1. 2aHawaii
  2. General Topics
  3. Preparedness and Survival
  4. Besides MREs... What to store?
Print
Pages: [1] 2 3

Besides MREs... What to store? (Read 22579 times)

Water

Besides MREs... What to store?
« on: December 10, 2012, 09:29:25 PM »
To me MREs are a good survival food but what is a more practical food to store? Practical can mean a vast amount of things so bare with me. To me rice would be a good item to store as white rice can be stored for decades if done properly. It is also a very common type of food for everyday purposes so all you have to do is cycle your bags.  The down side is that it does take a good amount of water to cook which may be scarce in the event of a disaster.  Canned food also would be good but you would have to cycle them as well since they have an expiration of about 2 or 3 years. I dunno about you but I don't plan to take MREs to work and eat em for lunch when they are about to expire.
Logged

macsak

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2012, 09:35:45 PM »
i was planning on buying MREs and every 5-7 years have my friends and their kids over and have an MRE party
until i heard how salty they are and how they sometimes give you constipation
i bought a couple of pails of the wise food products from mojo tactical
have a longer shelf life and look/taste better

next on the plan is water, then start worrying about flour/rice/canned goods etc
first thing i started with is fire, still have to work on my supply of cassette feu tanks
i have lots of filter/purifying things, but i gotsta work on the water storage part
long term wish is to have propane or natural gas tanks and generators wired in to my house :)

aloha

steve

Quote from: Water on December 10, 2012, 09:29:25 PM
To me MREs are a good survival food but what is a more practical food to store? Practical can mean a vast amount of things so bare with me. To me rice would be a good item to store as white rice can be stored for decades if done properly. It is also a very common type of food for everyday purposes so all you have to do is cycle your bags.  The down side is that it does take a good amount of water to cook which may be scarce in the event of a disaster.  Canned food also would be good but you would have to cycle them as well since they have an expiration of about 2 or 3 years. I dunno about you but I don't plan to take MREs to work and eat em for lunch when they are about to expire.
Logged

TeamSDSHawaii

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 446
  • Total likes: 1
  • Support Safety!
  • Referrals: 0
    • View Profile
    • Self Defense Solutions Hawaii
Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2012, 09:42:42 PM »
I'd suggest you search down... some good info downstairs! :thumbsup: ;D
Logged

Bunker

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2012, 09:55:49 PM »
Back in my military days we had indestructible sea rats and some of the stuff we were eating was 20 years old but probably same taste as new sea rats for all we knew. We used the old metal military ash trays to heat the stuff up and it came with a few cigarettes. A lot of the military smoked back then. Those things would last forever if they are still around. A tank could run over one of those and it would probably be good to go.
Logged

Water

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2012, 10:28:19 PM »
Quote from: TeamSDSHawaii on December 10, 2012, 09:42:42 PM
I'd suggest you search down... some good info downstairs! :thumbsup: ;D
Yea... I dont do that. I'm one of those guys that flood the forums with the same topic expecting answers to change from 3 months ago.  ;) Nah but ill try check it out... Didnt even bother to search. Last forums ive ever been on was forumshawaii, years ago... A little rusty at this.
Logged

Water

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2012, 10:58:49 PM »
Quote from: macsak on December 10, 2012, 09:35:45 PM
i was planning on buying MREs and every 5-7 years have my friends and their kids over and have an MRE party
until i heard how salty they are and how they sometimes give you constipation
i bought a couple of pails of the wise food products from mojo tactical
have a longer shelf life and look/taste better

next on the plan is water, then start worrying about flour/rice/canned goods etc
first thing i started with is fire, still have to work on my supply of cassette feu tanks
i have lots of filter/purifying things, but i gotsta work on the water storage part
long term wish is to have propane or natural gas tanks and generators wired in to my house :)

aloha

steve
  I know this sounds " hippy" but I've considered about becoming a serious tree hugger. They have pretty good survivalist instincts.  Catching rain water instead of draining the aquifers or getting solar panels instead of storing gas. Just from solar power alone you can run your refrigerator, cook, heat water, run lights or any electronics, charge your electric car if you have one for your transportation, etc. I'm sure everyone knows the advantages of solar during a disaster by now. Sure beats storing gas as it has a storage life of about 3 months, propane a bit longer.  Refrigeration alone would prolong all my food. Problem for me is that converting to being green is a bit expensive right now. At least if im able to convert, I won't look like I overreacted or lose out on anything if nothing happens in my life time. Just would look like I was very concerned with the environment... which I kinda am. Probably save me a lot of money in the long run as well.
Logged

