How does one go about making a food storage list, i need ideas, i was thinking of maybe a spread sheet, or is there a specific software you use? or is it going to be a pencil to paper deal?
Food storage list
- Thread starter Flight
- Start date
Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:
I have a notebook and divide my food stores by long term, medium term, and short term shelf lives. I always plan on getting it into my PC, but it never seems to happen. I use sharpies to mark the containers and check/rotate stock 4 times a year. A large portion of my food stores however are long term dehydrated products, beans, rice, etc. So they don't need a ton of monitoring.
I just kept track of what we eat. It doubles as a grocery list too so we know what needs to be replaced.
Long term storage is dry goods and canned goods but we use and replace constantly.
Long term storage is dry goods and canned goods but we use and replace constantly.
So far I guess it will be a notebook, do you use a pen or pencil for the amount part?
We use a pen and a slash for each unit and a stroke through four slashes for five. The list gets hung on the fridge for daily use and I have the master list with the minimum storage for each item. we always stay above that minimum and that way we always have food for at least two years without rationing.
I just designate an area on the shelf for every item. I date it as it comes in and place it at the back the shelf. If the product is less than a year old, or whatever time frame I'm shooting for, then I enlarge the designated space. When I started this system I would go after items that weren't there so I'd pick up extra and make an area for that item.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2017
- Messages
- 4,094
I just did a search for food storage spreadsheet and found this one. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.th...age-calculator-spreadsheet-free-download/amp/
On my old computer I had one by the LDS.
On my old computer I had one by the LDS.
I just try and remember everything
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 19,543
I am better about long term food storage lists, dried foods. I have a small spiral notebook, 5 1/2 x 8. I have a list at the front of food that I store and want to store. I then made a page for each item I store. Each page then tells the goal amount for one year at the top for one person. It helps me to gauge how much I have when I look at the total I have. As I make purchases, I write on a new line the date, the amount, and then do a running total on each line. As I use up these items, I deduct on a line.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 19,543
That list didn't open for me when I clicked on it.
For my long term preps I have concentrated on foods that last forever. They are stored at room temperature, and I don't think about them much. Medium and short term foods are kept in the pantry, so they can be monitored. Another facet I try to incorporate is I focus on foods/meals that are ready to eat. Not foods that are ready to cook. Don't get me wrong. I have both, and I have cooking systems, but sometimes cooking is not an option.
I am way old school so I use pen/pencil and paper. Old Chinese Proverb: The weakest ink is stronger than the strongest memory. I am not techie, and I don't put anything on the computer. Just me. I know. I am anal about being old school. I know where all the lists are. Most are kept in a binder. One place to go.
I am way old school so I use pen/pencil and paper. Old Chinese Proverb: The weakest ink is stronger than the strongest memory. I am not techie, and I don't put anything on the computer. Just me. I know. I am anal about being old school. I know where all the lists are. Most are kept in a binder. One place to go.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 19,543
Foods that last forever? Isn't packaging one part of this? What foods do you think last forever? Salt, honey, sugar, wheat, whole grains? All of this lasts forever if it is packaged correctly, in well sealed containers such as cans, 5 gallon buckets, glass jars.
Salt will last forever just laying out. Wheat was found in the pyramids in clay pots and was sprouted and ground for bread. Seeds will lay dormant in the ground for years until conditions are right to sprout and will last for years in a paper pack. You'll loose some germination ability but you can still eat them. As long as it is kept dry it will last. I imagine sugar would be the same.
Packaging and storage will play some part. To add to your list: Apple Cider and White vinegar; Bouillon Cubes (keep dry); Corn Starch; Corn Syrup; Ghee; Hard Liquor; Hardtack; Maple Syrup; Soy Sauce; Sugar; Vanilla Extract; White Rice. From what I have read wheat and pasta will last safely for ten years or so. I wouldn't put them on the "Lasts Forever" list, but they are part of my preps.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 19,543
Thank you. As Terri said earlier, wheat has been found in caves that was 100's or 1000's of years old and it sprouted.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2017
- Messages
- 8,015
I use wire racks for my canned stuff and add new stock to the back so the oldest stuff is the first thing you reach for from the front. I'm pairing down my canned goods b/c we have less mouths to feed than we used to and we just don't eat as much. In addition, we don't eat how we used to, so some of the stuff has been given away to family. I just mention this so that others learn from my mistake and stock what you use, with the knowledge that "what you use" might change over time.
I do use a notebook more for my medical storage. I have a small craft cabinet with smaller drawers that I keep medicines and vitamins in. I keep a sheet of paper in each drawer with everything in it written on paper with the expiration dates so that I know how much I have left and which one to use first. I prefer to use pencil so I can erase when I use the last of something and write in what I add to the drawer. I like to keep a good stock of things and most of what I use often isn't affected much by expiration dates, like excedrin. I have one drawer with OTC pain relievers, one drawer with antibiotics, one drawer of vitamins/supplements, one drawer of herbals, etc. It's a system that works well for me.
