One of the best ways to ensure that your family is prepared for anything the future throws at you is to ensure you have a good stash of long-term pantry staples.
Having a stash of food in the pantry will help give your family a sense of peace during an emergency. Whether it is a natural disaster or changing jobs, knowing that you have a supply of food is one less thing to worry about.
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This list of pantry staples is not only good to have on hand should something happen, but they are items you may use regularly.
With proper long-term storage, these items will are perfect to keep in your pantry.
Pantry Staples perfect for long-term storage
- Flour – Flour is a non-pershable item as long as steps are taken to properly store the flour.
- Honey – RAW honey never goes bad. It may crystalize during long term storage, however, it can slowly be heated and it will return to is liquid state. Read labels carefully in the stores. Most store bought honey is not raw honey and will go bad. It is best to purchase from a local beekeeper you can trust.
- Rice – White rice will last the longest if stored properly. Rices like brown rice contain oils that will eventually go rancid.
- Pasta – Pasta will usually last 1-2 years, or even longer. Make sure to toss out moldy pasta if the pasta turns slimly after cooking it.
- Salt – Storing non-idoine salt or salt with additives are the best to store for long-term use. When you start adding iodine and additives, these items will go bad.
- Sugar – White sugar will keep long-term. Like honey, it can clump and crystalize, but will not go bad as long as it is repackaged and stored away from bugs. Brown sugar on the other hand will go bad eventually due to the moisture content.
- Popcorn – Not the micro-wave bags of popcorn, but the actually kernals of popcorn. When stored properly, it can indefinitely. Besides have delicious fresh popped popcorn, it can be ground down to create cornmeal.
- Cocoa Powder – Take the cocoa powder out of the original package and store it in an air-tight container. The cocoa powder will not go bad, however, it may lose a bit of the flavoring over time.
- Pancake Mix – If you take the pancake mix out of the orginal packaging and store it in air-tight containers and away from moisture, the mix can last longer. However, the leveling agents in the mix may not work after a long period of time and the milk powder may to rancid. It is best to have this on hand but rotate and use the mix.
- Maple Syrup – Unopened PURE Maple syrup can last long term. However, once it is opened, you will need to use it within a year.
- Oats – In order to store oatmeal longer than a year, you need to remove it from the original packaging and store it in an airtight container.
- Vanilla Extract – PURE vanilla extract will last forever. Keep it in a dark container away from sun, heat and moisture.
- Vinegar – Vingear will last forever.
- Jell-O – Powdered Jell-O packages will last forever!
- Corn Starch – Corn Starch will keep forever, as long as it is kept away from moisture.
- Dried Beans – Beans will last forever and will keep drying as they age. Note, the older the beans, the longer it may take to soften up during cooking.
What pantry staples do you suggest keeping on hand long-term?
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