Forget canned foods - Buy the staples - Flour, sugar etc.

Al walmart, flour and sugar are both 50 cents a pound. Rice and rolled oats 75 cents. And each of these staples are concentrated food with 1500 calories per pound. OTOH, a can of chili costs $1.25 and only has 500 calories. When you buy canned, you're buying (and storing) WATER!!!

But to cook well with that stuff, other than cookies or breads, you really need the following:
meat
fruit
veggies
eggs
milk
All that stuff really doesn't keep well, it takes up a ton of space, and where I live some of these staples like veggies and meat, even milk, are getting really expensive. Plus if the power goes out, the stuff that you need to cook with like eggs and meat and veggies and milk, it all goes bad.

I agree with you OP. The only caveat being to store them properly.

"Pease Porridge Hot
Pease Porridge Cold
Pease Porridge in the Pot
Nine Days Old."

Originally posted by ravenshadow13
But to cook well with that stuff, other than cookies or breads, you really need the following:
meat
fruit
veggies
eggs
milk
All that stuff really doesn't keep well, it takes up a ton of space, and where I live some of these staples like veggies and meat, even milk, are getting really expensive. Plus if the power goes out, the stuff that you need to cook with like eggs and meat and veggies and milk, it all goes bad.

I invested in some large containers of powdered eggs and powdered milk and powdered butter. You just need to add water, and you can use these ingredients for cooking. I know... it sounds kind of gross. BUT, there is a 20 year shelf life on this stuff!

Originally posted by Make Speed Limit 45

When you buy canned, you're buying (and storing) WATER!!!

In some circumstances this would be most welcome. You have a ready and clean supply of water from canned product.

As for pease pudding nine days running I often leave curries in my wok during the week.

The only time I had an issue with it spoiling was when contained lentils and chick peas. Just finished a beef curry that's been sitting in there since Sunday evening. Just reheating on the stove as required.

Disclaimer: I may have an iron stomach...

[edit on 15-1-2009 by Nirgal: quote headings]

[edit on 15-1-2009 by Nirgal]

Have you tried freeze- or vacumn-dried foods they last almost forever and can be fruits meat etc. also if you are really trying to prepare for a situation like this you shouldn't be worrying about storage space you should have that dealt with.

Also see if you can get hold of military ration packs. They last for decades, got plenty of nutrition and energy and they taste pretty good as well (at least most of them). If you are unable to get hold of military rations you can buy similair items in hiking shops. The downside is they are very expensive and I am unsure about their quality.

Well, we will be in big trouble if there is a shortage at the supermarket.

I wonder how our great grandparents ever survived.........in fact I wonder how humans survived without supermarkets, fridges and electricity, for thousands of years?

We put our trust in other humans. The thing I have found out about that is when I do that I am usually let down. Other humans almost always put themselves first and you can bet if money is involved, your well being is the last consideration, if it is even thought of.

I wish more people could see the pitfalls and potholes.

reply to post by Make Speed Limit 45


You might want to stay away from all tinned products as there are harmful cleaning products used prior to filling and sealing. Have a look at what they found in this tasty tin.

Yum Yum Mmmmmmmm

Originally posted by win 52
Well, we will be in big trouble if there is a shortage at the supermarket.

I wonder how our great grandparents ever survived.........in fact I wonder how humans survived without supermarkets, fridges and electricity, for thousands of years?

We put our trust in other humans. The thing I have found out about that is when I do that I am usually let down. Other humans almost always put themselves first and you can bet if money is involved, your well being is the last consideration, if it is even thought of.

I wish more people could see the pitfalls and potholes.

They survived in a completely different type of society, and on a planet with FAR fewer people.

Just my thoughts.....

There is only 1 major problem with this I can foresee. May or may not have considered this. Heating supply

How much wood/gas/propane/what ever you choose to use does it take to make a final product cooking from staples vs. canned vs. MRE's?

Let's say you are going to have to remain in your bugout shelter / area for more than a month. Eventually, we will run out of our propane / butane / whatever else and be forced to used wood for the heating source. Wood in some areas are not in great supply. Imagine all the folks around your area going out everyday for a month and chopping up any wood they can find so they can cook.

