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. 

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               -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.

Product Recommendation - Luci inflatable Solar Lantern (no batteries needed!!)

Do you worry that if you needed to use your batteries in an emergency that you might run out? I worry about it all of the time. Sure we have flashlights with batteries in them, but by the time we need to use them, will they still be working. I heard somewhere you should have at minimum enough batteries to give each flashlight/headlamp/etc. 3 cycles of batteries each. So, if one flashlight needs 2-4, you'll need 6-12 batteries for that one flashlight + enough for your others. This is a minimum. More is always better. Anyway, check this out...

Luci Inflatable Solar Lantern - Amazon.com $12-14.95/each

This solar power lantern is awesome! I did a lot of research online and stumbled up it. It was between this and the LuminAid. Luci won because it rated better. Here's what I like about the Luci:

- Solar powered (It has a handle on both sides, so you can carry it, or attach that to the outside of your backpack and it will charge while you are out camping/hiking/doing whatever.) 

- Inflatable and Packable (takes up no space when deflated)

- Rechargeable (I recharge mine by having it deflated and inbetween my blinds and the window so it is always charging and ready until I need it) and I know right where to find it! 

- Waterproof Lantern (Fine to use in the rain, on a boat, etc.)

- Maintenance free

- It is light (My kids drop flashlights and lanterns all of the time, sometimes they stop working because of it. This won't. That's awesome! 

**Here is a great Q & A on the Luci website to answer any additional questions you have about it: https://www.mpowerd.com/frequently-asked-questions-and-information-booklets

This would make a great night light! No fire risk or use of expensive batteries

This would be a great addition to a car kit! I know our flashlights are always dead when we need them to change a tire or something. We always have to whip out a phone and that's not as helpful sometimes. Our goal is to have one in each 72 hour kit so we'll always have a light source. At this price, that is doable. 

When else could you see this as being helpful?

*I am not a paid endorser of this product. I just bought one and love it, so I wanted to share with others a neat product that would be great in an emergency or non-emergency situation that isn't too expensive.*

Meeting 3a: How Will You Stay Warm Safely If The Power Goes Out?

How Will You Stay Warm Safely If The Power Goes Out?

Source: NC State Cooperative Extension Office

          Have you ever been without electricity in the middle of a winter storm? How are you going to keep warm and dry? Sometimes during severe winter storms your home heating system could be inoperative for as long as several days. Keep in mind that alternate heating sources can be dangerous or even deadly without the right handling.

           

          The first thing to do if you lose power and your heating source during a winter storm is to minimize discomfort and possible health problems during this time. Begin by conserving body heat by putting on extra clothing. If the cold is severe, your bed may be the warmest place in the house. Be sure to use extra blankets and covers to trap body heat; this is an especially good way to keep children warm.

            Your next step in keeping warm during this time is to find or improvise an alternative heat source. Your possibilities may include a fireplace, space heater, catalytic camp stove, wood, gas or oil heater; or a gas-fired hot water heater. Some common materials that can be used for fuel include firewood, newspapers, magazines, camp stove fuel, kerosene, wood chips, straw or corncobs. You can burn coal in a fireplace or stove if you make a grate to hold it, allowing air to circulate underneath. A “hardware cloth” screening placed on a standard wood grate will keep coal from falling through. Tightly rolled newspapers or magazines can be used as paper “logs”. Stack them as you would stack firewood to allow for air circulation.

            To increase the efficiently of available heat and close off all rooms except the one to be heated. When selecting a room you need to consider the following tips. If using a vented stove or space heater, select a room with a stove or chimney flue. You should confine emergency heat to a small area. Try to select a room on the “warm” side of the house, away from prevailing winds. Avoid rooms with large windows or uninsulated walls. Interior bathrooms probably have the lowest air leakage and heat loss. Your basement may be a warm place in cold weather because the earth acts as insulation and minimizes heat loss. Isolate the room form the rest of the house by keeping doors closed, hanging bedding or heavy drapes over entryways, or by erecting temporary partitions of cardboard or plywood. Hang drapes, bedding or shower curtains over doors and windows.

            While the chances of freezing to death in your home are small, there’s a greater danger of death by fire, lack of oxygen or carbon monoxide poisoning. Safety is of extreme importance in heating emergency. Follow these precautions:

·         Do not burn anything larger than a candle inside your home without providing adequate ventilation to the outside.

