Just in Case: Long Term Food Storage Must-Haves

When it comes to long-term food storage, where you store is just as important as what you store. Emergency food storage is a huge part of the prepper lifestyle, but it can go to waste if your goods are exposed to dangers like water, humidity, pests, and sunlight.

Whether you’re buying a little at a time or all at once, that extra food will soon overwhelm your kitchen cabinets. You will run out of room quicker than you think, especially if you’re also storing water.

Click here to learn more about storing water.

Store Smart

Even if your home has lots of storage space available, chances are it’s not all appropriate for food storage. Before you start storing food, you must first evaluate your home and identify which rooms will work and which will not. You can eliminate rooms that do not provide the following:

• A dry environment with steady temperature between 50-60 degrees
• No sun exposure

Do not choose rooms that are humid or that include heat production appliances such as stoves and refrigerators.

Basement

Basements are an obvious choice when it comes to storage. Basements that are completely underground are ideal because they maintain a cool temperature year-round. Plus, spacious basements allow for organization and optimal food rotation.

If your house heater is located in your basement, however, you need to store food as far away from it as possible to prevent fluctuations in temperature.

Poorly insulated basements often have trouble with humidity, but a dehumidifier can easily solve that problem. To prevent dampness, store foods slightly off the floor (wooden pallets work well). Make sure that pests do not have access to your basement and set mousetraps just in case.

Garage

The garage isn’t great for long-term food storage, but it can be used to store goods for shorter periods of time. In most climates, garages are exposed to humidity and temperature extremes. So unless your garage is well insulated, it simply won’t do for long-term food storage.

The garage is perfect, however, for storing other survival supplies. Just keep in mind that when SHTF, garage will tempting targets for scavengers.

Attic

Like the garage, your attic is not idea for food storage (unless you have a finished attic with AC). Use the attic for temporary food storage and long-term supply storage (tools, clothing, etc.).

Closets

Closets often become crammed with objects and clothing you and your family no longer use. This habit prevents closets from being utilized to their full potential.

Install some shelving and most closets are great for long-term food storage. Just make sure not to forget about the food buried in the back.

Beneath the stairs

This oddly shaped room is easy to forget about and makes a perfect place to store food. With the help of a carpenter, you can transfer most beneath-the-stairs rooms into optimal storage locations.

If you live in a humid climate, make sure to install a dehumidifier.

Under the bed

People tend to overlook this space, but it can be ideal for long-term food storage. There are several ways you can utilize this space. I recommend installing drawers or using storage boxes so that your food remains organized and easy to access.

Beneath the bed is a good location for food because it remains dark and provides a stable temperature.

Kitchen

This might seem like the most obvious spot to store food, but kitchens are typically too small for the amount of food you’ll need to really be prepared. By the time you outfit your kitchen with pots, pans, plates, glasses, and cooking appliances, you’ll be lucky enough to have one empty cabinet or a small pantry left for food storage.

If you do store food in your kitchen, however, make sure to keep it organized and properly labeled. The kitchen is a great place for items with short expiration dates and foods you want to experiment with.