Long Lasting Food

[Brent S]

I did hear of packaged food that is dehydrated and it is supposed to last about 20 years. Is anyone familiar with this stuff? How does it taste?

I am going to to my local REI and see how much it costs.

Dehydrated is the best tasting and longest lasting. Walmart sells some in the camping section now for about 6bucks a meal. The longevity is great, but there are so many variables that the real use by is less. If you store something in a cool, dry and dark cave, it will last longer, the trunk of your car, well, not so longer. I would love to have three months of the stuff, but the cost is a little prohibitive. So far I've opted for mason jars and oxy absorbers. I'm covered with rice and beans. Definitely not as tasty, but will keep you going in a pinch.

 

[nubria]

Dehydrated is the best tasting and longest lasting. Walmart sells some in the camping section now for about 6bucks a meal. The longevity is great, but there are so many variables that the real use by is less. If you store something in a cool, dry and dark cave, it will last longer, the trunk of your car, well, not so longer. I would love to have three months of the stuff, but the cost is a little prohibitive. So far I've opted for mason jars and oxy absorbers. I'm covered with rice and beans. Definitely not as tasty, but will keep you going in a pinch.

I'm a big fan of dollar tree Handover soups are good. they got lots of can good i'm well stock now with 2017 dates. Can corn beef, spam, and other are in my pantry.

 

[Danil54grl]

Honestly I think that we all need to learn how they preserved foods in the Colonial days which included smoking, dehydrating, jelly making and salting. I have already started learning some of these. This is a great link
http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodcolonial.html
Lots of great information.

 

[nubria]

I have all hand tools I use as I believe they'll turn off all electric. Crock for pickle making, pressure cooker heavy stainless steel, I'm looking for a hand ringers . Gear guide I got a solar generator good for 100 watts . Small lights or T.V can be run. The have solar chargers for 12 volt battery you can buy inverter to 110 for 30 dollars. A good interstate will last a few years. Cast Iron for open fire cooking . You can get 5 piece set of lodge for around 70 dollars plus shipping already seasoned. I'll check out that wedsite as my grand mother used to do all that.

 

[nubria]

Honestly I think that we all need to learn how they preserved foods in the Colonial days which included smoking, dehydrating, jelly making and salting. I have already started learning some of these. This is a great link
http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodcolonial.html
Lots of great information.

Looking at the site cornmeal mush I still eat made in to a loaf cut fried in oil. My grand mother made lye soap. Breads we had chickens, always big gardens. You can keep milk fresh by placing a silver dollar in it. Bacteria cannot gown around silver. Colloidal silver can be used to fight infections. Activated charcoal for food poisoning. I buy Silver it great if we get back to bartering.

 

[Brent S]

Honestly I think that we all need to learn how they preserved foods in the Colonial days which included smoking, dehydrating, jelly making and salting. I have already started learning some of these. This is a great link
http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodcolonial.html
Lots of great information.

I'll check the site later on, but couldn't agree more on learning to make your own. Buying food supplies is fine, but they run out, or could be lost due to theft, fire or flood. Being able to replenish your food long term is key to survival. I haven't looked at salting yet, oh well, who cares about a little high blood pressure! Lol.

 

[Gazrok]

Yep, those who really thrive post SHTF are going to be those that know how to keep animals, can their own food, and salt/preserve meats as well as grow their own produce. All skills we are starting to learn here, just takes time.

 

[Brent S]

The internet is amazing as a resource guide to learn all these things. Our ancestress had to learn from their elders one on one. We are amazingly lucky to have the worlds knowledge at our fingertips. It's a shame that the number 1 use of the internet is still porn!

 

[Danil54grl]

I have a friend who tells me what his grandmother did, at least as far as he can remember, but the boys were always shooed out of the kitchen so he can only tell me to a point. I could only wish I could find someone to learn first hand everything I wanted to do, but unfortunately I still rely on the internet to do my 'how to' researches. I know how to can, which was more like pioneer days. Colonials 'potted' meats. We recently bought an old 8ft x 12ft insulated building that we are planning to make into a smokehouse so that we can do our own and it could also be used in drying meats but with everything else going on, it has been put on the backburner. Yes I agree the internet is an awesome tool because now I don't have to go into downtown to the library and since I don't live there, would have to pay for a card.

 

[nubria]

Yep, those who really thrive post SHTF are going to be those that know how to keep animals, can their own food, and salt/preserve meats as well as grow their own produce. All skills we are starting to learn here, just takes time.

You'll need to know a lot of the old time tricks. The Amish are master at them.

 

[Shenandoah]

You'll need to know a lot of the old time tricks. The Amish are master at them.

Just ask!
I "stole" my husband from an old order Amish Ordnung!! We continue to farm with horses, and preserve most everything just as the Amish do. I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains so just add a bit of hillbilly to the process and we have it all covered!! Growing, farming, harvesting, smoking, dehydrating, canning, and preserving comes second nature here!

Blessings,
Shenandoah

 

[Brent S]

Just ask!
I "stole" my husband from an old order Amish Ordnung!! We continue to farm with horses, and preserve most everything just as the Amish do. I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains so just add a bit of hillbilly to the process and we have it all covered!! Growing, farming, harvesting, smoking, dehydrating, canning, and preserving comes second nature here!

Blessings,
Shenandoah

I have all hand tools I use as I believe they'll turn off all electric. Crock for pickle making, pressure cooker heavy stainless steel, I'm looking for a hand ringers . Gear guide I got a solar generator good for 100 watts . Small lights or T.V can be run. The have solar chargers for 12 volt battery you can buy inverter to 110 for 30 dollars. A good interstate will last a few years. Cast Iron for open fire cooking . You can get 5 piece set of lodge for around 70 dollars plus shipping already seasoned. I'll check out that wedsite as my grand mother used to do all that.

I too believe we will see a I day when there is no electricity, or at least it won't be on 24/7 like we are used to. I recently replaced all my lawn and garden tools and have a decent supply of misc tools. I have to admit though, I'm pretty spoiled by the dewalt cordless tools, will certainly miss them if I can't charge the batteries. All I know is we have it really easy right now. People don't realize how much effort goes into daily chores without electricity, like preparing meals, laundry, bathing, (I can't stand cold water!). I'm getting as prepared as I can for the day it happens, but I sure am greatfull for the ease of life we all enjoy now.

 

[Brent S]

I have a friend who tells me what his grandmother did, at least as far as he can remember, but the boys were always shooed out of the kitchen so he can only tell me to a point. I could only wish I could find someone to learn first hand everything I wanted to do, but unfortunately I still rely on the internet to do my 'how to' researches. I know how to can, which was more like pioneer days. Colonials 'potted' meats. We recently bought an old 8ft x 12ft insulated building that we are planning to make into a smokehouse so that we can do our own and it could also be used in drying meats but with everything else going on, it has been put on the backburner. Yes I agree the internet is an awesome tool because now I don't have to go into downtown to the library and since I don't live there, would have to pay for a card.

I read up on things like gardening and raising rabbits. Even though I thought I was prepared for each, there is some 'art' involved with these things. There is no replacement for learning from someone who's done it for years. Even with as much knowledge as you can gather, you'll learn some things the hard way. Hopefully I'll be able to help some others down the road.

 

[Brent S]

Looking at the site cornmeal mush I still eat made in to a loaf cut fried in oil. My grand mother made lye soap. Breads we had chickens, always big gardens. You can keep milk fresh by placing a silver dollar in it. Bacteria cannot gown around silver. Colloidal silver can be used to fight infections. Activated charcoal for food poisoning. I buy Silver it great if we get back to bartering.

Did you learn how to make lye soap? I've thought about it, and have heard it's kind of dangerous though.

 

[nubria]

Just ask!
I "stole" my husband from an old order Amish Ordnung!! We continue to farm with horses, and preserve most everything just as the Amish do. I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains so just add a bit of hillbilly to the process and we have it all covered!! Growing, farming, harvesting, smoking, dehydrating, canning, and preserving comes second nature here!

Blessings,
Shenandoah

i was born in WVa a little place called Davis Creek . I recall smoke house , pigs, chicken, huge gardens after digging out the rocks. making lye soap to wash clothes. Baking bread and of course outhouse.

 

[nubria]

Did you learn how to make lye soap? I've thought about it, and have heard it's kind of dangerous though.

No but I believe my sister does I'll ask her. She told me how to make mush like mom.

 

[Danil54grl]

I read up on things like gardening and raising rabbits. Even though I thought I was prepared for each, there is some 'art' involved with these things. There is no replacement for learning from someone who's done it for years. Even with as much knowledge as you can gather, you'll learn some things the hard way. Hopefully I'll be able to help some others down the road.

Oh trust me. . . I have had my disasters and have learned from them! I have a certain mind set to learn how to as much as possible and for the most part I learn by my trials and errors. . . and those are lessons that stick with you! I started back when I was a teen, but have to say there is still so much more I want to learn. I am very fortunate to have a very close friend that comes and helps us out with the critters when I have no idea and on some he doesn't either so we call a vet at that time.

 

[Danil54grl]

Did you learn how to make lye soap? I've thought about it, and have heard it's kind of dangerous though.

When making lye soap you just need to use caution since the lye is dangerous and will eat thru your skin and other materials You also need to make certain that the lye is poured into the water, not vice-versa! Anything that you have poured lye into needs to not ever be used for food prep . . ever. . . ever. . .again! If you do it step by step, you will not have any problems.

What I want to know is, if you make your own lye using rainwater and ash, do you still use the same amount in recipes? or does it differ? I haven't made my own lye yet. . . just used commercial lye from the store, like Red Devil

 

[psalm 7]

When you make your own lye the steps i've seen are the same but the soap may stay thick liqiud instead of solid . One old timer told me all their soad was liquid . Another said you can cook it longer and it will become solid . Use hard wood ash preferably Hickory in a wood trough lined with corn shucks or straw and pour water over it and let it finish draining and there's your lye . They also said Bacon fat or Sheep tallow made the best soap .