Long Term Storage Survival Food Essentials

Preparing for long-term emergencies requires forethought about nutrition and practical food storage.

This article explores the essentials of building a robust 25-year stockpile of survival foods to nourish your household.

You'll discover the ideal items to preserve, techniques to maximize shelf life, storage solutions to organize your stockpile, and approaches to meet nutritional needs over an extended crisis.

Introduction to Long Term Storage Survival Food

An effective emergency food supply is critical for resilience during crises. By stockpiling non-perishable foods designed to last 10-30 years, you can ensure your family's food security when stores run bare.

Defining Long Term Food Storage

Long term food storage refers to stockpiling foods with an extended shelf life for emergency preparedness. The goal is building reserves that will last through extended disasters or supply chain disruptions. Storage-optimized foods are processed and packaged to maximize shelf life. When properly stored in cool, dark, and dry conditions, they can last 25+ years.

Focus on nutrient-dense staples like grains, beans, canned goods, and freeze-dried produce. Prioritize caloric density and nutritional balance across food groups when planning your stockpile. Track inventory and follow first-in-first-out practices to avoid waste from expiration.

Benefits of Maintaining a 25-year Emergency Food Supply

An adequate long term food reserve provides stability and resilience during all types of crises:

Economic instability - Hedge against inflation, job loss, or income disruption
Natural disasters - Withstand events like earthquakes, storms, flooding
Long-term crises - Pandemics, wars, and other extended emergencies
Supply chain disruptions - Safeguard when stores run out of stock

In an increasingly unstable world, home food reserves grant peace of mind. They allow you to shelter in place securely for months or years if needed. Invest today in emergency food stocks for true preparedness and self-reliance.

What is best survival food for long term storage?

Canned meats like tuna, chicken, and spam can make excellent additions to a long term food storage plan. Canned meats are nutritious, affordable, and have shelf lives of 2-5 years typically. Rice, beans, lentils, and TVP (textured vegetable protein) also store very well long term. These inexpensive dried goods are packed with protein and fiber.

When building your emergency food supply, it's important to think about nutritional balance across the major food groups. Some other good staples to include:

Ready-to-eat cereals or oatmeals
Pasta and pasta sauce mixes
Dried fruits and vegetables
Nuts and trail mixes
Comfort foods like cookies, candy, or drink mixes

Proper storage is also key for maximizing shelf life. Make sure to store foods in a cool, dark, and dry location. Oxygen absorbers and heavy duty mylar bags can help remove oxygen and moisture. Rotating and taking inventory of your supply every 6-12 months ensures nothing expires or goes bad before you need it.

With the right combination of nutritious ingredients and proper storage, you can build an emergency food supply to last 25+ years. Just remember variety for nutritional balance, and redundancy in case any one item doesn't last as long as expected.

What foods have a 10 year shelf life?

When it comes to building your long term survival food supply, focusing on shelf-stable foods that can last 10 years or more is essential. Some of the best options include:

Uncooked Rice and Grains

To really extend its shelf life, transfer the rice out of the bag or package it comes in, put it into an airtight container. White, jasmine, and basmati rices will last the longest and you can count on quinoa, barley, and grits to last you nearly a decade.

Canned Goods

Properly stored canned goods like fruits, vegetables, beans, soups, and meats can last at least 5-10 years. Opt for cans without dents, rust, or swelling. Store in a cool, dark place and routinely check for expiration dates.

Honey

With its concentrated sugar content, honey has an almost indefinite shelf life. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Over time, honey may crystallize but is still perfectly safe to eat.

Salt

Table salt lasts indefinitely. Kosher salt lasts at least 10 years. Store in a cool, dry place.

Focusing your long term food storage on non-perishable items with extended shelf lives will ensure you have reliable access to nutrients and calories when you need them most.

How do you preserve food for 20 years?

Preserving food for long-term storage requires careful planning and the right storage methods to maximize shelf life. Here are some key tips:

Use proper storage containers

Storing dried foods like beans, grains, and pasta in sealed mylar bags inside food-grade plastic buckets is ideal. Mylar blocks moisture and oxygen from getting in, while the buckets protect against pests, light exposure, and physical damage.

Control temperature and humidity

Store food in a cool, dark, and dry place like a basement or root cellar. The ideal temperature is below 75°F with humidity around 60%. You can add desiccant packs to buckets to absorb excess moisture.

Rotate and inspect inventory

First-in, first-out rotation ensures you use up older food before it expires. Inspect buckets annually for signs of moisture, insect infestations, or other damage. Re-packaging may be needed to maintain freshness.

Properly storing dried goods using these methods can preserve foods for 20-30 years or more. Augment your long term storage with freeze-dried foods, canned goods, and items preserved through water bath canning as well. Maintaining a diverse emergency food supply takes planning but is vital for long-term preparedness.

