Food

10 Must-Have Non-Electric Kitchen Tools for Homesteaders and Preppers

October 6, 2022 by David Leave a Comment

In today’s world, more and more people are interested in lessening their dependence on traditional utilities like electricity, gas, and water. For some, this means looking for off-grid kitchen ideas. Others simply want to be prepared for unexpected long-term power outages.

In either case, having the right non-electric kitchen tools can make all the difference in preparing food in grid-down or long-term off-grid scenarios.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best manual kitchen tools that don’t need electricity. The right tools can make your life a lot easier when you’re off the grid and electricity is unavailable.

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Why would you have an off-grid kitchen?

An off-grid kitchen is a term used to describe a kitchen that is not connected to the main power grid. This can be by intentional choice through opting to live off the grid, due to a natural disaster like hurricanes or ice storms, or from a SHTF scenario like an EMP or attack on the power grid.

Off-gridders still have many options to power an off-grid kitchen, including solar panels, wind turbines, and generators. But for the purposes of this article, we’ll only be looking at non-electric manual kitchen tools that can be used without electricity.

Here are ten of the best non-electric kitchen tools for when you’re without electricity.

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Can opener

Any prepper worth his or her salt will stock up on canned goods like beans, vegetables and meats. But if the power goes out and the only tool you have to open your cans is an electric can opener… well, you get the idea.

You’d be surprised how many people stock up on canned goods but either don’t have a manual can opener at all, or only have one of those cheap openers that is either difficult to use or stops working after only a few uses.

There are all styles and types of non-electric can openers. We always recommend a name brand, high-quality can opener with lots of good reviews. It’s a great idea to have two or three openers in case one stops working or you want one as a high-value barter item.

Camping stove

For cooking without electricity, nothing is as simple as an old-fashioned camp stove.

For maximum versatility, we recommend getting a dual fuel camping stove that uses both butane and propane as the fuel source.

These stoves always carry a warning not to use indoors but many people use theirs inside a house, RV, etc., without any issues.

Don’t forget the fuel for your camp stove!

Ice chest

Another must-have non-electric off-grid kitchen tool is an ice chest.

An ice chest can buy you precious time if the power goes out and you want to preserve refrigerated or frozen items that may otherwise spoil.

A good quality ice chest with extra insulation can actually keep things frozen for up to five days even in warm weather.

If the power goes off in the winter time and it’s cold outside, you can store food in an ice chest outdoors. This protects the food from predators and potentially keeps it frozen for many weeks in northern climates. (Of course, if your house is unheated, just keep the ice chest indoors.)

How to Create Your Own Homesteading Kitchen

Solar oven

Solar ovens are another popular non-electric kitchen tool. These can be used to cook food without using any electricity or gas.

A solar oven is a device that uses the sun’s energy to heat your food. Solar ovens are a very efficient way to cook, as they can reach temperatures of up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. They are also portable, making them ideal if you need to take it on the road.

The disadvantage is that you won’t be able to cook on a cloudy or overcast day. But if the sun is shining, a solar oven is a great way to go.

For cloudy days when you need to cook, a charcoal grill is a fantastic cooking option. (You can also use small wood pieces in place of charcoal.)

Water filter

Having pure, clean water for drinking and cooking is an absolute must in any grid-down situation.

There are a lot of options with affordable water purification filters, but a filter with multi-stage filtration is best.

How to Make Your own Emergency Water Well

Hand crank grain mill

Many preppers stock up on grain as part of their food storage stash. But if the power is off and you need to grind grain, you’ll need a manual grain mill to get the job done.

Hand crank grain mills come in an assortment of sizes. You’ll want one that is adjustable so you can control how fine or coarse the milled flour comes out.

Hand crank egg beater

For scrambling eggs, a manual egg beater is another must-have non-electric kitchen tool.

These are also great for whipping cream and mixing batters like for pancakes and breads.

Coffee grinder

If you’re a coffee drinker and prefer to store unroasted coffee beans for long-term storage, then a hand-operated coffee grinder is another essential tool.

When looking for a manual coffee grinder, one that has adjustable settings is ideal. This allows you to choose the coarseness of the grind.

