Food preservation techniques: Keep your pantry stocked for any crisis

11/05/2024 / By HRS Editors

As a prepper, having a reliable food supply can help set your mind at ease. If you’re preparing for emergencies like a power outage, a natural disaster or a civil war, knowing how to preserve food can help you provide for your family when SHTF. (h/t to MomWithAPrep.com)

Detailed below are some food preservation methods that can benefit preppers.

Canning (Water bath and pressure canning)

Canning is a tried and tested food preservation method that seals food in jars and heats them to a temperature that destroys bacteria.

A method like water bath canning is ideal for high-acid foods like fruits and jams.

Here are some of the best high-acid foods for water bath canning:

Apples
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cranberries
Grapes
Lemons
Pears
Pickles
Plums
Sour cherries
Yellow peaches

On the other hand, pressure canning is best for low-acid foods like vegetables and meats.

Here are some of the best low-acid foods for pressure canning:

Corn
Dried Beans
Green beans (when canned plain with only salt and water)
Meats
Potatoes
Soups

Removing oxygen and sealing the food in airtight containers means canning can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables from your garden for several months or even years. Always follow proper canning guidelines to avoid spoilage or contamination. (Related: Quick pickles: The perfect snack to add to your survival stockpile.)

Dehydrating

Dehydrating is a food preservation method that removes moisture from food, making it inhospitable to bacteria and mold.

This method can be simple or you can go high-tech. You can use the sun, your oven or a dehydrator. Dehydrated foods, like jerky, fruits and vegetables can last for months or years.

Fermenting

Fermenting is a food preservation method that uses “good” bacteria to preserve food and is best for vegetables like cabbage and cucumbers, which can produce sauerkraut and pickles, respectively.

The fermentation process produces acids that prevent harmful bacteria from growing in the food.

Freeze drying

Freeze drying is a high-tech food preservation method that removes almost all the water from produce while also retaining its shape, flavor and nutrients.

Freeze-dried foods, such as fruits and vegetables, have an extremely long shelf life. While freeze-dried food can be expensive, investing in a freeze-dryer means you can make your own freeze-dried meals at home.

Alternatively, you can buy lab-verified food from a trusted source to ensure that your family has access to nutritious fruits and vegetables even after SHTF.

Sugaring

Sugaring is a method that preserves a variety of fruits or some vegetables, like carrots or ginger, in sugar or syrup. The high sugar content prevents bacterial growth, which then allows you to store food for longer periods.

Sugaring is ideal for for fruits and produces delicious sweet treats that everyone can enjoy even in emergencies. Use sugaring to turn leftover summer fruits into jam.

Where to buy lab-verified food for your stockpile

The Health Ranger Store is committed to helping you prepare for any emergency as you keep your pantry stocked for different survival scenarios.

That’s why we’re proud to introduce an assortment of clean, lab-verified and healthy food options such as Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries, Freeze Dried Organic Peas and Freeze Dried Organic Red Miso Powder.

Organic blueberries are a close relative of cranberries, huckleberries, gooseberries and bilberries, and they are one of the most nutritious and antioxidant-rich fruits in the world.

Packed with beneficial vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, the Health Ranger Store offers Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries, a perfect health snack that you can enjoy all year round. The freeze-drying process preserves the taste, texture and nutrients of fresh blueberries better than other food preservation methods.

Health Ranger Select Freeze-Dried Organic Whole Blueberries contain no gluten or GMOs and are certified Kosher and organic. They are also vegan, non-China and have undergone extensive lab testing for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.

You can also try Freeze Dried Organic Peas, which are freeze-dried, non-GMO peas proudly grown in the U.S. under strict organic standards. The freeze-drying method preserves the taste, texture and nutrients in peas better than any other food preservation method.

You can trust that Freeze Dried Organic Peas from the Health Ranger Store are thoroughly lab-tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.

They are also USDA-organic and Kosher-certified. Additionally, Freeze Dried Organic Peas are vegan, gluten-free, laboratory-verified and China-free.

Lastly, you can try Health Ranger Select Organic Freeze-Dried Red Miso Powder.

Ranging from red to dark brown, “aka miso” or red miso is made from organic soybeans fermented with organic rice, though with a higher concentration of organic soybeans and a longer fermentation period than yellow miso.

Red miso is high in protein and best complements most meaty vegetables, such as eggplants and mushrooms. The deep umami flavor of red miso is perfect for braises, hearty soups, marinades, stews, gravies and glazes.

Health Ranger Select Organic Freeze-Dried Red Miso Powder has a stronger flavor than yellow miso. We recommend using it sparingly so as not to overpower milder ingredients in your dish.

Health Ranger Select Organic Freeze-Dried Red Miso Powder is made with the highest-quality organic soybeans, organic rice, sea salt, and organic Aspergillus oryzae as the fermenting agent. The miso is then carefully freeze-dried to extend its shelf life and preserve its freshness and nutritional quality.

Health Ranger Select Organic Freeze-Dried Red Miso Powder is certified organic and Kosher and is packaged in a USDA Certified Organic Facility.

Visit FoodSupply.news for more ideas on how to build your food stockpile before disaster strikes. You can also check out Health Ranger Store and Brighteon Store for more clean food supplies for your prepping needs.

Watch the video below to find out why Organic Peas are an excellent source of nutrition even after SHTF.

This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com.