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Reply to: Article about “Best Before” Dates Posted 5 hours ago

I am glad you posted this article. It was helpful. In general, I find all the different wording regarding dates to be frustrating and unhelpful. When I do an internet search on the topic of how long a certain food lasts, I’m always sorry I even looked and the answers that sound authoritative are often wrong and usually confusing. “Best by” dates don’t provide any value. Some foods with that wording will last almost indefinitely, and others will go rancid from the oils or acid or something else in some unknown (to me) amount of time. Obviously there is no perfect way to date stuff, as temperature of storage and other factors will impact duration. But I really wish there was a better system. I regularly eat food that is out of date but would like to know a better way than guessing and hoping — or tossing food that is still perfectly good. Some foods are easy. I can easily tell if milk has gone sour. Or my if cucumbers are well past edibility. But what about peanut butter? Or canned tomatoes? Canola oil? I’m not sure I should rely on my sense of taste or smell with all foods.

Reply to: Recipes for cooking with only non-perishable food Posted 3 days ago

I make one like this too! Chicken Barley Chili1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes1 (16 oz) jar Salsa1 (14.5 oz) chicken broth1 c. Quaker Quick Barley3 c. water1 T. chili powder1 t. cumin1 ½ t kosher salt1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed1 (15 oz) can corn, drained1 1/2 lbs canned chicken breastIn a large pot, combine the first 7 ingredients. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add beans, corn and chicken pot. Increase heat to high until chili comes to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes or until barley is tender. If desired, top with shredded cheese.

Reply to: How long would white flour last? Posted 3 days ago

Are you storing all purpose white flour? Stored in a cool place? If yes, I’ve used flour that is almost two years old and it still tastes fresh. The flour I buy has a “best by” date on the bag — not a “use by” date, which is my sign it is good for longer than the date on the package. As noted by others, my biggest problem is with bugs. Ziplock bags and buckets won’t help if the bugs and/or eggs are already in the flour. I’ve had the best luck by freezing the flour for 3 days, thawing the flour, waiting about 3 weeks, and then freezing it again for 3 days.

Reply to: News roundup for Fri, Sep 30, 2022 Posted 5 days ago

That is a very well written piece, thanks for sharing. It gives a window into how hard evacuation can be. Last night I was looking around on-line at what the shelters are like inside, and was dismayed to see most don’t have any cots or bedding and you need to bring air mattresses or whatever you need to sleep on. (I assume many elderly don’t have this type of comfort and sleeping on the ground in a high school gym would be rough.) For the disabled, there are a few shelters with cots but caregivers can’t have one, they have to bring their own. To me, most of the web sites for the shelters seem to be worded to deter you from going. It’s all so heartbreaking.

Reply to: News roundup for Fri, Sep 30, 2022 Posted 5 days ago

I think you are right about following the news, and I’d add a reputable source of weather forecasts, and doing so directly. There is reporting from the New York Times that Lee County (where I believe the lady you are referring to is from) didn’t issue evacuation orders until Tuesday, ignoring their own meticulous plans for when to order evacuations (which should have been on Sunday). Tuesday morning was a softened order, and it wasn’t until Tuesday afternoon that they clearly articulated the need to evacuate. I’d bet a lot of people never got the word. https://twitter.com/ByMikeBaker/status/1576010869573832704

Reply to: Recipes for cooking with only non-perishable food Posted 1 week ago

Hi Adriaan — I have been collecting recipes for a couple years and have created a google doc of recipes using shelf stable foods. I haven’t tried them all — but am slowly cooking the recipes to test them. Here’s what the beginning of the doc looks like. “Tuna Noodle Casserole: Cook 8 oz of egg noodles according to the package. Add a can of drained tuna, a can of creamed soup (mushroom, chicken or celery) and a can of drained peas or green beans. Heat through and top with crushed cornflakes or chinese noodles or panko or crushed ritz crackers. White Beans with Vegetables: Cook some garlic in olive oil for about 30 seconds. Add 4 c. of vegetable broth, a can of drained and rinsed white beans. Spice it up with whatever you like, some red pepper flakes are good and perhaps 1 t. of italian herbs. Bring to a boil and add ½ c. of some small pasta. When the pasta is tender, add a can of vegetables. Tortellini Soup with Chicken and Greens: Cook dried cheese tortellini in chicken broth. When tender, add a can of canned chicken and a can of drained greens, such as kale or spinach.” If this seems of interest to you, please advise if there’s an easy/safe way to share the recipes — the doc is currently 17 pages long in its rough format so it’s too long to cut and paste into this Forum thread. I love the idea by Barb Lee: “Maybe we should all get together and contribute recipes and techniques for a Great The Prepared Survival Cookbook.” I volunteer to help organize this document if others are interested. I recall Stephanie posted some recipes in the past??? (I remember making a pear cobbler that was delicious from her recipe.)