Stainless steel percolator

You won’t be able to make coffee in an off-grid scenario without a percolator.

You’ll need a high-quality stainless steel percolator. Many people report that coffee prepared over a fire with a percolator yields a deeper, richer flavor.

You can also use loose leaf tea in your percolator.

Cast iron cookware

Our last (but definitely not least!) recommendation for non-electric kitchen tools is cast iron cookware.

For cooking over an open flame, cast iron is definitely the way to go.

A cast iron Dutch oven is an incredibly useful piece of cookware. They are perfect for soups, chili and stews. You can eve cook breads like biscuits in them!

Cast iron skillets are also very useful for frying all sorts of meats, making pancakes, and cooking vegetables.

Learning from the original homesteaders

How would you like to sit down with a pioneer or homesteader from the 19th or early 20th centuries? You know, the kind who raised all of their own food, built their own house, and did everything without electricity and running water?

Well, we can’t transport you back in time to meet an old-time homesteader, but we’ve got the next best thing!

The Ultimate Homesteading eBook Bundle is an incredible collection of 272 hand-picked titles written by homesteading experts in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Each book has been digitized into an easy-to-use format and is crammed full of little-known secrets:

How to grow all the food you need even in less-than-ideal condition
How to raise chickens, cows and other animals to provide fresh meat and eggs
How to build a simple house using the materials local to your area
How to learn handiwork skills like sewing
How to preserve food using traditional preservation methods

These books have been bundled together by category and are perfect for preppers and homesteaders. The information found in these books is a true treasure trove that will be invaluable in any type of grid-down scenario where you need to quickly get up to speed on how to live without electricity and other modern conveniences.

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Final thoughts on non-electric kitchen tools

In an off-grid scenario where you need to prepare food without electricity, you’ll need several basic tools to be up to the task.

The non-electric kitchen tools mentioned above are among the best items to have on hand to keep you alive and well in any SHTF scenario.

How to Store Food in Mylar Bags

September 22, 2022 by David Leave a Comment

Long-term food storage is on the minds of many people these days. While there are several food storage options, using Mylar bags is one of the very best ways to keep your food fresh and dry for many years. Storing food in Mylar bags is not as difficult or complicated as you might think.

Storing Food in Mylar Bags

Prepping for long-term food storage is a great way to get ready for any future disasters that may come your way.

With rapidly rising food prices and threats of social and economic instability, it only makes sense to stash away some food for emergency use.

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By storing food in Mylar bags, you can keep it fresh for many years. This is a great way to have peace of mind knowing that you and your family will always have something to eat no matter what happens.

Should Honey be in Your Prepping Stash?

But to make sure your food stays good on a long-term basis, you’ll need to take a few steps as outlined below.

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Best Foods to Store in Mylar Bags

Some types of food keep better in long-term storage in Mylar bags than others.

When thinking about the types of foods that keep best in long-term storage, some good choices are white rice, dry beans (all types), pasta, oats, and whole grains like wheat berries.

Avoid foods like brown rice and flour as these will not stay as fresh, even when stored in Mylar bags.

Coconut: The Ultimate Prepping Food?

How to Store Food in Mylar Bags

Here are the steps I followed recently when putting food in Mylar bags for long-term storage.

1. Pick the foods you want to store in Mylar bags

Decide on the foods you want to store. As noted, white rice, wheat berries, and oats are great choices. You can buy these in bulk at places like Sam’s or Costco. My favorite source of bulk foods is Azure Standard.

2. Using Mylar bags with and without buckets

You can either store foods in Mylar bags without buckets or inside of buckets for added protection. Using bags without pails is easier and less expensive, but I prefer buckets to keep rodents and bugs from chewing through the bags.

These are the Mylar bags I have used with good success. You can get 5-gallon pails with lids at hardware stores or Walmart.

3. Place the Mylar bags inside the buckets

If using both Mylar bags and pails, unfold the bag and press it down into a pail with the top of the bag above the pail rim. The bucket also acts as a support to hold the bag in place while putting the food into it.

4. Pour the food into the bag

Open your bag of food and pour it into the bag. As a general rule, I’ve found that a bag inside a five-gallon bucket holds about 25 pounds of grain or beans. This will vary somewhat depending on the density of the specific food you’re storing.

