorn, spaghetti, hubbard, etc.) keep well if kept cool. I have stored them in a root cellar for months. Most veggies and many fruits keep indefinitely if dried and kept from moisture. Same for jerky, smoked or raw.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

I got a feeling JB is thinking along same lines as this family.

Our thoughts are to get the vegie garden going in full swing, as a lot of vegies
hold quite well while still in the ground growing, especially if you don't over-plant and stagger your planting.

My mother came from an era before refrigeration, and she use to preserve in what was then a 1lb and 2lb jars, trade-named "agee", and they had a lid with a rubber seal that sealed tight after she heated them in the oven.

During the season Mum put down enough nectarine, peaches, apple, big plums, quinces etc, plus vegies, plus of course pink salmon to keep us in food, along with a vegie garden, all year.

The meat was held in a thing we called a "safe", which was basically a dark cool cupboard with plenty of ventilation covered in fine mesh, and the meat was covered in muslin cloth and hung on a hook. Most of the time it was sheep meat, and Mum bought it as a whole dressed carcass.

We may laugh at the old days JB, but we probably ate more, and better, than now, and the grocery bill was made up from buying flour (25lb bag), sugar (40lb sack), tea (5lb box) and salt (10lb sack), plus the dunny rolls of course.

I will follow this thread!!

Cheers
Phillip

 

[Beefer]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

Just think how the pioneers lived with out refrigeration.

Just think who many pioneers DIED without refrigeration!

My answer; Pop-Tarts!

Now back to our regularly scheduled forum programming.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

Don't Forget The Honey, Never Spoils.

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

We really need more info. Why were you trying to save this food without refrigeration?

I live in rural southern MN. (Think Iowa, Corn fields, flat land, etc) I have to be prepared in the winter to go for awhile without electricity. First, I have a back up generator. Then I have cupboard full of canned food. Then I have a emergency box on my basement with enough food, water, medicine, and other things, in it to last for a few days. I can take this box throw it in my camper and be out of her in 30 minutes if need be. You can't be prepared for every emergency. Just be prepared for most, and!! the ones most likely to happen in you area!

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Food that keeps without refridgeration.

I've cured and eaten salt cured pork (read country ham) well over a year old and kept hanging at a cool room temp.