Societal Collapse – Ready Squirrel

This is a warrior-sized list of the thirty-six top foods for societal collapse. Staples for hardcore long-term SHTF food storage. True bunker foods that give you leverage by stretching your dollar through DIY bulk food storage. Dry staples are the cheapest, most effective way of storing thousands of emergency calories quickly. I did not include any foods on this list that require refrigeration or freezing. The foods are good for normal pantry storage: a cool, dry location stored up off the ground and protected from light and rodents. Warning: Foods packaged in Oxygen-free storage must be less than 10% moisture. High moisture foods stored Oxygen-free may lead to Botulism. 1.White Rice Dry white rice is a grain with the husk, bran, and germ removed. Its cultivation dates back to 3000 BC. Today, it's a proven staple for 3.5 billion people. Rice is one of the top three dry emergency foods for long-term storage, including dry beans and wheat. Dry white rice is the cheapest emergency calorie you can buy. When combined with dry beans, it provides a whole protein. 10 Uses For White Rice Use as a staple with foraged vegetables and meatsCook in broth or use bullion cubes in the cooking waterAdd soy sauce (Soy sauce will last indefinitely in the pantry)Eat with an eggMix in butter and honey and eat for breakfastAdd just about any edible spice or herbAdd just about any edible garden produceAdd milk and fruit and eat like oatmeal for breakfastAdd a dollop of peanut butterFerment to make Saki Check out Ready Squirrel's comprehensive article, "How to Preserve White Rice For Long-term Storage," if you are ready to start stockpiling. Dry White Rice stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a shelf-life of 30 years. Chart #1 Best Rice For Long-term Storage Common Varieties of White RiceShelf LifeHermetically Sealed/Oxygen FreeShelf LifeStore PackagingShelf Life In The Freezer Long-grain (preferred)30+ years5 years30+YearsJasmine 30+ years5 Years30+ YearsBasmati 30+ years5 Years30+ YearsArborio 30+ years5 Years30+ YearsConverted/ Minute Rice30+years5 years30+ yearsRice Not Suitable For Long Term Storage---Brown 18 months3-6 months12-18 monthsBlack/Purple 18 months3-6 months12-18 monthsBrown rice has natural oils that cause it to oxidize and spoil quicker than white rice. 2.Dried Beans Dry beans come from the plant family Legume. They've been cultivated as food since 7000 BC, a proven staple and a super-star of long-term food storage. When combined with white rice, beans provide a whole protein. Dried beans are among the top three foods for long-term food storage, including white rice and white wheat. Survival Food: What You Can Make SoupStewGround to flour as a thickenerBaked breadGround to flour or mashed to create a dip for homemade bread or garden produceUsed as a filling for pastries Beans and Rice (No pantry should be without beans and rice)Boiled with saltRefried BeansAdd to garden produceWarm or hot salad(s)Falafel If you want to learn more about the different types of beans you can store, check out the Ready Squirrel Article, "Best Dried Beans for Long term storage. " Dried Beans stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging have a shelf-life of 30 years. If you are interested in learning more about Societal Collapse read the Ready Squirrel article, "26 Ways to Prepare for Societal Collapse." 3.Hard White Wheat Berries Wheat has been used as a staple food going back to before the Roman legions. Hard White Wheat berries are wheat kernels with the husk removed. White wheat is one of the top three long-term survival foods. It has a mild flavor, fairly high gluten, and high enough protein levels to make leavened bread. Emergency and Survival Food Uses Mill wheat into flour to make leavened and unleavened bread, pancakes, waffles, quick bread, cookies, brownies, sticky buns, flatbread, couscous, and any number of no-yeast survival bread. It can also be boiled and eaten whole as a porridge. Use milled white wheat and water to make Levain or bread starter to take the place of store-bought yeast. Learn how to make your own yeast by checking out the article "Emergency Bread Yeast: How to Make Bread Yeast From Flour and Water," Also included in this article is an emergency bread recipe that shows you how to use the starter. Wheatberries stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging have a shelf-life of 30 years. 