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An important tip for canned goods: a small dent on can,

NOT along the rim, usually okay to use. IF dented on the

rim, any miscoloring/leaks on rim, DO NOT use.

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Water first: we humans can survive only a short time without water

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Baker's Dozen Basics

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Wheat

Oats

Rice

Corn/Popcorn

Pasta

Flour

Dry beans/Lentils/*Peanut butter

Dry milk

Potato flakes +

Sugar/Honey

**Oil/shortening

Vegetables/Fruits (start with dried carrots, onions, apple slices; and raisins)

***Miscellaneous/Spices/Herbs/Flavorings

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(most of these are available at ****home storage

centers with exception of corn/popcorn, lentils,

raisins, oils, + potato slices/shreds, miscellaneous

category)

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When times get tough and we can't buy food for whatever reason,

won't we be so glad we planned ahead and have a way to survive?

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Have personally had several times in our life that we used storage to get through tough financial challenges.

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Finally got smart and learned to use our food storage as basis for everyday meals.  Using storage foods with fiber, has added to our health for absolutely certain.

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I suggest: get water and wheat/grains first. This might mean you will need to buy a few at a time as money permits. But DO IT.....

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Then start buying in 'layers': this to me, means getting a few cans (or mylar bags) at a time, of each item in the other categories. 

 

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We chose to start with [water], wheat, quick oatmeal, beans, lentils, peanut butter,  dry milk,  sugar, honey,  oil, shortening, spices and herbs, as we learned (experimented) what could be made with the basic foods.

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Then we added more grains (rolled oats, rice, corn, flour, pasta), potato flakes, carrots, onions, apple slices, raisins. Most of these items do have long storage years (with *peanut butter and **oil being the exceptions as short term items that last only a year or so). We did find that extra virgin olive oil can be stored for up to

10 years in a very dark place, and when opened, we keep it in fridge except for a small bottle at a time being used. 

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Later on we added canned / bottled meat, and canned / bottled, and dried / freeze dried fruits/vegetables, etc. etc.  We found that we often used spices/herbs/flavorings to get a variety of tastes out of our stored basics. I would spend time (and still do) figuring out new ways to use what we have.

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*the excellent peanut butter from Home Storage says 3 years storage life. We have found that peanut butter from other stores is 1 year, then we put it in the fridge for another 11 months or so, plus we keep it refrigerated after it is opened. 

 

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**Oil must be rotated yearly, except for olive oil and coconut oil. Storage times for shortening of choice will depend upon brand,

so check that out ahead of purchasing any supply. 

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***miscellaneous items such as dried whole eggs, yeast, baking powder, baking soda, dry butter powder, chocolate chips. Foods needed to round out making things at home.

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****The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has home storage centers in many places that might be near to where you live. They sell to those not of all faiths. When I go there, they do not ask me if I am a church member (yes, I am). And the prices are absolutely amazing.  If you are not a member, you might wish to ask one of your 'mormon' friends where the nearest home storage center is located. (we do not prefer to be called 'mormons', but understand that many of our friends know us by that name)

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