Meeting 4c: Food Storage Inventories

Food Storage Inventory Resources

 How to track what you have, what you use, and remember where you bought it and for what price.

What do you want to inventory?:

      - Short-term food storage items

      - Long-term food storage items

      - Non-food items (ex. paper towels, tp, paper plates/cups, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)

      - Emergency Prep. Inventory of Equipment (ex. dehydrator, solar oven, extra can openers, sterno or other fuel & stoves, etc.)

      - Valuables in your home in case of a house fire or natural disaster. You can include this list in your emergency binder and/or safe or safety deposit box. This is a must for insurance purposes.

      - Location of your food storage and other items on the spreadsheets. You can also add where you have found the best price and what the best price is.

    

A few meal planning food storage ideas:

*FoodStorageMadeEasy.net - 3 month food supply spreadsheet (FREE)

http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/babysteps/step-3-three-months-of-normal-food/

·         Click to download the worksheet. They also have a great basic tutorial on how to use the worksheet.

·         The spreadsheet also has tabs for "non-food items". The extra tutorial on this website will explain how to use that.

*Watch these awesome videos by Wendy DeWitt!! Seriously, you must if you haven't already! Here is the 1st one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBOyg3t6zdw&list=PLC008D1829032378D. Once you watch this one, it should suggest the next one. There are 9 short videos. She is funny and has great ideas. She is very motivating for me too. Take notes while you watch. She has a great way to plan meals and track that on note cards until you make a master list. 

Different Inventory Options:

*FoodStorageMadeEasy.net - Long-Term Food Storage Calculator Spreadsheet (FREE) http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/babysteps/step-4-long-term-food-storage-planning/

·         These are the spreadsheets I use to keep track of what I have. There are tutorials for this one too. You can download the spreadsheet from this page as well (toward the bottom of the post).

*CookingWithMyFoodStorage - Beautiful colored inventory you can print out. She also has lots of recipes and other great things on her website. Definitely check out for a simpler approach to your inventory.

*Stock Up Food - Stockupfood helps you find out how much food storage you need and easily keeps track of what you have. You can set goals too.  (Basic for FREE, nominal fee to customize and inventory non-food options)

http://www.stockupfood.com/

*Android and iPhone apps for your phone or other devices (*Search in your app store for "food storage inventory" , "food storage", or "inventory" for more ideas.)

·         Free Apple apps - *Home Food Storage (Pantry, Prep, or Grocery) App, Expiration Tracker, eFoodStorage (you can scan the barcodes of food you buy), DispensaMini, etc.

·         Free Android apps - Food Storage Assistant, Food Storage Management (scan barcodes and say how many on hand and goal amount), etc.

*Microsoft Excel has various inventory spreadsheets available. Click "New" and type inventory in the search bar. They also have meal planning and grocery shopping spreadsheet templates you can customize OR make your own!!

*AreWeCrazyOrWhat.net - Purchase their Preparedness Planner for $19.99 @ http://arewecrazyorwhat.net/introducing-the-preparedness-planner/ .

Tips:

*Keep your inventories in an easy to access place - inside of pantry door or kitchen cupboard.  Write a date when you last updated your spreadsheet. You can hang a pencil on a string with it so you can update when you used something and need to replace. You can also keep a grocery list nearby that you check before going shopping. If you order anything online, you can keep those receipts in a folder or something until you can add them to your inventory for lbs. (or # of cans, price, and where you bought it). Write down where you are storing things (especially if things are scattered around your house/under beds/in closets/etc.)

*Please share any tips you have with us!

Meeting 4a: Tips for buying food storage and other items in bulk

Erin Benhke shared some great tips on buying food storage and other items in bulk.  Here is what she shared with us:

    Bulk Buying Rules:

1.  Calculate the price-per-unit (Value Tracker for iPhone, and Grocery Tracker for Android or price book)
2. Never buy bulk if you have not used it before
3. Never Bulk Buy Perishable Goods Unless You’re Going to Process All of it Immediately
4. Have a place to store your items already planned
5.   Keep an eye when you are low, so you can replenish before you run out
6.  Bulk buy over time, not all at once 
7.   Split bulk purchases with others if that makes sense 

Places to Look For Bulk Foods:

1.    Amazon Subscribe and Save (five items in one month saves an additional 15%)
2. Amazon (search for bulk), just be sure to add shipping into the price
3. Google search for bulk items (use specific name brands)
4. Wilderness Family Naturals for anything coconut
5. LDS Storehouse (although price check items)
6. Aldi (beats prices on LDS Storehouse on many things)
7. Walton food orders, Montana Wheat food orders
8. Farmer’s Market bulk food section
9. Local farm to buy a cow to split the meat (same for other types of meat)
10. Agri supply or farm store
11. Costco
12. Target online (via Ebates [2.5% back],with their card [5% off & free shipping or store pick up] along with their subscription program [usually 5%]).  

