The first thing you need to know about food storage is that it really is basic. It’s not a difficult thing to understand, and getting prepared should not be something that keeps you up at night. But that doesn’t mean you can be complacent. We recommend you resolve right now to get prepared and then take these three easy steps to get your food storage preparation in order.
Water, Food, and a Heat Source
Step 1: Decide how much food you want.
If you have a family or loved ones who depend on you, then please take that into consideration. We recommend buying enough food to last you and your loved ones at least three months. That may sound like a lot to some people, but why take the chance? Plus, when you consider freeze-dried food lasts 25+ years, then the cost of a three-month supply is very minimal.
What do we Recommend?
Read our detailed reviews and find the type of food that appeals to you.
Step 2: Get a good water filter
Humans can survive without food for up to two weeks but only a few days without water. However, most people barely even think about water when they buy food storage. The other mistake they make is thinking they can store enough clean water to last any significant amount of time. Although it’s a good idea to have a few water containers for short-term emergencies, you really need a water source and a purifier to survive. We recommend buying a top-notch water filter and scouting around your area for a water source such as a lake, river, or well.
Who do we Recommend?
Read reviews of our water filtration companies, or look at water product reviews.
Step 3: Get a good heat source
You can eat dehydrated or freeze-dried food with cold water, but it tastes much, much better when reconstituted with boiling water. Plus, a good heat source can provide warmth and comfort when it’s cold. The best product by a mile is the emergency fuel by InstaFire. It will burn in any environment and doesn’t have the problems traditional petroleum-based products present.
Who do we Recommend?
We recommend InstaFire due to its versatility and reliability.
Calories vs. Servings
Don’t be fooled by servings. Yep, we’ll say it again because it’s that important. Don’t be fooled by servings. Too many food storage companies will tell you how many servings you need to survive for a certain number of days. But when you look closer, you find out their average serving size is only 200-300 calories. Try surviving on 600-900 calories a day.
What do we Recommend?
What we recommend, and what we highlight in our food storage reviews, is to make sure you know how many total calories a certain package has. Again, don’t be fooled! You can view products with the best price per calorie ratio here.
Freeze-dried Food vs. Dehydrated Food
People have gone crazy trying to figure out the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated food. The only thing that’s really important to know is that animal products have to be freeze-dried in order to last 25+ years. Animal products include meat, cheeses, and cream—basically, all the things that make food taste good. Dehydrated food can also last 25+ years (think of those sealed cans of wheat that have been around for decades). But if a company tells you they are selling freeze-dried food and you don’t see any real animal products in their entrees, they probably aren’t telling you the truth.
Still Confused? Read more here.
Ready to Get Started?
Now that you’ve graduated from Food Storage 101 it’s time for you to get prepared. We’ve created 5 different categories, called Editor’s Ratings, that filter products based on what’s important to you when making a food storage decision–taste, price, storage space, prep time or shelf life. You can read these reviews, and many others in our product reviews section. You can also read company reviews in these 5 categories:
