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Longest Lasting Canned Foods for Survival/mahadiblog.com
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When
you think of prepping for a long trip, one thing that comes to mind is how can you
survive without food?
You
take the food, but secondly, you plan for some ready-made food items which you
can have instantly. Canned food first comes to mind for instant food. Later,
you may think of canned foods which will last longer.
So,
how canned foods hold longevity?
Using
high pressure and temperature, canned food removes germs and bacteria from food
items. There are many types of canned foods which you can keep for the longest
possible time.
I
will inform you about preparing canned food that derives from different methods
and in addition, some myths and facts will come between.
Which Groups of Canned Foods You Can
Choose?
Different
groups of canned foods are great for survival situations, or if you go for a
long trip. Each group includes a major food and there are some other
categorical foods that belong to this group.
This
kind of food will ensure your proper strength and stamina. Remember that canned
foods don't get perished so quickly until you open the food can. Here are some
groups of canned foods and their characteristics.
·
Meats:
The Toughest Group
·
Dairy:
Almost As Hard As The Meat
·
Drinks
and Beverages: The Must-Haves
·
Fish:
Items Not to Be Overlooked
·
Grains,
Legumes, and Nuts: The Perfect Alternatives to Dairy and Meat
·
Fruits
and Vegetables: Things to Eat Separately or Use with Others
·
Oils and
Spices: Precious Liquids and Ingredients to Keep You Running
·
Sweeteners:
Tasty with Medicinal Value
Meats:
The Toughest Group
Meat
is the toughest and hardest item on your survival list. Meat is one of the most
popular food items with arguably the longest expiration date.
Making
meats ready to eat is a challenging task when you are on a trip to go distant
places. You have the option to get the meat from the butchered store, but you can't
wait for long.
Later
on, you will be expected to hunt for meat. In addition, meat fulfills the
requirement for the human body to survive in different conditions.
More
than 90% of human workability is dependent on meat. Some meats belong to this
category. Spam and Ham are the two most popular canned types of meat you can find.
Check out their health benefits and details below.
Corned
Beef
If
you are a beef lover, you will love this. It mainly serves with potatoes or on
bread- we like it with mustard on the sandwich. It also serves with lightly
spiced potato and baked beans.
Crabmeat
Pick
up a chunk of white crabmeat and have a taste of supper, if you have abundant time, money, and patience.
Nutritional
values
·
90% of
life survival sustenance comes from meat
·
The body
uses the full nutrients found in meat
·
Red meat
contains B vitamins, Iron, Zinc, Selenium
·
You can
find methionine only in meat, corn, and rice
·
Spam and
Ham meat contain high protein
Dairy:
Almost As Hard As The Meat
Dairy
foods are one of the hardest to maintain. If you are out of electricity, you
will surely make stockpile your frozen foods. This is the reason, dairy
foods are the hardest to include in your emergency situation.
Dairy
foods contain all kinds of vitamins and minerals. Especially, it contains
calories which provide you to work for long hours. There are other Dairy foods
that you can add for emergency situations. Powdered Milk and Eggs or Powdered
Eggs are the main sources of canned dairy foods.
Powdered
Milk
Powdered
milk is a good source of food that you can use for a survival situation. Dehydrated
powdered milk has the sustainability to maintain its longevity and it is a
better alternative for your emergency situation. Milk is a good source of
potassium and calcium and it contains all kinds of vitamins and minerals. It gives
you the strength and stamina to keep going on your journey.
Coconut
milk
Made
from the flesh of the coconut and the perfect dairy product for you. If you are
lactose-free or vegan diet, don't get sniffing around for suitable food. Just
choose this one
Nutritional
values
·
Dairy
foods are a good source of all kinds of vitamins
·
Helps to
have strong bones
·
Vitamin D
helps to absorb calcium and potassium
·
A cup of
milk has 40% protein and 86 calories
Drinks
and Beverages: The Must-Haves
When
you are having food on your journey, later you will be craving to have
drinks or beverages. You can choose bottled water for your emergency drink
supply. The fact is, a human being can't survive without drinking for more than three
days.
You can add calorie-rich powdered drink mixes and vitamin-rich water, such
as orange drinks which make your emergency situation loaded with energy.
There are good sources of drinks and drink mixes you can choose for your
survival situation.
Honey
Honey
is the type of sugar you can add to your collection of canned foods. Honey is
the source of energy that decidedly gives you enough stamina to go on your way.
