Most Common Mistakes People Make When They Store Food

Author: Rod Hansen

What is food storage? How do you store food? How do you know that your food storage will stay fresh? When do you have to throw away storage of food? These are all common questions asked by inexperienced people who are interested in storing food for survival. Unfortunately, no matter how experienced you are (or how experienced you think you are), many of us are prone to the same basic mistakes. We are flawed and we forget the ABC's of food storage, but those kinds of mistakes can still be costly. The most common mistakes people make when learning how to store food are as follows:

 

Different Types of Food

 One of the biggest problems with weight loss diets is that they lack variety. People get bored and want something else. The same concept applies to food storage. Heaven forbid, should you ever have occasion to use your food storage, you may end up feeling the same way. If you have only one type of food ration, you will eventually get bored and possibly even lose your appetite.Most people do have more than just one item. People with some experience in how to store food often focus on wheat, milk, honey, and salt. The problem is that almost all of these items are common allergensand after eating a diet filled with such limited variety, you will gain get tired of those foods and prefer not to eat. If you store less wheat and more beans, fruits, vegetables, bouillon, cheese, and other foods, you will be better off in the event of an emergency. Even though they don't take up quite as much room, spices can make all the difference.

Only One Type of Preservation

If you put all of your eggs in one basket and something goes wrong, your storage of food is lost. On the other hand, if you have canned food, store foods, dehydrated food, and freeze dried food, storing food for survival becomes easier to maintain and protect.

Essential Vitamins & Nutrients

Vitamins are essential to survival, and you need a healthy balance of all essential vitamins. If you feel the need to buy multivitamins as a part of your food storage, this could enhance your health and improve your chances of long term survival in the event of a catastrophe. You can avoid scurvy (which was common among sailors who did not have access to fresh fruits) and diseases commonly associated with vitamin deficiencies. However, it is preferable if you stock your food storage with vitamin rich foods and fairly fresh fruits and vegetables as your budget permits.

Quick & Easy Foods

Think about it. You just came out of a stressful situation, and the last thing you are thinking about is how to cook some gourmet meal that Martha Stewart would be proud of. The thought of all that work might be stressful, and if you store foods that require a lot of preparation, you are setting yourself up for problems."No cook" storage of food may not taste as good, but you will be relieved to have them, at least until you get back on your feet. MREs (Meal Ready to Eat) provide a little variety while Jell-O, pudding, candy, and other similar foods provide familiar tastes, especially for children. These may sound silly, devoid of vitamins, or even frivolous. Virtually all people I've talked to though who have actually made use of their food storage for an extended period of time have reported that these foods "normalized" their situation.

Balance

It is tempting to buy all of your beans and then all of your wheat and then all of your Jell-O, especially if you are at Costco. However, if something happens right after you buy all of your wheat, all of that logic goes out the window. You don't have variety, you don't have necessary nutrients, and when you ask yourself what is food storage, all you can say is well, I have wheat. Buy several items at a time in smaller quantities, and you will definitely be more satisfied in any event or situation.
Proper Containers
You can leave your bulk food like wheat, beans, and other grains in sacks, but it would be a mistake. Time and time again, people have had to throw away entire bags of food, because they limited their storage containers to bags. Instead, put your bulk foods in hard storage containers such as plastic buckets that are lined with a food grade plastic liner.This will protect your food from rats and insects as well as moisture. You should never use a trash can, and do not stack any containers you choose to use too high. Earthquakes can cause containers to topple, and especially if the lid is not properly secured, this could cause any food to fall out when lids pop open or the container cracks. Unfortunately, even the best containers can crack in a harsh enough earthquake. Many find that a #10 tin can is a great container for bulk foods.

Eat Through Your Storage of Food

Eventually, all food goes bad. You can leave your food storage and check on it every once in a while to make sure that it's still good. However, eventually you would have to throw the food away and waste your money. Even if you know how to store food long term, there are time limitations.On the other hand, if you eat your storage of food periodically, you can save on your monthly grocery bills if you fall short one month, and you can replace the food as you go. This method keeps everything a little more fresh.
If you have experience in storing food for survival, you know how to store food for long term use. However, even the most experienced food storage consultants make mistakes. We are simply going back to the basics, which can help anyone to at the very least get a fresh perspective.
Most Common Mistakes People Make When They Store Food
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About the Author
Rod Hansen is a food storage expert who writes about how to store food. For more great articles on food storage and how to store food, visit HowToStoreFood.info