4.Couscous What is it? Couscous is micro pasta made with Durham wheat milled into semolina flour that is crushed and formed into tiny beads. This pasta dish makes a good staple and a welcome palate relief from the 100 pounds of rice you've been eating from your survival food cache. Couscous cooks quickly and can be cold-soaked—approximately 11% protein and lightweight, a good option for a bug-out bag. Emergency and Survival Food Uses Add to saladsUse as a base for roasted vegetables, meat and fishCook with broth or bouillonAdd herbs and vegetables from your survival gardenAdd dried or fresh fruitsEat Plain with a condimentLight-weight bug-out and backpacking food Repackaged shelf-life of couscous: This is controversial, other dried pasta like macaroni and spaghetti will store for 30 years in sealed oxygen-free storage, but I can't find reliable information on the long-term storage of couscous. A conservative shelf-life for couscous stored in Oxygen-free containers is 5 years, but I think it will store much longer. I just can't prove it. 5.Popcorn (flint corn) Popcorn is a variety of flint corn and whole grain. It was a staple in the diets of Native Americans and American Colonists. It is more like a grain than modern sweet corn. Today, Native and South Americans use flint corn to make hominy grits and mill flour and cornmeal. Preppers who use flint corn either pop it for a tasty treat or mill it for cornmeal. I don't know from experience, but preppers in survival forums rave about the flavor of cornmeal made with popcorn and flint corn. If you decide to mill popcorn, you need a heavy-duty mill. It's tough to grind and has been known to burn up cheap electric mills. What Can You Make With Flint Corn HominyGritsCornmealCornflourPopcorn Flour (you can also make flour after the corn is popped, during WWII this type of flour was added to wheat flour.)HushpuppiesCornbreadBatter Fried Vegetables, Meat and FishCorn MuffinsBaked GoodsMasa Harina Flint Corn stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a shelf-life of 30 years to indefinite. If you going to be living off-grid you might want to check out this article to plan for the tools you will need, "44 Off-grid Tools For Emergency Survival." 6.Quinoa What is it? Quinoa is a seed from the Amaranth plant, and it's considered a superfood. It is primarily used as a gluten-free substitute for rice and other staple grains. It is a nutritional powerhouse, but it's expensive. Quinoa is a good source of protein. This is a good time to bring up, "trying food before you purchase a large amount of it." I bought a 50lb bag of Quinoa and nobody in my house will eat it. In my experience, it has a bitter, unpalatable flavor. If you haven't tried a food before, don't buy it in bulk. Scott, Ready Squirrel 9 Ways to Cook Quinoa From Your Emergency Pantry Cooked and eaten plain or with stock or bouillonBreakfast Porridge (sweeten with honey, sugar or real maple syrup)Addition to soups, stews and chilisAddition to cold or warm saladsAs a base for cooked meat, vegetables or fishAdd vegetables or herbs from your survival gardenStir-fry before boiling and add onion, garlic or other herbsAdd cheese or fruitCombine with wheat berries for a healthier bread Quinoa stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has an estimated 8 to 10 years storage life. This is speculative. However, quinoa has a high-fat content which would normally lead to fat oxidation and a short shelf-life. It is believed that the high levels of vitamin E present may counteract this tendency of early spoilage. A fancy way of saying Quinoa hasn't been tested in long-term storage yet. 7.Buckwheat What is it? Buckwheat is a gluten-free seed related to Rhubarb of all things. It is primarily consumed in Russia. The buckwheat seed is used like wheat in a survival pantry, but it isn't wheat or a grain; it's a seed. Buckwheat is usually added to other types of flour to make a more nutritious baked good. It tends to be mildly bitter, but it provides a lot of amino acids. What can I make with Buckwheat? Buckwheat flourAdd to wheat flour to make healthy baked goodsCookiesBreadRice ReplacementCooked like porridge Buckwheat stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a shelf-life of 8 to 30 years. 8.Barley Barley is filling grain and comfort food with a mild flavor. Russians consume more Barley than any other country. If you've ever had Campbell's vegetable soup, you've eaten it. What is it? Emergency and Survival Food Uses Rice substituteCooked as porridge or hot cerealSoups, stews and chilis (outstanding in broth bases soups)Malted for alcoholic beverage brewingMilled for flour and incorporated into wheat flour for baked goodsAdded to Salads Barley stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a shelf-life of 8 to 20 years. 