Oatmeal vs. Rice and bulk food buying

[Guest Grudgie]

Firstly, I love the taste of oatmeal. Not so much rice. Does rice have some advantage over oatmeal in that it can be stored more efficiently? I'm asking in equal size jars, one filled with rice and one filled with oats, would the rice contain more carbohydrates so you would have to eat less of it?

Also, where is a good place to buy bulk ammounts of rice or oatmeal and other things such as beans?

Thirdly, what is the best way to store rice/oats for years? I'm thinking 5 gallon plastic buckets but I don't know anything about this. I am just now starting to majorly prepare.

[Jonsaiga]

Both! It will get boring quick eating only one or the other. Brown rice is much more nutritious compared to white rice but it does not store very long due to the fats and oils in the brown rice going rancid. White rice properly packaged in mylar bags with o2 absorbers and stored in a cool dry environment will last for 25+ years. Brown rice you will be lucky to get 1.5 years at best. Whole oats store better than cracked or rolled oats.

If you are just getting started it is best to focus on expanding your short term food supply before getting into long term storage. My advice is to get yourself a notebook and write down everything and I mean "every little thing" including snacks and drinks that you and your family eat for one month. Start with that list and buy extra everytime you go to the grocery store. The idea is to store what you eat and eat what you store. Eating your oldest stuff first and thus rotating your stock.

[Jonsaiga]

These are good folks to deal with and shipping is only $5

[Dolomite_supafly]

Walmart sells white rice for $6 for 20 pounds. It is the cheapest place I have found when you take into account shipping. I looked for a few months but eventually went ot Walmart and bought mine.

I never thought about storing oatmeal as well. I like rice and so does my wife so that isn't that big of a problem even though we would get bored. Bored is better than starving though. I stille need to buy and store a few hundred more pounds but I also need to buy beans which are more expensive compared to rice.

Use dry ice to remove the oxygen from the dry foods you are storing.

Get some food safe buckets and then use dry ice to displace the oxygen in the dry food filled buckets. Fill the bucket up about 1/3 then add a few cubes of dy ice then finish filling the bucket. Put the lid on loosely then 24 hours later seal the bucket. The carbon dioxide is heavier than the oxygen so it pushes the oxygen out leaving only carbon dioxide. This will kill any critters that might be in the food as well as prevent the food from oxidizing.

If you are talking long term survival there are plenty of other items you need to think about as well. Medical supplies, medicine (specifically antibiotics), water, fuel for warmth/cooking, as well as other items. I'll try tio finish this later as I have to run. I am by no means an expert but I am a little into the game right now. My wife and son are building a solar heater that should be able to heat a room using only the sun. I have less than $100 in it now and the most expensive part is the polycarbonate glass, had I found some scrap or even some old windows I could have cut the cost down to $30.

Dolomite

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Also consider keeping some lentils and barley for variety. IMO lentils are the naturally tastiest.

[mcurrier]

These are good folks to deal with and shipping is only $5

+1

[Moped]

Also don't forget to store salt, pepper and other spices.

[Shorty]

Besides the variety factor, consider buying beans like others suggested to get all your essential amino acids when combined with rice. Could become useful if meat sources get low. Also since antibiotics were mentioned, be careful not to use them to far past their expiration. Expired antibiotics can actually cause more illness. (I'm sure neither of these statements are news to anyone)

[mr.ak47]

Lots of good information has been said,but there is one Thing I don't really see too many people or actually any mention when it comes to food storage,and that's Canned beef stew. I personally love the stuff.While it's rather high in sodium it has a lot of good points for it in a survival situation, carbs,protein,fat,and sodium all the things we need to survive(I think) lol also has the fiber to keep your regular as well as sugars,vitamins,iron,and calcium. I've got quite a bit of the stuff put up (around 300 cans) Which should last me and mine a while alone,but I also focus on other cheaper items for my food storage Peanut butter and tuna are a main part of mine as well as the typical rice and beans.A variety is good but remember when doing your food storage you need to think about foods you can use to to help you work through the day,For instance when I planned my food storage I ate only the foods i had in storage for a week to make sure I could go through my day to day life on those alone with the rations I had set, Which included going to work,working out,working on my car,shooting and staying up way to late on the weekends lol,also if your really serious about survival situation scout your location for potential outdoor food sources.Rabbits,deer,turkey,hog,domestic animals if you must.Just my 0.2

[morrisster]

I packaged rice, wheat, oats and lentils a few years ago. use white rice - not brown - the oil in brown rice makes it go rancid in about 2 years. white rice will last 30.

i used these mylar bags filled with co2 and these o2 absorbers, inside 6 gallon foodsafe buckets with gamma seal lids.

instructions on gas purging a bucket Its great to have a few 100 pounds of food on hand - the only probelm is - if you 're out of electricity or fuel for any time- it all still has to be cooked... raw rice and wheat are not great eating... so have a plan for that. thinking about it and planning your strategy is the first step. have fun.

p.s. on the issue of storing protein... ADM (archer daniels midland - the grain company) makes a product called TVP (textured vegetable protein) that is like 53% protein... its dry - add water and spices and you have a hamburger analogue - its not the greatest thing ever but its a great way to store lots of protein for very little weight. TVP - there's other places to buy it - just a starter place for some basic info/nutrition guide.

Edited February 7, 2011 by morrisster

[Guest Aces&8s]

+1 for the TVP... I use it all the time, either by itself, or added to ground beef, lamb, or goat meat to make it go a little further. I often use it to make meatloaf, adding a little Goya seasoning to the water or bouillon I use to reconstitute the TVP for a little extra flavor.

In addition to the use of dry-ice to purge your storage containers, you might look into adding a little food grade diatomaceous earth to your stored grains to help prevent insects like weevils, etc., whose eggs may already be present in the grain.

[morrisster]

I use a co2 paintball tank, coil hose with valve and barrel with holes in it to purge my bags and buckets before and after filled with grain. as far as insect eggs... yes. put that stuff in there that the guy above me mentioned.

[Guest FTG-05]

I used a bunch of one gallon paint cans bought new from the local paint store to store rice, oatmeal, sugar, salt, and some other items. I think it was around 35 cans all told.

I used 2 gallon ziplocks and O2 absorbers for all (except no O2 for the salt or sugar). Since the paint can seals the bags didn't need to be mylar like when using them in 5 gallon plastic buckets. Stuff should last longer than I do.