2aHawaii

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3629
  • Total likes: 67
  • Sheepdog
  • Referrals: 17
    • View Profile
    • 2aHawaii
Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2012, 04:35:04 AM »
Check out raw ingredients from Thrive, Honeyville, Mountain House, etc.. Many times they will last longer, as in the 20-30 year range. Beans, grains, and as you said before, rice are all staples.
You will still need a source of water, but depending where you are in Hawaii, it may not be a problem with a rain cachement system.

The good thing about the raw ingredients is that you can eat most of it just like normal. Throw it in a soup and it tastes just like it should. You can also think of it as investing in food. Buying low now and preparing for inflation :)
Logged
I am not a lawyer.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." - United States Constitution Amendment 2 & Hawaii State Constitution Article 1 Section 17

Buying from Amazon? Click through here

TeamSDSHawaii

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 446
  • Total likes: 1
  • Support Safety!
  • Referrals: 0
    • View Profile
    • Self Defense Solutions Hawaii
Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #7 on: December 12, 2012, 07:57:56 PM »
Quote from: Water on December 10, 2012, 10:28:19 PM
Yea... I dont do that. I'm one of those guys that flood the forums with the same topic expecting answers to change from 3 months ago.  ;) Nah but ill try check it out... Didnt even bother to search. Last forums ive ever been on was forumshawaii, years ago... A little rusty at this.

LOL... Nah, I know how it goes... we got some pretty good info covered though... check it out! :shaka:
Logged

VLDragon

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2012, 10:41:59 AM »
Mres don't really have a great shelf life.  The best thing would be to buy things you normally eat and rotate stock.  For bobs I use mainstay emergency food rations. They're good for 10 years and you don't need extra water.  They taste like very grainy lemon cakes.  Also they're cheap:-)
Logged

Colt808

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #9 on: December 15, 2012, 04:58:41 AM »
Quote from: Water on December 10, 2012, 09:29:25 PM
To me MREs are a good survival food but what is a more practical food to store? Practical can mean a vast amount of things so bare with me. To me rice would be a good item to store as white rice can be stored for decades if done properly. It is also a very common type of food for everyday purposes so all you have to do is cycle your bags.  The down side is that it does take a good amount of water to cook which may be scarce in the event of a disaster.  Canned food also would be good but you would have to cycle them as well since they have an expiration of about 2 or 3 years. I dunno about you but I don't plan to take MREs to work and eat em for lunch when they are about to expire.
The best suggestion I can give is to store a diverse variety of foods...you just never know what situations may arise. Choose anything and everything that is practical and you can afford.

Quote from: VLDragon on December 14, 2012, 10:41:59 AM
Mres don't really have a great shelf life.  The best thing would be to buy things you normally eat and rotate stock.  For bobs I use mainstay emergency food rations. They're good for 10 years and you don't need extra water.  They taste like very grainy lemon cakes.  Also they're cheap:-)
? Military MRE's have a 10+ year shelf life if stored properly. I have 16 cases put away with my other long term storage food items.
Logged
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it. ~Thomas Paine


And I still see stupid people.

Surf

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #10 on: December 15, 2012, 08:40:24 AM »
MRE's or even the now popular foods like Thrive or Wise etc, might be a bit of a shock to the system if you go cold turkey eating them as stand alone meals.  I would suggest storing other rice and protein items that you could mix with the MRE's etc.  I might suggest getting into home canning or freeze drying your own items.  You can more easily control the content especially in regards to salt.  Also suggest getting on a set food rotation plan and not just counting on only items that are 10-20+ year storable. 
Logged

VLDragon

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #11 on: December 16, 2012, 08:54:55 AM »
Quote from: Colt808 on December 15, 2012, 04:58:41 AM
? Military MRE's have a 10+ year shelf life if stored properly. I have 16 cases put away with my other long term storage food items.