Reply to: Off-grid cabin/land purchase Posted 4 weeks ago

I’m interested too. This would be terrific.

Reply to: News roundup for Fri, Jul 08, 2022 Posted 3 months ago

Great round up. Thank you. I clicked on the link about the Arizona town and I not only enjoyed that story — but many more on The Modern Farmer site. I used to subscribe to the print magazine and didn’t know it had gone digital so thanks for connecting me to a source of many amazing and informative stories.

Reply to: News roundup for Tue, Jun 28, 2022 Posted June 28, 2022

We lost coverage from traditional insurers in California and then got California FAIR plan for basic fire coverage. I don’t know if other high fire risk states have something similar. I wonder if other states have similar for hurricane areas.

Reply to: Cooking in a haybox – a fuel efficient way to slow-cook your meals Posted June 23, 2022

Could you please explain what “treated” refers to? Sounds like it reduces cooking time? Thanks!

Reply to: News roundup for Tue, Jun 14, 2022 Posted June 14, 2022

For anyone who didn’t see it, I wanted to link to the unprecedented flooding in Yellowstone, causing the closure of the entire park. (I often think about relocating somewhere with more water and less heat, perhaps the PNW, and love the idea of living on a river, but looking at the Yellowstone images today, I’m reminded I don’t want to be too close to a river and I want to be someplace with multiple routes for evacuation.) tohttps://twitter.com/YellowstoneNPS/status/1536470361210077184?s=20&t=DOLaHaWMHEJcyZV9oH7JSA https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/13/yellowstone-national-park-closure-flooding-mudslides

Reply to: I’d like to avoid using a cook kit and just carry ready-to-eat meals in my emergency bags Posted June 12, 2022

I keep the Starkist Tuna Creations (foil pouches) and almonds in my car bag. They are nutrient dense and tasty.

Reply to: News roundup for Fri, May 27, 2022 Posted May 27, 2022

I always appreciate these news roundups –and this was one of the very best ones. You covered many news stories I had missed (and that I am glad to know about!) and thank you for the wide breadth of topics in this one. Really great job!

Reply to: How can I extend the shelf life of the yeast in my food storage? Posted May 27, 2022

I also buy the 2 lb vacuum sealed bags of Red Star from Costco. It is printed with a “Best Buy” date that is two years after the production date. When I open it, I move it to a jar and keep it in the refrigerator. I have used yeast that is YEARS and YEARS past the Best Buy date and never had it fail. (The package suggests storing it in the refrigerator “for optimum results”.)

Reply to: News roundup for Tue, May 24, 2022 Posted May 26, 2022

Regarding food security:

Reply to: Prepping for the End of the World (as we knew it) Posted May 19, 2022

In the 2nd to last paragraph, is that a typo? “not” buying farms?

Reply to: Controlling cooking food odors whether SIP or Bug Out conditions Posted April 29, 2022

I have never heard or Bacon Grill and am intrigued! Any ideas where I could acquire this is the US? (Thanks for the tip — always looking for new shelf stable foods to to add to my pantry — this seems like a product that could be used to make some delicious fried rice and much more.)

Reply to: Cooking in a haybox – a fuel efficient way to slow-cook your meals Posted April 7, 2022

I came across another innovative material — for anyone who sews and has perhaps an old beanbag chair around, I just came across this “Wonder Oven” idea. http://prepared-housewives.com/alternative-cooking-wonder-oven-2/

Reply to: Cooking in a haybox – a fuel efficient way to slow-cook your meals Posted April 2, 2022

This is fascinating — Thank you for the link as I really enjoyed taking a quick look at the book and intend to go back and read it in more detail later. I love the idea of a low tech/fuel method to slow cook and I am wondering if this type home made thermal cooker would be superior to the vacuum insulated stainless steel pots that are available? On-line, I see several types, such as the Stanley camp crock. I hadn’t previously considered what a nice way this might be to prepare steel cut oats overnight. Or how handy it might be to have one of these to keep foods hot enough for a second meal without letting the food temperature get down to the food safety danger zone. This is going to be a fun project for me to explore.

Reply to: Battery best practices Posted March 21, 2022

I haven’t bought or used disposable AA or AAAs in years. I use the reasonably priced EBLs and Amazon Basics in kid stuff. They work great.