Food Preservation: The Best Ways to Store Food for an Emergency
In 2020, many people suddenly realized how unprepared they were for minor emergencies — let alone a global pandemic. As the reality of their under-preparedness set in, the masses rushed to their local grocery stores to buy toilet paper, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, and of course, food.
To no one’s surprise, the shelves were emptied of canned goods, meat, bread, and other staples often within hours. This left many people feeling anxious, and perhaps even frustrated at themselves for not being as prepared as they could have been.
If there’s one thing the novel coronavirus has taught us, it’s that whether you’re a hardcore prepper or just an average Joe that wants to be ready for a curveball, storing food is crucial for survival. This article will teach you five common food preservation methods so you can rest knowing you’re well-stocked when the next disaster unfolds.
A Quick History on Preserving Food
Food preservation is, in its essence, “any of a number of methods by which food is kept from spoilage after harvest or slaughter.” Some of the earliest of these methods included preserving food by fermenting, freezing, and drying it.
Since the beginning, those who lived in colder regions froze food on ice. For those who dwelt in warmer areas, they typically dried their food in the sun and wind. As time went on, canning, pasteurization, refrigeration, and even chemicals – not to mention the bonus of using proper packaging — were used to preserve foods for longer periods of time.
Today, we’re privy to a handful of home food preservation techniques — whether it’s freezing those chickens you raised, canning veggies from your hugelkultur garden bed, or anything else. By proactively preserving your food, you can stock up in bulk and save some cash as well.
And now, without further ado, here are five of our favorite food preservation methods.
Drying and Dehydrating
Drying or dehydrating food is at the top of the list for food preservation since it can help store items such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, and jerky.
The idea behind food drying is that by removing the water from food, you can prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold.
You can dehydrate food in a number of different ways, from using a commercial dehydrator to simply air drying or baking your victuals in your oven. Other methods include a sun oven and solar dehydrators, too.
While dehydrating foods is typically safe, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind, with the first being that not all foods dehydrate well. For instance, foods that are high in fat (avocadoes, butter, cheese, etc.) usually aren’t good candidates.
Foods that we particularly recommend hydrating include:
Citrus fruits.
Bananas, apples, and mangos.
Berries, such as cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
Vegetables, such as zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and onions.
Potatoes, cabbage, lettuce, and kale.
Legumes, such as beans and lentils.
Strips of salted, seasoned meat, such as ground beef, deer, and turkey.
Herbs of all kinds.
Since dehydrated foods have a low risk of contamination due to the lack of moisture, you can expect an impressive shelf life of up to five years.
If a food you dehydrated does happen to go bad quickly, it’s probably because of leftover moisture. To assure your dehydrated food will last, it’s better to over-dry rather than under-dry it and then seal your waterless goodies in airtight containers completely free of moisture.
When all is said and done, dehydrated food makes for perfect on the go snacks. If you have any fruits or vegetables that are on the verge of going bad, pop them in the dehydrator to save as a snack down the road.
Canning Food Preservation
Canning doesn’t just have to be a distant childhood memory at grandma’s house. You can have shelves upon shelves of delicious canned food that can keep for ages. There are several different forms of canning, including water bath canning, steam canning, and pressure canning.
Water Bath Canning
Water bath canning involves the use of a stockpot, mason jars, and hot water. This is a popular canning method typically used for high acid foods such as fruit, jam, jelly, tomatoes, and pickles.
Steam Canning
The heat from steam can seal your jars in the same way water bath canning can. However, it seals under an enclosed pot with steam as opposed to boiling hot water.
Although steam canning takes around the same time it would to water bath can, many people prefer this method because it saves on energy and water. It, too, is used for canning high acid foods.
Pressure Canning
Pressure canning uses high temperatures to preserve low-acid foods, including beans, carrots, corn, soup, meat, and most vegetables. By using a piece of equipment called a pressure canner, you can properly seal and store your favorite savory foods.
Fermentation
Fermentation is a unique process that turns low acid foods into high ones. This not only gives the food a longer shelf life but also makes it easier to digest. It also provides a slew of health benefits as well.
Water bath canning is usually the preferred way to ferment food. Additives like salt and a packet of starter cultures help make the food more acidic, giving it its notorious vinegary smell and taste.
Popular foods to ferment at home include:
Sauerkraut
Kimchi.
Pickles.
Sourdough bread.
Cheese.
Yogurt.
Kefir.
Kombucha.
You can ferment many other less common foods, too, including onions, carrots, eggs, green beans — the list goes on.
Root Cellar Storage
Storing food in root cellars is an old-fashioned way to preserve food. This method has been especially popular for helping fall vegetables last throughout the winter.
By saying you store your food in a “root cellar,” we mean a consistently cool, dry place. This could be an unheated basement, a porch, a garage, an attic, or a crawl space.
The best foods to store in an area like this are:
Root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrot, beets, onions, and garlic.
Celery and cabbage.
Apples and pears.
Gourds, such as squash and pumpkins.
Corn.
Shell beans.
You can store your vegetables in practically anything. Barrels, boxes, and totes all work. However, we prefer to use crates so the vegetables can receive proper ventilation.
If you’re storing your vegetables in a basement, we recommend using a dehumidifier to keep the area from becoming too moist. Even so, you’ll still want to regularly check on your stores to catch mold before it spreads to the rest of your harvest.
Freezing Food Preservation
Last but not least, we have freezing — the ultimate solution to prepping on a budget. Whether it’s fresh produce or leftovers from last night’s dinner, this method prevents waste and allows you to keep your home stocked with food all year round.
The great thing about freezing food is that it doesn’t require any special equipment or techniques. However, there are still a few tips to keep in mind when using this method.
To ensure the best quality and taste, you’ll want to store your food in vacuum seal bags to prevent the forming of ice crystals, commonly known as “freezer burn.” This will help food last three to four times longer than normal.
Fruits can typically be bagged and go straight from fresh to frozen with no problem. However, vegetables often require blanching. This is a technique in which vegetables are immersed in boiling hot water for several minutes and then transferred to cold water to stop enzyme action and guarantee long-lasting freshness.
Start Storing Food for the Future
Relying on commercial businesses to provide food for your family in times of emergencies can be unreliable. That’s why storing your own food, whether it be from your homestead or a produce stand down the road, is always a good idea.
So, get storing. Then, next time you’re trapped during a snowstorm or rained in by a hurricane, dig into those potatoes in your basement or pull out some savory turkey jerky to snack on. As you do so, you can rest knowing that no matter comes your way, you won’t have to suffer from a hungry belly.