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

    Source: geocities.com/tominelpaso