Food prepping
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How long will your freezer run if you lost power? Or an EMP?
I'd suggest a combination. Dried food to last a few months/a year+. Then seeds and animals to provide long-term food.
I'd suggest a combination. Dried food to last a few months/a year+. Then seeds and animals to provide long-term food.
The freezer is great if you're off the grid and have solar/wind to go off of. Depends on how much power you can pump out though because you may need it all for heat depending on how you run your heat.
Personally, I keep a supply of canned tuna and chicken, that way both me and my cats can eat it.
Personally, I keep a supply of canned tuna and chicken, that way both me and my cats can eat it.
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Multi-layer approach.
Frozen food for short term. To be kept for a while by inverters and a genny. I will try just running off of inverters and using the genny to recharge the batteries (about 400 amp hours total capacity, not counting the car batteries) I may have to run off the genny while recharging batteries if that is more efficient. I don't want to test that until I have to because I don't want to shorten the battery life by running them down unnecessarily. That gives me time to cook and can the frozen food if it looks like the power outage will last long enough that they won't keep. I can make a huge pot of stew in the turkey fryer.
Canned food for the medium term. I draw from the canned food stock periodically to keep it rotated.
Freeze dried food (25 year shelf life) and non-GMO heirloom seeds for the long term.
Frozen food for short term. To be kept for a while by inverters and a genny. I will try just running off of inverters and using the genny to recharge the batteries (about 400 amp hours total capacity, not counting the car batteries) I may have to run off the genny while recharging batteries if that is more efficient. I don't want to test that until I have to because I don't want to shorten the battery life by running them down unnecessarily. That gives me time to cook and can the frozen food if it looks like the power outage will last long enough that they won't keep. I can make a huge pot of stew in the turkey fryer.
Canned food for the medium term. I draw from the canned food stock periodically to keep it rotated.
Freeze dried food (25 year shelf life) and non-GMO heirloom seeds for the long term.
I'm not as prepped as a lot of the folks here. I have pretty much 3 days (probably a week) of dried foods (ramen and soups) and canned goods and a week of DRINKING water. The emergency food is separate from the rest of the stuff in the condo. I don't really rotate, I just eat something every once in a while, then put it down on the next grocery list.
We grow heirloom veggies, and have bags of seeds saved up. We have a hydroponics tower, and enough liquid mix for probably 2 more seasons.
We grow heirloom veggies, and have bags of seeds saved up. We have a hydroponics tower, and enough liquid mix for probably 2 more seasons.
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I have frozen veggies and meat, but those I consider my everyday food. . . the 'crisis' will be preserving all that food if the power stays out for days on end and we run out of propane and gas for generators. We grow our own in the garden and then use different methods to preserve. . . freezing, canning and dehydrating. Look for heirloom seeds so you can harvest the seeds for next planting.
If your just starting out, just buy a little here and there. You'll be amazed at how fast you can grow your pantry levels by just picking g up a couple cans here and there along with a bag of beans or rice. I stock up on basics baking supplies along with beans and rice. Making from scratch will also be friendly on your budget to allow you to spend money on this thingS you need to buy instead.
If your just starting out, just buy a little here and there. You'll be amazed at how fast you can grow your pantry levels by just picking g up a couple cans here and there along with a bag of beans or rice. I stock up on basics baking supplies along with beans and rice. Making from scratch will also be friendly on your budget to allow you to spend money on this thingS you need to buy instead.
I think having a good mix of frozen, freeze dried, canned and other forms of food is wise. Never put all your eggs in one basket per say. Getting a good water filter, or two, is still at the top of my list over food though.
food in a freezer will go "off" and will be lost within 48 hours of the power going off, which is why i'm not relying on it in a long term SHTF scenario. canned food is the bulk of our supplies, we keep a stockpile of these and restock plus a few extra once a month. we have a garden so we grow as much veg and fruit as we can, i'm currently looking for more land to buy but its expensive in the south of England.
we have direct access to acres of woodland and farm land as we live on the extreme edge of a very small very rural market town.
we have direct access to acres of woodland and farm land as we live on the extreme edge of a very small very rural market town.
