Buying bulk foods for a survival plan in the face of emergencies is now more mainstream than it’s been in the past. Bulk survival foods are typically less expensive as they can be purchased in larger quantities and stored for the long term than individual meals. We get ours from Nitro-Pak, where they offer free shipping on orders over $100. The best products come in airtight packaging or containers to maximize freshness and shelf life.
The typical containers used to store survival foods are #10 cans (gallon size), #2.5 cans (large soup can size), mylar bags and mylar pouches. There are also 6 gallon food grade buckets called super pails, or SPs, that provide the longest possible shelf life for dried goods. Containers that are opened can continue to be used for storage as long as they maintain an air tight seal.
Within the containers are oxygen absorbers that work to remove all the oxygen ensuring the longest possible shelf life, from 15-20 years, as long as they are stored in a cool, dry place. By comparison, the products stocked in the supermarkets have been marketed and designed for immediate consumption with the idea that the customer will return to buy more, repeating purchases week after week. For this reason, the food is exposed to the effects of oxygen, mold or bacteria, and the propagation of bugs from eggs that already exist within the food. Generally, this is not a problem as it is assumed the product won’t be around long enough to result in these negative effects. With modern canning methods and airtight containers the shelf life of many foods has increased dramatically.
Freeze dried versus dehydrated?
There is a difference in shelf life, taste and even nutrition between freeze-dried and dehydrated foods. Freeze dried foods, sealed in cans, can last decades — most manufacturers claim a 25-year shelf life and some say it’s even longer. Dried foods typically have an expiration date just a few years from when they were made. As far as taste, freeze dried foods when reconstituted taste very much like their original flavors, but dried fruits tend to have a signature dried fruit taste. Nutritionally, freeze dried food also wins out — no chemicals are used or needed in the freeze-drying process, while sulfites and other chemicals are used for most drying processes.
For convenience, freeze dried food means instant preparation from simply adding hot water, or as in the case of ice cream – cold water. Better tasting, these foods are pre-cooked, pre-seasoned and freeze-drying locks in the flavor. They also tend to come with the entree, a side and a dessert. For these reasons, freeze dried is considered premium food and the related cost is higher when compared to dehydrated foods. Most people already eat dehydrated or dried foods, such as raisins, spaghetti, rice, beans, and much more. They are typically single item foods that require cooking.
Most bulk food suppliers have responded to recent purchasing trends by providing options such as:
• Family one year food reserve kits
• 45 day – 6 week freeze dried food packs
• Bulk MRE’s (meals ready to eat)
• 72-hour survival kits
Meals ready to eat, or MREs, are the most expensive and also have the shortest shelf life, between five to seven years. They do provide the all-in-one meal convenience without the need for preparation and they are quite edible.
Most families’ emergency food stores will contain items in each of these categories — freeze-dried, dried, and MREs.
