Pros & Cons of 3 Survival Food Preservation Methods

There are few things in life more important than food. It is crucial for life, both in “normal” times and during a crisis.

As we’ve all learned, it’s essential to have long-lasting, non-perishable food to carry us through rough times. But there are many different kinds of food and ways to preserve them.

How do we know which survival foods are the best ones to stockpile? Which ones will give us the most nutrition and strength to deal with an emergency?

Variety is an essential part of the process of choosing which foods to store. Different foods provide different nutrients. Variety also helps prevent appetite fatigue.

Just as important, what are the best ways to make sure our survival food stays good until we need it?

Store shelves could empty

It’s also important to remember that grocery stores may not be open if things really go south. Or they might have a very limited supply of food.

If you have a significant supply of survival food ready and waiting for you, you’ll be a lot better off than most people when a disaster happens.

Today I want to talk about three of the most common survival food preservation methods.

There are others, but I’m going to focus on freeze-dried, dehydrated and canned food. I’ll provide pros and cons for each.

Freeze-dried food

First let’s look at freeze-dried food. Some people have purchased a freeze dryer to preserve their own rations. Others buy freeze-dried food in bulk for long-term storage.

The pros of freeze-dried foods include their long shelf life and low moisture content. They can be reconstituted quickly. And they almost always retain their original texture, color, shape and taste.

One of the cons of freeze-dried food is that it tends to be more expensive than other options. Another is that you need water to prepare it.

Freeze-dried food also requires more storage space than dehydrated food, as it is bulkier. This can make it more challenging to transport if you have to bug out.

Dehydrated food

This is actually the oldest food preservation method. Native Americans laid out meat, fish and some plants in the sun to dry them and make them last longer.

The number one pro of dehydration is the fact that almost all the water content is removed. This makes it much lighter and easier to store and transport.

This lack of moisture also reduces spoilage significantly. Dehydrating food is something you can do in your home with a dehydration oven. Dehydrated food is generally less expensive than freeze-dried food.

The cons of dehydrated food include the necessity of water for reconstitution. Some taste and nutritional value can be lost as well during the dehydration process.

Canned food

Almost every pantry in America has at least some canned food in it. Frequently these cans contain soup, vegetables, fruits, beans, meats, sauces and many other foods.

An advantage of canned food is that it’s relatively inexpensive and offers a large variety. Shelf lives are usually pretty good, and they are packed securely. Another advantage is that they don’t need added water.

A downside is that canned foods are heavy and require a lot of storage space. They are also susceptible to temperature variations.

Canned foods are generally not the healthiest option for survival. Especially if that’s all you have. They tend to have high levels of sodium and other ingredients that might pose health risks over time.

4Patriots 4-Week Survival Food Kit answers the call

It doesn’t require a great deal of study to determine that we all need a supply of survival food. This year has certainly taught us that.

A global pandemic and increasing extreme weather events and civil unrest have made it very clear. People are going to be hoarding food again as winter approaches. We have to be prepared for the worst.

As I’ve mentioned, there are different options for the preservation of survival food. It’s up to you regarding what appeals to you most.

But for a ready-made, one-stop shopping experience, you can’t go wrong with the 4Patriots 4-Week Survival Food Kit.

Included in the 184 delicious servings are meals such as Grammy’s Sweet Oatmeal, Fireside Stew and America’s Finest Mac & Cheese.

This food comes in disaster-resistant packaging, it’s easy to prepare and it contains no added MSG. Best of all, it’s good for 25 years when stored properly.

Learn more about the 4-Week Survival Food Kit here