The Emergency Prep Guy

Pasta, along with rice, is one of my favorite items to have stored. They are both cheap, store for a long time, are super easy to prepare, and are a great energy source. Pasta in particular is high in complex carbohydrates which provide a “time release” of energy rather than a quick boost. And for this reason, pasta would be a great energy source during an emergency. So unless you have a particular reason why you can't store pasta, stock up on this one. Read the full writeup on Pasta here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-17-pasta

There are so many different kinds of oils used for so many different purposes. And which oils are good for you and which ones are not? This module explains the ins and outs of oils, including the extraction processes used (chemical, expeller, and cold), unrefined vs refined oils, saturated, unsaturated, and trans fats, and even which oils handle heat the best (all oil have a smoke point). I hope it is helpful for some of you. Read the full writeup on Oil here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-16-cooking-oil

I am a complete believer in storing a lot of rice, and here is why: I lived in South Korea for 2 years and saw first hand how one can pretty much live off of rice. If it kept me alive for two years back then, it will certainly help get me through an emergency today. After all, in Asia alone, more than 2 billion people obtain 60 to 70% of their calories from rice and its products. This module covers all the different kinds of rice, such as short grain, medium grain, and long grain, and also the differences between white, brown converted and instant rice. See the above link for all the details on rice. Read the full writeup on Rice here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-15-rice

Do you know the difference between rolled oats, steel cut oats, and also the differences between regular, quick, and instant oats. Read the full writeup on Oats here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-14-oats

I know we need it, but I’m so done with snow.

This week's module, Powdered Milk, is an important one. During an emergency, one of the more difficult items to get and/or keep is milk. Milk must be refrigerated and does not keep for more than a couple of weeks, yet it is used in so many things. This is why I feel like powdered milk is an important item to have on hand. Powdered Milk has a shelf life of up to 25 years, depending on the brand and storage conditions, and can easily be reconstituted into milk for drinking and cooking purposes. However, powdered milk is not cheap. You decide how much of this you want to store, and start working to meet that goal. This is a good substitute for those modules that you decided to pass on. Read the full writeup on Powdered Milk here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-13-powdered-milk

This week's food storage module is Sugar...yes again. As I mentioned last time I covered sugar, this is somewhat controversial in today’s world of diets, and therefore is completely dependent upon your views of sugar and how you use it. But take a look at this module none the less as it contains some medicinal applications of sugar. And if you are not a sugar consumer, please find something to store instead. Read the full writeup on Sugar here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-12-white-sugar

This week's food storage module is Wheat. If you remember, we first covered wheat in week 2. You can review that module on our site. In that module, we talked about the benefits of whole wheat, the differences between Red and White wheat as well as Soft and Hard wheat, how to store wheat, and its shelf life. If stored properly, wheat can last a very long time. Did you know that they have sprouted wheat stored by the Egyptians from the times of the Great Pyramids? Granted, the Egyptians were master preservers.

In this week's module we talk about sprouting wheat, grinding wheat, and even talk about wheat grinders. So if you don't have a wheat grinder but would like to look into getting one, I have some recommendations for you. Read this week’s full writeup on Wheat here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-10-wheat

We are 9 weeks into our 52 week food storage program, and some of you may be asking yourselves, "What am I supposed to do with all these raw ingredients?" Well, they will all start coming together the further along we get. This week's food storage module, Instant Yeast, really ties in well with your wheat, honey, and salt, which you have hopefully been storing. With these and a couple other basic ingredients (water and oil), you are able to make a variety of breads, rolls, and baked goods.

Yeast is one of those items that more often than not, scares people away. With a little bit of research and some experimenting, you will start to learn that bread is not all that difficult. After all, if I can do it, I believe anyone can do it. Yes, I had to learn how, but it didn't take much more than following a simple recipe. So for me, I consider yeast to be one of the basic food storage items that should not only always be on hand, but one that should be used periodically. Several days into an emergency is not the time to start experimenting with bread recipes. Start experimenting now and figure out what you and your family like. A little bit of internet research will yield a lot of great recipes that require very few ingredients and are surprisingly simple. I personally prefer those with honey as I'm a fan of Honey Whole Wheat bread. If you decide that you are not quite ready to take on "cooking with yeast," find an alternative so you are at least storing something. Read the full writeup on Instant Yeast here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-9-instant-yeast

This week’s food storage module comes from the Legume family: Pinto and Lima Beans. Hardcore preppers will tell you that every food storage pantry should include the 3 B's: "Beans, Bullets, and Bandaids." While bullets and bandaids are outside the scope of this module, I do agree that beans are a great item to include in your food storage. They are a great source of protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants. However, everyone is particular about which bean they actually prefer. So, if you do not like beans, or do not specifically like Pinto and/or Lima beans, substitute for some other bean or lentil from the legume family that you do like. As the program continues, we will also cover white beans, kidney beans, soy beans, and black beans. So store what you eat and eat what you store. Read the full writeup on Beans here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-8-beans

This week's food storage module is Sugar. I know sugar has come under much scrutiny and we could go back and forth with the pros and cons of sugar. The cons are obvious...and that is Sugar just isn't very good for you. But there are some compelling pros. For example, whenever people are stressed, they often turn to sugar. While this may not always be the best everyday practice, sugary foods are considered comfort foods, and do not underestimate the importance of comfort during an emergency. It is during these stressful times that foods or snacks with sugar may actually be very beneficial. Sugar is also instant fuel, which again, may come in handy during emergency situations. Sugar is a great preservative as well. And finally, sugar is inexpensive and lasts for a very long time. For these reasons, I always keep several pounds of sugar on hand, as well as a few quick and easy comfort recipes. But, if your family doesn't use sugar, then find a substitution and store it instead.

Read the full writeup on Sugar here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-7-white-sugar

This week's Food Storage module is another easy one: Pasta. Pasta is the perfect food storage item for emergencies. It is very inexpensive, easy to prepare, and stores for a very long time. It is also high in complex carbohydrates which provide a “time release” of energy rather than a quick boost. This "time release" of energy is exactly what you are going to want during an emergency. You don't want an energy spike in the morning just to crash by 2pm and be out of energy for the rest of the day. Read the full write up on pasta here: https://www.emergencypreputah.com/food-storage-modules/week-6-pasta