Essential Ingredients for Scratch Cooking with Long-Term Food Storage

Essential Ingredients for Scratch Cooking with Long-Term Food Storage

Stocking up on bulk ingredients for long-term food storage is crucial for emergency preparedness. However, to use these stored items effectively, you’ll need supplementary ingredients and tools to create balanced, flavorful meals. Let’s explore the essential components that elevate your food storage, enabling you to cook from scratch, even during challenging times.

The Importance of Supplementary Ingredients

While staples like rice, beans, and wheat form the backbone of long-term food storage, supplementary ingredients are vital for several reasons:

1. Flavor Enhancement – Adds taste and variety to otherwise bland staples.
2. Nutritional Diversity – Improves the nutritional profile of meals by incorporating fats, sugars, and other nutrients.
3. Meal Variety – Enables a range of dishes to prevent food fatigue.
4. Cooking Versatility – Provides the tools to adapt to different recipes and cooking methods.

Additional Food Items for Scratch Cooking

Here’s a list of essential items to add to your pantry for effective scratch cooking. Note: Do NOT use oxygen absorbers or desiccants with these items unless otherwise specified.

Oils and Fats

• About: Oils and fats (e.g., olive oil, coconut oil, and vegetable shortening) are indispensable for cooking, baking, frying, and sautéing. Coconut oil can also serve as a butter substitute in baking.
• Packaging: Store in original, airtight containers if unopened.
• Storage Conditions: Keep in a cool, dark, and dry location. Avoid heat and light exposure.
• Shelf-Life:
  • Most oils: 1–2 years unopened; shorter after opening.
  • Coconut oil and lard: Up to 5 years.
  • Clarified butter (ghee): 1–2 years unopened; longer if vacuum-sealed.

Sugar

• About: Sugar is a versatile sweetener for baking, preserving, and flavoring.
• Packaging: Airtight containers like Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dry area to prevent clumping or contamination.
• Shelf-Life: Indefinite when kept dry and uncontaminated.

Salt

• About: Essential for flavoring and preserving food.
• Packaging: Airtight containers such as Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dry area, away from moisture.
• Shelf-Life: Indefinite if kept dry. Iodized salt may lose iodine potency after ~5 years.

Corn Starch

• About: A thickening agent for gravies, soups, sauces, and desserts.
• Packaging: Store in airtight containers like Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars.
• Desiccants: Use in humid climates.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dry place, away from heat and moisture.
• Shelf-Life: Indefinite if stored properly.

Baking Soda

• About: A leavening agent for baking and a multi-purpose household cleaner.
• Packaging: Store in airtight containers like Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dry place.
• Shelf-Life: Indefinite for general use. Test for leavening after 2+ years.

Baking Powder

• About: A leavening agent for recipes without acidic ingredients.
• Packaging: Original packaging or airtight containers like Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars for long-term storage.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dry environment.
• Shelf-Life: ~18 months unopened. Test for potency before use.

Honey

• About: A natural sweetener with antimicrobial properties.
• Packaging: Store in original containers or transfer to glass jars for ultra-long storage.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dry place.
• Shelf-Life: Indefinite. Crystallization can be reversed with gentle heating.

Powdered Eggs

• About: A versatile substitute for fresh eggs in baking or cooking.
• Packaging: Store in airtight containers like Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars.
• Oxygen Absorbers: are suggested/required.
• Desiccants: Use in humid climates.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dry, and dark location.
• Shelf-Life: 5–10 years when stored properly.

Powdered Milk

• About: Reconstitutes for cooking, baking, or drinking. Rich in protein and calcium.
• Packaging: Store in airtight containers like Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars.
• Oxygen Absorbers: are suggested/required
• Desiccants: Use in humid climates.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dry, and dark location.
• Shelf-Life: 10–20 years depending on fat content.

Spices and Seasoning

• About: Adds variety and flavor to meals. Stock essential herbs and spices like black pepper, garlic powder, cinnamon, and cumin.
• Packaging: Store in airtight containers like Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars.
• Desiccants: Use in humid climates or if you plan on storing them for 3+ years.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dark, and dry area.
• Shelf-Life:
  • Whole spices: 3–4 years.
  • Ground spices: 1–2 years.
  • Herbs: 1 year.

Vinegar

• About: For pickling, dressings, and adding acidity to dishes.
• Packaging: Original containers are sufficient.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dark place.
• Shelf-Life: Indefinite if unopened.

Condiments

• About: Soy sauce, hot sauce, and similar items add depth to meals.
• Packaging: Store unopened in original containers; refrigerate after opening.
• Storage Conditions: Cool, dark area; refrigerate after opening.
• Shelf-Life: 1–2 years unopened; 6 months–1 year opened.

Active Dry Yeast

• About: Essential for baking leavened goods.
• Packaging: Yeast can remain in its original packaging for 1–2 years; for storage beyond 2 years, freeze in an airtight container like Mylar bags, #10 cans, or glass jars.
• Storage Conditions: Refrigerate or freeze for best results.
• Shelf-Life: 2 years at room temperature; up to 5+ years if frozen.

Storage Methods

Proper storage is essential to maintain the quality and longevity of your food items. Choose your preference based on what works best for you.

• Mylar Bags: These are ideal for dry goods.
• #10 Metal Cans: Sturdy and lightproof, metal cans are perfect for large quantities of food.
• Glass Jars: Use vacuum-sealed glass jars for smaller quantities or frequently used items.

Learn more about long-term food storage containers.

Optimal Storage Conditions

• Temperature: Stable, between 40°F and 70°F.
• Moisture: Use desiccants or dehumidifiers in humid environments.
• Placement: Keep off the ground, away from sunlight, and distribute storage across locations.

Essential Equipment

• Wheat Grinder
  If you store wheat, you’ll need a grinder. Keep a manual option.
• Heat and Fuel Sources
  Plan for alternative cooking methods, such as propane stoves, solar ovens, and cast-iron cookware.
• Manual Tools
  Invest in manual kitchen tools that don’t require electricity like hand-crank mixers, dough scrapers, and other non-electric tools.

Scratch Cooking with Recipes

Create a collection of recipes using your stored ingredients. These recipes can provide meal variety, reduce food fatigue, and identify any storage gaps in your system.

Tips

1. Create a printed binder of recipes tailored to your food storage items.
2. Practice using your stored ingredients before an emergency arises by preparing simple recipes using your bulk ingredients and additional items. Testing these recipes in advance ensures you’re ready for emergencies.
3. Remember to rotate your stock to ensure freshness.

Conclusion

Stocking supplementary ingredients alongside bulk staples ensures you can create nutritious, flavorful meals from scratch. Take time to practice these recipes using your long-term storage. This will test the resilience of your storage system and provide you with peace of mind, knowing that you are ready for whatever comes your way.