Make sure you don’t overfill the bag inside the pail as overfilling will keep the lid from closing, making the bag more prone to pests or punctures.

I fill up all of my bags before proceeding to the next step.

5. Place oxygen absorbers inside the bags on top of the food

Oxygen absorbers are really important if you plan to store the food for many years.

As the name suggests, these little absorbers remove oxygen from the air inside the bag, preventing the food from going rancid. As a bonus, an oxygen-free atmosphere is also inhospitable to bugs.

I like this set of Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, or you can purchase absorbers separately if you already have some bags. I strongly recommend using the larger 2000CC oxygen absorbers as they are more effective than the smaller ones.

I have used these oxygen absorbers with good success.

6. Seal the Mylar bags using a hair flat iron

Once the food and oxygen absorber is in place inside the bag, you’ll need to seal it up.

If your Mylar bags have a zipper, press down on the bag to get out as much air as possible while closing the zipper. If your bags are zipperless, it will be harder to squeeze out the air, but just get out as much as you can.

Plug in a hair flat iron until it heats up. You can also use a clothes iron, but a hair iron is much more convenient.

Take the hot flat iron (be careful!) and insert the top edge of the Mylar bag into the flat iron. You only want to seal the area above the bag’s zipper.

Run the hot iron all the way along the top of the bag to create an airtight seal. Squeeze the bag to make sure no air comes out. If it does, seal the bag again to close off any air holes.

7. Place lids on the pails and label the buckets

We’re now heading into the final stretch on your food storage adventure!

Once all your bags are sealed, press them down to fully fit inside the pails, then securely attach the lids.

Finally, be sure to write on the buckets so you know what’s inside. You can either write directly on the pails with a permanent marker, or use adhesive labels or tape to write on.

Your long-term food storage stash is now ready to go!

Final Thoughts on Storing Food in Mylar Bags

There are many good reasons to have long-term food storage using Mylar bags.

In the event of an emergency, it is always a good idea to have a backup food plan. If there is a power outage, natural disaster, or social upheaval, having non-perishable food items can be a lifesaver.

It’s also a good idea to have long-term food storage in case of job loss or other financial difficulties. Having a stockpile of food can help you weather just about any storm that comes your way.

If properly stored inside of Mylar bags and pails, dried goods can last for years, giving you peace of mind in the event of an emergency.

These Surprising Uses of Pine Sap Could Save Your Life

These Surprising Uses of Pine Sap Could Save Your Life

September 19, 2022 by Ezra Leave a Comment

Everyone is familiar with pine trees, but did you know that the sticky sap from a pine tree has some really cool uses? Here we go over how to use pine sap when you’re camping and for survival purposes.

Pine sap is a sticky, viscous substance that is secreted by pine trees. It is composed of water, sugars, and resin acids. When tapped from the tree, it can be used for an amazing variety of purposes.

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How to collect pine sap

There are a few different ways to collect pine sap. The most common method is to tap the tree, which involves drilling a small hole into the tree and collecting the sap that drips out.

Another way to collect pine sap is to simply gather it from the ground beneath the tree. This can be done by using a shovel or trowel to dig around the base of the tree until you find a pocket of sap. Once you’ve found some sap, you can scrape it off of the bark or leaves and into a container.

Finally, you can also collect pine sap by cutting into the tree itself. This is generally not recommended, as it can damage the tree, but if you’re careful you can cut a V-shaped notch into the bark and collect the sap that runs out.

What can pine sap be used for?

Pine sap can be used for a variety of useful purposes, including:

Making homemade glue
Starting a fire
Building a shelter
Sealing minor cuts and wounds
As a natural insecticide
To make a nutritious food or candy

Making glue with pine sap

If you’ve ever wanted to make your own glue, here’s a recipe using pine sap. All you need is some pine sap and water.

To start, collect some pine sap from a tree. You can do this by making a small cut in the bark of the tree and collecting the sap that comes out. Once you have about a cup of pine sap, add it to a pot of boiling water.

Let the mixture boil for about 15 minutes, or until it starts to thicken. Once it has thickened, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Once it’s cooled, your homemade glue is ready to use!

