5 Ways to Preserve Food for Disaster
Having a stock of non-perishable food isn’t just for the “doomsday prepper” anymore. It’s something that everyone should have in case of disaster.
When heavy snowfalls prevent you from getting to the store, power outages prevent you from being able to cook, and unprepared people rush to the store to grab all the canned food at the last minute, you need a way to keep your family’s bellies full.
Preserving Food at Home
Luckily, it’s pretty easy to learn how to make your own canned food at home that lasts for months to years. Here are the 5 ways to preserve food at home:
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Freezing
Food in vacuum sealed containers won’t get freezer burn. -
Fermenting
All you need to ferment food is filtered water, salt, and an air-tight container for storage. -
Canning
You don’t need to get a fancy canning device. You can create your own canned food at home with mason jars and a pot of boiling water on the stove. -
Dehydrating
Dehydrated meats, fruits, and vegetables will come in handy when you can’t cook. If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can use your oven on the lowest temperature. -
Brining
You can preserve meat, cheese, vegetables, and fish with salt to make it last for years to months
It’s important to note that cooked eggs can be preserved, but raw eggs cannot unless they were laid fresh and have not been washed. Fresh eggs have a protective coating called a “bloom” that makes them last without needing to be refrigerated. Store-bought eggs have all been washed, which removes the protective “bloom.”
Don’t Forget a Power Source
What good is freezing food if you don’t have a way to thaw or cook it? Make sure you also have an emergency backup power source so you can make your family delicious, hot meals with your preserved foods.