Hard
Liquor
This
is one of the most expensive items you can have in a survival situation. Bottles of
liquor, such as vodka, rum, and whiskey are the available option you can have. One
thing is you need to be careful of exposing this out in the sun.
Instant
Coffee/Tea
In
your emergency situation, tea and coffee can help you hydrated even faster.
Caffeinated tea or coffee provides additional strength for survival.
Nutritional
Values
·
Helps
absorb minerals and delivers them to your body
·
Caffeinated teas provide energy
·
Teas have
anti-cancer properties
·
Reduces
the blood clotting
·
Lowers
the cholesterol levels
Fish:
Items Not to Be Overlooked
This
is one of the overlooked food items for emergency situations. Fishes are super
rich in nutrients, but you may not have much curiosity about having fish on
your journey. But there is a bunch of canned fish waiting for you to enrich
your nutrition. You can have freshly caught fish or canned fish for survival.
Canned
salmon
The
best nutrient you can get from fish is omega-3 fatty acids. It packs with fish
bones which implies you can get calcium as extra.
Smoked
mackerel
Smoked
mackerel is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, and it is very much cost-effective. Smoked mackerel is the healthier form of meat.
Canned
Fish
You
will get canned fish, such as Tuna, Sardines, and Herring straight out of the can
which ensures you have enough nutrients for your emergency situation.
Nutritional
value
·
Fish
contains omega-3 fatty acids
·
Omega-3
fatty acids help your brain and body to operate
·
Vitamin
D, which helps your body to grow and function like the steroid hormone
·
Fish
helps in preventing and treating depression
·
Reduce autoimmune diseases
Grains,
Legumes, and Nuts: The Perfect Alternatives to Dairy and Meat
This
food combination makes a complete protein item that produces similar nutrition
to meats and eggs.
They will come in dried forms as well in the store. You
can use recipes to make basic survival food. If you think about cost-effective foods, then you should go for this section for the survival
situation.
Dairy and meats are rather costly, so, choose peanut butter or pasta
and beans to accomplish your protein needs. Check out these food details
below.
Peanut
butter
Get
peanut butter which is full of protein. Peanuts are not really nuts or butter. It
is bean butter.
Look for sodium-free or low-sodium peanut butter when you are
going to buy. Excessive sodium will affect your heart and blood pressure. There
are some High-sodium foods that you should consider avoiding.
Pasta
and Beans
Pasta
and beans also have long-term self-life, and it is one of the best survival
foods that are cost-effective and cheaper than meats and eggs. You can buy it in
large quantities. Pasta and beans contain 215 calories per 2 servings. So,
it benefits you with the nutrition to keep your journey on.
Nutritional
values
·
Rich in
calcium, dietary fiber
·
Per half
cup of serving, you will get 120 calories
·
Beans
contain 1250 calories per pound
Fruits
and Vegetables: Things to Eat Separately or Use with Others
You
can eat fruits and vegetables in survival situations. Fruits and vegetables create
diversity in foods and are full of nutrients as well. Combining these
fruits and veggies with grains and nuts doesn’t require heating. Dehydrated fruits are ideal for backpacking, long journey, and hiking
including camping. Raisins, canned fruits, and veggies will make your journey
more palatable and good.
Lentils
Canned
lentils are faster to use and eat when you need food. Canned lentils are
softer in texture and perfect for soups and cold salads.
Chestnuts
Pick
up strongly flavored chestnuts and have a great trip. Chestnuts allow you to
have strength and stamina and it has a lot of calories which will help you to go
on a survival situation.
Raisins
A
handful of raisins provide you a full serving of fruit. Raisins contain
protein, fiber, iron-loaded with antioxidants, and potassium as well. Remember,
raisins are hydrated foods. Organic raisins are the best choice so you can
store each. Raisins packed with juicy flavor.
Oils
and Spices: Precious Liquids and Ingredients to Keep You Running
Choose the oil that lasts long enough and doesn’t stale. Oils are essential for your body
and required to keep yourself healthy. You can go for butter which has an extended
life. Oil has both antifungal and antibacterial properties and has high
nutritional value including the ability to be solid at room temperature.
Spices
make the food flavorful and for preserving food. Other spices use only for
seasoning and seasoning packets are cheap to buy in supermarkets.
