Disaster Skills: Food For 30 Years

Can dry white rice really last up to 30 years? It’s TRUE! In studies done at the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science at Brigham Young University, it was determined that dry staple foods such as whole wheat and white rice can last more than 30 years when packaged and stored properly. Numerous low-moisture foods were tested - including whole wheat, white rice, corn meal, pinto beans, apple slices, macaroni pasta, rolled oats, potato flakes and powdered milk. Amazingly, these foods retained their sensory quality and nutritional value. The low oxygen levels in the containers and cool temperatures of their storage place had a great bearing on their longevity, as did the natural low fat content of the items. Fats, oils, shortening and fatty foods do not lend themselves to long-term storage. These must be rotated annually, or at least every few years, before they go rancid.

Want to learn how to pack these ordinary store-bought foods for a 30 year shelf life? Take my Food Storage and Preservation class, which is part of our 3-day Bug Out Weekend and also a key component of Homesteader Week.

Written by Tim MacWelch First draft published in his book How To Survive Off The Grid