How to Store Emergency Food

Now that you have all of that emergency food, it’s time to do something with it. Shelves, baskets, and boxes will help you get organized. Adding flashlights and can-openers to a pantry is also a good idea. Yet, none of these things will matter if your pantry becomes soaked by a sudden surge or water or your food items rot due to dampness.

Storing emergency food properly is more than half of the crisis pantry battle. When the time comes to access your pantry (hopefully, that time will never come), you’ll want to make sure that your food is in good shape. This is why it’s vital that you take proper food storage into account.

Up and Away

The first rule of thumb when creating a food pantry is simple: keep all food items up and away. Food must be stored high upon a shelf, and away from any possible trouble. You may be thinking that the floors of your basement, closet, or other area are neat and clean. You may even have an expensive Persian rug lining the floors of your pantry. Yet, this will not suffice.

When food comes in contact with water, dirt, mildew, or any other unclean matter, the result is spoiled food that you don’t want to eat. Thus, regardless of the current shape of your pantry, make sure that your Food is up and away at all times.

Sunlight Can Cause Damage

Some foods are highly susceptible to sunlight. While humans may bask in sunlight, certain foods should never be kept in direct contact with the sun’s rays. Any food that is not stored in a light-barrier container should be stored in a dark place. Sunlight causes two very important types of damage to food.

First, food that has been exposed to direct sunlight will be stripped of all nutrients. This will render any healthy food unhealthy. Second, the sun’s rays are warm. Thus, any product that has been placed in direct sunlight may begin to grow bacteria due to warmth. As a result, your food will age quickly.

Oxygen Is Not A Friend of Food

Humans cannot live without oxygen. Oxygen is also a friend to many small creatures. Bugs and other creatures that like to burrow inside of certain foods (namely grains) need oxygen to live. Therefore, allowing foods to bask in oxygenation will breed an infestation. Unless you want to eat food that is riddled with bugs, keep the oxygen away from your food pantry.

Store grains, nuts, flours, and all other foods of this kind in tight plastic bags or containers. A plastic bag or container that blocks both oxygen and sunlight is ideal. You can purchase these containers and bags online or through specialty shops. Making every effort to store food properly will ensure an emergency pantry that you can rely on at all times. Remember to keep food up and away, out of direct sunlight, and free of oxygen. These three things will damage your food pantry quickly.