Category: Food Storage & Cooking

Solving the Hard Bean Problem with a Grain Mill, by Tunnel Rabbit

Beans are indeed, as the song goes, “a magical fruit”, yet not only because they make you toot, but because of their high protein content, and other nutrition they provide. However, along with the excellent nutritional value that comes with beans is a serious problem that plagues those who would use a large quantity of this dry staple good as a low-cost and long-term storage food. Peas and lentils–that are also legumes–do not have this same problem as do beans. It comes with age. Beans become increasing difficult to re-hydrate and cook as they age in storage, whether stored in …


A New Freeze Dryer – Part 3, by Captain Nemo

(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.) Testing the Food There are a few ways to test for dryness of your foods. You can weigh the food before and after, and then put it back in for a 2-hour Extra Dry cycle and weigh it again. If it changed weight, then the food wasn’t dry. This also helps determine how much water is needed for rehydration. The next is a moisture meter, but that doesn’t always work on small foods like berries or peas. Another is to use a thermometer. If there’s ice still present the food will be …


A New Freeze Dryer – Part 2, by Captain Nemo

(Continued from Part 1.) Testing and Bread Run Once things are assembled, it’s time to test the machine. From the start screen, press the leaf logo to go to the testing screen. They want you to close the door and also close the drain valve. Begin by touching the freeze switch. The refrigeration system will kick on and the chamber will begin to cool. Next, turn on the vacuum switch, and the pump should start. Let both run for 30 minutes. Within 20 minutes the pressure should be below 500 mTorr. If it is not, call Harvest Right Customer Support. …


A New Freeze Dryer – Part 1, by Captain Nemo

We finally decided to purchase a Harvest Right freeze dryer. Originally, Mom wanted to go with only a medium, but I insisted on a large due to how much the garden can produce. Last season, our garden produced so fast that we couldn’t process it fast enough. We lost about half of what we produced. We waited awhile and then mom asked about it again, so I checked the website, and there was a special running. She agreed on the purchase of the large dryer. The large dryer comes with a choice of pumps, the oiless pump, the premium oil …


Some Storage Food Challenges, by S.F. in Oregon

In this brief article, I will discuss some issues with stored food. Pests Insects – There are many sources of information on how to store grains and beans using dry ice, nitrogen or oxygen absorbers so I will not duplicate that here. I will add that if you use mylar bags, get 12 mil or thicker. Lower mil thicknesses are problematic. I know this from personal experience. Thinner ones tear, puncture, and seal poorly. Rodents – Get two barn cats. Botulism Canned food – Botulism from canned food is also addressed elsewhere, but I will remind the reader of the …


Get Started With Scratch Cooking – Part 2, by SaraSue

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) Batch Cooking This is what I’ve heard over and over from young moms, working moms, professional working parents, older adults, and all kinds of people: We have no time to cook from scratch. We’re barely keeping our heads above water on the daily. I can’t keep up with the dishes! Groceries have gotten so expensive!! Here is my advice: start small and involve the whole family. Meal plan together. Hey, it’s fun! You can talk about it over a meal – pick one when you’re all together. In another chunk of time, …


Get Started With Scratch Cooking – Part 1, by SaraSue

A question that came up recently in conversation with friends and family, is how in the world can a person provide food for their families without relying on processed foods? – every day of the year, 3x or more a day? It’s actually a really good question. And in doing so, how can one afford it? Where does this food preparation time come from? These are practical questions that modern families face daily. I honestly would much rather solve a problem I can solve than worry about all the big problems in the world. Are we going into a civil …


Siege Stove Titanium Gen 4 Flat-Pack, By Tom Christianson

The appetizing aroma of roasting venison wafted enticingly from the twig stove in front of me. The sound of sizzling meat coming from the folding grill on the top of the stove reinforced the attraction. I rotated the grill from time to time to allow the venison steaks to cook evenly on each side. After about 20 minutes, the steaks appeared to be fully cooked. I removed the folding grill from the stove, opened it, and cut one of the steaks with my EDC knife to make sure it was fully cooked. It proved to be well-done. I used my …


Bank Failures are Driving What I’m Doing, by Sara Sue

I’ve been trying to figure out what The Powers That Be (TPTB) are up to and how it’s going to affect me. I can only speak of my own strategy for the coming deep recession and/or depression. I can’t solve the big picture crisis. I can only attend to my own farm and family. My primary goals have been to grow food as if our lives depend upon it, and to get as far away as possible from any big city without being so remote I can’t get help. Additionally, since I rely on banking, a year or so ago …


Gossner UHT Shelf Stable Milk, by Thomas Christianson

Icy gusts of January wind were driving sheets of snow relentlessly across the slick pavement. I was cautiously creeping along in my car, making my way home from work. The weather forecast for the coming night was threatening. As I drove past a grocery store, the gloomy winter twilight revealed a crowded parking lot. Shoppers were flocking to the store to buy the remaining stocks of bread, milk, and other supplies in anticipation of being snowed in. I was able to drive right on by the store without the need to stop. My wife, “Kari” had stocked our pantry well …


A 12-Month Preparedness Checklist – Part 2, by Reltney McFee

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) June June is the month to assess the animals: are their vaccinations current? How is that Veterinary Medic Bag coming along? In addition, while I am out and about, June might be a nice month to function test my generator, and, following the thought that a power failure might require my generator to function, would it not be nice to have, gosh, LIGHT, while poking around getting such things set up? Why, now that you ask, yes! Yes, light would be pleasant! I checked the batteries in January, and this month’s check …


A 12-Month Preparedness Checklist – Part 1, by Reltney McFee

It has been said that amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics. I have attempted to put things aside for rainy days, and, with Mr. Biden at the helm, and Mr. Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation, well, my achy knees tell me that rainy days are a’comin. This last November, I had the epiphany that I needed to check the condition as well as charge of my batteries. This is a task for me semi-annually. I inspect for signs of leakage, I test the strength, using a voltage meter. Radio Shack used to sell them for $10-$20, once upon a time. …


A DIY Masonry Outdoor Cook Stove, by K.R.

During our harsh winter weather, I look for projects that increase our preparedness, but that can be accomplished in the warmth of my garage; preferably with a minimum of cost. This winter, my wife and I were reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of our preparations. We were inspired by the SurvivalBlog articles that have implored us all to examine and test our preps. We considered how we would do our cooking in a grid-down situation during summer, when cooking on our inside wood stove would be impractical. We already have (a few) gas-fueled camp stoves; but what about that day …


Making Your Own Sauerkraut – Part 2, by E.P.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) My grandmother used open ceramic crocks to make sauerkraut. The problem is that they, like the Gartopf style ceramic crocks, are quite expensive compared to glass jars, so I bought several used crocks to try. It is hard to seal open crocks adequately to provide the anaerobic environment necessary to make sauerkraut without having to regularly skim off the spoilage that forms at the top of the crock. I tried using a piece of lexan sealed to the top of the crock with silicone glue, drilling a hole in the lexan to …


Making Your Own Sauerkraut – Part 1, by E.P.

I have been making sauerkraut for many years. My grandmother (my mother’s mother) was German, and used to make it many years ago. Unfortunately, she never taught me how to do it, so I had to learn how to do it on my own. Fortunately, I found a really excellent book, Making Sauerkraut and Pickled Vegetables at Home, by Klaus Kaufmann and Annelies Schoneck. This book not only explains how to do it, providing many different recipes but also explains the science behind the fermentation process. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in making sauerkraut. The basic …