What the others have said. A mix of various foods in various states.
If you are relying on your feezer at the moment, make sure you keep it full. If you do have space, fill it with jugs of water. A full freezer will hold it's temperature for about 48 hours, then food may start to defrost. As long as you keep opening the freezer to a minimum, food will stay safe for several days.
From Food Safety.gov
When the Power Goes Out
https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/poweroutage.html
If you are relying on your feezer at the moment, make sure you keep it full. If you do have space, fill it with jugs of water. A full freezer will hold it's temperature for about 48 hours, then food may start to defrost. As long as you keep opening the freezer to a minimum, food will stay safe for several days.
From Food Safety.gov
When the Power Goes Out
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
- A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the door is kept closed.
- A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full). If your freezer is not full, group packages so they form an “igloo” to protect each other.
- Place meat and poultry to one side or on a tray so if they begin thawing their juices will not get on other foods.
- If the power is going to be out for a long time, buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days.
https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/poweroutage.html
The freezer is mostly a convince for today in my opinion. With extended power loss it would basically become a storage cabinet. For now though it enables me to buy when things are on sale, and ensure I always have the convince of knowing I always have something for dinner on hand. If we do loose power then whatever is in there would become several loads of canned soup pretty quickly. Even with the generator, which is for short term power loss, I wouldn’t waste the fuel on keeping the freezer going in a long term event.
That's how I look at things too. My freezer is a today tool. It's there for day to day use. All of my stores are either canned, dehydrated or still in the ground. I'm happy with the balance.
We have gardens, we also can, we also have canned goods, we also raise a good portion of our meat. We also have a very large stock of long term dry foods (#10 cans, and 6gal buckets) plus freezer(s) of meat, we try to diversify our food as much as possible plus we have garden seeds in the freezer of course we are going along the lines of bugging in as our primary course of action and hopefully that won't change.
Great advice, where is a food source or list for what type of baking supplies to have on hand for long term use to be able to make your own fresh breads grains etc when food chain is gone?
Check our food threads. There are several suggestions there. I will compile a list and post.
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Also, the LDS has compiled a list. Their goal is enough for 1 year at least. You can Google it.
The idea would be a years supply of shelf stable food and the means to be self sufficient when that stock pile is gone during a TEOTWAWKI event . Most likely no One here will see such a event but its about being prepared if We do . I keep alot of the stuff We use everyday then a long term stock of emergency food . And My biggest asset being the ability to homestead . Replenish and sustainability .
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This is probably the best guide I have read (and I follow a lot of it myself).
https://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage/ou-files/Food_Storage_Booklet2.pdf
https://extension.usu.edu/foodstorage/ou-files/Food_Storage_Booklet2.pdf
What? This is just poor advice. First off, do you know how much 50 lbs of dry ice would COST? Not to mention the hassle of transport, handling, etc. and of course, WHERE the hell you are supposed to get that much of it.
And bagged or block ice is a horrible idea...as it melts, you get a MESS. (trust me, I know this from experience).
Instead, you should always have two freezers anyways. Can get them for like $60 on Craigslist, so not exactly breaking the bank. In my overflow freezer, I always have at least a case of bottled water frozen in there.
IF we lose power, we simply consolidate the expensive items in one unit, then pack every nook and cranny with those frozen water bottles. Will keep things fine for about 4-5 days, as long as you only open the unit a couple of times per day, and quickly.
I prefer a multi-pronged approach to my food preps.
First off, I'll say this, you really shouldn't prep "emergency" food that you don't normally eat. The reason is that the last thing you want to do in a crisis is have to deal with the stomach issues arising from getting used to new foods.
STORE BOUGHT CANNED FOOD - this is just a given. While most are dated for a year, they are still perfectly safe up to 5 years or more. The taste may change a little (especially for canned fruit) and you may not get as many nutrients from some, but most canned foods will still be fine for this time. Some different things to think of too: canned evaporated milk, or even dry milk. Can also get dry butter.