9.Rye What is it? Rye is a grain with a sour-to-sweet flavor. It is the primary grain in European countries with cool, wet conditions where wheat doesn't grow well. Rye is lower in protein than oats, wheat, and barley. What to make with Rye In Your Survival Pantry Distillation of Rye WhiskeyBeer MakingFlour for baked goodsBread- Rye flour has enough gluten to stand alone in bread making, it produces a heavy dark bread.Boiled and eaten as a porridgeSemi-sweet baked goods like scones and unleavened flat breads Rye stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has 8 to 20 years of shelf life. 10.Teff What is it? Teff is an expensive but tiny gluten-free seed harvested from an annual grass called William's lovegrass. It has a mildly sweet flavor and is processed and used as a grain. At one point, the only place you could find teff was in Ethiopia, but now it's a crop grown in Idaho. Teff provides more calcium than most other grains. What to make from Teff in your emergency pantry Milled into flour for flatbreads (It has no gluten so won't create a rising bread)Combined with wheat flourCooked and eaten as a porridgeAdded to soups, stews and chilisCook as a breakfast cereal and add honey and fruitPancakesCrapesBreadMixed with cold or warm salads Teff stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has 12 to 30 years of shelf life. 11.Triticale What is it? Triticale is a grain cross between wheat and rye that produces a low gluten flour. If you use it to make bread is has the flavor of light rye bread. What can I do with Triticale In my survival pantry? Boiled for hot porridgeRice SubstituteMilled FlourBiscuitsBread Cakes and Muffins Triticale stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a shelf-life of 12 to 30 years. Want to learn more about societal collapse? Check out the Ready Squirrel article, "What Happens When Society Collapses?" 12. Sprouting Seeds What is it? Viable seeds can be spouted in just about any condition to provide excellent nutrition. You won't get much in the way of calories. Seed sprouting is a survival superweapon, in my opinion. Imagine being stuck in your bug-out location in the middle of winter with no fresh vegetables. Take some seeds, put them in a jar, and sprout a mini garden of greens for fresh produce.Scott, Ready Squirrel If you are interested in learning more about sprouting seeds as an awesome survival skill, check out the Ready Squirrel article, "Sprouting Wheat and Other Grains For Survival: A Secret Weapon," Chart #2 Seeds to Sprout For Survival SeedDays to GerminationTaste ProfileNutrition1. Adzuki3 -5Mild FlavorA,B,C & E, All amino accept Tryptophan, 25% Protein2. Alfalfa5 -7 Mild FlavorA,B,C,E&K, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Zinc, Carotene,Chlorophyll, Amino Acids,35% Protein3. Almonds3-5 Almond FlavorVitamin A, B, C,&E, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium, All essential Amino Acids, 20 to 25% Protein4. Broccoli7-10 Spicy/Radish-likeVitamin A, B, C, E & calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Carotene, Chlorophyll, Amino Acids, Antioxidants, 35% Protein5. Buckwheat1-2 Mild FlavorVitamin A, B, C & calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium, Amino Acids, 15% Protein6. Cabbage3-5 Cabbage flavoredVitamins A, B, C, E & K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Carotene, Chlorophyll, Amino Acids, 20 to 25% Protein7. Fenugreek6-8 Bitter FlavorVitamins A, B, C, E, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Amino Acids 30% protein8. Garbanzo2-4 Substantial EatingVitamins A&C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Amino Acids, Protein9. Kale2-5 Strong FlavorVitamins A, B, C, E and K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Amino Acids, 30 to 35% Protein10. Lentils3 -5 Substantial EatingVitamin A, B, C,& E, Calcium, Iron, Niacin, Phosphorus, Amino Acids, 25% Protein11. Millet2-3 Sweet and NuttyVitamins B, C, and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Pantothenic Acid, PhosphorusAmino Acids15% Protein12. Mung Beans3-5 Mild FlavorVitamins A, B, C and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, PotassiumAmino Acids, 20 % Protein13. Peanut5-10 Fresh Pea or chickpeaVitamins A, B, C and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, PotassiumAmino Acids20-25% Protein14. Peas5-7 Mild FlavorVitamins A, B, C and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, PotassiumAmino Acids20 to 25% Protein15. Radish3-5 Peppery FlavorVitamins A, B, C, E and K, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, ZincAmino Acids, Trace