Another option for making homemade pine sap glue is to mix pine sap with an equal amount of flour. This mixture can be used to adhere paper or fabric to other surfaces.

Making a fire with pine sap

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to make a fire but don’t have any matches or lighter fluid, pine sap can be a great alternative. Here’s how to do it:

Gather some pine sap from a tree. You can use your hands or a knife to get the sap out of the tree.
Once you have enough pine sap, find some dry grass or leaves and gather them up
Make a small pile of the dry grass or leaves and place the pine sap on top of it
Use a knife or other sharp object to scrape the pine sap onto the dry grass or leaves until they are coated.
Now all you need is a spark to get the fire going! (Carrying a tool like this could be a lifesaver.)

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Building a shelter with pine sap

When it comes to building an emergency wilderness shelter, one of the most valuable materials you can have is pine sap.

Pine sap has several benefits that make it ideal for shelter construction.

First, pine sap is an excellent water repellent. This means that it will help keep your shelter dry and comfortable.

Second, pine sap is also very sticky. This can be helpful in keeping your shelter together and preventing leaks.

Finally, pine sap has a strong scent that can potentially help keep predators away from your shelter.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using pine sap for shelter construction. First, you will need to collect a large amount of pine sap. One tree can provide enough sap for a small shelter. Second, you will need to heat the pine sap before using it. This can be done by placing the sap in a container and setting it over a fire.

Now, it’s time to build your shelter. Start by creating a frame out of sticks or branches. Then, use the pine sap to glue large leaves or pieces of bark to the frame. Make sure to cover the entire shelter to keep rain and wind from getting through.

Using pine sap to seal wounds

Sealing minor cuts and wounds with pine sap can help to prevent infection. The sticky nature of pine sap helps to keep bandages in place and provides a barrier against bacteria and dirt.

If you find yourself in a pinch and need to seal a wound quickly, pine sap can be a helpful tool. Here’s how to do it:

Gather some pine sap from a tree. You can use your fingers or a knife to scrape it off the bark.
Clean the wound as much as possible with clean water and dry it off.
Apply the pine sap directly to the wound.
Cover the wound with a bandage if possible.
Repeat steps 3-4 as necessary until the wound is fully sealed.
Keep an eye on the wound and make sure it is healing properly.

Pine sap contains a compound called terpene, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Pine sap as an insecticide

Pine sap has a long history of being used as a natural insecticide.

The sticky, gooey substance is effective at trapping and killing insects. Pine sap can be used in its natural state or mixed with other ingredients to create a more potent insecticide. Here are some tips for using pine sap as an insecticide:

Collect pine sap from a tree (see instructions above).
Apply pine sap directly to insects or areas where they’re likely to congregate. For example, you can put a glob of pine sap on a flypaper strip to trap flies.
You can also mix pine sap with water to create a sprayable solution. This is especially effective against aphids and other small insects.

Using pine sap as a nutritious food

Pine sap contains a wealth of nutrients and antioxidants that can be eaten to boost your health in several ways.

Pine sap is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, and manganese. It also contains important antioxidants like ellagic acid and ferulic acid. These nutrients work together to boost the immune system, fight inflammation, and protect against cellular damage.

When taken internally, pine sap can help treat respiratory infections, bronchitis, and asthma.

Pine sap can be eaten fresh from the tree. It has a somewhat sweet flavor that is perfect for adding to dishes as a flavoring agent. It can be added to soups, stews, and sauces to give them a unique flavor.

Pine sap can be used as candy by boiling it down into a syrup. Here’s how to make your own pine sap candy:

Collect pine sap from trees using a clean bucket or container.
Boil the pine sap over moderate heat until it becomes syrupy.
Add sugar, if desired and available.
Pour the syrup onto a clean surface to cool and harden.
Enjoy your delicious homemade pine sap candy!

Final thoughts on how to use pine sap

Pine sap has many uses beyond just making a sticky mess on your hands. It can be used for medical purposes, like a salve for wounds or an infection fighter. It can also be used as a natural adhesive, or even to start a fire.

