One of people’s biggest concerns with food storage is shelf life. After all, no one wants to walk into their emergency food storage during a totally honest disaster and find that all of their “imperishable” goods have decomposed into brown sludge. It’s true, many foods such as canned goods and frozen items don’t last as long as you might expect.
But what can you do? Well, for starters, you can do some in-depth research into what you decide to keep (which is probably why you’re here). For one more thing, you can hoard it in the food storage area will last forever. Here are five of the oldest emergency food storage items available.
1. Salt
Although, depending on who you talk to, salt probably isn’t technically a “food”, this mineral has been used with food for the most part, well, forever. Evidence of salt extraction operations date back some 9,000 years. As an illustration, the wheel was invented only about 3,000 years later. Being a mineral, not any organic matter, salt is completely immune to microbial attack. That means it won’t spoil, and helps prevent spoilage in other foods. It also enhances taste, so if you find yourself in a situation where you have to subsist on bland emergency food, you’ll be glad you have salt nearby. As for the shelf life, well, it’s a rock; it will last forever, or until you eat it.
2. Honey
Honey is an extraordinary substance. Unlike salt, it is 100% organic. It is also 100% healthy for you to eat. Raw honey has natural antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties, boosts the human immune system, and can even be used to relieve symptoms associated with the common cold. It is high in calories, so in a low food situation it will give you much needed energy on an empty stomach. You can also sprinkle it on burns for temporary relief, making honey a useful first aid stock as well. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that honey doesn’t seem like it Once get bad. For example, 3,000 year old honey excavated from Egyptian tombs is still edible. It can change its consistency and crystallize/harden, but when heated it just goes back to its original state. But be warned, honey can be harmful to children under 1 year of age, so keep it away from them.
3. Dry white rice
If stored properly, white rice can last up to 30 years in storage. I know that doesn’t sound that impressive compared to the shelf life of salt and honey forever, but come on, 30 years is a really long time. If you started food storage the day you were born, and lived to be 90 years old, you may only need to replace these items. three time. White rice also has a variety of uses. They are filling, contain calories, protein, and certain vitamins and nutrients, and are easy to prepare. Brown rice has more nutrients than white, but it doesn’t store well.
4. Freeze dry food storage
Freeze-dried food storage is made by freezing food quickly, and then removing the water from it leaving only a freeze-dried substance that can be easily packaged and stored. Adding a little boiling water will turn the food into something that is not only edible, but also tasty and healthy. You see, the freeze drying process is able to maintain the taste and nutrition of the original food. Different freeze-dried foods can be stored safely for varying lengths of time, but regardless of what you use, the shelf life is usually around 20–30 years. Compare that to most canned goods, which only last 3–5 years.
5. Storage of dehydrated food
Although they are not as durable as freeze dried food, dry food storage still has a long shelf life. This is because they follow the same basic process: the moisture is removed and then the goods are packaged. The difference is that with conventional dehydration techniques, only about 90% of the moisture is removed (as opposed to freeze drying, which removes about 98% of the moisture). So, stored dehydrated food only lasts about 15-20 years before needing to be replaced. Still, it’s not bad, when you think about it.
