How do you rotate? This has been bugging me for a while. I have a bunch of canned meat (chicken, beef, tuna, etc), canned veggies, canned beans and canned soups. Problem is, we usually cook and eat "fresh" produce and meats. Soups are made from scratch, so is dinner and what not. The only pantry items I know we rotate through is pasta, rice, sugar, salt, etc.. I think we open a can of vegatables once every three months or so.. a can of tuna maybe once a month. I have actually started storing the canned foods under the beds.. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

There must be other people out there like me!! How do you rotate, or do you not? I seem to remember reading somewhere where they would donate soon to be expiring or old cans of food and buying new..

Oh, we have eaten what we store to see if the product is agreeable with us. So far so good. We would actually rate it.. So so is not stored. okay is stored. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ya' know, I started thinking about this whole long term storage of large amounts of supplies thing. I was looking at tables showing shelf lives of various foods, considering what I would need, for how long, how to prepare, etc., etc.

Then, this morning during my shower-time contemplation period (do my best thinkin' in the shower), I decided: Hell, why not just stock up on a few cases of cheap liquor? The stuff can be stored forever, doesn't go bad, never goes to waste, and can be used to barter for just about anything else that one would need 'cause in trying times it's worth it's weight in gold. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Simple. Go car camping and eat it then. That way you spend more time fishing, hiking, or hunting and less time on food prep and cooking. Yet another reason to be out in the woods.... <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Only a few cases? Man, that's one thing that is rotated all too frequently!! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />



Actually, I did think of something along those lines, but more on the stay at home and "pretend" there's no electricity and gas.. See if we can actually eat what we store for a week or two.. It also lets us know what we're missing. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

"...stay at home and "pretend" there's no electricity and gas..."

Good thinking!

Ooh, good point. Note to self: Fill one corner of basement with booze. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

When you tested food to see if it was agreeable, was it just for one meal, or did you do canned goods for several days in a row? The suggestion of eatting off your cache for a week is a good one. I've seen people eat stuff fine once or twice, but once they try living on them, not so good. The first generation of MREs come to mind. Particularly the omlette- after three days of those for breakfast.... It's better not to think about it.

Question- where are you getting canned beef? I can find hash and stew till I'm sick of it, but other than gourmet shops I can't seem to find real beef, just beef.

I bought it at Costco. Comes in a 6 pack of 12oz cans.. Just like their canned chicken. The label says Premium Brisket Roast Beef in Beef Broth - Fully Cooked.

The picture on the label shows veggies with it, but there are no veggies, just plain chunks of beef. I would actually add it into my pasta (including the broth).. Gives plain pasta some extra.. Add some tabasco, and all is good.. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ah, that explains it- it's more expensive for me to burn the gas to drive to the nearest costco than I can save by shopping with them. But now I have a place to start looking, thanks. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, I didn't answer your first question. It was mainly for one meal to see if it were palatable. I try to have enough of a variety to change the meat, starch, veggie every day. But you are right, I can see us getting tired of canned foods after a few days. But on the other hand, me and the mrs have our heads on straight.. We're not the illogical emotional type, we both handle stress very well.

My wife has been through difficult times when she was a child (food wise, she can eat rice and soy sauce 3 squares a day, been there done it). Me, I've always been a spoiled "Westerner" with meat and veggies at every meal. I think that is the main thing that will pull us through, our minds.. Food is just there to keep us alive... Just hope we never need to prove it...

Oh, it isn't stress. Not emotionally, anyway. I've seen people be fine with a radical change of diet for a day or two, then thier body seems to go on strike. I've seen it happen with MREs, and with college food. It's like your body doesn't want to digest, just pass it along- I'll leave the details to your imagination.

And I apologize to anyone with a very active and pictoral imagination. I have one of those myself. *ugh*

You simply need to make a conscious effort to use your canned goods. We use canned goods on a weekly basis.
here are a few comments I would like to share:
1. canned goods are much healthier and tastier than years ago. Prepared spaghetti used to be thin and tasteless.. Now some of it is home made quality! ( Ragu w/ Mama's meat sauce, Cattle Drive chile come to mind too) There are also low fat/carb type canned goods.
2. experiment and find what you like best and use them on a weekly basis. There is so much variety now that certainly you can find something that will suit you.
3. cheaper is not always better, but you can find some off brands that are as good or better than "name" brands only cheaper.Wynwood premium corn is an example of off brand quality.
4. canned goods can be convenient. Open a can of soup, put it in a tupperware container and micro wave it for lunch at work!
Maybe you can make vegetable soup from your canned veggies or a tuna casserole? Good luck!

That's a very good point.. Didn't realize the body would do this.. Something to think about..



I think maybe I'll incorporate both IronRaven and HarpersFerry's comments.. I'll look at it from an acclimation point of view. Work in slowly the stored canned foods so that your body can acclimate to the type of food....

Interesting...

Any sudden change to the diet causes digestive problems, <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> especially if the new food is highly refined flour, etc. (like pizza). It is a good idea to think of some additions to the proposed diet which contain fiber.

I would recomend adding some lentils to the stores, they store indefinately and help with peristaltic action. They taste great with spices and go well as an addition to most foods. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hey IR,

for JUST BEEF in a can, check Krogers or Eagle foods... you're looking for roast beef in gravy, without checking a label in the basement, I believe it's a Hormel product, or... you could just pressure can your own, been there, done that, and it's GREAT eating.

Troy