An MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) is a lightweight, self-contained field ration used by military forces in situations where regular food preparation isn’t an option. Modern MREs rely on food preparation and packaging technology to supply a meal that is safe to eat and can survive extreme conditions. MREs contain around 1200 calories, and are designed for extreme durability. They can withstand a … [Read more...]

This article is a guide to different ways to preserving food at home. It will briefly cover some methods and how they work, and then link out to a detailed guide on how to do it. FREEZE DRYING This is the Cadillac of preserving food. Freeze dried food can be stored for decades at room temperature, and only needs water to be restored to its original form. With freeze drying, food is flash … [Read more...]

This is a guide to canning blueberries and raspberries. The processes are a little different than canning fruit, so it deserves its own article. CANNED BLUEBERRIES WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Kitchen Stuff: 1)      Preserving kettle 2)      Jars or cans that can be sealed Ingredients: 1)      6 quarts of blueberries 2)      4 cups of sugar 3)      0.25 … [Read more...]

This is a guide to canning and preserving fruits. Special thanks to my Aunt Lynne for the recipes. First, a word on the different styles of preparing fruit for canning you can use. PREPARING THE FRUIT There are a few different ways to prepare fruit before canning. Cold Pack: here raw, cold fruit is packed into jars, covered n hot syrup, then processed in the oven, steam bath or pressure … [Read more...]

This article is a guide to dehydrating fruits and vegetables. Go here to learn how to dehydrate meat and fish. Dehydration is one of the oldest methods of food preservation. It’s an easy process that leaves you with long-lasting food that’s easy to store, and retains most of the good stuff found in fruits and veggies. THE BENEFITS OF DEHYDRATION Removing all moisture from food allows it … [Read more...]

Dehydrating meats and fish is a time-tested way of preserving them. Meats and fish preserved this way can be kept for weeks without a refrigerator, and since the moisture is removed from them, they weigh less and are great for camping and outdoor trips. They can be eaten dried (known as jerky) or you can re-hydrate them later. DEHYDRATING MEATS This section applies to dehydrating meats. The … [Read more...]

Imagine if you could prepare an emergency food supply that would last over 30 years without spoiling. Even better, imagine if you could store this food at room temperature, pretty much anywhere, without intricate storage equipment. And lastly, imagine if this form of food storage was actually smaller and lighter than regular food, and could be prepared very cheaply with minimal time … [Read more...]