Storable Foods

[ice_maiden]

Ok lately I have been researching storable food.... not as a survivalist thing but more as a reasonable way to cook for one.&nbsp; To begin with I am not much for eating prepackaged and canned foods.. When my family was at home their mac and cheese, hot coco mix, pimento cheese, etc, etc was all homemade... fact is my son would not touch store pimento cheese till after he joined the army (they teach you to eat anything).&nbsp; Now that it is just me, I find that most of the store packaging is designed for families, and a big part of what I buy goes to waste. When small packaging is available it is 3 times more expensive.&nbsp; <br><br>So as an alternative I have been looking into powered and dehydrated foods.... I have found that you can get whole eggs, butter, cheese, potatoes just about anything you want ... powered, dehydrated or freeze dried... I used to do a lot of dehydrating so I know once re hydrated it works almost as well as fresh.<br><br>Most everywhere you look at this stuff it gives a shelf life of 5 or more years.....pretty sure this is as long as the can is unopened! What I would like to know is how long it will last once opened and would it be possible to vaccum seal it in small use packages and it still stay good that long... <br><br>has anyone had any previous experience trying this..... seems it would be great for vandwelling .... it's lighter and would take less space than cans<br><br>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hmmm? I wonder if one could sun dehydrate on the road? I have seen simple dehdraters you can build. I would think it would work in certain climates especially if you are settled in one spot for a few days.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I joined your blog, I see Tippy joined and commented also.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#00ff00"><b>Dragonfly</b></font></p>

 

[ice_maiden]

Somethings would dry easy on the road such as tomatoes but others such as potatoes require a much longer drying time.&nbsp; <br><br>BTW... I checked out your blog... awesome art work<br><br>

 

[Cherry]

This site has trial sized just about anything. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.minimus.biz/">http://www.minimus.biz/</a> Great for one person on the road with minimal storage<br>

 

[Kisatchieman]

<SPAN id=post_message_1271803394>This site has trial sized just about anything. <A href="http://www.minimus.biz/" target=_blank target=_blank><A href="http://www.minimus.biz/" target=_blank vglnk_1326651221671="1" target=_blank><FONT color=#000000>http://www.minimus.biz/</FONT></A></A> Great for one person on the road with minimal storage</SPAN>

<br>Thanks for the link Cherry. Now I know where to get my mayo in small packets. No need for refrigeration.<IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif">&nbsp;<br>

 

[ice_maiden]

yes... thanks for that link.... your can always ask for extra when you eat Fast food somewhere too <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0">.<br><br>Starman... be careful to keep those packet in a cool place... if they get on the warmish side they will still go bad.... If the packet gets puffy ... chunk it.... we use those in our food concession business and I have had a bit of experience with them.<br><br>on the road I try to eat things with mustard or ketchup... either can get warm and not be effected<br><br>BTW I found a place that has a dried food sample pack for 13.65 +sh&nbsp; it contains: Sweet corn, peas, vegetable stew, potato dices, tomato powder, apple slices, strawberry flakes, banana slices, fruit mix, whole egg, cheese powder, margarine powder, instant milk, peach drink and taco meat substitute (TVP).....seems to give me a variety to try before I ordered a bunch of stuff I found I didn't like.... the butter and egg are the ones I really interested in trying.<br><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.internet-grocer.net/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&amp;p=801">http://www.internet-grocer.net/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&amp;p=801</a><br>

 

[stillcan]

<p style="margin: 0px;">If you had solar collectors on your van, trailer whatever,&nbsp;roof and built a small flat container under the panel, couple inches deep,&nbsp;sealed to the environment, but would vent moisture and would generate enough heat. You could&nbsp;heat air dry fruits, veggies and the like and store the dried stock in a vacuum sealed individual serving sized bags.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Or build an enclosed&nbsp;drier type rack, kinda like a collector, but designed for drying fruits, veggies and if the right temperature was&nbsp; con-cocked make jerky.&nbsp; Jerky is a good thing. hummmmmmm </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I guess this would be for another post....wrong place, right idea&nbsp;.......sorry.&nbsp;Maybe a Mother Earth News thing.</p>

 

[Kisatchieman]

Starman... be careful to keep those packet in a cool place... if they get on the warmish side they will still go bad.... If the packet gets puffy ... chunk it.... we use those in our food concession business and I have had a bit of experience with them.<BR><BR>on the road I try to eat things with mustard or ketchup... either can get warm and not be effected

<br><br>Reminds me of one of the Simpson's episodes where grandpa Simpson is working in a burger joint (McDonalds?) and the young manager, still going thru his change of voice, tells one of the workers to put some more mayo in the sun because they're running low on "special sauce".<IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif">&nbsp;<br>

 

[Cherry]

<span id="post_message_1271803394">This site has trial sized just about anything. <a href="http://www.minimus.biz/" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.minimus.biz/" target="_blank" vglnk_1326651221671="1"><font color="#000000">http://www.minimus.biz/</font></a> Great for one person on the road with minimal storage</span>

<br>Thanks for the link Cherry. Now I know where to get my mayo in small packets. No need for refrigeration.<img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" align="absMiddle" border="0">&nbsp;<br>

<br><br>Ha! This is the exact reason I found that site. I love mayo and wanted individual packs. I don't tend to eat fast food so not really a chance to get extras there.<br>