Spicy
Chili
Looking
for canned soup? Then try this. It doesn't have salt, but rather it loads with
spicy flavor. Try this for an extra amount of spicy food to get around you.
Roasted
Diced Green Chiles
Spicy
food helps you to forget your hunger for a longer time. So, you can grab this as
hunger removal and have it in between your long journey.
Nutritional
value
·
Oils and
solid fats contain 120 calories per tablespoon
·
Oils
contain fatty acids, Vitamin E
·
Spices
contain few amounts of carbohydrates, fat, protein
Sweeteners:
Tasty with Medicinal Value
If
you prefer to have sweets that don’t include the liquid form, you can store
white sugar. White sugar has the long-lasting capability. Honey is another
sweetener that you can have for a longer period of time during your journey.
There is a saying that honey never goes bad and provides strength. So, you can
eat it to restore your strength for a long journey.
Pumpkin
Warm
soups or pudding, either way, this canned food can go in. Mix with equal parts,
and non-fat Greek yogurt with cinnamon and honey will cover your calorie needs.
Twinkies
Twinkies
are full of fat and sugar. This special snack cake will certainly help you to
maintain your bulkiness and provide you the strength to go forward.
Nutritional
value
·
Contains a significant amount of calories
·
Good for
your hard work and gym
·
Good for
survival situations to hold your stamina
You
got the names. But don’t buy right away. Read this!
While
you are planning to buy canned foods for survival, you should consider them before buying this. These considerations are associated with the choice, use,
and management of the foods that every survivalist or prepping enthusiast
should keep in mind.
Bring
variations as per your preferences
Go
to a grocery store and find out what kind of canned foods they have. You can
get cans of salsa, lychee, and coconut milk and get a bunch of peculiar
foods to add the standard foods to the canned food category. You can find
canned meats, such as Tuna, sausages, beef, turkey, and beans; for canned
vegetables, corn, peas, green beans, and carrots; for fruits, tomatoes, peaches, and pears;
for canned meals, soups, chili, spaghetti.
Find
a system for canned food rotation (H4)
Canned
food rotation is the system where you examine the safety of the foods by the
expiration date. The fact is, canned food containing expiration dates is totally
irrelevant. Canned foods don’t go bad year after year. But you should also
consider the fact that acidic foods will get spoilt much faster than nonacidic or less acidic foods. So, think about the can rotation system in the
first place.
No
basement for Preservation! Garage? Be careful…
The
temperature of the basement floor will spoil the emergency food supply. The basement is the source of humidity and pests, so you should think twice before
keeping your canned foods in the basement. Put the canned foods on the shelf
instead.
Prevent
Botulism. It was costly!
Botulism
is a term that you can find in a can, such as canned food swelling at the
top, and when you try to open it, it will explode. There will be bubbles inside the
can. You should avoid this kind of canned food right away! This causes due to
bacteria which calls Clostridium.
Looking
beyond canned foods in the face of a disaster
Find
out enough foods that exceed the canned food's nonperishable category.
When you fall into a situation where you can't load that many tinned cans on
your back, you can think about choosing other types of nonperishable foods,
survival food bars including long-term food storage buckets.
Start
collecting trash bags alongside foods
Make
sure you have a collection of trash bags alongside. When your foods get rotten,
it will create a hostile atmosphere for your food. When you get stinky surroundings
around the basement, it will start to grow bacteria. In addition, your basement
will turn into a pile of a junkyard with cockroaches and pests wandering
around.
Common
Myths about Canned Foods and the Truth
Canned
food is always available at your nearest grocery store. It is very much simple
to store and cost-effective. But people make myths about canned foods, and
these myths confused people who prefer canned foods to traditionally cooked
foods. So, we are here to enlighten you about these myths, and you will know
the truth behind them. Keep your eyes on the next section.
Canned
foods are heavily based on preservatives
You
will become wondering by knowing the fact that uses of preservatives are not
essential for canned foods. Heat and high enough pressure kill all the
bacteria. The fruit has a high acidity level which makes it preserve only
by heating, and other foods like vegetables, beans, and meats are highly
pressurized and heated to remove bacteria. Only some seasoning or sweeteners are added to the canned foods.
Fresh
and frozen foods are always more nutritious than canned items
Fresh
and frozen fruits are evidently nutritious, but when you cook, it loses some
valuable minerals and vitamins. On the other hand, canned foods are intact in a
can right after harvesting and most of the time canned food retains the food
values more than fresh or frozen foods.