The next time you’re out hiking and come across a pine tree, take a closer look at the sap seeping from its bark and think about all of the different ways it could be put to use.

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Should Honey be in Your Prepping Stash?

July 26, 2022 by Ezra Leave a Comment

You may be wondering if honey is a good long-term food storage item, or how long honey stays good in storage. Read on for our recommendations regarding how and why to use honey as a preparedness food.

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Is honey a good food storage item?

From a nutritional standpoint, honey is a very good food storage item because it is a high-quality, relatively low-calorie food that also provides a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Honey is one of the best natural sweeteners and may be used in place of other liquid sweeteners like corn syrup or molasses.

Honey is also affordable, although cheaper honey won’t last as long as higher-quality raw honey.

Does honey have an indefinite shelf life?

Raw honey has an almost indefinite shelf life and has been shown to stay good for many years. Believe it or not, honey was discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs and it was still edible!

Most experts say raw honey never really expires, but to be on the safe side you should probably use it within five years after purchase for maximum taste and quality.

Be sure to store your honey with the lid tightly sealed and away from high heat to preserve a long shelf life and freshness.

Honey that’s been processed with higher degrees of heat is not as shelf stable as raw, unprocessed honey and may go bad sooner.

Why does honey stay good for so long?

Natural substances contained in honey help to prevent rancidity, or the breakdown of food by bacteria. Honey’s high sugar and low moisture content, combined with small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, team up together to keep your honey fresh in storage.

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What are the health benefits of honey?

Honey is an amazingly healthy food for several reasons.

Honey is a natural, unprocessed sweetener that has a long history of being used as a functional food. It is high in antioxidants, which have may health benefits such as reducing the risk of cancer, slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and helping to improve heart health.

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According to one source, honey contains polyphenol compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids), vitamin C, vitamin E, enzymes (e.g., catalase, peroxidase) and trace elements

Honey may also be helpful in treating a variety of health problems, including diabetes, asthma, and varicose veins.

In addition, raw honey has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. Because of this, it may be applied topically to the skin to help heal skin infections. This makes honey valuable not only as a food source but for its medicinal properties as well.

Does honey need to be refrigerated?

No, honey doesn’t need to be refrigerated. It can sit on a shelf for multiple years and still be fine. You can freeze honey to further prolong the shelf life but this it not necessary, and raw honey actually resists freezing.

Final thoughts on honey and long-term storage

Honey can be a very valuable addition to your long-term food storage stash. It not only adds flavor and nutrients to your meals, but it lasts for years at room temperatures. It also has health benefits and can be used externally to heal skin disorders.

When looking at honey as part of a prepper’s food pantry, make sure to get the best quality, preferably raw and organic honey. Raw honey is more shelf stable than processed honey, and retains more of the health benefits.

Are Food Shortages Coming to the U.S.?

April 15, 2022 by David 2 Comments

Will the U.S. face food shortages in 2022? This question is on the minds of a lot of people

If you’ve been following current news and events, you’ve no doubt heard a lot of conjecture surrounding the topic of food shortages in the United States. While a few people think severe shortages aren’t likely, there is evidence suggesting that major food shortages will occur here in 2022.

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Biden admits to upcoming food shortages

Leading government and food distribution leaders have made recent statements suggesting food shortages are on the horizon.

“It’s going to be real,” President Biden said of war-related food shortages at a recent meeting of global leaders, “because both Russia and Ukraine have been the bread basket of Europe” for wheat.

The forecast for global food shortages is dire, affecting primarily countries already suffering from hunger. But food-rich areas like Europe and the United States could be affected as well.

The 2022 agriculture outlook

There are several big uncertainties surrounding the global economy in 2022, all of which could seriously affect agricultural output. While the Ukraine conflict takes up much of the headlines, trade tensions between the United States and other countries are likely to impact global trade, and this could further lead to higher food costs. There are major concerns about the global food supply, as a number of key crop production areas are experiencing difficulty meeting future demand.

Causes of U.S. food shortages in 2022

Any significant food shortages in the United States in 2022 will be caused by a variety of factors, including drought, flooding, supply chain disruptions, military conflict, and pandemics. These shortages will combine to impact food prices, food availability, and food accessibility.

