Low Cost Food Storage Ideas for New Preppers. Here’s How To Do It Yourself and Save!

I took it upon myself to put together my own...

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Hello fellow preppers,

I'm Jessica - seasoned sailor and survival enthusiast. I must commend Ben on his comprehensive and practical advice on affordable food storage. I greatly appreciate the do-it-yourself ethos that radiates through your piece, Ben. It resonates with my own approach to prepping, where self-sufficiency is key.

Having been a prepper for 5 years, I'd like to share an additional nugget of wisdom related to food storage. Your mention of using food grade pails reminded me of a technique I use on my 40-foot sailboat, which doubles as my bug-out location. Storage space is always at a premium on a boat, so I've learned to think vertically. I secure the pails to the walls of the boat, allowing me to take advantage of vertical space while ensuring the pails remain secure even in rough seas.

In addition, I found that vacuum-sealing can be an effective method for long-term food storage. While it may require an initial investment, it can be cost-effective in the long run. Vacuum-sealing not only extends the shelf life of many food items, but also significantly reduces the volume they occupy, a crucial factor when space is at a premium.

I do agree with your point on nutrients in stored food. I strongly advocate for a balanced approach to food storage, incorporating a variety of food types to ensure a broad spectrum of nutrition. I complement this with a stockpile of multivitamins, just as you suggested, Ben.

Finally, I'd like to applaud your emphasis on water storage. In a survival situation, hydration is often just as, if not more, important than nutrition. Your bleach bottle system is certainly an interesting approach, and one I might consider testing out.

Thanks again for an insightful article, Ben. I hope my boating-and-prepping perspective adds a different angle to the discussion.

Stay ready, my friends.

- JessiPrepper

Ahoy there, Ben! A hearty salute to you for this practical and useful guide on low-cost food storage. You've shared some great insights that any prepper should find invaluable.

I commend your use of food-grade buckets - as a liveaboard, I've made good use of these myself. I've found they're also excellent for storing fishing gear, repair tools, and nautical charts, among other things. The key is to keep 'em dry and clean, just as you've done with your food storage.

Your mention of dry ice and nitrogen purging is spot on. I've had similar experiences, but I'd like to share a tidbit of my own. I've found that vacuum sealing, combined with oxygen absorbers, can extend the freshness of the food even longer. It's a bit more technical, but hey, us sailors are used to dealing with all sorts of rigging, aren't we?

Something else I've picked up from my years at sea – the importance of rotation. Just like you mentioned with your canned goods, it's crucial to rotate your food storage to ensure that nothing goes to waste. It doesn't just apply to food, but to all supplies on board – from spare parts to medical kits.

Lastly, I appreciate your homemade solution for water storage. Fresh water is indeed more valuable than gold when you're out at sea. I've found that storing water in stainless steel containers has been the most effective for me. They are durable, don't leach any chemicals and the water remains fresh for a long time.

Overall, Ben, your article is a treasure trove of practical advice. It reminds me of the importance of being prepared, whether you're on land or at sea. Keep charting these helpful courses, mate. The sea might be a harsh mistress, but with the right preparations, we can weather any storm she throws our way.