{"id":2172,"date":"2024-05-12T16:24:48","date_gmt":"2024-05-12T16:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2172"},"modified":"2024-05-12T16:24:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-12T16:24:48","slug":"survival-food-storage-buy-or-diy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=2172","title":{"rendered":"Survival Food Storage \u2014 Buy or DIY?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"byline\">By <a class=\"byline-author ajax-home\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/author\/kit-perez\/\">Kit Perez<\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>In today\u2019s article, Kit Perez compares the benefits and drawbacks of DIY survival food compared to commercially prepared freeze-dried food and canned goods. Before stocking your pantry with Spam and MREs, give this article a read.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Storing food that will last for years is the cornerstone of prepping for all sorts of disasters or emergencies. Extra food can also keep your family secure during times of financial hardship as well. There\u2019s no worse feeling than going to get food at the store and finding nothing but empty shelves.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-53522\" title=\"DIY survival food\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-survival-food.jpg.webp 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-survival-food-800x450.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-survival-food-400x225.jpg.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-survival-food-768x432.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-survival-food-600x337.jpg.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Don\u2019t wait until an emergency to buy food to feed your family. Consider preparing now for hard times ahead. DIY survival food is one way to build a surplus affordably.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Food storage comes in all flavors, too; you can buy meal kits, bulk freeze-dried, or even pack and can your own essential food stores using jars and mylar bags with a vacuum seal. If you\u2019re just starting out with prepping, you might be wondering what direction is best for you and your family. If you\u2019ve already started storing up food, you might be looking for a good way to diversify your stock or find items that last longer at room temperature.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pre-Made Meal Kits to Store<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Pros: Convenience, ease of storage<\/li>\n<li>Cons: Price, possible quality concerns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Several vendors sell prepared meal kits that only require heat and water to use. They come packaged for long-term storage with a variety of foods. It\u2019s by far the most convenient option; you simply buy and store.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-53523\" title=\"prepper dry goods and emergency supplies for food storage\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage.jpg.webp 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage-800x533.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage-400x267.jpg.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage-768x512.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage-600x400.jpg.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"933\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage.jpg\" alt=\"In this photo, we see prepper dry goods and emergency supplies for food storage. Store food in original bags and look for products that are shelf stable for at least a year. Pemmican jerky is a favorite of many people when making your shopping list.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/prepper-dry-goods-and-emergency-supplies-for-food-storage-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Commercially available disaster kits and long-term food storage can be good solutions for many people \u2013 especially if you have limited time to invest in learning the skills needed for DIY food storage options.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Prices vary widely depending on the quantity, quality and type of food. Mountain House, for instance, produces meals that are widely regarded as some of the highest quality you can buy with incredibly long shelf lives; their prices, however, are often reflective of that quality.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, highly affordable long-term food storage can also come with some negatives. Make sure that what might seem like a great deal actually provides you with enough caloric intake to survive for the amount of time the manufacturer claims.<\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter inline\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: none;\" class=\"logo-tal-icon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/themes\/thearmorylife\/img\/logo-tal-tm-icon.svg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Live The Armory Life.<\/strong> The latest content straight to your inbox plus an automatic entry to each of our <a class=\"ajax-giveaways\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/giveaways\/\"><strong>monthly gun\u00a0giveaways!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Before choosing to purchase any ready-made meal kits, make sure to research more than just the price; look at ingredients, length of storability, quantity and calorie load in each meal.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Pro Tip<\/strong>: When selecting shelf stable food items for storage, buy a small quantity initially and try it out. You may discover the preparation process is problematic or you don\u2019t like the flavor. After all, if you don\u2019t like powdered eggs you don\u2019t want to store them.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DIY Survival Food for Long-Term Storage<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Pros: Knowing what you\u2019re getting, lower cost<\/li>\n<li>Cons: Limited use, requirement to use it all after opening<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Another option is to get some 5-gallon buckets, oxygen absorbers and mylar bags, and pack your own DIY food storage.\u00a0This is best for staple goods like corn, wheat, rice or beans. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You can buy the supplies fairly cheaply at a number of vendors online, and if you\u2019ve done it yourself you know exactly what the quality and quantity is. The downside is that once you open the bucket, you\u2019ll need to have a plan to use all of the contents in a relatively short timeframe. Once something is exposed to the air, it has an expiration date.<\/p>\n<p>Before deciding to take the plunge and do your own, you\u2019ll want to do some cost analysis, and be honest with yourself about what you\u2019ll use. If you aren\u2019t a fan of canned beans today, for instance, it\u2019s not an effective use of your supplies, time or money to start prepping them in huge quantities.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Canning Options to Boost Your Emergency Food Supply<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Pros: Low cost, wide range of recipes and options available<\/li>\n<li>Cons: Shorter storage time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Home canning is a time-honored method of making your survival food. Done correctly, it can provide you with hundreds of foods, including jams, meats, vegetables and even some desserts. One of the benefits is the increased nutritional value of the food when compared to many options at the local grocery store when you buy food.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><picture decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-53524\" title=\"DIY pressure canning for emergency food stores\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores.jpg.webp 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores-800x530.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores-400x265.jpg.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores-768x509.jpg.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores-600x397.jpg.webp 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"927\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores.jpg\" alt=\"In this digital photo, we see a line of home preserved foods. Make your own survival food. Using pressure canning for emergency food storage can help you keep everything like chicken, beef, pork, broccoli and jams on hand. Many like it better than dehydrate foods on this list for emergency meals.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores-800x530.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DIY-pressure-canning-for-emergency-food-stores-600x397.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\"\/>\n<\/picture><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pressure canning is an excellent way to store great tasting food for emergency use. Everything from meat to jellies can be stored using this method. It can have a longer shelf life than you might think.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Canning as a method of food preservation is easy to learn, and while it requires the biggest time commitment, it also arguably offers the highest return on your investment \u2014 especially if you have your own garden. With a few solid sessions of canning, you can eat fresh food both in and out of season. And home canning will preserve your food for a long period of time. It\u2019s a great way to extend the shelf life of fresh food.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The best way to maximize your home canning is to put up foods you\u2019ll eat, use food that you\u2019ve grown or raised yourself, and rotate your stock, eating your oldest food first. Canned food can last at least 18 months; many experienced home canners say it can last far longer than that if you\u2019ve performed the process correctly.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts on Shelf-Stable Food Storage Preparedness<\/h2>\n<p>You may choose one of the listed methods above, or a variety of them. What\u2019s best for you and your family might be different than your neighbors or friends. It all comes down to what you can afford, and what you\u2019re willing to do. Regardless of your chosen method, however, whatever you stock now can help you later.<\/p>\n<p><em>Editor\u2019s Note: Please be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the \u201cGo To Forum Thread\u201d link below to jump in!<\/em><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"heading heading-forum-thread hide-share\"><span>Join the Discussion<\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"forum-thread-button-wrapper hide-share\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/forum\/threads\/19072\/\">Go to forum thread<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thearmorylife.com\/survival-food-buy-or-diy\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Kit Perez In today\u2019s article, Kit Perez compares the benefits and drawbacks of DIY survival food compared to commercially prepared freeze-dried food and canned goods. Before stocking your pantry with Spam and MREs, give this article a read.\u00a0 Storing food that will last for years is the cornerstone of prepping for all sorts of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2173,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2172","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2172\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}