·         Any type of heater (except electric) should be vented. Connect the stove pipe to a chimney flue if at all possible. (Many older homes have capped pipe thimbles in rooms once heated by stoves.) Or hook up your stove to the flue entrance of the non-functioning furnace pipe. If no other alternative exists, consider extending a stove pipe through a window. Replace the window glass with a metal sheet and run the temporary stove pipe through the metal.

·         If you use a catalytic or unvented heater, cross-ventilate by opening a window an inch on each side of the room. It is better to let in some cold air than to run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

·         Do not use a gas or electric oven or surface units for heating. A gas oven may go out or burn inefficiently, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning. An electric oven was not designed for space heating.

·         Do not burn outdoor barbecue materials such as charcoal briquettes inside-even in a fireplace.

·         Do not try to used bottled gas in natural gas appliances unless you have converted the appliances for such use. Also flues and piping suitable for gas-burning appliances maybe unsafe for use with higher temperature oil, coal, or wood smoke.

·         Have one person watch for fire whenever alternative heat sources are used. One person should also stay awake to watch for fire and to make sure ventilation is adequate. If the designated person feels drowsy or has a headache, it may be a sign of inadequate ventilation.

·         Keep firefighting materials on hand. These may include: dry powder fire extinguishers, a tarp or heavy blanket, sand, salt, baking soda. And water.

For additional information the NC Cooperative Extension has a publication entitled “Preparing for Disasters”. It is free and is available at 301 East Center Street in Lexington, or by calling a requesting one at 242-2085.

Meeting 3b: The Power is Out: Cooking with No Electricity

Lissa Estes and Colleen Cole taught about different ways to cook with out electricity. Here is the information they shared.

Alternate cooking                     

Alternate fuels: unleaded gasoline, Coleman white gas, natural gas, propane, butane, wood, charcoal, alcohol, used or new cooking oil, candles, paraffin.

No Cook

Be sure to check your pantry and just check around your kitchen, you will find plenty of food for a day or two without having to cook: fruit, cereal, nuts, bread, veggies, crackers, chips, cheese, canned tuna, canned fruit/veggies, dried fruit, sprouts, sauerkraut.

No cooking needed foods.

Fuel Efficient Cooking

Solar: long, slow cooking, use like a crockpot. Food cooks at 180 degrees, food will cook evenly, does not need added fat or water. Best if aimed at sun and adjusted throughout the day.  DIY or purchased

Wonder Oven: principle is insulation, use like a crockpot. Boil food for 5-10 minutes, then place in Wonder Oven and allow to finish cooking. (See Shalyse)

Thermos: bring to boil, then finish cooking over time.

Rocket Stove: brick or cement block. Uses small pieces of scrap wood or twigs. Makes a quick hot fire with very little fuel. There are many types of purchased rocket stoves, some are able to charge cell phones. (See Coleen)

Sterno: Very low heat potential, use for reheating, or very quick cooking. Use a reusable foil windscreen.

Tuna can with homemade fuel; cardboard and paraffin, cooking oil and wick. Add a shade for light.

Hibachi: alcohol and cotton balls, medium heat for a short amount of time. Use for quick cooking think pieces of marinated meat, or for reheating

Wood: use appropriate amount of fuel, best  used when fire has burned down to coals

Pellet stove: good for 72 hour kits, medium heat that does not last long. Good for reheating, rehydrating noodle soup, making oatmeal, making hot water for cocoa/herb tea

BBQ grill: charcoal, propane: large piece of equipment, can be used for long slow cooking as well as quick hot cooking. Try out recipes and know your grill. Use direct as well as indirect heat.

Box Oven -  cardboard lined with foil: uses charcoal. Good for baking bread, cookies, cake, biscuits, muffins. Be sure to vent the bottom for air flow. Needs a rack and needs to be on a flat surface. Charcoal briquettes have a general rating of 1 per 25 degrees (although I always seem to need more). Start charcoal in a starter chimney, or make one out of a #10 can. Put some newspaper in the bottom with a little cooking oil on the paper to keep it burning longer. Can also use foil pans, aluminum pie pans. Try making a window using turkey oven bags taped with aluminum tape. Can use wire to make a rack, or use cans to hold the rack. (See Coleen Cole for sales data on charcoal)

 

Solar oven made from a car window shield!

