Dehydrated Survival Food Essentials

When building an emergency food supply, most people would agree that having nutritious, long-lasting foods is essential.

By stocking up on properly stored dehydrated survival foods that can last 25+ years, you can ensure your family is prepared for any emergency situation that may arise.

In this article, we'll explore the basics of dehydrated survival foods—from selection and storage to preparation—helping you build an emergency food supply that covers all the bases, keeping your family healthy and resilient even in times of crisis.

Introduction to Dehydrated Survival Food

Dehydrated survival food is essential for emergency preparedness. Having a supply of lightweight, long-lasting dehydrated foods can provide sustenance when access to fresh food is limited during a crisis. This article explores the key benefits of keeping dehydrated foods in your emergency stockpile and provides guidance on selection, storage, and preparation.

Understanding Dehydrated Food for Emergencies

Dehydrating food removes most of the moisture, enabling long term storage without refrigeration. The low moisture content prevents spoilage from bacteria and mold growth. With a shelf life up to 25 years when properly stored, dehydrated survival foods are a versatile addition to any emergency kit. Common dehydrated items include fruits, vegetables, beans, grains, meat, and dairy products.

Advantages of Dehydrated Survival Food

Compared to canned goods, dehydrated foods offer superior portability and shelf stability. Their lightweight, compact size takes up less space than traditional emergency food options. Dehydrated items also retain much of their nutritional value post-processing, giving you a nutritious boost when you need it most. These advantages make dehydrated survival food well-suited for bug out bags, emergency kits, and long-term food storage.

Selecting the Best Emergency Food Supply

Focus on reputable brands using high-quality ingredients with lower sodium and sugars. Seek out items with dietary fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Well-balanced choices like mixed fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans, nuts, and jerky offer essential nutrition. Consider individual preferences and restrictions too. Those with allergies or diets like vegan or gluten-free will need options that meet their needs.

Storing Your 25-Year Emergency Food Supply

To extend shelf life, store dehydrated foods properly in a cool, dark place like a basement or interior closet. Oxygen, light exposure, heat, and moisture all contribute to food spoilage over time. Use food-grade plastic containers or mylar bags with oxygen absorbers to limit air exposure. Avoid temperature fluctuations that can create condensation by compromising the moisture barrier.

Preparing Dehydrated Foods: Tips and Tricks

When ready to eat, cover the dehydrated food with hot or cold water at a 2:1 ratio. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes to rehydrate before cooking or eating. Add seasonings to boost flavor if desired. Use rehydrated ingredients in recipes like soups, stews, casseroles and more. With the right storage and preparation, dehydrated survival food can provide reliable, nutritious sustenance in an emergency.

What are the survival foods to stockpile?

When building your emergency food supply, focus on nutrient-dense non-perishable foods that will sustain you in a crisis. Here are some of the best options to stock up on:

Canned and Dried Proteins

Canned meats like chicken, tuna, salmon, and spam can provide protein and fat. Choose cans with pop-top lids.
Beans and lentils are inexpensive, nutritious, and have a long shelf-life. Stock up on dried beans and canned refried beans.
Nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds are calorie-dense. Prioritize vacuum-sealed bags.

Fruits and Vegetables

Canned fruits and vegetables, like peaches, pears, carrots, and green beans, provide key micronutrients. Opt for low-sodium options. - Dehydrated dehydrated survival food like apple slices, berries, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, and spinach rehydrate well for meals.

Grains, Cereals, Pastas

Rice, oats, quinoa, barley, and pasta last for years when stored properly in airtight containers.
Granola bars, crackers, and cereal provide carbs and fiber. Choose whole grain options when possible.

When building your emergency food supply, focus on nutrient-dense, non-perishable items that will sustain you and your family during a crisis. Prioritize canned goods, dried goods, nuts, grains, and durable produce like winter squash.

What is the most survival food?

When building an emergency food supply, it's important to focus on non-perishable, nutrient-dense foods that will provide sustenance during a crisis. Some of the best survival foods to keep stocked in your pantry include:

Peanut Butter

An excellent source of protein, healthy fats, and nutrients. Peanut butter is calorie-dense and filling. It has a long shelf life unopened. Consider powdered peanut butter for even longer term storage.

Whole-Wheat Crackers

Provide carbohydrates for energy and fiber for digestion. Whole grain crackers are non-perishable and convenient for eating with other foods like peanut butter or canned meats. Look for low or no added sugars.

Nuts and Trail Mixes

High in protein, fiber and healthy fats. Varieties like almonds, walnuts, cashews, and nut mixes offer lightweight, nutrient-boosting options with long shelf lives. Prioritize unsalted nuts.

Cereal

Whole grain and fortified cereals provide carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Opt for less sugary varieties in portion-controlled servings. Pair with shelf-stable milk for a balanced meal.