What foods should I stockpile for survival?

When building your long term food storage, it's important to have a balanced variety of shelf-stable foods that will provide adequate nutrition to keep you and your family healthy in an emergency. Here are some of the most essential categories to focus on:

Proteins

Stock up on canned and dried meats, beans, nuts, and nut butters. These foods are packed with protein to help maintain muscle mass and keep you feeling full. Great options include:

Canned chicken, tuna, salmon
Canned beans like black, pinto, kidney, etc.
Nuts and nut butters like almonds, peanuts, cashews
Dried meats like beef jerky or pemmican

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and veggies provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Prioritize nutrient-dense canned and dried options. Some good choices are:

Canned fruits packed in juice like peaches, pears, pineapple
Canned tomatoes, carrots, green beans, corn
Dried fruits like mangoes, cranberries, blueberries
Dehydrated veggie chips or powders

Grains, Cereal, Pasta

Carbs give you an efficient source of energy. Focus on whole grains when possible. Stock up on:

Whole grain pasta, rice, quinoa
Oats, grits, cereal
Crackers
Shelf-stable bread

Dairy

Powdered milk, shelf-stable UHT milk boxes, and powdered eggs can help meet calcium and other nutrient needs.

Water

Water is essential for survival. Have at least 1 gallon per person per day. Store in food-grade plastic containers and rotate it out every 6 months. Consider adding water filtration too.

By prepping a variety of non-perishable foods across food groups, you can build a nutritionally balanced, long term food supply tailored to your family's unique needs and tastes. Integrate rotation and take stock every 6 months.

Nutritional Considerations for Emergency Food Supply

When building your stockpile, nutritional balance is key for supporting health during a disaster scenario. Having the right macronutrients like protein, carbohydrates, and fat will help maintain energy levels, while vitamins and minerals prevent deficiency over time.

Macronutrients - Carbs, Fats, Protein

Focus your long term storage survival food supply on nutrient-dense, non-perishable foods:

Whole grains like rice, oats, pasta provide complex carbohydrates for energy. Consider daily caloric needs when determining quantities.
Canned, freeze-dried or dehydrated meats like beef, chicken, fish are protein sources.
Beans, lentils, chickpeas offer plant-based protein and fiber.
Nuts, seeds, nut butters deliver healthy fats and protein.

Having the right balance of macronutrients ensures you meet caloric and nutritional needs if the grid goes down.

Vitamins & Minerals

Incorporate items like:

Multivitamins to prevent micronutrient deficiency over months or years
Canned fruits and vegetables for vitamins A, C, etc
Freeze-dried produce like carrots, spinach, berries

These items enhance nutrition, providing vitamins and minerals that support health. Without them, prolonged nutritional imbalance can cause disease.

Constructing your 25-year emergency food supply takes planning. But focusing on nutritional fundamentals will keep you and your family healthy if disaster strikes.

Maximizing Shelf Life of Survival Foods

Proper storage and packaging allows dehydrated and freeze-dried foods to last decades, while other items may only endure 1-5 years.

Understanding Expiration Dates

Best-by dates indicate peak quality rather than safety. Most unopened foods endure years beyond labels. However, it's important to regularly inspect stored food for signs of spoilage. Look for changes in color, texture, smell, and taste. Discard anything that seems off.

When storing emergency food, pay attention to shelf life. Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods typically last 20-30 years, while other survival foods may only last 1-5 years. Canned goods can last 2-5 years on average if stored properly. Make sure to rotate stock, using up older items first.

Storage Conditions for Longevity

Cool, dark, and dry environments prevent spoilage. Store emergency food in a basement, root cellar, or temperature-regulated pantry if possible. Aim for storage temperatures between 40-60°F. You can also use Mylar bags, oxygen absorbers, moisture absorbers, and food-grade storage buckets to prolong shelf life.

Be mindful of temperature fluctuations, as they hasten deterioration. Inspect storage areas periodically for pests that could contaminate supplies. Ensure proper sealing and structural integrity as well. With proper storage methods, most emergency food will endure for decades.

Essential Bulk Food for Long-Term Storage

When building your stockpile, focus on versatile, nutrient-dense foods with extended shelf lives. Bulk buying non-perishables like grains, beans, lentils, and freeze-dried produce ensures you have a reliable food source if stores close or supply chains fail.

Whole Grains

Items like white rice and wheat berries offer carbs, fiber, and calories. Properly stored in airtight containers, they can last 30+ years. Start with a 25-50 pound bag of each. Good options include:

White rice: versatile base for meals
Whole wheat berries: grind into nutritious flour
Rolled oats: budget breakfast stable

Beans and Lentils

Packed with plant-based protein, beans store for 10+ years and complement grains in complete meals. Stock up on:

Pinto beans: buttery flavor and soft texture
Black beans: hearty and versatile
Lentils: cook quickly, no presoaking needed

Canned beans are convenient but have shorter shelf lives around 2 years. For long term storage, buy dried beans in bulk and portion into airtight containers.