A solar oven that can be purchased online.

Another way to cook food.

Carrot cake that Lissa cooked in her Dutch Oven.

Lissa's Dutch Oven bread!  We posted the recipe for everyone under resipes.

Other methods for cooking.

Best Ingredients

Parmesan cheese and bacon bits! They fix almost any meal!!!

Lissa mentioned if cooking pasta it's best to use the thinnest pasta for quick cooking.

Keep in mind

Food cooks at 180 degrees.

Determine how long the situation is likely to last. Assess if you have time and a place to prepare, cook and clean up a meal. Are you bugging in or bugging out?

Use fresh, then frig, then freezer, then canned. Use no cook, then renewable fuel, then limited fuel. Your frig and freezer are connected even if they have two doors, keep both areas closed as long as possible.

Use food with high surface area: angel hair pasta, cut foods into small pieces, always use a lid.

Use as little fuel as possible: Make the most of your heat source: use ALL the heat, when you are finished cooking dinner food, heat water to make oatmeal in a Thermos for breakfast or to wash dishes, or the kids!

Experiment: make things at home on a day when it does not matter if your experiment does not work out. Make some notes and determine what works and what your family likes.

Always use the rule of three: 3 ways to cook, 3 ways to open cans, 3 ways to start a fire, 3 meals from which to choose, 3 ways to put out your fire, 3-3-3-3-3.

Resources

Lds.org

So1thing.com

FEMA

Pinterest

Foodstoragemadeeasy.net

Youtube: sun ovens, rocket stoves, oil lamps, thermos cooking: just follow similar links. Find  your favorite videos, subscribe to several. Watch many videos and compare, then decide what works for you.

Lissa's Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

 

This recipe came from Lissa Estes.  If you've been to the last two meetings and had a chance to try this bread then you know how amazing it is!  And not only is it AMAZING but it is VERY easy!

Lissa's Dutch Oven Artisan Bread

1 1/2 Cups  Water

1/4 tsp. Yeast

1 tsp. Salt

3 Cups All Purpose Flour

Hand mix in a bowl until flour is gone. Place a cloth or towel over the bowl for 8 hours (overnight works great too.) Punch dough down and place on a floured surface. Fold 4-5 times then transfer bread to a frying pan (the frying pan makes it easier to transfer to a HOT Dutch Oven,) and cover with cloth or towel. Dough might still be covered in flour....and that's OK!

Turn oven on to 450.  Place Dutch Oven in oven (including the lid) let the Dutch Oven get hot ( at least 30 min before transferring the dough.)

Turn dough into HOT Dutch oven topping with the lid. Let bake for 30 min. Remove the lid and let bake for 5 more min.

Meeting 2c: Assemble an Emergency Binder

How to make an Emergency Binder

Source

"In case of an emergency, say a house fire, wouldn't it be nice if you could save all of your most valuable documents? I used to keep all of them in an old filing cabinet but you won't see me running out of our burning home carrying that!An emergency binder is a place to store birth and marriage certificates, passports, social security cards, home insurance information, car insurance information, emergency cash, missing fliers for your family members, etc. Its all in one convenient place that is easy to grab on your way out the door." Source

Supplies Needed: 

(and an explanation on each)

    - 1-1/2" to 2" 3-ring Binder with clear window/pocket on front and side  (If you go smaller than 1-1/2", you might not have room for everything. That's what I learned from making ours.) OR Zippered Trapper Keeper (or similar, so things don't fall out!)

     - Sheet Protectors (25+) - Slip your important documents into sheet protectors. It keeps them protected and a little water proofed (as long as it isn't raining right into the top of your binder :0 ). You'll have a few of these for each section in your binder. 

     - Tabbed Dividers (~5-10 - depending on how many sections you want) - They usually come in packs of 5 or 10 (sold at Walmart & Dollar Tree). Label the tabs once you are sure where everything is going to go. There will usually be a financial section, another for medical, vital records, etc. These dividers will make it easier for you separate out the sections in your binder so you can flip to the section you need easily. 