The idea being to stretch out your resources as long as possible and do not waste, ever. It only takes me 3 - 4 minutes to heat a can of beans vs 30 - 40 to cook from staple.

Just something to mull over for future thought.

Originally posted by Amaxium
Just my thoughts.....

There is only 1 major problem with this I can foresee. May or may not have considered this. Heating supply

How much wood/gas/propane/what ever you choose to use does it take to make a final product cooking from staples vs. canned vs. MRE's?

Food is a necessity. Hot food is a luxury. You can easily get by just eating MREs or canned goods cold.

The oats, etc, will need to be cooked, or at least soaked in water.

Personally, when things get bad, I'll probably just go a-hunting.
That's my boyfriend's plan, anyway.

If you don't have water, you're already screwed.

Originally posted by Amaxium
Just my thoughts.....

There is only 1 major problem with this I can foresee. May or may not have considered this. Heating supply

I thought about that. Rolled oats don't have to be cooked, nor sugar. Flour is usually cooked as bread or rolls or cookies etc but can be eaten uncooked. Rice does need to be boiled to open the shell but that's all. Once the water starts boiling, you turn the heat off and let it simmer

My bean analogy may not have been the best choice but the idea is most staples require cooking which requires more wood resources than other options.

Water is always a requirement above all.

And... I plan on hunting myself also and hope I am a good enough hunter / trapper to keep my fam fed. But any good survivalist will also have a backup. I will also have a good supply of MRE's if I have a bad hunting or trapping period. Plus, you don't need a fire for them. The smoke would give away your position to others. The fear in this is other people willing to do whatever it takes to rob you of your supplies because they were not prepared or they too are not successful hunters and trappers.

reply to post by Make Speed Limit 45


Heres a better idea. Grow your own wheat and grow sugar cane or beets. Much cheaper. Sure its more work, but if the mighty Walmart isnt around, then what?

Yes, I stock purchased food stuffs like most on here do. However, we should always be looking for ways to grow/produce what we consume ourselves.

As for the hunters and trappers on here, a big to you.

reply to post by Amaxium


As jerico65 said you can eat MREs cold this also goes fro canned food. Also you mentioned going out for wood sarcastically. I know I'm probably alone on this but my house has vast stockpiles of chopped wood cos we use a stove to cover a large amount of heating the house as we live in an area without gas supplies and irregular oil tank refills. So I have plenty of wood I've also got a fair amount of hexy blocks which are designed for cooking MREs, burn really hot and probably can be obtained without too much difficulty.

I think that storing up on staples, can goods and water are good ideas but if you live long enough you are going to run out. If anyone finds out that you have stores, well let’s just hope they are content with just talking them. A better idea is to learn to live off the Mother. She has supplied for the beast of air, land and sea for more years than we have been on this planet. We just have to learn what is safe to eat and what is not.

A while back I found myself unprepared. I was living in San Antonio and there was a chance that a Hurricane might come up to us. I lived in a typical neighborhood that has little land around my house. What I found was I had basically a few cases of water with maybe two full bathtubs and the toilets as all the water I had. I had two freezers of frozen foods, an electric stove and your typical pantry of food.

Stepping back I thought about what would happen if I lost all power and water with really no way to get it back without fighting a few groups of scared and angry people. In that case I think after a week I would have been in serious trouble, and I didn’t even need to worry about keeping warm that would play into other areas.

So if I was going to store let’s say a year’s worth of food what type would be the best. I would like long term so I wouldn’t need to cycle it very much. Also how large of a water container would be good to keep full. I would also invest in a reverse osmosis purification system too. I’m also thinking that maybe I will go in with a few very close families to form a group, so the best way might be food needed for one year per person and what type(s) are best.

As mentioned above if there are any hunters or trappers on here then well done to you. I sure would like to be able to catch my own food like that however I am not very patient and more importantly it is extremely hard to get a decent gun where I am. If you plan on growing your own food to survive then you should start way in advance as it takes ages to get the experience to look after the plants and to get the plants growing firmly in your soil. Despite this growing your own food is a very good and commendable plan and one that others of you out there making notes on this survival comlumn should take in to account.