Canned
foods are rich in sodium and similar content
Yes,
canned foods have salt added to every item. The reason behind adding salt to
them is, simply for the benefit of flavor. If you don't add salt to canned
items, then you won't regret it! However, you can get low-sodium options when
choosing canned items.
Canned
foods are just processed foods and nothing exclusive
Canned
foods are not the processed food that you think. They are more likely cooked foods. The difference is that canned foods are just cooked at high pressure
and temperature and then sealed with a vacuum.
Canned
foods don’t offer great tastes
If
properly stored in a cool place then canned foods offer great tastes when
canned after harvest. Canned items retain their food value until their expiry
date if properly stored in a cool, dry place.
How
to store canned foods?
Storing
canned foods is an essential part of getting quality and properly canned
foods. Here are some of the steps which will guide you to prepare your canned
foods properly-
·
Store
your canned food items; temp below 85 degrees F
·
Rotate
foods regularly from new to old without no storing them for more than one year
·
Meats and
seafood should get used within three years
·
Low-acid
foods like veggies and soup should get used within three years
·
High acid
foods like fruit, pickles, and tomatoes should get used within two years
·
Canned
juice fruits should get used up to 1 year
·
If cans
show any signs of decay or damage then do not eat it
·
Avoid
loose lids on jars
·
If you
smell a foul odor in cans, just throw them away
·
Use Mylar
bags for the bulk of canned foods storage
·
Use
oxygen absorbers
How
can you know if your canned foods are okay?
One
of the most well-known factors for spoiling canned foods is Botulinum bacteria. It produces the toxin which causes
botulism. It is a highly deadly food poisoning and one of the most lethal
toxins found in foods. Just a teaspoonful will lead 100,000 people to kill
straight away. That's why canned foods use high pressure and temperature to
kill the bacteria. If somehow, the pressure is not adequate enough, bacteria
will grow up and produce a deadly toxin.
Inspect
the Jar
·
If the
lid is unsealed and you inspect pressing the finger on the lid will create a ‘pop' sound
·
If the lid
makes a ringing sound while tapping with the teaspoon, then it's properly sealed
·
If the lid
makes a dull sound while tapping with the teaspoon, then it's not well sealed
·
If the
center of the jar lid gets flat or bulging, then it is not well sealed
·
Near the
end of the can, if it bulges, dents; you should throw it away
·
You
should throw it away; if you see any leak
·
See if the lid contains cracks and rust in the glass of the jar
There
are certain bacteria that cause a ‘flat-sour’ spot. Different bacteria are the reason
to make the food spoiled, hence, you see the outside looks well, but the inside
foods are already rotten. Contamination of food packaged causes the jar to
swell. You should never eat food from a can with swelling ends.
Inspect
the cloudiness, mold, and odor
Inspect
the jar for cloudiness, mold, and odor. If you see anything unusual, then
inspect these three steps.
Inspect
Cloudiness
Cloudiness
means something flat-sour spoiling. You will detect a bad odor too. Just boil
food 10 minutes prior to tasting it, if the liquid is cloudy or if you are not
sure about food spoiling. For some specific foods, cloudiness doesn't necessarily
mean spoiling foods, for instance, over-mature peas and many kinds of dry beans
cause this. Salt-containing preservatives and impurities, fermentation, and
over-ripe fruit may turn those cloudy. In addition, cloudiness is not harmful
and safe.
Inspect
mold
Jams
tend to have moldy parts all over. But you can scrap the moldy parts from jams
only. When you see molds on other canned foods, just throw them away!
Inspect
Odor
When
you see molds in canned food, you shouldn't smell it. It's unsafe when you
inhale moldy canned foods due to the spores and bacteria it contains. It will
cause allergies and may cause serious stuff in your lungs.
Botulinum
bacteria are one of the few which you can't smell, and you can't see it. Check
the sealing, expiry date, and swollen signs. If you suspect something unusual
then never taste it!
Canned
foods are usually long-lasting, but you should consider them before choosing canned
items. The above discussion is all about the importance and significance of the
longest-lasting canned foods to help you choose the right one.
Be careful of
using canned foods when you suspect something bad happens to them or if you urgently
need to have it, then examine the smells, and mold at first. Otherwise, canned
foods are super delicious and ready for you to serve all the time.
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