February 2022 - Short Term Food Storage

When I ask people what they think they should store first for an emergency, they always say food. They are close – that’s the second thing to store, but the food you should store first is not the food most people are thinking of.

I bet when you think of food storage you probably envision silver #10 cans of wheat and big bags of dried beans. Those are called Long-Term Food Storage foods because they will store a long time. They are food staples or what you might call “ingredients”. They require preparation, and sometimes special preparation, to be able to use them for meals.

Long-term stored foods are. essential in long-term emergencies, and the next chapter will be devoted to them, but they are not what you need to have on hand for a short-term emergency or the start of an emergency.

The simple definition of an emergency is something that you haven’t planned for, and that involves some sort of immediate consequence or struggle. In an emergency situation, the last thing you need to be doing, day one, is trying to figure out how to use wheat and dried beans!

You will be hungry and stressed and need energy to get through the next little while. That is what short term food storage if for. It’s food you can use easily and with very little preparation for a short time (up to three months).

What are short-term foods? The foods you eat every day at home now. These may be packaged or canned foods, fresh or frozen items, and things you can make simply with what you have on hand. In an emergency you and your family will want foods that are familiar and filling to get through the first few days and weeks.

Watch a video about short term food storage here:

What should you store?

Kitchen Staples

Baking chips
Baking chocolate squares Baking powder and soda Cocoa
Corn meal
Cornstarch
Extracts (almond, vanilla) Flour
Honey
Canned Milk
Molasses
Nonstick cooking spray Nuts
Cooking Oil
Rice – quick cooking Oats
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper Shortening
Spices
Syrup
Sugar - all kinds
Yeast
Vinegar
Eggs, powdered
Lemon Juice
Bouillon
Vanilla
Dried Onions
Cooking Spray
Dry Milk Powder Evaporated Milk

Raisins and other dried fruits Jams/ Jellies
Jello

Baking Mixes

Biscuit
Brownie mix Cake mix
Corn bread mix Muffin mix Frosting Pancake Mix Pudding, instant Quick bread mix

Canned or Bottled Foods

Applesauce Beans
Beef
Broth
Chicken or Turkey Fruits

Green chilies Jam and Jelly Ketchup Mustard Meats

Olives Peanut butter

Prepared entrées (chile, ravioli, spaghetti, soups, stews, etc.)

Pumpkins or Yams Salsa

Sauces (Alfredo, cheese, picante, spaghetti, etc.)

Soups, condensed Stew
Tomatoes
Tuna

Vegetables

BBQ Sauce Parmesan Cheese Spaghetti Sauce Apple or Fruit Juice Candy

Seasonings

Bouillon granules Hot pepper sauce Onion soup mix Soy sauce

Taco seasoning
Vinegar
Mayo
Salad Dressing
Peanut or Almond Butter Teriyaki sauce Worcestershire sauce Powdered drink mix

Starches

Bread crumbs, dry

Crackers

Noodle mixes

Pasta (noodles, macaroni, penne, spaghetti, etc.)

Rice, instant
Rice mixes
Stuffing mix
Packaged scalloped potatoes

Mac N Cheese
Food Bars
Pretzels
Popcorn
Potato flakes
Cold or Instant Cereal

Storage, Long-Term

Dried beans (black, kidney, navy, pinto)

Nonfat dry milk powder Oats (regular, Instant) Potato (flakes, Pearls)
Rice (instant, long grain etc.) Wheat (red or white)

Egg powder

Non-Food Items

Multi-vitamins Baby food Formula Diapers

Baby wipes
Bar or liquid bath soap Toilet paper rolls
Facial tissue
Feminine items Deodorant/antiperspirant Razors
Shampoo & Conditioner Dental Floss
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Lotion
Lip balm Sunscreen 

How much should you store?

You should store extra. It’s pretty simple. When you’re at the store, get a couple more cans of whatever you’re buying. Buy an extra box of garbage bags or get an extra bottle of salsa. If you get extra of everything, it will be enough to last for three months before you know it.

The long-term staples – beans, rice, wheat, oats – these can be the foundation for the meals and you can use the rest to make sure it’s familiar, filling, easy on your gut and easy to prepare.

How should you get prepared for these foods in an easy and economical way?

The best way to prepare is little by little. This month or while you are working on this section, buy extra of whatever you are able to afford. These are items that often have coupons. Buy one get one free, and other deals. And they are the items on case lot sales. Look for warehouse stores that sell things in bulk for less. You can find cases of things for much less per piece than in your regular grocery store.

Make a game out of it – how much can you get for the least amount of money? I think you will be surprised at how quickly you can get food stored that you and your family could live on for three months.

Pay attention to holidays and seasons. Everything will be less expensive when it’s in season and there are always great sales around holidays.