Elements, Carotene, ChlorophyllAntioxidants30-35% Protein16. Crimson Clover4-6 Mild-EarthyVitamins A, B, C, E and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc, Carotene, Chlorophyll, Amino Acids, Trace Elements35% Protein17. Rye2-3 Nutty FlavorVitamins B, C, and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Pantothenic Acid, PhosphorusAmino Acids15% Protein18. Sesame2-3 Nutty FlavorVitamins B, C, and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Pantothenic Acid, PhosphorusAmino AcidsProtein: 15%19. Sunflower3-5 Mild FlavorVitamins A, B, C and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium, 25% Protein20. Wheat2-3 Days Corn FlavorVitamins B, C, and calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Pantothenic Acid, PhosphorusAmino Acids15% ProteinSprout Information Compliments of Sproutpeople.org What can I do with survival sprouts from my emergency pantry Sprout and eat like a salad. (wine vinegar, black pepper and salt)Incorporate into your baked goodsSalad topping for produce from your survival gardenEat them raw (warning sprout)Carry a small pouch of seeds in your bug-out bag and sprout on the move Repackaged shelf-life Seeds that have been completely dried will remain viable from 1 to 5 years, depending on the seed type. Freezing seeds can increase this shelf-life by decades. Seeds used to plant shouldn't be stored oxygen-free. 13.Lentils What is it? Lentils are a legume called a pulse. I like them because they cook quickly compared to the typical bean (10 to 30 minutes of cook time. Lentils are nutritional comfort food and a staple in my food storage. What Can I do With Lentils In My Survival Food Storage? Soups, stews, and chilisStewed alone with garden vegetables and spicesEaten on riceCooked in broth and vegetables and spooned over rice with Tabasco (this is my preferred method of consumption)Cooked and eaten on salads Lentils stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging have a shelf-life of 30 years. https://youtu.be/qcRqomQqKOQ 14.Split Peas What is it? Split peas are a nutrition-packed pulse grown from the legume family. The cultivation of split peas reaches back to 2000 BC. Split peas come in two varieties, yellow and green. The green peas have a richer flavor than the mild yellow peas. What can I make with the split peas in my emergency pantry? Soups, stews and chilis (Split pea soup is delicious)Ground into pea flour and used as a thickener for gravy or soupEgg protein substituteCooked in brothStewed with garden vegetables and herbsHummusAdded to cold or hot saladsMixed with cooked pastaStewed and eaten with salt and pepper Split Peas stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging have 20 to 30 years of shelf life. 15.Hard Red Wheat Berries (Wheat with the husk removed) What is it? Hard Red Wheat (HRW) is a cereal-grass seed high in protein with a gamier taste than hard white wheat varieties. Roman legions ate wheat on the march. It is definitely a proven survival food. Red wheat has one of the highest gluten/protein levels of all wheat types, which is good for survival because you are getting more protein. The gluten in HRW causes bread to rise when combined with yeast or Levain (bread starter.), so it's ideal for leavened bread but it can also be used for unleavened bread. Soft wheat by itself doesn't have enough gluten to make a rise in leavened bread, so if you want loaves of risen bread post SHTF, the bulk of your wheat stores should be hard red or white wheat. Storage Tip: Wheat used for long-term storage has the husk removed and is called wheat berries. The husk contains oils that cause wheat to go rancid. What can I make with wheat in my emergency pantry? Boil and eat like breakfast porridge (honey and fruit)Boil and eat whole with garden produce, meat and spicesAdd to soups, stew and chilisMill into flour and mix with other wheat or grain flour types Leavened breadUnleavened breadsPastaPancakesWafflesMuffinsFlour Slurry for gravy thickening Storage Suggestion: You can use an electric mill when you have electricity, but I suggest having a manual grain mill for when the grid is down. I have a Harvest Right Grain Mill. It is pioneer-level work milling grain by hand. Hard Red Wheat Berries stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging have a shelf-life of 30 years. https://youtu.be/ZU9aZMV_f78 16.Specialty Wheat There are thousands of varieties of wheat. Listed below are the most common types of wheat, their uses, and shelf-life. Specialty wheat is more expensive than standard hard white and hard red wheat. I store hard white wheat in my survival stockpile because it is mild tasting and has