It’s no secret that that the U.S. is currently facing some huge agricultural challenges, including a decline in crop production due to droughts and rising fertilizer costs.

But not only crops are affected. The U.S. is facing a decline in livestock production, particularly poultry due to the recent bird flu with millions of chickens and turkeys being culled.

In addition, the U.S. is also experiencing a decline in food importation, which means that the country is increasingly relying primarily on domestically produced food. If these trends continue–which definitely appears likely–major food shortages could well become a reality in 2022.

According to investigative journalist Leo Hohmann, “Unless American farmers produce a bumper crop this fall, the rampant food price inflation will continue to intensify, driving prices up even faster and leading to more shortages on the store shelves heading into late 2022 and 2023.”

How do global supply chain issues affect the U.S. food supply?

The globalization of the food sector has had a gigantic impact on the U.S. food supply, as it has introduced new sources of food and new transportation routes that have impacted prices and availability.

Supply chain issues can lead to delays in food arriving on shelves, and rotting produce that doesn’t make it to the stores in time.

Food spoilage and supply chain issues are widespread in industries where perishable goods are handled, such as food service and retail. Poor storage, refrigeration, and shipping practices can easily lead to food going bad prematurely, which can create public health risks as well as food shortages.

Why are there global supply chain delays 2022?

The global supply chain delays of 2022 are mostly due to a lack of manufacturing capacity, but also a lack of workers. This affects many industries, including agriculture production.

There are a variety of reasons why global supply chain delays can happen, including problems with obtaining components or obtaining necessary approvals from regulators. Also, a global supply chain is a lot more complex than a company’s local supply chain, making it more challenging to get products to market in a timely manner.

Will the Ukraine war affect the cost of living?

The Ukraine conflict will no doubt have an affect on the U.S. cost of living, particularly as the current situation remains uncertain and volatile, and threatens to expand to other countries. Most experts agree that the global economy is already straining under the weight of deep structural changes, and further economic volatility could lead to higher prices for goods and services – particularly squeezing the already-pinched working class.

What should you do to get started with long-term food storage?

The best way to protect your family against food shortages is by stocking up on food.

To get started with long-term food storage, start small by stocking up on staple foods and canned goods that will last for several months or even better for a year or more. Once you have a good base of supplies, you can start adding in items that are specific to your family’s needs. Freeze-dried meals and pre-made snacks are convenient choices but may not be the most cost-effective options.

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Best foods for long-term food storage

The best foods for long-term food storage are those that are shelf stable with a long life. Some of the best foods that are good choices for long-term food storage include canned goods, freeze-dried food, and dehydrated food.

Start a garden to provide your own food

Many people feel overwhelmed at the thought of how to provide for their family in times of shortage.

Starting a home garden is one of the best options. You can grown some of your own food even in small yards or patios, giving you at least some degree of food independence.

Final thoughts on U.S. food shortages

The U.S. appears to be facing a “perfect storm” of supply chain, weather challenges, geopolitical instability, pandemics, and inflationary pressures, all of which may combine to create serious food shortages in the near future.

Now is the time to get prepared, stocking up on shelf-stable foods to get you and your family through the difficult times that may lay ahead.

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Coconut: The Ultimate Prepping Food?

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Coconut: The Ultimate Prepping Food?

February 22, 2022 by David 4 Comments

You have a lot of choices when it comes to food storage items. Here we go over the reasons why coconut is one of the very best food choices for preppers.

Different preppers can have a variety of goals with food storage. Some focus on maximizing shelf life, others emphasize low cost, and some go only for highly nutritious foods.

One of the best things about coconut is that it can tick most or all of the boxes to satisfy the requirements of preppers.

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Coconut has an Excellent Shelf Life

A top concern for preppers is obtaining foods that last a long time. After all, what’s the point of food storage if something’s going to quickly go bad?

Here’s one of the areas where coconut really shines! Coconut in its various forms tends to have a really good shelf life. This is largely due to its saturated fat content. Of all the types of fasts, saturated fats are the most stable and least likely to oxidize or go rancid.

Coconuts naturally contain a range of fatty acids such as lauric acid and caprylic acid. These fatty acids have antimicrobial properties that can as as natural preservatives, keeping coconut products fresh longer.