Granola Bars

Look for whole food ingredients with proteins and healthy fats. Can provide an easy nutrient boost and quick energy. Prioritize low sugar and sodium options.

Dried Fruits

Raisins, apricots, apples, cranberries. Provide carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. Look for unsweetened or low added sugars. Avoid sulfur dioxide preserved fruits.

Canned Meats

Tuna, salmon, chicken and turkey provide essential proteins and nutrients. Aim for water or oil packed varieties low in sodium.

Canned Vegetables

Non-perishable, nutrient-dense additions like carrots, green beans and peas. Look for low sodium or no salt added.

Focus on nutrient diversity and caloric density in survival food stocks. Avoid overly processed options low in essential vitamins and minerals. Prioritize whole food, low perishable choices tailored to your household's needs.

How does survival food last 25 years?

Most dehydrated and freeze-dried survival foods can last 25 years or more due to a combination of processing techniques and storage methods:

Dehydration - Removing moisture from foods prevents bacteria growth and oxidation reactions that cause spoilage. Dehydrated foods can last for years if stored properly.
Freeze-drying - Water is frozen and then removed by sublimation, leaving the food structure intact. This locks in nutrients and flavors. Freeze-dried foods are very lightweight and compact.
Mylar pouches - Foil pouches with an interior polyethylene layer provide an oxygen and moisture barrier to prevent food spoilage. Sealing the pouches also protects against pests.
Cool & dry storage - Storing survival food in a dark, cool, and dry location further prevents spoilage by inhibiting microbial growth and chemical reactions. Storage at stable room temperatures is ideal.

With such effective preservation methods, our dehydrated and freeze-dried survival meal kits have a shelf life spanning decades. But they still retain their delicious flavors and nutritional content when reconstituted as directed! Proper processing and storage makes 25+ year emergency food supplies a viable, healthy option for disaster preparedness.

What food is good for long term storage survival?

When stocking up on food for emergency preparedness, focus on shelf-stable items with a long shelf life. Some good options include:

Canned goods: Canned meats, fruits, vegetables, soups, etc. can last 2-5 years when properly stored. Prioritize nutritious choices like beans, tomatoes, tuna.
Rice and grains: White rice can last 30+ years when stored with oxygen absorbers. Other grains like oats, barley, and quinoa also have long shelf lives.
Pasta and pasta sauces: Dried pasta can last 10+ years. Jarred pasta sauce lasts 12-18 months. Combine for easy meals.
Dried fruits and vegetables: Dried options like apples, mangoes, carrots, potatoes can last up to 25 years and add key nutrients.
Comfort foods: Things like peanut butter, honey, sugar, dried milk, coffee, tea bags provide familiarity.

When building your emergency food supply, focus on nutrient density, versatility, and of course, shelf life. Stock up on a diverse mix of goods, store properly in a cool, dark place, and routinely cycle out for maximum freshness and preparedness.

Building an Emergency Food Supply

Having the right mix of dehydrated emergency food items on hand is key to survival preparedness. Use these tips to determine ideal quantities and meal combinations for your household.

Determining Emergency Food Supply for Family of 4

Experts recommend storing a 30-day supply of dehydrated emergency food per family member. For a family of four, that equates to 120 days worth. Tailor quantities based on your household size and needs. Consider factors like allergies, dietary restrictions, and caloric requirements.

When calculating quantities, keep in mind that nutritional needs may increase during stressful situations. Plan for additional calories and higher protein foods to account for this.

Balancing Your Emergency Food Groups

A nutritionally balanced emergency food supply should contain fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins and dairy items. Variety prevents nutritional deficiencies and food fatigue over time.

Aim for a mix of familiar, shelf-stable ingredients you already eat. Include comfort foods along with more functional items like freeze dried entrees, dehydrated produce, canned goods, and staples like rice, beans, pasta, and oats.

Diverse Meal Options: Individual and Family Packs

Consider a mix of individual entrees like freeze dried meals along with ingredients for group meals like rice, beans and meat alternatives. This allows for dietary preferences and convenience.

Individual packs are handy for grabbing and going or accommodating different tastes and needs. Family-sized options help stretch budgets further per serving.

Include things like:

Freeze dried breakfasts, lunches, dinners
Canned meats, fruits, vegetables
Dehydrated produce
Rice, pasta, oatmeal packets

Incorporating Comfort Foods into Your Supply

During stressful times, comfort foods can provide emotional as well as nutritional sustenance. Consider adding familiar snacks and desserts like jerky, trail mix and dehydrated ice cream.

Even small treats can boost morale, providing a sense of normalcy. Prioritize shelf-stable versions of your household's favorite snacks, desserts, and meal accompaniments.

Simple Dehydrated Survival Food Recipes

Get familiar with preparation methods for your dehydrated emergency food items. Make some recipes using the foods ahead of time to identify needed seasonings and cooking times.