I don't put that kind of stuff on my computer. If my computer poops out, there goes all my stuff with it. Been there, done that. So, I find it easier to just keep a small notebook with my stuff b/c it's easier to add and delete stuff that way and keep organized.
Ok guys, I thank you for all the great ideas, I'll be making a new shelving unit down stairs soon, so by the looks of it, pencil to paper sounds like my best bet.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2017
- Messages
- 12,741
I have canned foods that were meant for shorter term storage but due to dietary changes it looks like some of it is expiring before it can be given away or used. Also some bulging of cans. Definitely have to keep an eye on things.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2017
- Messages
- 8,015
I've done the same........mostly with tomato products or fruit. I really hate to throw things out, but I know I got them on sale so that helps take the sting out of it a little bit. Plus, I consider it an insurance policy.......sometimes those "premiums" just go to waste. It's OK though, since it's better that than have to NEED them in the first place. I always consider it a good thing when I don't have to use my insurance.
I also still recycle the metal cans or glass containers too, so at least I'm not wasting that too.
One of the things to know is what you eat/use and how much of it you eat/use. I know we eat about 42 jars of green-beans per year. At the moment we have roughly a two year supply. These are rotated and come canning season will be replenished. To me it's not just about the long term SHTF items, it's about a continuum. It's not just the stock on hand but the ability to produce a new supply. I keep seeds (am trying to get better at collecting them - still mostly a dud at that though.) Anyhoo, knowing how much and of what per year is good knowledge to have along with the list. My list is in alphabetical order and I try to have a price per item (even if it's something we grow or make) as well as the number needed. Don't know if that is any different than what's already been said, but at least a little more input.
*Other items we use include soap making supplies, vinegar (cleaning,) canning lids etc. My list tends to be a moving target and is like others also just paper/pencil.
*Other items we use include soap making supplies, vinegar (cleaning,) canning lids etc. My list tends to be a moving target and is like others also just paper/pencil.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2017
- Messages
- 19,543
This is true for me, changed what I eat and have some things that expired before I ate them. I have canned potatoes, and I rarely eat potatoes anymore.
At this time of year, I go through my pantry and purge the outdated stuff, clean up and organize again.
I store some ready to eat meal for short term "disasters" but our food storage is what we eat so our diet won't change under all the stress of a medium to long term "disaster".
The adage "store what you eat and eat what you store is very good advice.
The adage "store what you eat and eat what you store is very good advice.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2017
- Messages
- 12,741
I think I'll be doing that this month, checking dates and conditions.
Good thread. My dietary restrictions have been evolving as well so some stuff has got to go.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2017
- Messages
- 8,015
I'm trying to do this now. I have to re-work my math and products used now that there are less mouths to feed in our household. It's a process for sure. Also, last year hubs received a huge box of fresh picked green beans given to him from a friend. I spent a good portion of my Sunday morning washing them and bagging them for the freezer. It took us a while to eat them all, but we attacked those first before opening the canned ones we had on hand. So, now I have a big supply of canned green beans. Although, I have to admit, those frozen garden beans were delish!
Also, I have a smaller pantry (close to the kitchen) where I put products that need to be used within the year. I try to keep a closer eye on that pantry and try to add those products (like green beans) to our meals so that they don't go bad.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2017
- Messages
- 4,094
I understand the computer crash concerns, but for initial setup and figuring stuff out cut and paste along with auto calculation is nice. You can always print a copy regularly.
I used the computer initially too - to get it in alphabetical order, count/recount, and move things around. It's a moving target and we purchase fewer and fewer items so it much more manageable now and fairly easy on paper. But it was helpful.
Rule One – Eat what you store, store what you eat...
Here is a link to check out. Also, take a listen to the podcast as he explains it very well. I listen to Jack near daily.
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/1759-food-storage
Here is a link to check out. Also, take a listen to the podcast as he explains it very well. I listen to Jack near daily.
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/1759-food-storage
With things like thumb drives and external hard drives our cloud storage I think the issue of a computer crash is pretty void. Like you say you can always print out a inventory list and might be a good idea to do so quarterly and check inventory. I know there are different software's you can buy or find free but for the most part using something like a basic excel spreadsheet you can simulate your shelf rows. Oh say you don't have Excel, go download, for free, Apache Open Office 4 I've been using it over 2years at home and love it and I didn't need to buy MS Office for my old laptop and it lets you save out in their native format or in multiple older MS Excel formats. The suite has similar packages to Word, Powerpoint, etc...
Libre office is open source software that can be used with a number of OS's and is also able to read different formats as well as save in different formats.
Open source software is free too.
Open source software is free too.
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2017
- Messages
- 4,094
I was thinking about this again and thought I would revive the post. How did you all do? For me it is still on my to do list. My wife and I were discussing how far our food would last and our two assumptions are drastically different. We need to get a good list and do an inventory. We are going to get some shelving today. So that is a good opportunity. It is fairly organized just not inventoried.
Last edited:
