Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples

 Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples  

August 20-2013

 Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples

According to a study published by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Americans waste about 40% of all food produced in the United States. It is also estimated that 70% of all fresh water consumption in the US is attributed to the agricultural production; which means that food waste alone accounts for one quarter of ALL the water consumed within the US.

Furthermore, given that the average farm requires 3 kcal of fossil fuel energy to produce 1 kcal of food (before accounting for energy requirements of food processing and transportation) wasted food accounts for roughly 300 million barrels of oil per year.

Once quantified, the reality of wasting food is a horrid scenario. So what can you do? Should you start demanding that little Johnny and little Susie make a ‘happy plate’ for every meal? Luckily, there is a much more feasible and realistic solution. Changing your buying habits to only purchase quickly perishable foods when you plan on cooking them before they spoil is a good start.

But better yet you can buy foods with long shelf lives; no, not the cardboard boxes filled with refined sugars and hundreds of different corn derivatives, but actual whole foods. Believe it or not, there are many whole foods that one can purchase which range in shelf lives of several months to indefinitely.

Coincidentally these long term storable foods could come in very handy in the event of a natural disaster in your area. While others wait in long food lines to get a government issued MRE, you can be sitting happy surrounded by these healthy and nutritious super storable foods.

Winter Squash

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples

 

For starters, winter squash (including acorn, hubbard, butternut, spaghetti, and even pumpkin) can last between 2 and 6 months when stored in a dark cabinet with little to no airflow.

Beets

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples  2

Beets can last between 2 and 4 months in the refrigerator. First, cut off the greens if they’re still attached, and then store them in a perforated plastic bag in your vegetable crisper.

Cabbage

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples  3

Cabbage, when wrapped in plastic and kept in the crisper can last for up to 2 months.

Onions

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples  4

Stored in a cool dry area, onions can keep for up to a year. Even if left in the mesh bag on the counter top, onions can last a month or more and will usually start to grow more onions rather than rot.

Potatoes

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples  5

Potatoes like temperatures near 40ºF and no light, kept within these parameters they will last between 2 and 4 months.

Rice

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples  6

When stored in a dry place the shelf life of rice is nearly indefinite and will last well past the 20 year mark.

Kiwi

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples

Believe it or not, if you keep kiwis stored in the refrigerator, away from other fruits that emit high levels ethylene, like apples, they can last for months.

Honey

Apocalypse Now Chow, 8 Super Storable Staples

The shelf life of this amazing super food is indefinite. Kept out of the light the and at room temperature the worst that can happen to the honey is crystallization.