Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods last up to thirty years on the shelf.
Many potential situations could put you in a position to survive on your own for a long period of time. They include natural disasters, getting lost on a backpacking trip and war. A supply of food will help you make it through. Several types of food provide a full range of nutrients and have long shelf lives, making them strong options for long-term survival.
Bulk Dehydrated Items
Grains, flours, pasta and other dehydrated goods are useful carbohydrates that have a long shelf life and can be bought in bulk. If stored in a dry cool location and sealed from air, they can last up to thirty years. They cost very little, and you can purchase them in any amount that you want. You can add just a small amount to meals for quick energy that will help you survive.
Canned and Jarred Goods
Canned goods don't cost much, and are more useful to have around your home than freeze-dried foods. Use them for normal cooking, but always keep extras on hand. The shelf life of canned and jarred goods varies according to the types of food kept inside, and the environment in which you store them. Acidic foods last longer in jars than in cans, since a metallic can will eventually react and break down with that acid. These include foods like tomatoes and pickled items. In jars stored in a cool dark location, these foods should last two years. Non-acidic canned goods should also last two years in a cool dark location. Acidic foods stored in cans will last between one and one-and-a-half years. Keep cans and jars of vegetables and fruit, since these are more difficult to get freeze-dried, especially in the freeze-dried complete meals.
Freeze-Dried Foods
Freeze-dried foods act specifically as emergency survival foods as well as for backpacking and camping food. They differ slightly from dehydrated foods due to the process required to make them. A freeze-drying machine dries the food using sublimation. The machine freezes the food and then removes the water (which becomes ice) from the food by immediately turning the ice to gas, skipping the liquid phase. This can be done for full meals or individual ingredients, and preserves a lot of the original taste of the food. Just add hot water to the food to bring it back to an edible state. Freeze-dried foods last up to thirty years, so you can store them just in case.
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