   Items to think about buying in bulk:

1.  Shampoo by the gallon ($39/128oz vs.  $8.39/18oz= about half the price)
2. Conditioner by the gallon
3. Laundry soap
4. Toilet paper
5.  Paper
6.  Pens and pencils
7.  Toothbrushes
8.  Coconut oil
9.  Towels
10. Canned goods (larger sizes vs. smaller ones)
11.  Freeze dried food
12. Grains and beans
13.  Freezer bags, disposable baking pans
14.  Silverware (from Ikea)
15. Small appliances (group buy)
16. Almost anything can be bought at wholesale when you buy enough!

     Tips Shared by those who were in attendance:

1. (Will Be updated Soon)

Meeting 4b: Long-term Food Storage How-to

Long-term Food Storage

Can anyone tell me the difference between long-term and short-term food storage?

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              - Short-term food is usually highly processed (boxed meals), stored in liquid (canned goods) or has a high fat content.  It needs to be used and rotated regularly. 

-      

               -Long-term food is usually dried, dehydrated, or freeze dried.  The majority of long-term, if stored properly, can be stored indefinitely.

Short-term food storage ranges from 6 months- 18 months when it comes to shelf life.  One thing to remember about canned goods, as long as they are not dented, rusted or damaged, they can last up to 5 years.  The quality will probably not be as good but they are still edible!

There are several long-term food items that can last indefinitely.  It’s all about how they are stored.  The five things to keep in mind when storing food are:

Oxygen- conditions to enhance the growth of microorganisms.

Moisture- Excessive moisture can result deterioration and spoilage by creating an environment with which bacteria can grow and chemical reactions can take place.

Light- Exposure to light can result in the deterioration of fats, proteins, and vitamins.

Temperature- Excessive temperature fluctuations are damaging to food storage.  With increased temperature, proteins breakdown and vitamins are destroyed.  The color, flavor and odor will be affected.  To enhance shelf life, your food should be stored at or below room temperature; never in your attic or garage.

Pests- If insects or mice get into your food storage they will not only contaminate your food storage but can expose you food storage to moisture, light and oxygen.

Storage Containers:

#10 cans

Pros:

-Great for storing in small places.

- Sturdy and airtight

-Can store in pantry.

-Smaller amount of food to use up once opened.

-Keeps food safe from insects and rodents.

Cons:

-Can rust when exposed to water.

-Need a special tool to seal the lids on.

Mylar bags

Pros:

-Least expensive food storing option.

-They are airtight and keep moisture out of food.

- Great to use as a second shield in buckets.

-Easily sealed.

Cons:

-Mice can chew through them.

- Can be easily punctured, so not as sturdy.

Buckets  

Pros:

-Great for bulk food storage.

-The keep mice and other animals out of your food.

-Protects from moisture.

-Reusable.

- Stackable, so great for storing.

-Easily sealed.

Cons:

-Hard to open and reseal.

- Must use food grade plastic.

- Can be most expensive option.

-Overtime oxygen and other gasses can travel through the plastic.

You can do ‘Super Pails,’ which are buckets lined with Mylar bags.  These are the most expensive option but will last the longest!

Removing Oxygen:

There are 3 ways to remove the oxygen from your containers when storing you food long-term.

Oxygen Absorbers

Pros:

-Simple and easy to use.

-Can be stored easily.

-Fairly inexpensive.  Most Mylar bags come with oxygen absorbers.

-Best for Mylar bags and #10 cans.

Cons:

-If used in plastic buckets it causes air to flow through the pores of the buckets faster.

-You will most likely not be able to replant your grains.  The seeds will die without oxygen.

Dry Ice

Pros:

-Least expensive option.

-Great for using in buckets.

Cons:

-Can burn you if not handled properly.

-Can be harder to store.

-Cannot use in Mylar bags or #10 cans.

How-To:

When using oxygen absorbers you will need 2000 cc for 5 gallon Mylar bags and 300 cc for 1 gallon Mylar bags and #10 cans.  When sealing a Mylar bag you can use a clothing iron or a hair straightener.  When sealing the bag you will need to leave 1-2 inches unsealed to place your oxygen absorber.  If placing the Mylar is a bucket you will want to leave 4-6 inches from the top of the bucket to make placing the lid easier. Once you have placed the oxygen absorber and sealed the Mylar closed, if in a bucket leave overnight to allow oxygen absorption.  If sealing just the Mylar bag lay it out flat over night.  When using #10 cans place the oxygen absorber at the top of the can, place lid and use canner to seal.

You can use a hair straightner or iron if you do not have the Mylar bag sealer.

2000 cc oxygen absorbers

Wheat being stored in 'super pails.'

When using dry ice you will need ¼ lb of dry ice for every 5 gallon bucket. You will want to place a little bit of grain on the bottom and then place in your dry ice, fill to the top. You will place the lid on the bucket but not sealed.  After 3-4 hours you will come back and snap the lid on tight.  Come back in a few more hours to see if they are bulging.  If they are, you will ‘burp’ the bucket by pulling up one side and gases escape and then seal bucket.

Your goal should be to cycle through your food storage every 5 years.  This can be accomplished by learning to use every item you store and using it out a daily basis!  

Recommendation- Tick Key

 

At the last meeting a recommendation was given for a tick key. The Tick Key is used to safely and quickly remove ticks.  They are great to have in a 72 hour kit, a car kit or even just on your car keys.  They can be found at several different stores and online.