5 Grocery Store Items Selling Out Right Now That You Should Stockpile

With COVID-19 raging again in Europe, it’s just a matter of time before things get even worse here in America. 

Of course, the coronavirus spread has already been worsening here in recent weeks. And nearly every healthcare expert is predicting another big surge this fall and winter.

That means more infections, more hospitalizations and more deaths. Including for food supply chain workers.

If we thought store shelves were emptying quickly last spring – and staying empty in some cases – the situation could be even more dire soon.

Grab them while you can

Now is not the time to panic or hoard. There’s never a good time for that. But now is a good time to stockpile foods that are most likely to sell out the fastest.

Taking care of that activity will mean you’ll already have the items others won’t find. And you’ll be able to stay out of stores where people are congregating.

Today I want to look at five foods that are selling out fast that would be wise to stockpile while we can.

We could all come up with a bigger list. But I chose these because they are among the most likely to be gone later when we need them.

Meats

Particularly hard hit during the first surge of the virus in the U.S. were meat-packing plants. Especially those owned by Tyson Foods (chicken) and Smithfield (pork).

With sick workers not showing up for work, production and deliveries slowed down. Choices were much fewer at grocery stores and prices went up.

As of this moment, most stores have enough meat for customers. But that could change in a hurry.

Stock up now on ground beef, steaks, chicken and pork. Freeze a vast majority of it so you’re ready when shortages and rationing kick in.

Flour

Recently, flour has been a big seller. The logic behind this is that with fewer people dining out, more are cooking and baking in.

 Flour is something you can use for a variety of items. Including bread, pasta, pastry, pancakes and dumplings. Plus many other baked goods such as biscuits, crepes and scones. As well as donuts, cakes and cookies.

You can combine fat, liquid, eggs or yeast with flour to make various dishes. Flour is also used as a thickening agent in sauces and stews.

It’s a good idea to sift your flour before using it. That way you can get rid of the lumps and grit. 

Cheese 

This is another item that saw shortages and higher prices a few months ago. People in quarantine seem to enjoy cheese even more than they normally do.

Quantities of available cheese are likely to be lower and prices higher in the near future. That’s assuming predictions of another surge are accurate. 

This is especially true of aged cheeses. Due to the production process being longer and more complicated. 

Something to keep in mind is that not all cheeses should be frozen. Block, sliced and shredded cheddar, Colby jack and Monterey jack are fine for freezing. As are block or sliced provolone and shredded mozzarella. Others, not so much.

Canned food

Canned food has its drawbacks. The cans are heavy and often contain some undesirable ingredients, including too much salt. 

But during a crisis, calories and weight watching are not at the top of our priority list. We want to occasionally be able to grab something quick and easy. 

The prices and shelf lives for canned foods are decent. Some are nutritious and rich in protein. Generally, you don’t need to add any water. And they stack well in a pantry.

Probably the best thing about canned food is the variety. You can stockpile canned soups, stews, meat, fruit, vegetables and many others. 

Ready to eat foods

More people may have time to cook now than they did before. But that doesn’t mean everyone wants to do that.

Food that is ready to eat right out of a jar or in a package goes quickly during a crisis. Granola bars and peanut butter are a couple of good examples. 

Others include yogurt, luncheon meats, sliced cheeses, pre-packed raw vegetables and pre-cut fresh fruits.

Be sure to include healthy drinks in this category. Such as coconut water, green tea and pomegranate juice. As well as orange juice, kombucha, beet juice and cranberry juice.

If you take only one thing away from this today, I hope it’s this: do it now. The predicted virus surge is on our doorsteps.

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