8 Long-Term Storage Foods To Keep To Survive WTSHTF

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There are many reasons to be prepared should it ever become difficult to get food in a worse case scenario. As a survivalist, we need to have a food storage along with the skills for long term food acquisition.

There are a lot of different foods that you could choose to store. However, some hold better long term than others.

If the food is properly sealed and stored correctly, it can last for years or even decades. Here are 14 foods that will last anywhere from a year or more.

HONEY

Honey is one of the sweetest and is a favorite for survivalists due to its almost indefinite shelf-life.  Archeologists once discovered some well-preserved honey in an Egyptian tomb that was carbon dated to be 3,000 years old.   It was still edible even after spending thousands of years in storage.

The low moisture content and high sugar content of honey is the reason why honey can last for centuries.  Bacteria and microorganisms need water or moisture to thrive.   Honey lacks the water content thereby making it very hard for bacteria or microorganisms to thrive.

When you read “expiration dates” on the store bought brands, that is because it either has additional ingredients or the date signifies when the honey should start crystalizing.

This does not make it inedible.  You can actually heat the honey and the crystals return to uncrystallized honey.

Although honey does not pack the same nutritional value in terms of vitamins and minerals as other foods, it can add extra flavor, provide simple sugars, and can also be used for medicinal purposes such as treating wounds and burns.  It does this job well by creating a “seal” around the wound in which microorganisms cannot penetrate.

UNCOOKED RICE

Rice is one of the most common must-have foods for stockpiles due to the fact that it’s cheap, easy to get and easy to store.

Did you know that uncooked white rice, in an oxygen-free container, can last between 25 and 30 years?  This has been reported by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Food and Drug Administration.

Regular white rice or store brand rice can last up to five years.

Almost any seed, such as alfa alfa, flaxseeds and chia seeds can remain edible for up to a decade, if properly stored.

Rice is a staple of most diets and therefore is a must for any long-term storage plan.

PEANUT BUTTER

Peanut butter can be a great food for survival if you take certain precautions.  Peanut butter does not have to be refrigerated.   The low levels of moisture and high oil content do help the peanut butter from going bad.  Although fungi and bacteria may not grow in the peanut butter, any exposure to air can result in eventual oxygenation.  This high fat content and exposure to oxygen can result in food spoilage called rancidification.

However,  once a container has been opened and exposed to air,peanut butter should be stored in its raw form.  When you have added oils, such as vegetable oil, a problem can arise.   The oils can oxidize when exposed to oxygen and this in turn can cause rancidification.   In other words, it becomes rancid.  This could affect the taste.

It’s also a source of protein. White bear studio/Shutterstock
With no moisture and plenty of oil, peanut butter can keep for at least from three to five years. The high amount of fat and vitamin E in the food “stave[s] off oxidation and prolongs PB’s shelf life,” Richard Faulks, a senior scientist at the Institute of Food Research told Scienceline at NYU.

“Rancidification,” which is worse than it sounds, can set in about nine to 12 months after purchase if stored improperly; the oxygen breaks down and the peanut butter’s flavor and odor can become less appetizing.

In desperate times, expired peanut butter “won’t hurt you if you eat it — it will just taste bad,” said Maribeth Cousin, professor of food science at Purdue University.

CANNED FRUITS, VEGETABLES & MEATS

Canned food seems like an obvious choice for survival food.  They are cheap, readily available and they can last a long time.  But you must be very careful with storage temperatures.   Extreme high or low temperatures can cause the food to spoil.   The expiration dates actually do not have any bearing on whether or not the food is edible or safe.   They actually have to do with freshness and taste.  According to the USDA, canned foods can stay fresh for up to 5 years for low-acid canned foods, such as meats and most canned vegetables.   High-acid canned foods, such as citrus fruits or tomatoes can stay fresh for up to 1 1/2 years.  Although canned foods can last for decades after their expiration date, they are not always safe to eat.  If the seal of a can is broken and air finds its way into a can, then the food is then contaminated and Botulism is now a risk.   Botulism is caused by Clostridium botulinum.   This bacteria can release a toxin that can kill you and is therefore very dangerous.  Since this bacterium cannot be seen, look for other tell-tale signs of contamination such as:

• Rust on can
• Leaking
• External damage or disfiguration of can or lid
• Explosion of contents upon opening

Remember, “When in doubt, throw it out”.   It is not worth the risk to you or your family.

ALCOHOL

The base liquors such as brandy, whiskey, vodka, gin, tequila and rum are typically the most stable distilled spirits because they do not contain any sugars.

These can last indefinitely if unopened.  However, if opened and exposed to air, they begin to lose the flavor qualities over a period of years.

It is important that these liquors are stored properly and kept away from direct sunlight or heat.

Besides being a great item to have for a post-apocalyptic party, it also aids in cleansing out wounds.

Stay away form any bottles that contain added ingredients such as flavoring, dairy or cream as these will not hold well.

DRIED BEANS

Dried beans can last  for close to 30 years when packaged correctly.

Kidney, pinto, black and Lima beans are the ultimate survival bean food because they are high  in protein and easy to store.

When storing dried beans, I recommend that you utilize mylar bags and oxygen absorbers which prevent oxygen from entering the package and thereby preventing spoilage.

ROLLED OATS

Oats are like the red-head step child.  Everyone is quick to get their rice and bean, yet oats go under appreciated.

Oats have a long shelf life of over 30+ years if packaged properly in mylar and with oxygen absorbers.

Oats can add variety to the diet.   They can be toasted, ground into flour, baked, sprouted, boiled and even made into oat milk!  These are just some of the many reasons to stock oats.   Lets not forget that they they are also very cheap.

You can get 10 pounds of regular rolled oats by Augason for $20 at Amazon.  The recommended quantity to store is twenty pounds per adult, per year.

POWDERED MILK

Powdered milk in the original unopened package can still be viable for about two years beyond its “best buy” date if stored properly at or below 40°F in a cool and dry environment.  However, if it is stored in an airtight plastic container, it can last for up to ten years.

If the powdered milk goes bad, it may start to get an odor and begin to have a yellowish tint.   If this happens, do not take the risk and discard it immediately.

If you choose to freeze it, place it in a vacuum sealed container to maximize the shelf-life.  Keep in mind that the vitamins A and D are also photosensitive and will break down rapidly if exposed to light.   So, if storage container is transparent or translucent then it should be placed in an opaque container or dark room.

Although the  information on SurvivalistGeek.com is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. 

Michael Anthony

I am a Survivalist Blogger since 2018. I currently reside in South West Florida when I’m not out on the road.

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