     - 1-2 ct. 3-ring Zipper Pouch (I use one to hold cash and passports and anything else I don't want slipping out of the binder. The other one I have a few pencils, pens, post-its, little pair of scissors, a few paperclips, a few rubber bands, maybe a small roll of tape, whatever else you might wish you had if you needed to take your binder and go for a while) These can go anywhere in the binder. I put my cash/Passports one toward the back of the binder so it isn't the first thing someone would see opening it up.

    
     - Cash (small bills in an envelope for emergencies) I would recommend at least $100 worth in 1's, 5's, 10's and maybe a few 20's. The amount is up to you. You should also spread out some other small bills in each of your family member's 72 hour kits. You can put them in different places in your bag so if you need to stop somewhere and buy something, you aren't pulling out a huge wad of bills, instead you are just grabbing out $8 here or $17 there. As you are heading out the door in an emergency, you can also stash some money on your person (a few bucks in your shoe or sock you are wearing, another small stash in a few different pockets, etc.). This way if your bags get stolen or you run out in your other places, you'll still have some on you and you won't be left with nothing. Also, if family members get split up, everyone will have at least a little money in case they need it to buy a necessity. 

    - Print out some cute binder section dividers that you can slip into sheet protectors. These go next to your tabbed dividers so you can find your sections easily. (Some of the links below are super cute and ready to print for this.)

        - Important Documents

             * Child ID Kit, Adult ID Kit, and Pet ID Kit (FREE) (includes photo of the individual, their fingerprints (optional), and their basic information, allergies, doctors info., etc.). These are free to print off (make sure you print one for each family member & pet.

              * A family photo in your binder and one in each 72 hour kit/grab bag. A family picture will prove that someone is part of your family if they get lost, they'll help you describe what a family member looks like if you or they get lost, and it is nice to have it to look at if you get separated for some reason.

              * Various Important Documents from here or another list. If you use the comprehensive list I recommend, don't panic, you won't need everything listed, just whatever applies to you and your family. I slide in all of the birth certificates in one sheet protector together, same with marriage documents, etc. This way you are saving on having to use a million sheet protectors, and your binder will be a little lighter because of it. (You'll thank me later!) 

              * Scans of both sides of your licenses, insurance cards, shot records, credit/debit cards, and anything else you carry in your purse or wallet that if it got lost or stolen, you would know what numbers to call and what your account numbers and everything were so you could immediately put a hold on your accounts and get replacement cards. Includes these scans in your binder. You should be able to fit 6-8 cards scanned on one piece of paper. Then do another scan of the backs of all of those cards, just in case you need it. 

              
      - A Cover: Think about how you want your cover of your binder. Do you want something similar to the 1st one (Family Name/Picture or cute design/etc.), something more discreet, similar to the 2nd one, or something totally different. 

Source

Source

                                                       
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- Here are some of my favorite sites for binder dividers and other resources you might put in   
an Emergency Binder. I believe all of these are free:

               * ThirtyHandmadeDays.com - Get Prepared: Printable Emergency Checklist - *Super Cute!! and Here
               * ThirtyHandmadeDays.com - The Always Prepared Binder
               * FoodStorageMadeEasy.net - How to Create an Emergency Binder 

               * FoodStorageMadeEasy.net - Preparedness Plan Brochure              
               * SimplyFreshDesigns - Create A Family Emergency Plan
               * Emergency Binder by Stock Up With Shelley

               * PinchALittleSaveALot - Family Emergency Planning Kit
               * Tis-Eventide.com - Emergency Document Binder
               * GiftsWeUse.com - Emergency Contact Card
               * Lilblueboo.com - How to Organize and Prepare for Almost Anything
               * There are a million resources out there if you don't find something you like above.   


**Be sure to keep your Emergency Binder in a safe place where only you and a few others know where it is (spouse, older kids (in case an emergency happens when you are gone--they'll know where to grab it from). If someone breaks into you house, you don't want them to find it and bring it with them. (It should be out of sight!) If that thought makes you not want to make one and you have your files in a filing cabinet or filing box, it is basically the same thing. A bad guy could look through there for important info. It is better to have it where you know it is and you can quick grab it and go in an emergency and not have to sift through file folders and wonder what you might be forgetting to grab. You can also scan all of your documents and put the images on a jump drive/flash drive or hard drive (along with important family photos) and put in a safe (at home in a hidden place) or in a safety deposit box at the bank. 
- Shalyse's 2 cents**