Food storage and Preparation

Depending on the situation surrounding your food shortage, there are multiple different ways to store and keep food edible for as long as possible. One priority for keeping food edible is keeping it cold. This means any way to refrigerate or cool food would be very impactful to your food endeavors.

Refrigerator

If power is still usable and available, using a refrigerator will be the safest way to store food. Some important facts to consider include (Ready, 2019)-

Keep the refrigerator closed for as much time as possible
Use a thermometer to ensure food is kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit
An unpowered fridge can keep most food cold for up to 4 hours
Perishables such as meats, eggs, or leftovers can only last 2 hours

Dry Ice

If the food shortage is accompanied by a power shortage, or if you do not have access to a refrigerator, dry ice is another option. 25 pounds of dry ice can cool a 10 foot cubed volume for four days (Ready, 2019). When considering the cost for this solution, dry ice typically goes for $2/lb. This makes dry ice an expensive solution however in some scenarios this might be beneficial.

Preparing Food

When preparing food after it has been properly stored, it is important to keep a few things in mind. One absolute is making sure cooked and raw foods are separated. This includes making sure the foods themselves do not touch, along with the utensils used to manage them.

When preparing canned food that needs to be heated up, there are two important things that you need to do. First, remove the label and disinfect the exterior of the can to ensure no chemicals from the adhesive are being released into the air. Second, make sure there is some escape for air inside the can while it's being heated so your food doesn't turn into a bomb.

General Do's and Don'ts

Keep raw and cooked foods separate
Throw away any food that has even slight evidence of deformities
Ensure utensils for cooking and eating are kept clean
Be cautious while using dry ice to ensure your skin never touches it directly

Don't

Let garbage accumulate
Eat food from cans that are deformed
Let food sit between 140 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit

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