Getting Started - Food Storage

If you go to the Provident Living website managed by the LDS Church, and click on "Home Storage" you will see 4 bulleted items. This is what you need to be working toward:
1. Three-month Supply of Food
2. Drinking Water
3. Financial Reserve
4. Longer-term food storage

Let's now review a few questions you might have specifically about food storage:


Three-month supply items are foods that you normally eat, including canned and commercially packaged foods. Longer-term supply items are basic food items like grains and beans that have very low moisture content (about 10% or less), can be stored for long periods of time (20–30 years), and would sustain life if nothing else were available to eat. 

STORING
Always store in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight. The base of a closet, under beds, or in a basement are ideal locations. Garages, attics, or metal sheds tend to get too warm during summer months and should be avoided when considering possible storage areas. 

Recommended containers for longer-term storage include # 10 cans (available at Church home storage centers), foil pouches (available through Church Distribution Services), and PETE bottles (available commercially)

Storage life can be significantly impacted by the following conditions:
1. Temperature: Store products at a temperature of 75°F/24°C or lower whenever possible. If storage temperatures are higher, rotate products as needed to maintain quality.
2. Moisture: Keep storage areas dry. It is best to keep containers off of the floor to allow for air circulation. 
     *Do not eat any food that has come in contact with flood water. Products properly sealed in cans or foil pouches can be used after the container is rinsed with clean drinking water and immersed for 15 minutes in a freshly made solution consisting of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of clean drinking water. The containers should be completely air-dried before opening or storing.
3. Light: Protect cooking oil and products stored in PETE bottles from light.
4. Insects and rodents: Protect products stored in foil pouches and PETE bottles from rodent and insect damage.

HOW MUCH?
It is recommended:
25 lb. of grains (wheat, rice, oats, pasta, etc) and
5 lb. of dry beans/legumes
PER PERSON PER MONTH.

DON'T BE OVERWHELMED! We are slowly, month to month, picking one or a few items to order together to build upon what we might already have. We are giving you the information about how to store it, because hey most of these foods have a 20-30 yr shelf-life. I personally believe in the philosophy of using some of it now to get used to cooking with it and as a means of slowly rotating it so food doesn't go bad and get wasted. But rest assured, Heavenly Father is aware of us, so any small steps you take toward Food Storage, or any part of Emergency Preparedness for that matter, will bring blessings from Heaven to you and your family for following the counsel of a Prophet. I bear you my testimony that this work is inspired of God. Let's get going!