🛑 Are You Storing Your Emergency Food the Right Way?

❓Trivia Question❓
What food is known for never spoiling, no matter how long it’s stored?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Hey Prepper!

You’ve done the hard part—you’ve stocked up on all the emergency food supplies your family needs to survive a disaster. High-five for being ahead of the game! 

🖐️ But here’s the kicker… just because you’ve stocked up doesn’t mean you’re actually prepared.

Storing emergency food improperly is like buying the best ingredients but forgetting to put them in the fridge. Gross, right?

😅 You need to make sure your food is stored in a way that keeps it fresh, safe, and ready for when you need it most.

Today, we’re going to dive into exactly how to store emergency food properly so you can keep your stash in tip-top shape for the long haul.

But before we jump into the essentials, let’s kick things off with a little food trivia!

🤔How to Store Emergency Food Properly:
A Step-by-Step Guide

🌡️Step 1: Temperature Control is Key

Temperature matters big time when it comes to food storage. Ideally, you want to store your emergency food in a space that’s between 50-70°F.

Too much heat speeds up spoilage, while freezing can cause some foods to break down or lose texture.

Cool, dry, and stable temperatures are the name of the game. If you’ve got a basement or a climate-controlled pantry, you’re already winning!

🌑 Step 2: Keep It Dark and Dry

Light + moisture = spoiled food. Keep your stash in a dark place to prevent light from degrading your food over time. Basements, closets, and pantries work well.

Moisture, on the other hand, is a silent killer. It sneaks into packaging, encourages mold, and ruins your perfectly good food.

That’s why airtight containers and humidity-free spaces are essential for long-term storage.

Think vacuum-sealed bags, mylar pouches, or even those plastic totes that everyone seems to be hoarding from Costco.

🔄 Step 3: Rotate Your Stock

Look, I know it’s tempting to stuff all your emergency food in a corner and forget about it until Doomsday, but that’s a surefire way to end up with a pile of expired cans when you actually need them.

Stick to the First In, First Out (FIFO) rule. This means putting newer items behind older ones so that you use the older ones first.

Keep your stash organized by expiration dates and make sure to rotate it every 6-12 months.

🤢This keeps things fresh and ensures that you’re not eating year-old spaghetti sauce during a blackout.

🥫Step 4: Go Long-Term with Canned and Dry Goods

If you want your food to last, canned goods and dried foods are your best friends. Here’s why:

• Canned Goods: These babies can last up to 5 years (sometimes more!) if stored properly. Just be sure to check the cans for any rust, dents, or bulges before eating. That’s not the kind of surprise you want in an emergency.

• Dry Foods: Things like rice, beans, pasta, and oats can last a crazy long time if they’re stored in airtight containers. Consider using mylar bags with oxygen absorbers to get the most shelf life out of them.

And if you’re serious about prepping for the long haul, don’t forget freeze-dried foods—they can last up to 30 years if stored correctly. Plus, they’re lightweight and packed with nutrients.

🧂Step 5: Use Oxygen Absorbers and Desiccants

Oxygen and moisture are the enemies of long-term food storage. That’s where oxygen absorbers and desiccants come in.

Toss a few of these into your storage containers to keep air and moisture at bay. This will extend the shelf life of your food by preventing spoilage and keeping it fresh.

Oxygen absorbers are especially useful for dried foods like grains, beans, and powdered goods.

They work by removing the oxygen from the packaging, which helps prevent mold growth and insect infestation. Pro tip: Don’t use oxygen absorbers in canned foods—they don’t need them!

Step 6: Store in Rodent-Proof Containers 🐭

Let’s be real for a second—emergencies aren’t the only time you’ll need to protect your food stash. Mice and rats love poorly stored food, and the last thing you want to find is a rodent party in your emergency supply.

Invest in rodent-proof containers, such as heavy-duty plastic bins or metal containers. It’s a simple step, but it’ll save you from a very gross discovery down the road.

Step 7: Label Everything 🏷️

Clear labeling is a lifesaver—literally. Label each container with the purchase date and expiration date.

This will save you time when you’re rotating stock or in the middle of an emergency, and it helps prevent waste by keeping you organized.

You can even take it a step further and list cooking instructions on some of the containers. When the power’s out, you don’t want to be guessing how long to boil those beans!

Step 8: Stock What You’ll Actually Eat 🍲

Here’s the thing—you can have the most perfectly stored food in the world, but if no one in your family will eat it, what’s the point? Make sure your emergency stash includes foods your family actually likes.

Sure, rice and beans are great for long-term storage, but if everyone hates them, they’re not going to do much good. Mix in familiar, comforting foods like pasta, canned veggies, soups, and yes—even snacks. Survival doesn’t have to be miserable!

Step 9: Think About Special Needs 👶

Remember to account for any dietary restrictions or special needs your family might have. Whether it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, or even baby food, make sure you have enough to last through an emergency.

And let’s not forget your furry friends—stock up on pet food and make sure it’s stored properly, too!

Step 10: Check and Recheck 🧐

Once you’ve got everything set up, don’t just leave it alone forever. Check your food supply every 6 months to ensure nothing is spoiled, leaking, or expired.

It’s also a great time to rotate food out (remember the FIFO rule?) and replace it with fresh items. That way, when disaster strikes, you’re not stuck with a pantry full of spoiled or outdated food.

Proper Storage = Peace of Mind
It doesn’t matter how much food you’ve stockpiled—if you don’t store it right, it won’t be there when you need it.

With the right strategies, you can ensure that your emergency food is fresh, edible, and ready to sustain you and your family during any crisis.

 Now’s the Time to Get Prepped

Don’t wait until disaster strikes to find out your food isn’t properly stored. The best time to ensure your emergency supplies are safe and long-lasting is right now.

Visit our Prepped and Ready Blog to explore our expert tips on storing emergency food the right way. Click here to check out our curated list and get started today! Or simply click the article below 👇.

And, if you found these tips helpful, don't forget to share this newsletter with your friends and family.

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Make sure your emergency food is ready when you need it most – your future self will thank you.

🌟Stay safe, stay prepared!

Warm regards,  
Prepped and Ready Team

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