There is nothing to compare with ham and bean soup made a ham hock. This flavor can be imitated without a ham hock using ham bouillon and a 5-oz. can of chunk ham with amazing results. You can also Real bacon pieces to bean soups made with ham bouillon.
Ham bouillon is less commonly found. Order Custom Culinary Chef's Granular Ham Base in a jar online at www.gygi.com. Goya Ham Flavored Concentrate (granules), sold in a small box of packets, can be found in the Hispanic food section at Walmart or at some Mexican or Asian grocery stores.
Granules are preferable to store because they require no refrigeration after opening. They have a shelf life of around 5- 8 years when stored in a cool, dark place and will last up to 3 years on the shelf after opening.
Update on foil tape used for making applebox reflector ovens
Be sure to use "metal repair tape" when making applebox reflector ovens. Other kinds of foil tape can melt and emit noxious fumes.
Summer Salads with Food Storage
Refreshing salads made with rice, pasta, canned beans and meats are delicious even without an emergency! Dried green peppers and celery are easy to substitute for fresh and very convenient when you’re in a hurry. Use these substitutions: 1 stalk of celery = 2 T. dried, ¼ cup diced green peppers = 2 T. dried. Simply soak these dried foods in double the amount of lukewarm water for 10 minutes while you prepare the rest of the salad. Drain the dried vegetables and add them to the salad.
Dried onions are a great substitute for green onions. These contribute the best flavor when added dry, without pre-soaking them.
Yummy homemade dressings can be made with vinegar, bottled lemon or lime juice, oil and spices. It’s amazing how great the flavor can be.
You will find a collection of 46 delicious summer salads in our new 3rd Edition.
Storing charcoal
August and September are good times to look for end of season sales on charcoal and stock up. This is a great cooking fuel to store because it stores indefinitely.
Charcoal must be protected against moisture. The Kingsford Charcoal Company web site now recommends storing charcoal in a cool, dry place. However, some people store charcoal in a garage or shed in the original bags and, for additional protection against moisture, place them in plastic containers or large plastic bags. In humid climates, there is some concern that just the right combination of humidity and heat can cause charcoal to spontaneously combust. One interesting web site lists an impressive amount of research from foremost authorities suggesting that spontaneous combustion is unlikely with the quantities of charcoal people would store at home. When storing any fuel in or around your residence, always check your insurance policy and any applicable city or county ordinances. Check with your local fire authorities for their recommendations. Then you decide how to store your charcoal.
Charcoal must be protected against moisture. The Kingsford Charcoal Company web site now recommends storing charcoal in a cool, dry place. However, some people store charcoal in a garage or shed in the original bags and, for additional protection against moisture, place them in plastic containers or large plastic bags. In humid climates, there is some concern that just the right combination of humidity and heat can cause charcoal to spontaneously combust. One interesting web site lists an impressive amount of research from foremost authorities suggesting that spontaneous combustion is unlikely with the quantities of charcoal people would store at home. When storing any fuel in or around your residence, always check your insurance policy and any applicable city or county ordinances. Check with your local fire authorities for their recommendations. Then you decide how to store your charcoal.
Food storage gifts that make a difference
If you're looking for food storage gift ideas for Christmas or for birthdays, check out Leslie's article here.
Emergency Sanitation and Hygiene
Go to National Terror Response Center for important information about preventing the spread of disease after a disaster strikes, including how to deal with human waste when sewer mains are damaged or broken. EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS. Ideas are given for making temporary toilet provisions and waste disposal.
Disaster preparedness
Don’t be fooled by FEMA administrative difficulties during recent disasters…FEMA’s Are You Ready? book is an outstanding resource for individuals and families to prepare for disasters. Disaster preparedness information can be complicated to gather and remember. This concise information is laid out in easy- to- read bullets with a simple self-test at the end of each section. Order a free copy at www.fema.gov/areyouready or call 1-800-480-2520. Don’t forget to read the “After A Disaster” section at the back of the book…ahead of time.
FEMA also offers a children’s coloring book with simple information for teaching children about disasters. This is a great resource to help children remember what to do in case of a disaster.