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Estimates vary on how long different coconut products may last. However, based on our research and personal experience, here are some reasonable shelf life figures for popular coconut products:

Coconut Oil. Coconut oil comes in two forms, refined (non-virgin) and unrefined (virgin). Virgin coconut oil is the most shelf stable and has a minimum shelf life of 3 years from production, with some users reporting their virgin oil that’s five years old still smelling and tasting fresh. Refined coconut oil has a shorter shelf life of 2 to 3 years. Liquid coconut oil has some of the fatty acids removed to keep it liquid at cool temperatures. It has a considerably shorter life than regular coconut oil, which is solid when cold.
Dried Coconut. Dried or desiccated coconut products such as flakes and shreds are made from the coconut meat. They go through a heating process to remove moisture. Because moisture is the number one enemy of food longevity, dried coconut tends to be very shelf stable. Some reports suggest a shelf life of only 6 to 12 months. This shorter life likely applies to the sweetened bagged coconut commonly found in grocery stores. Pure dried coconut is less moist, not sweetened, and can last 3 years or more when stored in low-humidity environment in a sealed container.
Coconut Flour. This product is made from finely ground coconut meat and is dried to remove moisture. Like dried coconut, it stays good for 2 to 3 years when stored in a sealed container in a low-moisture environment.
Coconut Butter. Similar in consistency to nut butters, coconut butter is made from ground coconut meat and has a much higher oil content than dried coconut and coconut flour. Because of the high amounts of saturated fat, it is one of the most shelf stable nut butters, lasting 3+ years.
Coconut Milk Powder. Made from dehydrated coconut milk, this product also boasts an impressive shelf life of 2-3 years. It is sensitive to moisture and stores best at room temperatures and very low humidity.
Canned Coconut Milk. Another shelf stable item, canned coconut milk lasts 3+ years.

Coconut is one of the Most Nutritious Foods

Few foods can rival coconut when it comes to being a nutritional powerhouse.

Several features of coconut are unique in nature and qualify it as one of the most perfect foods. Fresh raw coconuts contain protein, carbs, fiber, fat and minerals. Quite an impressive nutritional accomplishment!

Although for years some elements of the medical community demonized coconut products as unhealthy due to saturated fat content, it’s now recognized that coconut can be a very valuable part of a healthy diet.

Shopping at Dollar Tree for Prepping Supplies

Some of the many benefits of consuming coconut include heart health, weight loss, and immune support. Coconut oil is even thought to have a role in treating brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s!

Because obtaining and storing fresh coconuts is out of the reach of most of us, obtaining high-quality processed coconut products is the best alternative.

Of all the available coconut products, coconut butter is one of the better options in terms of health benefits. It contains not only a sizeable amount of ground coconut meat but also significant quantities of coconut oil. This provides the advantages of both the meat and the oil in a single item.

Coconut Products can be Affordable

Preppers who look for the cheapest possible food items probably won’t go for coconut. But by shopping around, you can still find some really good deals on an assortment of coconut products.

As with any product, buying in bulk provides the best savings. For coconut oil, look for larger five-gallon sizes for the maximum bang for your buck. Although the initial investment is more, the cost per pound will almost always be less with larger sized items.

Coconut butter is typically not available in the same size as bulk coconut oil. But you can still look for bigger quart jars and buy them in bulk when possible.

Another option for buying discounted coconut products is using a buying club. These clubs offer either online delivery or in-person delivery through a bulk truck drop off (or both).

Our favorite buying club is Azure Standard. With this buying club you can purchase things like dried coconut, coconut flour and more!

And don’t forget to shop local scratch and dent, Asian market, or health food stores where you can sometimes find good deals on coconut products.

Of course, if all else fails, there is always Amazon.

Final Thoughts on Coconut as the Ultimate Prepping Food

Preppers looking for nutritious food storage items that have a long shelf life and are affordable should take a close look at coconut.

Readily available as coconut oil, dried coconut, and more, this food is one of the best choices available to shore up your prepper pantry.

Is coconut a part of your food storage? Let us know in the comments below what you think about coconut.

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