Setting Up An Emergency Pantry, Part 1: Basic Supplies
Summer storm season is upon us. Whether it is hurricanes or tornadoes that threaten your area (or both), are you prepared to feed your family for an extended period without power?
The last major outage I experienced lasted almost a week, and after watching a freezer full of food spoil, we lived out of whatever canned food we had around. We couldn’t get new supplies at the grocery store. As a result of this experience, I put together an emergency food plan. In this and the next three articles, I will cover how I implement my emergency pantry and cooking plan.
Today’s article will be on putting together a minimal emergency food stash. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, merely what I keep on hand. I try to keep a five day supply of food on hand for extended power outages.
Consider the Basics
In the event of an extended power outage, you might not be able to provide the same quality of meals you usually do. At the same time, good nutrition is essential, particularly if you are involved in a cleanup or stressful situation.This means you need to make sure that what everyone is eating is solid nutritionally, rather than junk food. You will also need to consider the times of day you will be eating, and the possibility that the water supply will be limited or unusable. These foods below are the start of a list of long-lasting foods that can be used as a food stash.
Breakfast
- Breakfast or granola bars. Commercially made breakfast and granola bars pack fiber and protein into little bars that keep well.
- Dried fruit. Another good source of fiber, dried fruit can be eaten on its own or added to other things to sweeten and provide texture.
- Instant oatmeal. If you don’t like the single serving packets, quick oats have a good shelf life and require minimal water. In a pinch, both instant and quick oats can be made with applesauce.
- Canned fruit. When fresh fruit is not available, canned fruit can provide necessary vitamins and energy. Look for fruit that is not stored in heavy syrup, as the corn syrup will provide a sugar rush with a following sugar crash.
- Breads. If you have warning that a storm is coming, stock up on breads that last. Some commercially-made breads that have no preservatives can last up to a week without spoilage or refrigeration. Another good choice are tortillas and flatbreads. Commercially-made baked goods will generally include preservatives to keep the breads from spoiling.
Lunches and Dinners
I lump these together because in the emergency food stash, these foods can be served at either.
- Tuna. While not wise to eat every day (because of mercury levels), it is a good source of protein in a pinch.
- Canned meats. If you can stand them, tinned meats (like SPAM) can be used for protein.
- Crackers. Most crackers have a long shelf life and can be combined with the meats above.
- Breads. see above.
- Soups. Non-condensed canned soups can provide a filling meal. They come in many flavors as well.
- Canned beans. A great source of protein that can be combined with other items.
- Canned veggies. Don’t assume you will have access to fresh produce. Canned veggies will supply nutrients.
Drinks
- Water. It is best to stock up on water before the emergency hits. This is obviously more do-able when you have sufficient warning of the approaching storm. FEMA recommends one gallon of water per person per day. You will also need water for any pets as well. If possible, it is best to store more drinking water than the recommended, because without air conditioning and with working outside, people will perspire more and require fluids to keep from being dehydrated.
- Evaporated milk. If you don’t have powdered milk, evaporated milk can be used in a pinch.
- Sports drinks. If you can have a limited-supply of electrolyte replenishing drinks on hand, this can help preventing dehydration.
The above list is not meant to be exhaustive, merely what I keep on hand.
Storing the Food Stash
I do not mix my emergency items in with my regular pantry items. This is so I know the food will be there when I need it. However, I also found that storing them in a box outside the kitchen led to expired food. More about this later.
Photo by lu_lu
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