HOME CANNED FOOD - This will last WAY longer than the above, and still retain taste, nutrients much longer. This is also a great way to handle the harvest from the next option (the home garden). There is some up front cost here (pressure cooker, canning supplies, etc.) and some learning to do, but for prepping, you just can't beat this at all. Note, there are some different types, so need to be educated on this, but a lot of material out there to help.
HOME GARDEN - you don't need acres for this. Many foods can be grown in pots, even hanging baskets. Fruit trees also fall into this category. This is just great, renewable food. Besides, with any extra, you can do the above for long term storage (canning).
DRY GOODS - These items keep for up to 15 (some say 20) years. Things like dry pasta, mashed potato flakes, dry cereals, dry rice, dry grains, dry beans, flour, sugar, popcorn kernels, and dry corn are great, and can be stored in tightly sealed containers to keep well. You may need desiccant packs for some of these, to absorb any moisture that forms. These things are hard to make yourself, so a good idea to stockpile, and rotate through. Again, food you are used to eating anyhow. (and don't forget dried spices, though you should be growing some spices too).
COOKING ESSENTIALS - These are things like cooking oil, seasonings, bullion, sauce mixes, condiments, bottled sauces, etc. While not a "need", I'm more about preserving a certain quality of life vs. just survival.
With all or even some of the above, you should be set just fine. But, you don't have to do it all at once. It's a process. Can build up.
First off, I'll say this, you really shouldn't prep "emergency" food that you don't normally eat. The reason is that the last thing you want to do in a crisis is have to deal with the stomach issues arising from getting used to new foods.
STORE BOUGHT CANNED FOOD - this is just a given. While most are dated for a year, they are still perfectly safe up to 5 years or more. The taste may change a little (especially for canned fruit) and you may not get as many nutrients from some, but most canned foods will still be fine for this time. Some different things to think of too: canned evaporated milk, or even dry milk. Can also get dry butter.
HOME CANNED FOOD - This will last WAY longer than the above, and still retain taste, nutrients much longer. This is also a great way to handle the harvest from the next option (the home garden). There is some up front cost here (pressure cooker, canning supplies, etc.) and some learning to do, but for prepping, you just can't beat this at all. Note, there are some different types, so need to be educated on this, but a lot of material out there to help.
HOME GARDEN - you don't need acres for this. Many foods can be grown in pots, even hanging baskets. Fruit trees also fall into this category. This is just great, renewable food. Besides, with any extra, you can do the above for long term storage (canning).
DRY GOODS - These items keep for up to 15 (some say 20) years. Things like dry pasta, mashed potato flakes, dry cereals, dry rice, dry grains, dry beans, flour, sugar, popcorn kernels, and dry corn are great, and can be stored in tightly sealed containers to keep well. You may need desiccant packs for some of these, to absorb any moisture that forms. These things are hard to make yourself, so a good idea to stockpile, and rotate through. Again, food you are used to eating anyhow. (and don't forget dried spices, though you should be growing some spices too).
COOKING ESSENTIALS - These are things like cooking oil, seasonings, bullion, sauce mixes, condiments, bottled sauces, etc. While not a "need", I'm more about preserving a certain quality of life vs. just survival.
With all or even some of the above, you should be set just fine. But, you don't have to do it all at once. It's a process. Can build up.
Thank your govt. It's from their website.
LOL, yep.....
The added bonus, as the water bottles thaw, second purpose, drinking water. Win-win.
Dry ice melts, you got nothing. Block ice melts, you have a puddle to clean up.
EDIT - During Hurricane Irma, I STILL had to thaw some chicken breasts to grill them, on DAY 3 of no power (because I did the water bottle method). The trick is to fill up nearly every inch of space with those frozen water bottles. (why I like them better than jugs of water).
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Forgot to add this.... Renewable proteins.
CHICKENS - Nice thing about chickens, daily eggs. It's surprising how many cities now allow the keeping of chickens, so even in the city, you could easily have a few. And of course, when they stop laying, you could breed them for more chickens, then cull the non-layers for meat.
