How do you all store your food?

[RJCooper]

I ask this question because how I look at survival is food, water and shelter.&nbsp; Shelters are as complex and expensive as one can get.&nbsp; (I am a tent guy and some times a pop-up)<br><br>Water is the basis of life, store is normally as simple or complex too.&nbsp; (2) 7 gallon jugs and two 2.5 gallon compressed type.&nbsp; 19 gallons of water last me easily a week, but this is not washing clothes which is about the same amount a week in a black solar warmed five gallon bucket with a spackle masher for agitator.&nbsp; <br><br>Now for food storage and my question.<br><br>I store all my dry goods about a months worth or more in four bins.&nbsp; I bought 36 wide mouth quart jars and a dozen wide mouth pint mason jars.&nbsp; The labels go on top and the jars go into the bins.&nbsp; I bought them at the same time, so I could see how tight the (glass) jars fit in the bins.&nbsp; I they are all the same size bins I can get 18 big jars and 6 small jars in the bins and then the bag goods (zip locks) full of sweet n low packs, ramen noodles, etc. lay on top of the jars as added cushion. I place the same card board that the jars came in in the bin.&nbsp; Hey, if mason knows how to ship their jars why reinvent the wheel.&nbsp; The last two bins I put in them my can goods and any boxes that will get used up fast.&nbsp; On top of them I put my gravy mixes, etc.&nbsp;<br><br>I made it a point this last stocking to run my stores down low.&nbsp; I went to the local market with a budget to eat good and spend $150.&nbsp; This will feed me for about 6 weeks with some add ins.&nbsp; My budget is $200 a month to eat great.&nbsp; <br><br>These four bins fit nice between my wheel wells of the pickup.&nbsp; I have a long bed truck (8') and the area is 3' from front to back and a little over 4' in width.&nbsp; <br><br>So what do all you do for food storage?<br><br><br><br>

 

[TxGypsy]

I store a lot of food in 5 gallon buckets...some with gamma lids.&nbsp; For traveling in the campervan I have 2 shelves that run about half the length of the van up high on the walls and I have been amazed at how much I've been able to fit up there.&nbsp; I also have a slide out narrow pantry and a couple of small floor level cupboards that are full of food.&nbsp; I have the big area over the drivers seat full of my cookware, bags of flour and sugar.&nbsp; I do have one plastic tote full of things like fruit juice and heavy canned goods that travels in the trailer that I tow behind.<br><br>Next trip I plan to bring more in the way of seeds to sprout and a compact hydroponic unit for fresh greens.&nbsp; Fresh greens are the most difficult for me to keep on hand unless I am near a town.

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;As much as possible, I don't use glass storage containers.. plastic or metal. ..Willy.

 

[RJCooper]

At Willy, I can understand your no glass reason.&nbsp; Glass breaks from impact.&nbsp; I thoroughly thought the pro's and con's of using glass.&nbsp; I will wait until later in the post to tell you why I chose glass.&nbsp;

 

[Wild_E]

I am switching to glass for the health reasons myself. Will take the time to put some paper or cardboard around the glass to keep it from shattering.&nbsp;

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;I go over pretty rough terrain and and don't really care to 'baby' my stuff. Got lotsa metal stuff 'packed' (like chucked into whatever place can take it) and glass just doesn't last in these conditions. ..Willy.

 

[RJCooper]

Ever do 65 mph through any PA roads.&nbsp; LOL&nbsp; <br><br>The back wash board roads at 15-30 mph are a treat.&nbsp; <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br>I can honestly say I have never broken a mason jar in any of my adventures.&nbsp; Their are a few tricks and I don't baby nothing.&nbsp; I beat it till it bleeds and beat it for bleeding.<br><br>My truck a 1994 F-250 4x4 extended cab with 4 inch of life and 35" tires drive like a tank or stagecoach.&nbsp; One key is to pack it tight.&nbsp; Another is one wrap of thermal duct tape.&nbsp; Not the regular cheap stuff, the good stuff.&nbsp; I have had 12 dozen traps and as many 18" rebar in crates on top of those bins and not a broke glass.&nbsp; <br><br>I did have a gal in WV that stumbled over a root and broke a pint jar.&nbsp; But there was no food in the jar.&nbsp; <br><br>Can you stand on your Tupperware? Does the lids fit tight in all weather conditions?&nbsp; Do they double as measuring cups?&nbsp; Can you vacuum seal them for food storage?<br><br>

 

[Guest]

<p>I've picked up some metal cookie containers to keep some stuff in.&nbsp; Spices I'm keeping in Tic Tac containers&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p><br>I had a bunch of stuff stored in baby food jars, but the lids aren't very good on them, &amp; now my cupboard smells like soy sauce &amp; balsamic vinegar&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/tongue.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br>I need to find a good way to store liquids.</p>

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;I go on logging roads, often deactivated and waterbarred. I just leave stuff in the original containers (usually plastic or plasticized paper) and stuff it all into whatever will hold it. Canned stuff I throw into plastic bins or my slide-out cupboard. ..Willy.

