Shelf Life website

I recently found this awesome website called Still Tasty. On this site you can search different foods and it will tell you how long this food will last on the shelf, in the refrigerator or in the freezer. Manufacturer's expiration dates are very conservative and you can almost always use food items after their printed dates. This website often mentions this and I can say for a fact that I have used "expired" items dozens of times without any issues.

For example, I searched "eggs" on the site. First it comes up with all kinds of options such as "eggs-cooked, hard boiled" or "eggs: scrambled, poached, fried, omelets, frittatas-cooked leftovers."

I selected: "eggs: fresh, raw, in the shell." It states that eggs can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-5 weeks. It also recommends storing eggs in the carton from the store and not in the door, which is warmer than the main part of the fridge.

The site also states that you can freeze eggs for up to a year, but first you crack the eggs, mix them with a little salt or sugar (depending on what you plan to use them for) and place them in an airtight container or freezer bag.

Interesting stuff, huh? So this site might be my new best friend...or at least a great resource when it comes to storing food for short- or long-term use.

This site can also be a great resource with your meal planning because you can check on the shelf life of foods you might be using in the next few weeks and decide how much of one item you might want to buy at once. I love buying things on sale or in bulk, so knowing the right way to store extra food is very valuable to me.

72-hour kit: Flashlights

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.

 

Every 72-hour kit should include a flashlight AND batteries.

Do not keep the batteries in the flashlight while it is being stored.

Having head-lamp type flashlights are a great idea considering you may have your hands full in an emergency.

 

A flashlight in your car is also very important, as well has having one or two around the house in case of a power-outage. For Christmas we received a cool flashlight that charges in a power outlet. It's small and the kids love to use it when they want to search for something under the couch or something. And I love it because they aren't wasting batteries. I think I need to get more of these, at least one for each level of the house.

 

 

 

This is step 5 on the PLAN 9 pamphlet put together by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

See right side of blog for additional steps.

3-month supply: Paper goods

It's been almost a year and a half and we are finally on the last category for building our 3-month supply!!

 

Don't worry, we're going to start over again. We always need reminders and new ideas. Plus, who has been able to collect their entire 3-month supply in the last year??

 

Anyone?

 

Not me.

 

I am a lot closer than I was before I started this blog, but I still have lots to do.

 

For example: I need LOTS more meat and I am planning on canning some chicken very soon, but I am due with baby #5 on May 16th, so it doesn't really sound fun to spend hours in the kitchen with a pressure cooker. My mom may come hang out with us next week so maybe we'll do it then. If not, I will have lots of frozen chicken for a while.

 

Another thing I am dealing with is space. I need to put a few shelves up in my storage room, which shouldn't be hard, but again, I am WAY prego and although I want it done it's not a top priority. I mainly need room for toilet paper. Sounds funny, I know, but I don't want to store TP on my heavy-duty shelves and I have been stocking up on TP a lot lately. There have been some great deals on Amazon lately...plus, I have 3 boys who don't seem to understand how precious that roll of paper is and it seems like we go through a roll a day!!!

 

I'm rambling.

 

Let's talk about our 3-month supply of PAPER GOODS!!!

 

Like a few other things we've talked about, this area is not the most crucial, so I wouldn't go out and buy a ton of paper goods if you don't have your basics. BUT, paper goods can make life SO much easy. Accumulating a little at a time and watching for sales can help you to eventually have quite a supply.

 

First, you make a list of what you use. Here's my list:

 

Paper towels

Paper plates

Paper bowls

Paper cups

Napkins

Plastic utensils

Freezer bags

Plastic wrap

Aluminum foil

Wax paper

Parchment paper (a splurge, but way nice for baking)

Freezer paper (I wrap all of my beef in freezer paper! One roll has lasted more than a year!)

 

 

Then, you decide how much to store of each item.

 

As a general rule with most things I want to store, I plan on having ONE extra on hand. That means one unopened box or container. Once I need to open it, I try to replace it with a new EXTRA. This way I always have one available.

 

This rule is good for most paper goods. I try to have one extra of all of the above. (Obviously, this doesn't mean one extra roll of paper towels, but a PACK of paper towels.

 

As far as prices go, these kind of items are hand to compare. There are so many types and you may prefer a particular brand. I usually go generic and buy the cheapest thing at Wal-Mart or one of the big warehouse stores. These stores are almost always cheaper than local grocery stores when it comes to paper goods. But buy what you will use, because this storage is not only for emergencies, but mainly for your every day use.

 

Remember:

 

Make a list

Decide how much you need

Watch for deals

Rotate!