Test out meals like chili, soups, casseroles, and fried rice using your stored ingredients. This helps ensure you have the necessary basics like oil, spices, broths, etc. to create balanced, appetizing meals from your stockpile.

Practice makes perfect - get comfortable with your emergency food supply before an actual crisis hits. This allows you to stretch ingredients creatively while meeting your householdʼs needs and tastes.

Long-Term Food Storage Considerations

For extreme emergency situations requiring survival for several months or years, more planning and additional food sources are necessary.

Storing Grains and Legumes for the Long Haul

Grains like rice, wheat, and oats store for 30 years or more in oxygen-free containers. Beans and lentils can also last decades and provide protein. Consider investing in large quantities of these shelf-stable staples to sustain your family in a long-term crisis.

When storing grains and legumes:

Purchase high-quality products, then portion and seal them in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. This prevents moisture, insects, and oxygen from causing spoilage.
Store containers in a cool, dark place like a basement or root cellar. Optimal storage temperature is 40-60°F.
Rotate stock by using the oldest products first. Replenish as you go.
Certain products like white rice and wheat berries have an indefinite shelf life when properly stored.

Having adequate reserves of grains and legumes is essential for long-term food security. They provide calories, nutrition, and satiety while requiring no refrigeration.

Creating a Sustainable Survival Garden

Grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs to supplement food stores. Focus on hardy, calorie-and nutrient-dense crops that store well like potatoes, carrots, and onions.

Tips for establishing a survival garden:

Choose high-yielding, resilient varieties suited to your climate. Favor heirloom seeds.
Use intensive planting techniques like raised beds, trellising, and intercropping to maximize production.
Supply your own compost and fertilizers so you control inputs.
Save seeds to propagate the next generation of plants.
Incorporate perennial crops like fruit bushes and trees for yearly nutrition.
Grow calorie-dense root vegetables that keep through winter in root cellars.
Can, dehydrate, and freeze surplus produce to build reserves.

Having a sustainable garden prevents full reliance on finite food stores while providing fresh nutrients.

Raising Livestock and Exploring Alternative Foods

Rabbits, chickens, and goats can provide a continuous supply of meat and eggs. Fishing, hunting, and foraging offer additional emergency food options.

Consider raising compact livestock like:

Chickens for meat and eggs: Focus on hardy dual-purpose breeds that forage well.
Dairy goats for milk: Nubians and Nigerian Dwarfs produce ample milk while grazing brush.
Meat rabbits are an efficient small-scale protein source, requiring little space or feed.

Also tap abundant wild food sources:

Fish provide a renewable source of protein. Stock ponds or learn trapping/angling skills.
Hunt deer, waterfowl, squirrel and other game with appropriate weapons and permits.
Forage for berries, nuts, wild greens and mushrooms. Reference local edibles.

Utilizing alternative food sources reduces reliance on finite storage items while providing essential fats and protein. These skills also build self-sufficiency.

Mastering Food Preservation Techniques

Methods like smoking, drying, curing, fermenting, and pickling preserve harvested foods for months or years, reducing reliance on processed options.

Essential skills for long-term food preservation include:

Building solar food dehydrators to create dried fruits, vegetables, and meat jerky without power.
Curing and cold smoking meat and fish to prevent spoilage.
Lacto-fermenting vegetables to make long-lasting sauerkraut, kimchi and pickles.
Canning meat, produce, salsa, pie fillings, and more using a pressure canner.
Freezing food in chest freezers using dry ice if grid power fails.

Preservation allows stockpiling harvests from your survival garden and livestock. These skills are invaluable if normal resupply chains fail.

Fostering Community Food Security

Connect with like-minded neighbors to trade supplies, share knowledge, and access more resources. Bartering goods and skills builds community resilience.

Consider banding together with nearby preppers to:

Share tools, seeds, livestock feed, and other supplies so everyone has what’s needed.
Trade goods and services to mitigate individual weaknesses. Offer labor, crafts, produce, etc.
Pool knowledge and expertise around gardening, livestock, preservation, water access, medicine and more.
Provide mutual support, security, childcare and divide essential tasks.

Forming community networks creates security beyond just stockpiling goods. It enables access to wider resources that improve resilience in uncertain times.

Essential Items for Your Dehydrated Food Supply

Beyond food itself, several key items and skills are necessary for effectively utilizing a dehydrated emergency food supply.

Selecting a Dependable Cook Stove and Fuel

Having a reliable cook stove and fuel source is critical when relying on dehydrated and freeze-dried foods that require reconstituting with hot water. Outdoor camp stoves that run on propane, white gas, or wood are good options for cooking without electricity. You may also consider a solar oven or rocket stove for fuel-free cooking alternatives. Be sure to store plenty of backup stove fuel if your choice requires it.