a reasonable amount of gluten/protein for leavened bread. Take a look at the chart below to understand what specific wheat types are used for and how long they last. Chart #3 Wheat Types: Shelf-life and Common Usage Types of WheatShelf-lifePrimary Use When CookingSpelt30 +Yeast Bread, Pasta, Biscuits, and Crackers (said to make excellent tasting bread)Durum 30 +Pasta and Unleavened Bread, ground for semolina flour, thick sticky gluten, high proteinHard Red Spring 30 +Classic Whole Wheat Bread, best in yeast or sourdough bread, highest proteinHard Red Winter30+Yeast Bread, excellent for sprouting, highest proteinHard White 30 +Leavened Bread, excellent tasting white bread, Beer making, Medium proteinEmmer30 +Pasta, Unleavened Flat BreadEinkorn30+Leavened and Unleavened breadKamut30+Leavened Bread, Pasta (organic Khorasan wheat)Khorasan30+Leavened BreadSoft Red30+Bread and Beer Making, Medium ProteinSoft White30+Primarily used to make batters: cakes, cookies, waffles, pancakes, and as a soup thickener, low protein.To learn more about wheat, check out the Ready Squirrel Article, "Best Wheat Berries For Long-term Storage." 17.Oats Oats are one of the best foods you can store in long-term storage, providing a healthy dose of fat and protein. Highland warriors survived on a diet that consisted mostly of oatmeal and barley at one point in time. Highlanders were legendary for their strength and stamina. Chart #4 Types Of Oats Type Of OatCharacteristicsOat GroatsWhole Oat Grain, with only the hard unpalatable outer hull, removed. Optimum for breakfast cereal and stuffing.Steel-cut oats(Scotch or Irish Oats)Featuring a dense, chewy texture, produced by running groats through steel blades(My favorite type of oat)Rolled Oats(Old Fashioned Oats)Oat groats are steamed and run through a roller to flatten themQuick Cooking OatsSteel-cut oats that are processed like old-fashioned or rolled oatsInstant OatmealPartially cooked and then rolled thin. Flavorings are often added.Oat flourCombined with wheat or other gluten-containing flours like wheat to make leaved bread. A Guide to Food Storage For Emergencies, Utah State University, Brian Nummer, Food Safety Specialist What can I make with Oats In my survival Pantry? Boil and eat with heavy cream, butter, preserves or peanut butterBoil and eat with meat, vegetables or fishMill into flourAdd to meat as a filler (meatloaf)Use flour to make unleavened flatbreadMix oat flour with gluten-strong flour like wheat to make leavened breadsMuffinscookiesUse oat flour as a thickener for soups, stews and chilis Oats properly stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging have a 30-year shelf life. 18.Dent Corn Dent is a field of corn, often used as animal fodder. The indentations identify the corn in each kernel. It's often used to feed cattle, but it's also treated like grain and milled for flour. Dent corn is the opposite of Iowa sweet corn you boil and put butter on. There are two main ways dent corn is eaten, it is ground into flour or is treated with lye (a process called nixtamalization) to make hominy. What can you make with dent corn in your emergency pantry? Cornmeal flourCornbreadCorn ChipsTortillasTaco ShellsFloured deep fried foods Dent or field corn properly stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a 30-year shelf life. If you want to learn more about dent corn, check out the Ready Squirrel article, "How Long Can You Store Dried Field Corn (O2-free storage)." 19.Corn Meal Corn Meal is coarsely ground dent corn (field corn) or flint corn (popcorn). It doesn't have to be coarsely ground. It can also be finely ground. What can I make with cornmeal from my emergency pantry? Corn bread Breading for fried foodsHush PuppiesGritsCorn MuffinsDusting pans for baked bread Corn Meal stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a 30-year shelf life, but the taste and nutritional value may decline. 20. Cornstarch Another name for cornstarch is cornflour; it's is primarily used as a thickening agent for soups and stews. Cornstarch properly stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has an indefinite shelf life. 21. Powdered Eggs Powdered eggs are fully dehydrated eggs that can be used the same way fresh eggs are used, but the consistency and flavor are not as good as a fresh egg. Some preppers prefer to use powdered eggs for baked goods and eat fresh eggs when scrambling or making omelets. What do you make with powdered eggs in your pantry? Scrambled eggsBaked goodsCakeCookiesBreadWet dip for deep-fried food Powdered Eggs properly stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a 25 to 30-year shelf life. 22. Salt Salt is so simple, cheap, and available it's often overlooked. Many salt uses don't involve eating cooking or food. At one point in history, salt was used as currency. A good indication it will be valuable if SHTF. What can I do with salt in my survival pantry? PreservativeCanningPicklingMeat CuringSeasoningCleaning AgentFlavor Enhancer Salt has an indefinite shelf life. Do not use oxygen-free storage; salt with turn to stone. To learn more about salt, check out Ready Squirrel's comprehensive article on everything survival salt, "How Much Salt Do You Store For Lont-term Survival?" 