Food Storage and Planning When it comes to preparing for the future, there is a lot on your plate. But in the specific world of preparing for the unexpected through food storage, there are a few key ideas that you should keep in mind to make sure that you are ready for any disaster.
The first great tool for preparation is the 72 hour kit. When you are putting together a 72 hour, you should make sure to include water, food, clothing and all other essentials for each person in your family. It is a good idea to keep it in a backpack so you can take them on a run as part of your disaster preparation. You can often find super cheap backpacks at DI, and it is a good idea to find backpacks for your children that they can carry or pull themselves. Keep 72 hour kits under the bed, and it is also a good idea to have a kit for the car as well.
Another Great Idea is to keep your favorite recipes on hand. When you are putting together your food storage, you should make sure that your food items are all things that your families enjoy. Having recipes on hand will help you to use your food storage effectively and to have a good use for each of the food items. Choose recipes that are easy to make and can be created with only the items you have in your food storage, so you won’t be stuck without a key ingredient.
Storing your food effectively is key You mostly just need to make sure that your food will be safe from the elements and from small animals that may want to sneak in. That being said, you should probably store your items on shelves and in protective containers. It is also a good idea to keep your food storage in a cool dark area so they won’t be effected by extreme heat or poor weather.
Make sure to frequently rotate your items before they expire. If you are choosing food storage items that your family actually enjoys, then this step should be pretty easy. Just make sure to eat from the oldest foodsaver bags before the food expires and to replace all used foods with newer items.
This step should make you really consider whether or not your family will use the items in your food storage.
Stock up at sale times. If foods you like are on sale, it is a good idea to stock up for your food storage; this will save you time and money since you will get more for your dollars and only have to make one big trip. Just make sure that the dates are far in advance so you won’t be stuck with a bunch of expired food.
Make a plan for your preparation. It is a good idea to prepare most carefully for the kinds of emergencies that are likely in your area. So instead of simply preparing for even the craziest impossibilities, focus on the most likely and work your way out from there. As you prepare your food storage with canned goods and vacuum sealer bags, make sure to choose foods that you and your family will love!