Food Storage Supplies Includes Buckets, Jars, Canners, and Dehydrators

Maintaining food storage supplies is a good idea in today’s uncertain environment. Many people are under the misconception that starting a project of this sort is cost prohibitive. With a little planning, you could soon be putting aside important foodstuff items that you can store for a year or more.

More importantly, you can take a proactive approach to food preparation and creating suitable space for storing items. The first step is to learn as much as you can about food preservation methods.

Food Storage Supplies for Food Preservation

If the foods you put away for an emergency go bad before you need them, it would be just as bad as not storing them in the first place. Where you store them and the containers you use are important parts of the process. Being able to preserve the foods yourself to extend their shelf life is also important.

While you can buy many of the foodstuff you want to stockpile from a store, it is not the most economical way to go about it. The best approach, which results in cost-savings in the long-run, is to do some of the preservation yourself.

Common food storage supplies for food preservation are:

• Food dehydrator: These come in various sizes so finding one for your needs is easy. Moisture contributes to spoilage and waste, so a good dehydrator will come in handy. This piece of equipment uses heat and airflow to remove water content from fruits, vegetables and some types of meat. This method of food preservation is not new as the sun was the means of removing moisture from food in the past and in areas with lots of sunshine people use it to dry beans, peas and other foodstuff. 
  
• Vacuum sealer: This tool removes air from a bag before sealing it, which effectively increases the shelf life of the food items inside.
  

• Canner and accessories:  A pressure canner is probably the most expensive item you will need, but it is essential for canning and storing non-acid foods. A large pot can substitute for a water bath canner for acidic foods, as long as it is large enough to hold at least three jars.
  
• Bag sealers: These come in various sizes so you may want to buy small and large ones depending on the type of foodstuff you want to store.
  

• Containers: These are an essential part of any storage plan. If you have the wrong types, all your effort, and the most expensive tools will mean nothing. Five-gallon food grade buckets are popular choices when preparing for an emergency. You can also use them to keep multiple small bags of the same product, thus making better use of storage space. People who stockpile emergency food supplies often use Mylar food storage bags. They make great liners for food bins or buckets, and it is possible to heat-seal them to protect food and lengthen its shelf life.
  

Choosing Food Storage Supplies

Like with anything else, you need to determine what you really need before you start buying. Your budget will also play a significant role in the type of equipment and accessories you get to help in your food preservation activity. Some ways to determine what to buy includes the quantity of foods you plan to work on at any given time.

If you will not be making large batches, smaller pieces of equipment will be suitable. The types of foods you hope to preserve and the method of preservation you prefer are also important.

Finally, buy food storage supplies, tools and equipment that meets industry standards. You need to be able to clean them after each use to prevent contamination of foods. If contamination occurs during processing, you could lose all your food to spoilage. When buying secondhand equipment, make sure that there are no cracks or dents as food particles can lodge in these areas, making them breeding grounds for bacteria.

After doing some research, you could arm yourself with enough knowledge on food preservation to provide for yourself and your family. Being able to do your own preservation, means you will be better able to stock things your family likes, while paying greater attention to food’s nutritional content. Your food storage supplies tools and equipment are vital parts of your emergency or disaster preparation.

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