Logged

sworbeyegib

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2012, 02:18:27 PM »
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20859980/LDS%20Preparedness%20Manual.pdf

One of the most comprehensive survival lists I've ever read.  The mormons are pretty crazy in an awesome way.  In fact, I think I might just make this into a thread of its own.
Logged

roadster99

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2013, 08:13:33 PM »
Quote from: sworbeyegib on December 18, 2012, 02:18:27 PM
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20859980/LDS%20Preparedness%20Manual.pdf

One of the most comprehensive survival lists I've ever read.  The mormons are pretty crazy in an awesome way.  In fact, I think I might just make this into a thread of its own.

"Prepping" is part of their religion, it seems.

Anyone here thought about aquaponics?
Logged

mln41

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #14 on: January 09, 2013, 07:35:25 PM »
amazon has sale on mountain house buckets for $61.00 a pale has about 30 servings,   get a couple of those.   get a bag of rice per person in the house and rotate them.  buy some canned chicken or tuna from costco and a jug of vegetable or olive oil.   that will get you through the worse,  prepping is about survival.  if your starting out, prepping takes time and money and knowledge,  get the basics covered first.   get a small aqua pale to filter some water.  have some cards and other games on hand.  then start with more sophisticated and better stuff, but if your starting out, get the basics first it will get you way ahead quickly.   I also recommend having a bible to.  this is what I recommend starting with IMHO.   
Logged
King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Hunter1007

Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #15 on: January 09, 2013, 08:23:19 PM »
Some cheap inexpensive things that don't take up much space and has a long shelf life are

coffee
salt
spices
pasta
dried beans
honey

If you personally don't use it you could trade it during SHTF situations. I keep this stuff in my hurricane kit. Once hurricane season is over I buy new lots of the stuff and start using the older stuff that way I always have the newer stuff stored and not was the older stuff. Don't go crazy and hoard stuff. Just get enough to last you and your family the non hurricane season. That way you don't waste space.
Logged

Aiea78

  • Trade Count: (+10)
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1683
  • Total likes: 99
  • Grab em by the handles
  • Referrals: 1
    • View Profile
Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #16 on: January 10, 2013, 12:54:44 AM »
I can't believe I ran out of vienna sausage.  Costco run!

We store drink mixes, gravy, pancake mix, stuff that only needs water or minimum of other ingredients but makes nice eats like furikake seasoning because plain tuna just sucks. 

Mainstay bars, you better have fiber tabs / jellies as well ;)  Speaking of which chia and hemp seeds are pretty bad ass (ha).
Logged
Assault Rifle? What I have here is an Anti-Assault Rifle.
Proud Member 2016 2a Day Dozen open holster carry crew yo

TeamSDSHawaii

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 446
  • Total likes: 1
  • Support Safety!
  • Referrals: 0
    • View Profile
    • Self Defense Solutions Hawaii
Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2013, 10:23:00 PM »
Check some you tube vids on the subject... How to's... that's how we learned.

Couple years ago the wifey and I bought some mylar bags and 02 sorbers from amazon... then spent then next couple months getting some dry goods... rice, pinto beans, black beans, flour, sugar, honey, powdered milk, pancake mix, etc, etc....  Plus some pre made buckets of freeze dried stuff.

Spread the purchases over a couple months, so it dosen't hurt the wallet...

Then spend a Saturday prepping and storing the goods the right way learning from the vids...

Combined with a rotation of canned goods, water storage and purifiying and you got a pretty good cache!  :thumbsup:

Store in a cool, dry hidden place and a good peace of mind! :shaka:
Logged

TeamSDSHawaii

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 446
  • Total likes: 1
  • Support Safety!
  • Referrals: 0
    • View Profile
    • Self Defense Solutions Hawaii
Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #18 on: January 17, 2013, 10:25:00 PM »
Canned fish and certain meats have many many years of storage life...
Logged

Aiea78

  • Trade Count: (+10)
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1683
  • Total likes: 99
  • Grab em by the handles
  • Referrals: 1
    • View Profile
Re: Besides MREs... What to store?
« Reply #19 on: January 17, 2013, 11:11:51 PM »
I hate the Costco seal a meal thing.  The first horizontal axis one bit the dust in short order.  Then the later vertical axis one came out and it wastes a lot of bag by the machine's orientation.  The seal sucks as well even if triple sealed.  Did you guys get a commercial type sealer or just use an iron?   
Logged
Assault Rifle? What I have here is an Anti-Assault Rifle.
Proud Member 2016 2a Day Dozen open holster carry crew yo
Print
Pages: [1] 2 3
« previous next »