Test out different cook stove options to find one that is portable, easy to use, and meets your cooking needs. The Coleman Propane Camp Stove is a popular choice that runs on small propane canisters and can boil water quickly.

Securing Water Purification Systems

Since water sources may be contaminated during an emergency, it's vital to have methods for purifying water to make it safe for drinking, cooking, and reconstituting dehydrated foods. Consider storing water purification tablets, portable filters like the Sawyer Mini, or liquid bleach so you can treat water from lakes, streams, rain barrels, etc.

Acquiring Food Preparation and Storage Essentials

To cook meals with your emergency food supply and feed family or community members, you'll need the necessary prep and serving items. A supply of large pots, skillets, cooking utensils, plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery facilitates the cooking process and sharing of meals. 5-7 gallon plastic buckets make great multi-purpose food grade storage containers to hold ingredients like grains, beans, pasta, and dehydrated dairy powders while protecting them from pests, light exposure, moisture, and oxygen.

Utilizing Food Grade Storage Solutions

5-7 gallon buckets with gasket-sealed lids are ideal for protecting bulk pantry ingredients like grains, beans, pasta, and dehydrated dairy powders from pests, light exposure, moisture, and oxygen. Ensure any containers used for food storage are made of food-grade plastic. Glass canning jars also work well for storage.

Keeping a Manual Can Opener Handy

Don't forget a simple manual can opener that doesn't require batteries or electricity. Electric can openers won't work during power outages when you need to access canned emergency food supplies. The Swing-A-Way Can Opener is a popular and durable choice.

Maintaining Health and Morale with Dehydrated Food

During extended catastrophes that rely on your dehydrated food supplies, focus on keeping up community health, hygiene and emotional wellness.

Combatting Food Fatigue with Diverse Menus

Rotate familiar comfort foods with new freeze dried meals or creative recipes to maintain appetites and nutrition levels. Some ideas:

Make chili, soups, or stews with different dehydrated vegetables, beans, and meats.
Use limited fresh ingredients like onions, garlic, herbs to vary flavors.
Bake desserts like fruit crumbles or cookies with stored ingredients.
Try innovative recipes like dehydrated veggie pizza or peanut butter energy balls.

Varying tastes and textures prevents taste fatigue. Share recipes and meal ideas to stimulate appetite.

Enriching Diet with Fresh Homegrown Produce

Fresh foods provide welcome relief from a steady dehydrated food diet. Grow salad greens, sprouts and citrus fruits if possible.

Lettuce, kale, herbs can be grown indoors or in small outdoor spaces.
Bean and grain sprouts add crunch and nutrients.
Dwarf citrus trees may produce year-round fruit depending on climate.

When fresh produce is scarce, foraging vitamin-rich wild plants like dandelion greens or cattail shoots boosts health.

Ensuring Adequate Hydration

Drink sufficient water and broths daily when reconstituting foods. Watch for dehydration symptoms like fatigue and confusion.

Drink at least 2 liters of fluids per day minimum.
Consume broths and soups to increase fluid intake.
Monitor urine color; dark yellow suggests dehydration.
Note symptoms of dehydration like dry mouth, headache, dizziness.

Proper hydration is vital when relying on dehydrated food supplies during disasters.

Adhering to Sanitation and Hygiene Practices

Prevent spread of illness by designating separate cooking/cleaning areas from latrines. Maintain personal hygiene through sponge baths.

Ensure handwashing before food preparation and eating.
Clean cooking/eating utensils with boiled water.
Use designated "outhouse" area located away from living spaces.
Take sponge baths using stored water to prevent disease.

Following sanitary protocols protects health when access to plumbing and hygiene products is limited.

Strengthening Community Ties and Routine

Schedule shared meals, religious services, games, music or other activities to maintain bonds and morale.

Eat meals together instead of solo to lift spirits.
Pray, meditate, or worship together for emotional support.
Play board games, cards, charades or trivia during free time.
Sing songs or play acoustic instruments to connect.

Preserving human connections and a sense of normalcy is vital during extended catastrophe survival.

Conclusion

Dehydrated survival food is an essential component of an emergency preparedness plan. Here are some key takeaways:

Dehydrated foods are lightweight, compact, and have a long shelf life of up to 25 years. This makes them ideal for emergency food storage.
Create a 30-day supply of dehydrated food for each member of your household. Include a variety of nutritious meals tailored to your family's needs.
Supporting supplies like cookware, fuel sources, and water filtration are also important when relying on dehydrated foods. Make sure to stock up on these as well.
Beyond physical supplies, focus on building community resilience. Connect with neighbors, share skills and resources, and look out for those who may need extra assistance.

With careful planning centered around dehydrated emergency food, you can be ready for disasters from blizzards to blackouts and everything in between. Prepare now and take control of your food security.