To maximize shelf life, store grains and beans in food grade plastic buckets with oxygen absorbers. Rotate stock by date and cook from storage before using store bought. This ensures you can rely on your food supply when needed most.

Long Term Food Storage Containers

Choosing the right containers is crucial for the preservation and accessibility of your food reserves. Investing in high-quality, airtight containers will help protect your food from pests, degradation, and other threats during long-term storage.

Selecting Durable Containers

When selecting containers for long term food storage, durability and resilience are key factors to consider. Look for containers made of sturdy materials like stainless steel, thick plastic, or glass that have tight sealing lids. Some features to look for include:

Airtight seals - This prevents air and moisture from getting in, which can lead to spoilage or encourage pest infestations. Rubber gaskets around the lid generally provide the best seal.
Opaque containers - Transparent containers allow light in, which can accelerate food degradation. Go for darker plastics, stainless steel, or ceramic containers which block light.
Pest protection - Some containers have small vents that allow gases to escape but prevent insects from getting in. This prolongs shelf life.
Stackable design - Containers that neatly stack, especially with interlocking lids, save precious space.

While more expensive initially, investing in high-end commercial grade containers often pays dividends over time from a food preservation standpoint.

Best Practices for Container Use

Properly using food grade containers enables you to maximize shelf life. Follow these best practices:

Always date containers when first filling them and use oldest food first based on a "first-in, first-out" system. This helps you rotate inventory.
Inspect containers periodically for signs of leaks, cracks, pest intrusion or other issues. Discard anything compromised.
Use container sizes appropriate for the quantity of food. Air left in too large a container can degrade food over time.
Arrange containers systematically (e.g. by food type) and keep an updated inventory to easily track supplies.
Ensure foods stored are already thoroughly dried, cured, or treated prior to long term containment. The container alone does not compensate for improper food prep.

Following structured food rotation and tracking methods will get the most mileage out of your sturdy containers and carefully preserved foodstuffs when planning for survival scenarios.

DIY Long Term Food Storage Solutions

Creating your own long term food storage solutions can be a cost-effective way to prepare for emergencies. By utilizing home preservation techniques and storage methods, you can stockpile nutritious food with long shelf lives.

Home Preservation Techniques

There are several DIY methods for preserving foods at home for long term storage:

Canning - Canning involves heating food in jars to kill bacteria. This technique can preserve fruits, vegetables, soups, etc. for 1-5 years when stored properly. You'll need canning jars, lids, a water bath canner or pressure canner.
Dehydrating - Dehydrating removes moisture from foods to prevent spoilage. Dried items like fruits, vegetables, and meats can last 6 months to 2 years. Invest in a food dehydrator or try air drying.
Vacuum Sealing - Using a vacuum sealer to remove oxygen from food storage bags can extend shelf life. Vacuum sealed items like rice, beans, pasta can last around 5 years.

When preserving foods yourself, follow validated recipes and guidelines to ensure safety. Test seals before storing.

Building a Root Cellar

Constructing a root cellar can provide free, natural cold storage for certain unprocessed foods. Root cellars maintain temperatures of 32-40° F and high humidity ideal for produce storage.

Locate your cellar underground or insulate an above-ground space. Ventilate to modulate temperature and humidity. Store foods like potatoes, carrots, beets, onions, garlic, squash, and cabbage in bins to take advantage of root cellar conditions. Inspect produce regularly.

With some DIY skills, you can create customized long term food storage for your household's needs. Learn to preserve nutrient-dense foods yourself while saving money.

Best Emergency Food Supply Options

When building an emergency food supply, it's important to focus on shelf-stable foods that provide nutritional balance. The top options for long-term storage include:

Freeze Dried Food Choices

Freeze-dried meals are very convenient for emergency preparedness. Key benefits include:

Long shelf life of up to 25 years
Lightweight and compact for easy storage
Wide variety of entrees to choose from
Can be quickly prepared by adding hot water
Taste similar to a home-cooked meal

Popular brands like Mountain House and Wise Foods offer freeze-dried kits with a diverse mix of proteins, vegetables, and grains to meet nutritional needs.

When buying freeze-dried food, opt for meal pouches over #1 pails to more easily tailor serving sizes. Pouches also help maintain freshness after opening.

Survival Foods with Long Shelf Life

In addition to freeze-dried meals, a well-rounded food stockpile should include nutrient-dense survival foods with extreme longevity unopened. Examples include:

White rice: lasts 30 years when stored properly
Dried beans: up to 30 years
Vegetable oils: 2-3 years shelf life
Honey: lasts indefinitely unopened
Salt: never spoils

These pantry staples provide carbohydrates, plant-based protein, fats, and micronutrients. Augment them with a multi-vitamin to create a balanced diet.