23. Sugar (White Granulated) Granulated sugar isn't the healthiest, but it relieves palet fatigue and provides calories for energy. What can I make with sugar in my emergency pantry? Sweetener for baked goods and other foodsPreservativeFermentationCanningFruit Preserves White granulated sugar has an indefinite shelf life. Do not use oxygen-free storage. Sugar with turn to stone. 24. Raw 100% Honey Raw Honey is taken directly from the comb. It may be filtered to remove particulate, but nothing is added. I shifted to using honey instead of sugar in my coffee and most of my food sweetening because I feel like it's a healthier choice. That said, honey is expensive. What can I make with honey in my survival pantry? Mix it in tea or coffee as a sweetenerSubstitute for sugar in bakingDrizzle on homemade bread or pastriesDrizzle on breakfast porridgeMix with fresh berries and heavy cream (my favorite dessert)Add it to dressings and glazesMix with butter to sweetenFerment Mead (honey wine)Use in place of granulated sugar Raw Honey properly stored has an indefinite shelf-life. 25. 100% Pure Maple Syrup What is it? Real Maple syrup is sap from maple trees. It is used as a sweetener for pancakes, waffles, and baked goods but it can also be used as a general sweetener. Personally, I prefer honey but I think it's a good idea to have variety so we have it stored in the emergency pantry. What can I make with Maple Syrup in my emergency food pantry? Flavoring for grain porridges like oatmeal or wheat berriesFlavoring for pancakes, waffles and French toastMarinade for meatPopcorn toppingDrinks and CocktailsRoasted vegetables meat and fruitTopping for fresh fruit Pure Maple Syrup, properly stored, has an indefinite shelf-life. 26. Powdered Cheese Powdered cheese is pretty tough to make at home, but you can purchase it from survival and emergency food companies like Augason Farms. What can I make with Powdered cheese in my emergency pantry? Cheese sauce (macaroni and cheese)Add to dry ingredients when baking breadCheese PopcornCheese saucesCheese DipsSprinkle on roasted vegetablesCasserolesSoupsFondue Powdered cheese professionally packaged in #10 cans has a 10-year shelf-life 27. Dried Juice Mix Dried juice mix isn't a necessity, but it's good for morale. It would be nice to have a sweet drink once in a while. If you can get a juice mix fortified with vitamins that is a plus. Powdered juice mixes are a special treat but I can't think of anything to do with them other than drinking them in a beverage. If the majority of your preps for hydration are water a little juice mix would be nice to have. Augason Farms sells an orange Delight drink mix in a #10 can that has a 30-year shelf-life. 28. Soy Sauce Soy sauce is a liquid condiment made from the fermentation of wheat and soybeans. My family uses a lot of soy sauce on steamed white rice. I'd be beside myself if I didn't have it. What can I do with Soy Sauce in my emergency pantry? Marinade meats and vegetablesSpice up roasted or steamed vegetablesSalad dressingStir frysNoodle dishesDipping saucesFried Rice Soy sauce has an indefinite shelf-life 29. Millet Millet is an ancient gluten-free grass seed used as a grain. It provides protein and starch to your survival diet. What can I make with millet from my survival pantry? Rice SubsituteMilled to flour for flatbreadMillet flour can be mixed with gluten flours like wheat to make leavend breadBreakfast PorridgeBase for meat, vegetables and fish Millet stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a shelf-life of 30 years. 30. Dry Pasta Dry pasta is an excellent addition to long-term food storage. It is very flexible and can be used to keep your survival menu interesting because it can be eaten hot or cold and with just about any topping. What can I make with Pasta in my emergency food pantry? Base for saucesBaked CasserolesSoups and stewsCold saladsBase for meat, vegetables and fishStir FrysPad ThaiMac and cheese Macaroni, Noodles, Spaghetti Dry pasta stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging has a shelf-life of 30 years. 