Food storage is one of the top priorities of prepper survivalists, so keeping an inventory of stored foods will allow you to restock accordingly when needed. What do you consider about food survival kits.
Preppers prioritize water as an essential resource in an emergency scenario. Their goal is to build enough of a supply that will sustain them for months in case of a catastrophe.
What is Prepping?
Prepping is creating plans, gathering resources, and developing skills to face emergencies, disasters, or survival situations. Prepping may involve one individual to an entire community preparing for power outages to a global catastrophe. Prepping has grown increasingly popular due to pandemic outbreaks, increased disaster occurrences, and political shifts. Yet, it’s essential not to confuse preppers with people from all backgrounds who understand why it’s necessary to have plans ready in case unexpected events arise.
Prepping is motivated by anxiety about ecological concerns, war/terrorism threats, natural disasters, and economic instability. While some might label preppers as paranoid, most who practice prepping do it out of a rational understanding of the risks we all face as societies and a desire to protect themselves and their loved ones from possible danger.
Preppers are willing to work hard to provide for themselves and their families. They avoid debt by living within their means and paying off mortgages promptly without depending on government benefits for support. All qualities that will be invaluable should their job or life be threatened unexpectedly. Being prepared can make all the difference if something unfortunate, like job loss or natural disasters, comes your way.
Preppers typically possess at least 30 days’ worth of essential supplies – this may include water, food, and first aid kits – including water for drinking and food for fueling your stovetop, and first aid kits. Many preppers also possess a bug-out bag and knowledge of home defense techniques and methods.
Preppers typically possess many skills necessary for self-sufficiency, from growing their food and maintaining gardens to hunting, fishing, and trapping skills to building debris huts or shelters. Not only do they learn these abilities themselves, but many share them with others so everyone is prepared in case of disaster or civil unrest.
Some preppers can sustain themselves for over a year without modern society’s infrastructure, representing the highest prepping level. Doing so takes significant planning and storage space. Preppers may need to invest in bunkers or other high-security measures and relocate to remote locations for maximum resilience.
Although some preppers can survive for over a year, most are only prepared to last 30 days or less in an emergency. At the same time, this might seem like a small amount, but remember that preppers are working with limited resources and time.
How to Start Prepping
Starting to prep is an invaluable decision that can make you more self-reliant and protect you from disasters or emergencies. Prepping involves assessing your needs, identifying risks, and taking proactive steps to mitigate them; gathering emergency supplies; learning survival techniques; creating food storage containers – the list goes on! It requires patience and dedication from everyone involved to achieve success.
Preppers sometimes get the impression that all they buy for prepping are expensive items found on TV and prepper websites. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Preparing can be very affordable when approached correctly – bargain hunting at garage sales and dollar stores is undoubtedly possible, and accessing information online about preparing that may not be readily available locally and even bartering for unreadily available items.
Starting by purchasing extra non-perishable foods each time you go grocery shopping is also crucial. Doing this will allow you to build your inventory while making rotation easier gradually. Another tip would be to buy foods you typically consume so they will remain easy to drink during an emergency.
One of the critical components of prepping is having access to water. Preppers should ensure they have at least a week’s supply stored away for cooking, drinking, and sanitation purposes – some may opt for bottled water. In contrast, others can reuse plastic bottles or milk jugs as water storage containers. It would also be wise to stockpile bleach and disinfectant if an emergency strikes; both could be invaluable in cleaning and sanitizing during an eventful situation.
Finally, it is essential to have an emergency electricity source such as batteries and generators or solar power systems ready. In addition to providing electricity during an emergency, it may also be beneficial to store candles, flashlights, and some first aid supplies in an emergency kit.
What to Stock
Food preppers can store an assortment of nutritious emergency foods in their pantry, including canned goods, bulk dry foods, and dehydrated/freeze-dried options. Canned goods last for years when stored correctly, while bulk dry items like rice and beans could last two years or longer with proper storage conditions. Dehydrated/freeze-dried options require rehydration before consumption, but this minor inconvenience is worth having long-term supplies available when needed.
Prepper food storage solutions may include canning or freeze-drying homegrown fruits and vegetables for long-term food storage without using harmful chemicals. With proper equipment, this may even have meat for long-term preservation.
Though some preppers purchase foods in bulk and store them in buckets, they commonly make containers for long-term food storage. Mason jars are an excellent way to can homegrown fruits and veggies while being ideal for holding dried foods in smaller portions. Food preppers may also opt for plastic buckets with lids, 5-gallon buckets, or mylar bags with oxygen absorbers that keep out light, moisture, and oxygen (also called oxygen absorbers).
Once you have all the supplies for an emergency food storage plan, you must create an inventory list of foods your family regularly consumes. This will let you know how much to store for each member and reduce food spoilage or loss; making the pantry part of daily life is also recommended so everyone knows its contents.
Some preppers prefer food-grade plastic storage bags for long-term food storage needs; however, finding enough may prove challenging. A better option would be purchasing a food-grade sealer online or from specialty kitchen supply stores to provide a watertight seal and protect stored foods from mold, insects, or rot if kept in cool and dark locations.
Miscellaneous Tips
Whether you are an expert or novice prepper, it is vital to grasp the fundamentals of food storage. Even beginners can easily make mistakes that threaten your family’s food supply; to avoid these pitfalls, learn about different storage methods available and only store food that your family will eat.
Stockpiling essential foods – grains, legumes, dehydrated milk, sugar, salt, and cooking oil- is typically wise. These have proven sufficient for long-term survival without other food sources, and they’re versatile enough to create nutritious meals during an emergency.
Rice, pasta, and canned vegetables and fruits should all be staples for survival, providing vital energy sources and sustenance during extended periods without access to other forms of care. Canned meats also serve as great sources of protein and fat to ensure you remain full throughout your journey.
Stocking non-perishable food items that can quickly be prepared and devoured is also wise, such as powdered milk, instant coffee, and hard candy. Unlike fresh foods, these will not spoil and should be stored in a cool, dry area such as the basement or garage.
Another helpful strategy is storing non-perishable foods in airtight containers such as Mylar bags or glass jars with airtight seals and adding oxygen absorbers to extend their shelf life. Finally, store all items easily accessible so you and your family will get used to using and keeping an adequate supply in store.
Remember that disaster scenarios tend to be long-term events; food may need to be stored away for extended power outages or other disasters, so plan to keep at least a year’s worth of supplies now.
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