FEMA also offers a children’s coloring book with simple information for teaching children about disasters. This is a great resource to help children remember what to do in case of a disaster.
Rice over 30 years
Even though stored in a container without oxygen, rice will develop a slightly yellow color and rancid smell. These will disappear when the rice is cooked. If rice has more that a slight rancid smell and a darker color, it should be discarded.
Shelf life of spices
When food storage becomes complicated, people become discouraged and give up. Keeping track of the age of spices is a complication!! Spices keep their flavor for many years. If the flavor of a spice seems to be fading, add a little more to recipes until it is used up.
Buying bouillon
When storing bouillon for food storage, it doesn’t have to be purchased in a #10 can. Store your favorite brand from the grocery store.
Some bouillon in #10 cans may have a less intense flavor, requiring more in a recipe. Be sure to ask for a taste before buying in bulk.
Some bouillon in #10 cans may have a less intense flavor, requiring more in a recipe. Be sure to ask for a taste before buying in bulk.
Buying powdered milk
When comparing prices of different brands of powdered milk in #10 cans, check the number of ounces per can. Some brands contain only 30 oz., while others contain around 50 oz. Make sure you know how much you are buying, even if the milk is on sale.
Whey-based powdered milk can taste delicious. Be aware that dairy creamer containing corn syrup and other additives is often added to improve the flavor. This sweeter milk, when added to cream soups, can alter the flavor of the soup, and having few milk solids, cannot be used to make yogurt or cheese.
Whey-based powdered milk can taste delicious. Be aware that dairy creamer containing corn syrup and other additives is often added to improve the flavor. This sweeter milk, when added to cream soups, can alter the flavor of the soup, and having few milk solids, cannot be used to make yogurt or cheese.
Buying powdered dairy products
All the brands of powdered eggs, butter, margarine, or shortening we have tried are very similar in quality. Look for sales and check the list of ingredients on the label for only 1-2 additives.
News Articles
For more information on food storage, read Leslie Probert's articles in the Deseret News Mormon Times online. Click here.
Buying food in buckets or #10 cans?
We highly recommend rotating the food you store in fast and delicious recipes. If you know you will find it hard to open a more expensive bucket of food, consider buying your food in #10 cans. Many people find it easier to open and experiment with food in a #10 can.
Keep in mind that larger containers, like buckets, are heavy to lift, move, and stack. #10 cans come six to a box and are easy to carry and very space efficient to stack.
Some people like the large amount of food stored in buckets. If you store them, be aware that you cannot stack buckets more than three high without risking breakage of their airtight seals.
Keep in mind that larger containers, like buckets, are heavy to lift, move, and stack. #10 cans come six to a box and are easy to carry and very space efficient to stack.
Some people like the large amount of food stored in buckets. If you store them, be aware that you cannot stack buckets more than three high without risking breakage of their airtight seals.
When #10 cans seem too large for single people and couples
#10 cans of powdered eggs, butter, margarine, shortening can feel daunting to open and consume when only one or two people are using them. #10 cans of dried celery and green peppers, usually used only 1-2 tablespoons at a time in recipes, can also feel overwhelming. Keep in mind that once opened, these foods will be good to use for a year, as long as they are kept away from moisture and light.
You can freeze half the contents of a can until you can use them. Or share the cost of a can among interested family or friends and divide the contents into ziplock bags for use over a period of a year. Bags should be stored in opaque containers to protect food from light. This allows you to rotate what you store.
You can freeze half the contents of a can until you can use them. Or share the cost of a can among interested family or friends and divide the contents into ziplock bags for use over a period of a year. Bags should be stored in opaque containers to protect food from light. This allows you to rotate what you store.
Plastic Storage Buckets with Mylar bags
Plastic buckets are air permeable, and resent studies have shown seals in both regular and gamma lids are unreliable. Lining buckets with Mylar bags, which can be sealed, protects food from oxygen.
