Disaster Skills: Consider Stocking Up On These "Forever Foods"

When you think about emergency food supplies, it’s easy to think of a pallet of MRE’s or cases of canned food. But these items only last so long. What if you wanted to put together some food supplies that would never go bad – for cheap? Whether you’re anticipating economic troubles, a pandemic, or you’re just making a practical preparation for whatever lies ahead, these basic food supplies have a lot in common with our ancestor’s annual stockpiles. Sugar, salt and a few other key ingredients can provide nutrition, just as they did for our ancestors, without breaking the bank today. Here are some of the simple staples that you can add to your emergency food supply with just the basics. And the best part is - they only need to be kept cool, dark and dry to prevent deterioration.

Salt

Salt is one of those common everyday items which doesn’t draw much attention, that is until you’ve run out of it. Most of us don’t live near a salt mine or a salt flat, so we probably won’t have a way to replenish any salt stores. Salt makes many food preservation techniques more effective, it helps keep our electrolytes balanced in hot climates and it even has medicinal applications. A warm water gargle of salt water can bring quick relief to sore throats. Whether storing vegetables at your homestead, or making jerky at a campsite, salt will make a less hospitable environment for bacteria. Store your salt in waterproof plastic containers. Mason jars are also pretty handy for storing your salt at the homestead or cabin. No desiccant packs or oxygen absorbers needed, as it preserves itself. Store iodized salt for food seasoning, jerky production and certain other food preservation techniques. It’s also nice to store some natural salt (like sea salt), as this allows you to make fermented vegetables like sauerkraut.

Sugar

Not that white table sugar is particularly nutritious, but it does make a great staple due to its calories and indefinite shelf life. Add sugar to anything for a flavor upgrade and calorie enhancement. You could even make candy out of that sugar, following the recipes for caramel, hard candy, toffee, etc. Each pound of sugar contains 1755 calories and will last indefinitely, if kept dry. There’s no need to add oxygen absorbers or desiccant packs to white sugar. These will simply turn it into a brick of solid sugar at a faster rate. And even if your sugar does harden into a block, you can still safely use it by chiseling off chunks as needed.

Honey

Honey is an odd substance. This bee by-product is a blend of natural sugars with an infinite shelf life and many properties. It can be used as food or applied to wounds to discourage infection. It’s also a liquid, but it is measured and sold by the pound. One pound of honey contains 1360 calories. While it is a bit expensive, it’s still a great investment in your survival food storage plan. You can even brew it into mead, a honey based wine – which is delicious!

Soy Sauce

This age old condiment is a great seasoning for many different dishes. And with its insanely high sodium levels, this briny brew will never decompose. Soy sauce can be used as a table condiment, a recipe ingredient, and as a jerky marinade which assists in preservation.

Extracts

There are many different extracts that can turn your bland food storage staples into something tastier. Use maple extract to turn corn syrup into a maple syrup substitute. Add vanilla extract or other extracts to baked goods, oatmeal, or virtually any dish that needs something extra. Most extracts are will last for many years, if kept cool and dark.

Baking Soda

This miraculous white powder has many uses and never goes bad. Though it is mostly used as a leavening ingredient in baking, it's also handy for cleaning, deodorizing and as a toothpaste substitute.

Baking Powder

This leavener will help breads and other baked goods to rise. It’s often used in tandem with baking soda.

Distilled Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a flavorful favorite for many folks, but the distilled variety of vinegar will maintain its quality forever. This clear fluid makes bright, acidic pickles and dressings. It’s also useful as a cleaner and deodorizer. Fresh vegetables can be cut and submerged in vinegar to increase their longevity.

Liquor

While it’s not a food at all, and barely counts as a beverage, liquor does have its place in this list – even among non-drinkers. A few well-chosen bottles of liquor will only get better with age, if properly stored. And they would be invaluable for the production of medicinal tinctures, for disinfecting wounds, and even sanitizing medical equipment. If you think that someone might be drinking the liquor at some point, you could consider flavor as a factor when purchasing. If it’s strictly for utilitarian use, then go for the hard stuff. High proof vodka is a nice choice for the previous uses, and the paint-stripping booze called Everclear is even better.

Wine

If you like wine, you might have some aging right now. Not every wine is improved with age, but properly stored wine may last more than a lifetime.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is another everlasting food. It’s most often used as a thickener for soups and stews, it’s also used as a coating when frying meat.

Learn how to stock up wisely in our Food Storage and Preservation class. Check out the course description for more details.

Written by Tim MacWelch Frist draft published on outdoorlife.com