Prepper Supplies: Food Storage 101

Perhaps you’ve heard about the dock worker strike in the news recently, or you’re worried about other current events.

Either way, it never hurts to be prepared. A time of crisis can strike at any moment, and the time to be getting ready for a storm is not when the threat is imminent. It is when the skies are clear.

Nevertheless, it’s never too late to start preparing, and food supplies are a critical element of any collection of prepper supplies.

This short post will break down some considerations.

What Foods to Stock, and How to Store Them

Generally speaking, foods that are preserved, or those which have long shelf lives, are the best ones for emergency preparedness. Perishable foods are the worst. With that said, here are some categories of foods and other supplies that are a good idea.

• Dry goods: Flour, sugar, wheat germ and other grain meals, cereal, and dried nuts are all great bets. These last a long time in dry environments, which makes them viable for emergency preparedness. The high oil content of nuts makes them oxidize relatively quickly compared to other dried goods, however, and you must take extra steps to protect your dry goods from vermin.
• Freeze dried foods: Freeze drying is a method of preparation that removes the moisture from food, converting even perishable items into longer-lasting versions of themselves. Many MREs are freeze-dried.
• Frozen goods: Effectively any food can be preserved by freezing, and freezing is a good way to preserve perishable goods like meat, fruit, and vegetables. The problem with freezing is that if the power goes out, you lose your stores.
• Canned goods: All in all, canned goods are the best for emergency preparedness because they are inherently sealed against vermin and spoilage and have the longest shelf lives. Remember, in many cases even an “expired” can of food will still be good to eat.

• Butter: Butter is rich in calories and nutrients and is longer lasting than other dairy products. Clarified butter will last a year or longer in the fridge, and even several months at room temperature.
• Peanut butter: It’s shelf stable for months if not years, and rich in calories and nutrients. You will have to take extra care to protect it from pests, however.
• Honey: Honey is one of the rare foods that has effectively an infinite shelf life, and it is rich in calories.
• Vinegar: Vinegar is an excellent prepper supply because it has many uses, such as its use as a general purpose cleaner. With respect to emergency preparedness, vinegar can be used to make an acidic brine for pickling low-acid foods that otherwise wouldn’t be safe to process in a hot water bath canner.
• Powdered drink mixes: Powdered drink mixes, like Gatorade mixes, are basically indefinitely shelf-stable and can provide much-needed electrolytes when mixed with water.
• Water: Not a food, but no collection of prepper supplies would be complete without it.

What Are the Best Food Prepper Supplies

(And Methods of Food Preservation)

In addition to the foods themselves, it helps to have some prepper supplies around the house that can help you preserve what you grow or buy.

• Canners: A hot water bath canner can make it easy for you to preserve high acid foods (like pickles and jams) at home. A pressure canner is necessary for meats and low-acid foods. For basic hot water bath canning, you’ll need a canner, rack, jars, lids, and rings. It also helps to have a few other basic water bath canning supplies like a jar lifter, lid wand, and funnel.
• Salt: Salting is an effective method of preserving perishable foods like meats. This can be effective if you don’t have a canner or cannot freeze your meat, plus salt is an essential nutrient. No special equipment or prepper supplies are needed to salt and preserve foods.
• A dehydrator: A dehydrator can be used to preserve perishable items like meats, fruits, and vegetables. They will not last as long as canned foods, but drying them can buy you time. You’ll need a dehydrator and you may need special vacuum sealing bags, along with access to power.
• Plastic wrap: Wrapping your meats and other fresh foods before freezing can help protect them from freezer burn.
• Airtight jars and plasticware: These will help protect your foods, fresh or otherwise, from spoilage due to air exposure; they can also help protect them from pests.

Gear Up Here with Prepper Supplies

Here for prepper supplies? We carry them. Take a look through our full collection via the previous link and let us know if you have any questions before you buy.

While you’re here, if you’re interested in what other sorts of prepper supplies you should be stockpiling, we’ve published two other posts on the topic recently. Check out our two part series on essential preparedness supplies, parts one and two.

Also make sure to check out our guide on bug out bag essentials - the types of knives and what to pack.