If you want to be prepared for any situation in your life, one of the most important things to take care of should be your home food storage. In case of some natural disaster, losing job, strike of some illness or other emergencies, when families would have to be separated and isolated from each other, we need to have such essentials as food and water storage. But even if we have a wish to get ourselves prepared for such cases, often it is hard to define how much water we need and what kind of food to store in order to build a successful food storage.
The most important part of any home food storage system is probably water supply. We can survive for a longer time without food, but not without water. We need to store at least one gallon of water per person per day, or 3 gallons per day, with cooking and hygiene water. You should also make sure you have about 10-14 days of water supply for all members of your family.
You should store your water away from direct sunlight and heat in a cool dark place. For storing large quantities of water it is better to use storage barrels, tanks and other food containers. You can also use commercially packaged water, but make sure you keep an eye on the expiration date. Do not open water until you need it and keep it in your storage in its original packaging. Rotate your water supply every 6 months.
As for the long-term food storage, it is recommended by many experts to store wheat, corn, white rice, pasta, potato flakes, sugar, powdered milk and even some dehydrated food like carrots. All of these products have a very long shelf life and can be stored for even up to 30 years, if properly stored and handled.
You should use the right containers such as foil pouches, #10 cans or plastic buckets for longer term food storage items. If you use these containers with oxygen absorber packets, you will be able to extend the shelf life of your food by maximum. Every family decides on the type of food to store by itself. No matter what food you prefer to add to your storage, it is more important to put together a 1-year food supply.
If you want to put together a short-term food supply, store the food you usually eat to last for about 3 months. Once you have stored enough food, don?t forget to rotate it regularly, to make sure it will not spoil and go to waste. You can also consider different food preservation techniques, like canning, and purchase a pressure canner or vacuum sealer to make your own food preserves.
This planet gets nasty - it’s time to be prepared. Read more about food storage - this knowledge can save your life. Visit this food storage blog for useful info in the food storage industry.
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