 

[FloridaGuy]

As far as the spices, there is a company called Badia, they might be in the Latin section of a Supermarket. &nbsp;They sell spices in small thick zip top bags. &nbsp;I bought my rosemary and thyme and nutmeg in them because I don't use a lot of it, plus they only cost about 80 cents. &nbsp;<br><br>as far as storing liquids like soy sauce or balsamic vinegar, you can get the small plastic soda bottles that hold 6 to 8 oz, and rewash and reuse them. &nbsp;

 

[Guest]

I get all my spices at the Bulk Barn.&nbsp; They're a lot cheaper than buying them at normal grocery stores (plus you can get as little or as much as you want)<br>I see bulk food stores being my best friend when I'm on the road&nbsp; XD

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

PA has probably the worst roads ive been on.&nbsp; I can tell i crossed the pa line just by the road.&nbsp; I was asleep on one trip that started in MA and woke out of a sound sleep and knew instantly what state i was in <img src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br>I have been cramming everything into my cooler (dry)....i plan to put cabinet doors on a space i have to create an actual food cabinet...that is gonna be nice.&nbsp; I kinda hate digging into bins for stuff.

 

[dfunkt]

I'm thinking maybe a cheap file cabinet with one file drawer and 2 normal drawers would work well. &nbsp;A space for tall items and 2 drawers for other things.

 

[dfunkt]

Or better yet.. A good file cabinet from an office surplus store.

 

[James AKA Lynx]

I bought foot lockers at Lowes and have support eyes at every level for each trunk. <br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[Wild_E]

What is Thermal Duct Tape?

 

[RJCooper]

Thermal duct tape is more rubber like, thicker and the glue is much better than the run of the mill duct tape.&nbsp; Here locally the better run of the mill tape is about $5-7 per roll, the thermal is close to 15.&nbsp; I stopped buying the regular after using the thermal.&nbsp; Is rated to 200 degrees.&nbsp; Leave a regular duct tape out on the hot sun on a 90 degree day and see how tough it is.&nbsp; The thermal acts the same at freezing or sun cooked.&nbsp; Good stuff.<br><br>I use it more for added security on the glass.&nbsp; Probable don't need it, but when I started doing my jars it was used and just carried on the tradition.&nbsp; Just one wrap right below the shoulders of the jar.&nbsp; In the bins there is no rattling, no glass to glass contact.&nbsp; Like I said, they are packed tight, but not to tight that they are pushing each other out of place.&nbsp; The cardboard I put around the edges just to take&nbsp;up some of the space because the bins have a slight slant to the walls.&nbsp; <br><br><br>Another note on the thermal tape.&nbsp; Put a few wraps around a flashlight, pencil, pair of plier handle or other tool handle.&nbsp; That way of you need a few inches while using the tool, you have it handy.&nbsp; Takes up less space the having a big spool of cardboard in the center.&nbsp; When I used to backpack long distances, this is what I did to save room in the pack.&nbsp;

 

[Wild_E]

Thank you for the info on Thermal Duct Tape, will go see if the local Home Depot has some here.<br>cheers

 

[greybeard23]

I store my food in cabinets I built, the first carpentry work I ever did.<br><br><a href="/file?id=1592317" rel="lightbox" target="_blank"><img src="http://files.websitetoolbox.com/82529/thumb/1592317" class="bbc_img"></a>&nbsp;<a href="/file?id=1592320" rel="lightbox" target="_blank"><img src="http://files.websitetoolbox.com/82529/thumb/1592320" class="bbc_img"></a>&nbsp;<br><br>While camping in the forest, if it rains, I collect water from my tarp and run it through my MSR filter.&nbsp; Gives me plenty of water for drinking and bathing.<br><a href="/file?id=1592321" rel="lightbox" target="_blank"><img src="http://files.websitetoolbox.com/82529/thumb/1592321" class="bbc_img"></a>&nbsp;<a href="/file?id=1592322" rel="lightbox" target="_blank"><img src="http://files.websitetoolbox.com/82529/thumb/1592322" class="bbc_img"></a>&nbsp;<br>There are more photos of my Van setup on my blog on the Van page.&nbsp; Also more on my collecting water on the Creativity post on my blog.<br><br>

 

[FloridaGuy]

You have a great setup greybeard.&nbsp;