31. Vinegar Vinegar isn't just for salad. It is a valuable asset in a survival situation What can I do with vinegar in my emergency food pantry? Marinades and saucesMeat tenderizerSalad dressingVegetable picklingUse with baking soda as a leavening agentSpice soups or stewsCold pasta saladsRice vinegar is used in Asian style noodle dishesToo many non-food related uses to list Vinegar doesn't require refrigeration and lasts indefinitely if stored properly. 32. Alcohol Every food is good for barter during a societal collapse, but Alcohol is right up there with beans and bullets. Alcohol has many uses beyond drinking. What can I do with spirits in my survival food pantry? PreservativeDisinfectant (in the absence of other resources)Ingredient in dishes (alcohol cooks out)Barter and TradeAdult Consumption Spirits last indefinitely if stored properly. 33. 100% Vanilla Extract What is it? Vanilla is made by macerating vanilla beans with water and ethanol. In the U.S. it's used primarily to give an extra kick to baked goods. What can I do with real vanilla extract in my emergency food pantry? Flavoring for baked goodsWafflesPancakesMarinade meat, vegetables and fishDipping saucesCoffeeFresh fruit, honey and vanilla Real vanilla extract lasts indefinitely if stored properly. 34. Dried Potatoes (Potatoe Flakes) Dried potatoes are a good food to store in your survival stockpile. Garden potatoes are much better, but dried potatoes are good for filling in any food gaps like crop failure or an underperforming crop of taters. What can I make with dried potatoes? Thickening agent for soups, stews and chilisBreading for deep-fried foodsAdd to baked goods to increase fluffinessPotatoe Soup Dried potatoes or potatoes flakes stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging have a shelf-life of 30 years. 35. Freeze-dried foods Freeze-dried foods are expensive, but they are good enough that they need to be mentioned. Freeze-dried food is processed to remove 97% of its moisture, increasing shelf-life 25 to 30 years, retaining 97% of its nutritional value. This type of food is used primarily for outdoor activities like hiking and emergency preparedness. Types of Foods you can get Freeze-dried Backpacker Meals excellent for bug-out bags because they are lightweight.VegetablesFruitsMeatsFreeze-dry foods at home with a Harvest Right Home freeze-dryer (On my bucket list) Freeze-dried foods stored with less than 10% moisture in oxygen-free packaging have a shelf-life of 30 years. Freeze-dried backpacker meals are not MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). MRE's are basically canned food in a retort pouch. Freeze-dried meals are processed with sublimation (freezing in a vacuum) to remove moisture. They are two totally different types of food. MRE's are good for certain emergencies because they are full meals, Freeze-dried meals require rehydration with hot water, but they are super lightweight which makes them one of the preferred foods for a bug-out bag. Also, freeze-dried backpacker meals will last 30+ years, MREs(combat rations) have a maximum shelf-life of 7 years.Scott, Ready Squirrel To learn more about Freeze-dried foods, check out the Ready Squirrel article, "What is Freeze-dried Survival Food? 36. Garden Seeds Garden seeds are used to plant and grow a survival garden: an important aspect of surviving major events like societal collapse. Eventually, you'll run out of food if you don't grow your own. Harvesting seeds from your garden is the best way to ensure you have a sustainable food source. Garden Seed Tip: Only plant heirloom or non-hybrid seeds for seed collecting. There is no way of knowing what you are growing if you plant F-1 or hybrid seeds. Seeds last 1 to 5 years, much longer if dried and frozen. In SHTF, you probably aren't going to have electricity, so the best way to ensure a supply of seeds is to start planting heirloom or non-hybrid plants and collect seeds every year. In hard times seeds are like gold when it comes to bartering. Scott, Ready Squirrel If you want to know more about Survival gardening, check out the comprehensive Ready Squirrel article, "Best Plants to Grow in an Emergency Garden." Resources Ready Squirrel Article, "How to Preserve White Rice For Long-term Storage." Ready Squirrel Article, "Best Rice For Long Term Storage and How to Store It." Ready Squirrel Article, "The Best Way to Store Rice Long-term." A Guide to Food Storage For Emergencies, Utah State University, Brian Nummer, Food Safety Specialist (PDF Located on Ready Squirrel.)