You do not need expensive survival food. Regular grocery store food, stored well, will feed your family for a long time.
The four core foods
White rice, dried beans, rolled oats and pasta. They are cheap, easy to find, and last a long time when stored well.
How to store them for the long term
- Get food-grade 5-gallon buckets with lids.
- Put a mylar bag inside each bucket and fill it.
- Add oxygen absorbers, press out the air, and seal the bag with a clothes iron.
- Snap on the lid and label it with what is inside and the date.
Stored this way in a cool, dark place, rice, oats and dried beans can last many years. In their store bags, plan to use them within a year or two.
Rotate what you eat
Canned goods are your short-term layer. Use them in normal cooking and replace what you use, oldest first. Your sealed buckets are your long-term backup.
The most common mistake
Storing food somewhere hot or damp. An Oklahoma garage gets hot enough to shorten shelf life. Aim for a cool, dark place like an interior closet or basement.
Do not forget
- A manual can opener
- A way to cook without power, used outdoors only
- Baby formula and food if you have little ones
- Foods for anyone with allergies
Sources: Ready.gov food guidance (FEMA), USDA food safety guidance.