When building DIY long term food storage, use oxygen absorber packets and air-tight containers to maximize shelf life. Store in a cool, dark place like a basement or cellar.

Having the right mix of freeze-dried, canned, and dry goods ensures food security even in extended emergencies.

Budgeting and Inventory Management

Careful planning and budgeting is key to gradually building your long term food storage without overspending. Taking the time to take stock of what you already have and setting reasonable goals for expanding your supplies puts you in control.

Take Stock and Set Goals

The first step is a thorough inventory of your current emergency food supplies. Make a list of all your shelf-stable foods and survival rations, including:

Canned goods (fruits, vegetables, soups, meats)
Dried goods (beans, rice, pasta, oats)
Freeze-dried entrees or fruits
MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)
Bottled water

For each item, note the quantity, shelf life, and how it fits into a balanced diet. Once you have a clear picture of your starting point, set monthly or yearly goals to gradually build up reserves of key staples like rice, beans, canned tuna, peanut butter, and freeze-dried produce.

Determine ideal quantities for your household size and expected length of emergency, factoring in sufficient calories, macros, and nutritional variety. Aim to store at least a 3-6 month supply, but consider working towards having 12 months of food reserves.

Shop Sales and Buy in Bulk

Sign up for alerts from outdoor retailers and emergency preparedness websites to catch rotating sales on long term storage foods. Take advantage of bulk pricing, coupons, and free shipping offers to make your prepping budget go further.

Purchase large bags of rice, dried beans and lentils, oats, pasta, and other basics from warehouse stores for substantial savings over grocery store prices. Properly stored in airtight containers, these staples can last 10-30 years.

Consider pooling orders with like-minded friends to split bulk cases of canned or freeze-dried goods. This allows you to buy a diverse selection of meats, fruits, vegetables, and full entrees while maximizing value.

Safely Storing Your Stockpile

Proper storage is critical for maintaining the quality and shelf life of your emergency food supply. By following best practices, you can keep your stockpile fresh and safe for consumption when needed.

Designated Storage Areas

Choose cool, dry, dark spaces like basements, root cellars, or pantries to store your food stockpile. The ideal conditions are:

Temperature between 40-60°F
Humidity below 60%
Darkness to prevent light exposure

Avoid places that experience temperature fluctuations or moisture buildup. Improper conditions can cause mold, spoilage, or premature food degradation.

Using Mylar Bags and Oxygen Absorbers

For bulk items like grains, beans, and rice, use high-quality mylar bags paired with oxygen absorbers. This creates an air-tight environment to prevent moisture and oxygen from causing spoilage.

Follow these tips when packing food in mylar with oxygen absorbers:

Allow headspace at the top so the bags can be resealed
Use the recommended number of oxygen absorbers per bag capacity
Seal using a quality iron or impulse sealer
Date and label the contents
Inspect periodically for damage

Properly stored foods in mylar with oxygen absorbers can last 25+ years. This greatly extends the shelf life compared to products left in their original packaging. Maintaining ideal storage conditions maximizes longevity.

Conclusion: Preparing Your Long Term Storage Survival Food Supply

By focusing on nutritional density, shelf life, proper storage, and budgeting, you can build an emergency food supply to sustain your family. Here are some key tips:

Prioritize Nutrition

When stockpiling food, choose items that offer complete nutrition to promote health. Some good options include:

Canned fruits, vegetables, beans - good source of vitamins and minerals
Whole grains like rice, quinoa, oats - provide complex carbohydrates
Canned meats like tuna, chicken - provide protein
Nuts, seeds, peanut butter - excellent source of protein and healthy fats

Maximize Shelf Life

Look at expiration dates when buying survival food and opt for items with longer shelf lives. Some suggestions:

Freeze-dried foods - can last 25+ years if stored properly
Dehydrated fruits/veggies - typically good for 10-20 years
Canned goods - 2-5 years generally
Vacuum-sealed pouches - help extend shelf life of many foods

Store Properly

Storing food properly preserves freshness and prevents spoilage/waste. Useful tips:

Store in cool, dark place at stable temperature
Use airtight containers like food-grade plastic buckets or Mylar bags
Oxygen absorbers and desiccants help remove moisture
Rotate stock using “first in, first out” system

Budget Effectively

Build your supply in stages, taking advantage of sales and bulk pricing. A few money-saving ideas:

Buy extra non-perishables on usual grocery trips
Price compare between grocery/big box stores
Purchase large #10 cans for volume discounts
Join grocery co-ops to access wholesale prices

By taking a strategic approach, you can amass an ample emergency food reserve tailored to your family's needs and budget.