You can buy food packaged in buckets lined with Mylar bags, called Superpails. Or you can purchase the bags, buckets, and oxypaks (oxygen absorbers) and package foods yourself. Look for bags with ziplock closures, which close easily after opening, protecting your food from moisture. Ziplock closures make bags easy to seal after adding your own food and oxypaks. Some people prefer to buy Mylar bags that must be heat sealed to ensure bags are sealed well.
This method of packaging is especially beneficial for rice, oats and other foods that have a greater risk of going rancid. (Rancid foods are dangerous to eat.)
You can buy food packaged in buckets lined with Mylar bags, called Superpails. Or you can purchase the bags, buckets, and oxypaks (oxygen absorbers) and package foods yourself. Look for bags with ziplock closures, which close easily after opening, protecting your food from moisture. Ziplock closures make bags easy to seal after adding your own food and oxypaks. Some people prefer to buy Mylar bags that must be heat sealed to ensure bags are sealed well.
This method of packaging is especially beneficial for rice, oats and other foods that have a greater risk of going rancid. (Rancid foods are dangerous to eat.)
Simple way to kill insects in food for long term storage
When food is stored an oxygen deprived environment for 12 days, insects in all stages are killed. Oxygen absorbers in sealed containers are the most effective way to kill insects.
Oxygen absorbers work very well in #10 cans. However, buckets must be lined with Mylar bags to ensure an environment where insects cannot survive.
Oxygen absorbers work very well in #10 cans. However, buckets must be lined with Mylar bags to ensure an environment where insects cannot survive.
Grain Mills
If you are storing whole grains, like wheat, consider getting a grain mill for your family for Christmas, or asking family members to donate to your grain mill fund for Christmas and your birthday.
Electric grain mills produce fine flour, which makes light baked foods like we are used to eating. These are great for busy people who want a fast way to grind wheat so they will use it regularly. When purchasing an electric mill, ask about the noise level and how much flour it makes at a time. Consider how easy the mill is to store.
In a time without electricity, a hand grain mill will be important. Before making a purchase, consider how fine you want your flour. It’s important to ask this specific question or test a mill yourself, if possible.
An inexpensive grain mill that is easy to turn, grinds flour quickly, and produces medium fine flour can be purchased for around $60-$80. This flour makes good-tasting baked foods that are more coarse and heavy than those made with fine flour.
If you want fine flour, like you get from an electric mill, a grain mill with stone burrs produces the finest flour. The trade off for producing fine flour requires more muscle, as these are stiff to turn. If you want less effort turning the handle, you have the option of passing grain through this grinder twice, on a coarse and then a fine setting. For this option, make sure the mill allows flour to pass through a second time.
Steel burrs are necessary for grinding oily or wet seeds and legumes, including beans. Some hand grain mills come with both stone and steel burrs that can be used interchangeably.
Electric grain mills produce fine flour, which makes light baked foods like we are used to eating. These are great for busy people who want a fast way to grind wheat so they will use it regularly. When purchasing an electric mill, ask about the noise level and how much flour it makes at a time. Consider how easy the mill is to store.
In a time without electricity, a hand grain mill will be important. Before making a purchase, consider how fine you want your flour. It’s important to ask this specific question or test a mill yourself, if possible.
An inexpensive grain mill that is easy to turn, grinds flour quickly, and produces medium fine flour can be purchased for around $60-$80. This flour makes good-tasting baked foods that are more coarse and heavy than those made with fine flour.
If you want fine flour, like you get from an electric mill, a grain mill with stone burrs produces the finest flour. The trade off for producing fine flour requires more muscle, as these are stiff to turn. If you want less effort turning the handle, you have the option of passing grain through this grinder twice, on a coarse and then a fine setting. For this option, make sure the mill allows flour to pass through a second time.
Steel burrs are necessary for grinding oily or wet seeds and legumes, including beans. Some hand grain mills come with both stone and steel burrs that can be used interchangeably.
Make sure you can open your cans!
A good can opener is important to have if you store food in a large number of cans. Buy a heavy-duty manual can opener, usually found at your grocery store. Less expensive ones do not last with heavy use.
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