Food storage is not all about plastic Tupperware and freezer bags. Food storage is an emergency preparedness concept of storing lots of food in many different forms in case of a natural disaster or economic crisis where you are unable to buy your normal groceries.
The idea of food storage is discussed and encouraged a lot by the LDS church (Mormons) and they have come up with some great guidelines of having a water supply on hand, a three-month supply of the normal foods you eat, as well as a longer-term food supply for an extended emergency. Most people end up stockpiling all of their food and never learn how to use it and end up wasting it when it expires. A better idea is to learn to cook with your food storage so that you can have your family used to eating those foods, and also be rotating through your stores so they don't go to waste.
I conducted the following interview with Crystal Godfrey from Everyday Food Storage as a way to help food storage beginners learn some tips and tricks on how to actually use their food storage.
Crystal, what made you start using your food storage for your everyday cooking?
Well, I got my food storage and I didn't want it to just be sitting there on my shelves all the time. My mom actually used food storage when I was growing up, so I knew the basics of it. I knew it could be gross so I was a little timid in trying it. So I just started trying a little bit at a time and I just started using it. And as I started using one thing and being successful at it then it gave me encouragement to try other things. And it just kind of snowballed until I was using it every day. And then I noticed that not only was I prepared in knowing that if there was an emergency that my family would eat what I made, but that I was also saving money, saving time, and making fewer messes while I was at it.
So the key is starting small? And working your way up?
Yes, definitely. Which you guys know all about!
Yes, we're at the SMALL part right now. Now where do you buy most of your food storage ingredients?
Now when you say food storage ingredients you're talking not the three-month supply?
Article comments
1 - Bruce
Wet-packed canned food from the grocery store will store FAR longer than the expiration date states.
Twice in our history, canned food that was over 100 years old was found, once in England and once in the Missouri River. While it wasn't pretty anymore, it was found to be edible ... and the Missouri River canned food was even declared to be still nutritious (by a testing lab).
You can read both articles here.
Best regards!
Bruce