Official Poll - What is the best foodstuff to stockpile in case of emergency?

[sumi]

I have a lot of allergies, so I have to modify my food storage to accommodate that and I also have some things that I maybe shouldn't eat (graham crackers and peanut butter, for example) but that I grew up with as emergency comfort foods (I figure one won't kill me). I've stocked up on Bob's Red Mill GF baking mix, for example; I've also got the means to cook the stuff. Some things I've found useful are peanut sauce and curry sauce, one from the local Asian store and the other from Trader Joe's, and I have some BBQ sauce on hand as well. I did find that candy loses its flavor fairly quickly, which was disappointing in a major way, but I was using a vacuum packer and not freezing it afterwards. Hmmm....might have to try that experiment again, right after Halloween... : )

The only thing I haven't seen I'd like to get some of is something like Milkman dried milk for cooking.

@Servelan welcome to SS!

 

[wyoDreamer]

I have a lot of allergies, so I have to modify my food storage to accommodate that and I also have some things that I maybe shouldn't eat (graham crackers and peanut butter, for example) but that I grew up with as emergency comfort foods (I figure one won't kill me). I've stocked up on Bob's Red Mill GF baking mix, for example; I've also got the means to cook the stuff. Some things I've found useful are peanut sauce and curry sauce, one from the local Asian store and the other from Trader Joe's, and I have some BBQ sauce on hand as well. I did find that candy loses its flavor fairly quickly, which was disappointing in a major way, but I was using a vacuum packer and not freezing it afterwards. Hmmm....might have to try that experiment again, right after Halloween... : )

The only thing I haven't seen I'd like to get some of is something like Milkman dried milk for cooking.

Unfortunately for you, most of the things that you listed have a limited shelf-life. Hope you are rotating your stash.
I am rotating our stash, even though a lot of it has a shelf life of 25-30 years or more.

 

[lcertuche]

I think truthfully a person could survive on dried beans and rice. Dried beans and rice are a healthy protein. You can sprout the beans as a fresh vegetable. You can plant them for future food crops. The lowly bean is a perfect food. It might get boring but it's better than starving and you would probably be healthy. Beans also provide calcium for those without powdered milk, canned milk or milk animals.

 

[Bacawind]

I love this thought provoking topic!

I'm from southern Louisiana (hurricane Andrew had me stuck for just over a week), I lived off-grid in the mountains of southern Colorado (living off a generator made December of 1999 interesting), and now on the prairie where every year we are snowed in at some point (the longest stretch was 2 weeks in the blizzard of 2006), and our electricity is iffy.

I read the poll being in terms of nutrition and hydration, so I'll stick to those.

For the last three decades I've lived in rural areas. I don't think I stockpile, I just plan groceries for at least a month, preferably two or more months.

It's probably worth noting here that we are gluten-free, whole food, vegans (although my husband will occasionally eat our chicken's eggs), so that narrows our list.

I picked the beans, rice, and I'd like to substitute the pasta for oats. I also picked bottled water, but I meant our well water that I bottle in used containers. I also have a water filter.

The thing I would add to my "must have list" is gardening seeds.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Hi there, and welcome from Texas. I'm south of Houston and we're watching the weather pretty closely this time of year, as I'm sure ya'll are too.

 

[baymule]

We just finished slaughtering 32 Delaware roosters. I cut the breast meat off and froze it for stir fry. I cut the thigh and drumstick meat off the bone and canned it. I canned the bony back pieces with rice for the dogs. I made broth from the feet. I canned 48 jars of broth. Finished up the last 10 roos yesterday and just stuffed them in the freezer. 5 are sold to a neighbor. I'll give one to another neighbor and that will leave me with 4. Chicken and dumplings, chicken mole', chicken salad.......

So let me add to the list a good flock of chickens for meat and eggs. Supper on the foot.

 

[lcertuche]

I too think that chickens are a great way to store food (on the hoof, so to speak). I'm jealous you have a pressure canner. That is the best way (IMO) to preserve food. It can be old as leather and still come out great after being canned. I save the feet for broth too. Great minds think alike. Yesterday, I water bath canned apple pie filling and will probably be making apple jelly soon. I get #10 cans of vegetables and dehydrate them for long term storage. It sure takes up a lot less room than the big ole cans do. I was vegan for about a year. I really think about going back to it because I felt so much better and it was much cheaper. Beans are great for tacos, enchiladas, chili, white bean pasta sauce, refried beans, veggie burgers, "Tuna" garbanzo beans mashed and made like tuna salad. It is so easy to store dried beans.

 

[NH Homesteader]

White bean pasta sauce? I'm intrigued...

Do you make your own veggie burgers? I used to be a vegetarian. I am far from it now but am trying to only eat what we raise (as far as meat goes, hopefully will be dairy independent in a few years too) but would like to "stretch" our food and money with vegetarian meals. Meat and dairy are expensive for sure.

I was a vegetarian after seeing how animals are raised and slaughtered on a large scale. Now I do it myself so I feel better about what I'm eating.

To answer the actual question yes food on the hoof is super important! We have chickens and turkeys for eggs and meat, goats for milk (maybe meat too in the future) and pigs for meat.

 

[lcertuche]

I think I got the recipe off the internet. You start out by sauteing onions, garlic, red peppers and I liked to reconstitute dried mushrooms. Blend them with cooked white beans (I used great northerner). Sometimes about a quarter cup of nutritional yeast. Really good on spaghetti or as a lasagna layer.

My veggie burgers start out the same. Just saute vegetables like onion, peppers, carrots, etc. Put in some cooked, drained, rinsed beans. Mash or blend up and add seasoning to taste. I like to add about 1/4 cup of masa or really any flour would work and salt to taste. Taste before cooking. You need more seasoning than you think after cooking so go heavy on the flavors you like. I also like to add dried, reconstituted mushrooms to it for texture. I serve the burgers with a mayonnaise blend of: mayonnaise, onion, minced jalapeno, and lime juice, lettuce, tomato, and pickle on a bun. Check out Oh She Glows, Vegan Dad, Post Punk to name some of the ones I like.

Check out ethnic markets for good prices on produce and spices. I get dried mushrooms at the Asian Market. Also since the Asian and Mexican markets are locally owned I am supporting the community while saving money.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Ooh that sounds good thanks!

We don't have ethnic markets near me.... I live in the middle of nowhere!