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