JM>> This is a specialty area devoted to recipes, food storage, and similar
JM>> items as they relate to survival. Recipes dealing with products with
JM>> long storage life are appreciated.
KB> One thing I have had some trouble with, John, is keeping foods that are
KB> stored in the edible state.
KB> Frozen food doesn't seem to last past just a couple of months...(freezer
KB> burn, you know.) Do you have any information on the life of canned,
KB> frozen or dried foods?
Preventing freezer burn is fairly easy. The cause of freezer burn is
dehydration. IQF (individually quick frozen) products can most easily be
protected by "glazing". To glaze a product, it must already be frozen. It
is then quickly dunked into cold water that has some sugar added. This forms
a thicker ice coating, preventing surface oxydation and the resultant
dehydration. Freezer burning is not harmful and can usually be reversed by
thawing the product in cold water, though.
On storage times:
Title: Food Storage
CUPBOARD STORAGE
Baking powder, soda 18 months Potato mixes 18 months
BBQ sauce, ketchup 1 month Pudding mixes 1 year
Bouillon cubes 1 year Rice - brown, mild 1 year
Canned foods 1 year - white 2 years
Chocolate 1 year Salad dressings 6 months
Flour 1 year Sauce,gravy soup mixes 6 months
Frostings 8 months Shortening - solid 8 months
Gelatin 18 months Sugar - brown, confect 4 months
Herbs, spices 1 year - granulated 2 years
Jelly 1 year Syrups 1 year
Macaroni, pasta 1 year Tea - bags 6 months
Olives, pickles 1 year Tea - instant 1 year
Pancake mixes 6 months Vegetables 1 week
Peanut butter 6 months
REFRIGERATED FRUITS & VEGS DAIRY PRODUCTS
Fruit Butter 2 weeks
apples 1 month Buttermilk, sour cream 2 weeks
citrus fruit 2 weeks Cheese
other 2-5 days cottage, ricotta 5 days
cream, Neufchatel 2 weeks
Vegetables sliced cheese 2 weeks
Most vegetables 1 week whole pieces 2 months
corn 1 day Cream 1 week
carrots,radishes 2 weeks Eggs 1 month
Margarine 1 month
Milk 1 week
MEAT FISH POULTRY (uncooked) PREPARED FOODS, LEFTOVERS
Meat Cooked or canned foods
most meats 5 days broths, gravy ,soup 2 days
ground,sausage 2 days casseroles, stews 3 days
fruit, vegetables 3 days
Processed meats juices, drinks 6 days
bacon, franks 1 week meat, fish, poultry 2 days
ham - canned 6 months stuffing 2 days
- slices 3 days
- whole 1 week Cakes, pies 2 days
sausage 3 weeks
Flour 1 year
Fish, shellfish 1 day Nuts 6 months
Poultry 2 days Pickles, olives 1 month
COMMERCIALLY FROZEN FOODS
-
Breads, baked dough 3 months Meat - lamb,veal
Cakes 4-6 months roasts, steaks 9 months
Doughnuts, pastries 3 months Meat - pork
Fish - fatty 3 months chops 4 months
- lean 6 months roasts 8 months
Fruit 1 year Pancake batter 3 months
Ice cream, sherbets 1 month Pies 8 months
Main dishes, pies Poultry
fish, meat 3 months parts 6 months
poultry 6 months whole 1 year
Meat - beef duckling, goose 6 months
roasts, steaks 1 year turkey rolls, roasts 6 months
ground beef 4 months Vegetables 8 months
HOME-FROZEN FOODS
-
Breads - baked 3 months Meat dishes 3 months
- unbaked dough 1 month Meat
Butter, margarine 9 months bacon 1 month
Cakes 3 months franks 2 weeks
Cheese roasts 1 year
cottage,ricotta 2 weeks steaks - beef 1 year
natural, process 3 months pork,variety 4 months
Cookies - baked 3 months Nuts 3 months
Cream 1 month Poultry - cooked 1 month
Egg 1 year - uncooked 1 year
Fish 3 months Vegetables 1 year
Ice Cream 1 month