RABBITS - There's a reason there's a saying, multiply like rabbits. The rabbit has a duplex uterus, and can get pregnant AGAIN while already pregnant (though this isn't a good practice). But, they mature quickly, so this is a great renewable food source.
The great thing about these two, is that they are easily fed from harvest excess of a garden, and table scraps (chickens are nearly like goats and can eat just about anything it seems). Granted, I like to give them store feed mainly, but post SHTF, this won't be an option (though I do like to keep these well-stocked, but usually no more than about a two-month supply onhand).
Others may keep GOATS, COWS, etc. and while great for food, I have to wonder about the food to yield ratio. (so much food over the course of their lives, before you obtain the meat).
We have HORSES as well, though I'd highly recommend against eating them, even post SHTF. For one thing, they are great post SHTF transportation, but because of all of the drugs and other modern medicines usually put into a kept horse, there could be some potentially hazardous ones you'd get from the meat of them. I'd have to be truly starving before considering this.
CHICKENS - Nice thing about chickens, daily eggs. It's surprising how many cities now allow the keeping of chickens, so even in the city, you could easily have a few. And of course, when they stop laying, you could breed them for more chickens, then cull the non-layers for meat.
RABBITS - There's a reason there's a saying, multiply like rabbits. The rabbit has a duplex uterus, and can get pregnant AGAIN while already pregnant (though this isn't a good practice). But, they mature quickly, so this is a great renewable food source.
The great thing about these two, is that they are easily fed from harvest excess of a garden, and table scraps (chickens are nearly like goats and can eat just about anything it seems). Granted, I like to give them store feed mainly, but post SHTF, this won't be an option (though I do like to keep these well-stocked, but usually no more than about a two-month supply onhand).
Others may keep GOATS, COWS, etc. and while great for food, I have to wonder about the food to yield ratio. (so much food over the course of their lives, before you obtain the meat).
We have HORSES as well, though I'd highly recommend against eating them, even post SHTF. For one thing, they are great post SHTF transportation, but because of all of the drugs and other modern medicines usually put into a kept horse, there could be some potentially hazardous ones you'd get from the meat of them. I'd have to be truly starving before considering this.
I use both gallon water jugs and 16-20 bottles. It helps to have a chest freezer, it doesnt lose as much cold when opened.
I like standing freezers too. Being of the short stature, I once fell in a chest freezer trying to fish something out. I had several bumps on my face and had a passing resemblance to the elephant man for a couple of days.
I also cracked my cheekbone. Apparently it was hilarious- Joined
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I like the chest type freezers. I have two refrigerator freezers and both have the small freezers. I keep 2 liter pop bottles filled with water in the freezers. I put them in the chicken water during the got summer days. They stay frozen much longer than the small bottles.
Used to have a chest freezer...just never knew what was in the damn thing, which is why we switched. Never went back to the chest ones after that. I was looking for a replacement one, when mine bit it, but without the kids here, I really don't need it.
We have another upright fridge/freezer already too, so that secondary fridge is nearly always empty (and the freezer only has the water bottles in it). I may get another one, if I find a good deal, just to have to stock up during good sales. I have a family grocery store not too far away, that has awesome prices on meat most of the time.
This week, our local Winn Dixie has some amazing deals, so we've stocked up a bit. I've probably got two dozen meals worth of meats in the freezers. Chicken under $2 a lb, ground beef under $3 a lb, different pork cuts under $3 or $4 a lb, steaks at $5 a lb....even corned beef was $4 a lb. Some good meals coming up next week!
We have another upright fridge/freezer already too, so that secondary fridge is nearly always empty (and the freezer only has the water bottles in it). I may get another one, if I find a good deal, just to have to stock up during good sales. I have a family grocery store not too far away, that has awesome prices on meat most of the time.
This week, our local Winn Dixie has some amazing deals, so we've stocked up a bit. I've probably got two dozen meals worth of meats in the freezers. Chicken under $2 a lb, ground beef under $3 a lb, different pork cuts under $3 or $4 a lb, steaks at $5 a lb....even corned beef was $4 a lb. Some good meals coming up next week!
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