Stockpiling Emergency Food? Stay Away from Grocery Stores

In early 2020 stores all over the country ran out of items like canned protein, powdered milk, and of course... toilet paper. And when they were in stock, there were limitations placed on the number of items we could purchase.

But here's what many people got wrong. And they're still getting it wrong. They believe the grocery store is the place to go to put together their food stockpile. There are a number of reasons why that kind of thinking is wrong. Let me share a few of them with you today.

Shelf life is key

When it comes to a food stockpile, anything with a shelf life of less than five years is a waste of money. You can do a lot better than that. 

For most food items, even non-perishables, the shelf life is much shorter than five years. Do you really want to spend a lot of time checking expiration dates and rotating food in and out of your stockpile? Certainly your time is more valuable than that. 

The single most important thing to consider when stockpiling food is making sure water has been removed from it.

And yes, some grocery stores sell freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, but the shelf lives are usually far shorter than what you can get with survival food. Many of them don't even include a basic oxygen absorber.

Get the water out 

Now, you may be saying, "OK, Frank, I realize freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are better for an emergency stockpile than most canned foods and other grocery store items. But what about taste, nutrition, variety, and price?" 

I'm glad you asked, because when it comes to a stockpile, survival food has the competition beat in every category.

As I mentioned earlier, moisture removal is the key to making food last a long time. Whenever water or oils remain inside a container of food, bacteria will form. And that bacteria will probably destroy your emergency food supply long before you need it.

With freeze-drying, food is quickly frozen to begin the process. Then the ice is turned into water vapor and removed by placing the frozen food in a vacuum.

With dehydration, water is removed via evaporation. Hot air is introduced into a chamber containing food until the liquid becomes a gas and floats away. 

Taste & nutrition 

Unlike canned food you get at the grocery store, which can lose its taste and nutritional value over time, freeze-dried and dehydrated food tastes as good and fresh as the day it is packaged.

When food is frozen, microorganisms are unable to grow. Freeze-drying and dehydrating food removes nearly all moisture. 

Once food is freeze-dried or dehydrated, it's simply a matter of packaging it properly in airtight bags. Such as bags made of Mylar. And then storing it where it can't be contaminated by the elements and pests.

This process also helps freeze-dried food retain its nutritional value better than most canned food. Without the use of harmful chemicals. 

Variety & protein 

When many people hear "freeze-dried" or "dehydrated," they first think of fruits and vegetables. And those are certainly items you should stockpile.

But freeze-dried meat can also provide plenty of nutrition. Including much-needed protein, minerals, and other nutrients. 

Why is this important? For one thing, if a crisis goes on for more than several days, you're going to need something other than fruits and vegetables. 

For another, the stress you'll experience during an emergency will raise your cortisol levels. That means potential muscle loss. Maintaining strength will be a must in a crisis. Meat will be key in your diet. 

Cost & digestion

People sometimes worry about the cost of freeze-dried and dehydrated food. But prices only seem higher because those foods are often sold in bulk.

By using a calculator, you realize you're actually saving money by purchasing freeze-dried and dehydrated food for your stockpile. 

This is especially true when you factor in all the non-freeze-dried and non-dehydrated food that gets thrown away after it expires. 

And if you're concerned about freeze-dried and dehydrated food being more difficult to digest, well, that's another myth we've heard. The fact is, it's actually more easily digested because it does not contain additives or preservatives. 

They don't sell peace of mind at grocery stores

When freeze-dried and dehydrated food is properly stored, it can stay good, tasty, and nutritious for up to 25 years.

That means keeping it in a cool, dark, dry place. Where air, light, moisture, insects, and rodents can't get to it. 

So, if you decide to start an emergency food stockpile – or add to the one you've already started – stay away from the grocery store.

Let's face it. The folks who run grocery stores want you to eat up your food as quickly as possible so that you'll return and buy more soon. At 4Patriots, we want you to have food that will be ready when you really need it.

The only way to achieve true peace of mind when it comes to feeding yourself and your family when things go south is by stocking up with survival food. And you're not going to find it at the grocery store.