10 Prepper Pantry / Food Storage tips

[@ninarice5279]

I found a jar of greenbeans that were canned 39 yrs ago in my mom's root celler & we ate them for supper. That made a believer out of me with canning!

[@theespjames4114]

Prepper rule in stretching food. “ every can of food is just a topping for a base of rice or instant potatoes “

[@Henleehomestead]

Yes!!

[@margaretbauer4126]

Potatoes rule! Cheese is King!

[@christinasullivan5655]

Yes, like pulled pork in can with BBQ for sandwiches. Next day put it in Mac and cheese or use tuna or chicken helper. Instead of chicken or tuna. Use left over pull pork with BBQ and a can of mix vegetables. So yummy 😋

[@k.quilter2735]

.

[@lindamcneil711]

Stretching works… but also be mindful of the low nutrients of rice and pork and high starch rates. Nutrients are going to be king.

[@tawanajackson5545]

I do $100.00a month above our regular grocery and household budget for stockpile. It works for us and I have a great stockpile now. I started 3 years ago.

[@Henleehomestead]

That's great! It's amazing how fast the stock will grow with just a little extra each month.

[@tawanajackson5545]

@@Henleehomestead yes ma'am it does

[@tdog4240]

I also have room darkening curtains in mine, because light is an enemy when it comes to food storage.

[@final3078]

When I really got serious about prepping, I realized that I had more than I thought. It just needed to be organized.

[@shirlhub6598]

That pantry is a thing of beauty. 😊

[@kathytappero7179]

When we buy canned goods we like to include cardboard tray that they are stacked in on the shelf. Then when we need to rotate our stock it’s easier to pull out several trays then lots and lots of little cans.

[@Henleehomestead]

Great tip, thank you!

[@shellp888]

Makes it much easier but mice like cardboard so it might attract them

[@colethewolfboy]

As long as your pantry has low humidity. Things like leather and cardboard tend to absorb moisture long term and there’s the potential for rust over time.

[@kathytappero7179]

@@colethewolfboy so true! But we pull out the cardboard when we finish the items on top and replace it with new trays so frequently we have not had that problem yet 😊

[@TUKByV1]

@@colethewolfboy Indeed. I don't use cardboard for long-term storage of anything anymore.

[@indianne9781]

Great tips for anyone starting out prepping. My #1 tip would be buy what you like to eat. If you don’t like pinto beans on a good day, you aren’t going to suddenly acquire a taste for them when you are stressed out.

[@Henleehomestead]

Exactly! 🙂

[@pamfullerton5334]

But you will eat them for protein if nothing else exists and they are a great filler

[@indianne9781]

@@pamfullerton5334 my point was not to say anything bad about beans, I have plenty in my stash. My point is to not prep foods that you don’t like, and probably won’t eat. There are plenty of options.

[@sandraburke1258]

Key to rotation place your shelves so you can ADD FOODS FROM THE BACK which will result in your pushing your oldest foods to the front. ACCESS TO BOTH SIDES OF YOUR SHELF IS IDEAL.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you for that tip. I agree access to both sides of the shelves would be very helpful but I personally do like them against the wall. While my shelves are not loaded beyond their stated weight capacities, I still like the added peace of mind to have them anchored to the wall just in case 🙂

[@smilingdog54]

That works great if you have a large pantry room!

[@marciafernandes3460]

That works in every pantry

[@suegeorge998]

I've been canning seriously for 4 years and I've saved up about 4 years of food. I've always canned my garden produce though. But seriously preparing for 4 years. I'm thankful for my upbringing. I grew up with parents who lived through the depression. My father always had a garden and my mom canned and froze what he brought in to her. In the fall we'd get part of a beef and pork and chickens for the freezer. My father was a carpenter and there was always a few weeks in the winter where he couldn't work due to the cold. We never went without because my parents were prepared. I'm thankful every day for them and the start they gave me. I'm retired, don't have much money but I only buy food on sale. Then I really stock up. I can my meat, but I have some in the freezer too. But by far I've got more in jars. I can my veggies too.

[@tnplathe4642]

I do this as well. I'm VERY careful when canning meat. I started this 5 years ago. My grown kids are a little reluctant to eat my canned meats but I still make chicken salad etc when they are around.

[@snapdragon2441]

My main problem with rotation was my freezer, but I have fixed this now using a spreadsheet. I give every item I purchase a stock number and list what it is, when it was frozen or expires, if it can be cooked from frozen and how many people it will feed or meals it will cover. It has worked out brilliantly.

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s great ! 🙂

[@sandrajohnson9926]

I love that. I am not great with organizing & some things end up on bottom or in back of freezer long expired. I thaw & do the smell test before I decide it should be thrown out.

[@goodoz9942]

I've been using canned diced tomatoes in my chili...purchased 2011. They are just fine. There is a simple test...smell the stuff you open up. If it smells ok, it is ok...IMO (never been sick from my old stock)

[@dw387]

USDA guidelines on shelf stable foods. Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor. Check can if no bulging or rust open the can, smell then enjoy.

[@priscilladavenport5791]

That's a great start! I watched a video a few months back and the prepper said that you should have at least one can of meat for each of the 365 days in that year. That should be the goal. Also keep in mind that everybody in the household would only get to eat out of that one tiny 5 oz can of tuna or chicken etc. I thought about it and my family could not do that and get more than one spoonful of meat each day (and that THREE MEALS A DAY OFF THAT ONE CAN DAILY). I have since then upped my canned meat and vegetables to more cans a day to cover more people . I'm working towards that goal now

[@TUKByV1]

I might say one can per day, per person. That is my initial goal. Next level is 2 cans per day.

[@suegeorge998]

You've got it figured out. Good for you. Keep going. If you can your food, consider making and canning soup. You can put some meat and veggies in it, and you have a shelf stable meal.

[@jennylivsey2984]

I like that you mentioned it's okay to stock up a little at a time. That's very true for tight budgets. It definitely adds up quickly. And it seems like the more you go, the more you learn how to maximize. And then when you get the hang of everything, it's fun! I don't stress about the future as much any more. I just tell myself I'm building a little grocery store where everything is free 🤗

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you! It’s amazing to me how fast a stock pile will grow with just a little extra each time you shop. Having our own “grocery stores” is wonderful and you’re right, it really does take away the stress 😊

[@tawanajackson5545]

That's what I did and now I'm out of space lol.

[@bonnyB123]

I bought several big containers on wheels, put the expiry YEAR on the lid, put cans in the appropriate container according to the expiry year. This way it is less hassle and you can stack containers on top of each other. Unpack into grocery cupboard when needed.

[@pamfullerton5334]

We don’t eat a lot of rice or beans but I have stocked up because when food is scarce they will fill and satisfy you. When starvation is a possibility fussiness flies out the window

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s very true.

[@TUKByV1]

Yep. And it's hard to beat their shelf life. We also stock corn meal. I cannot have wheat products, or I'd also stock a lot of pasta.

[@gardengirl7258]

I put all the same year on the same shelf and then sort like kinds with like together by year. It makes it easy to know that I need to pull from that current year shelf first. Rotation is a no-brainer using this method.

[@karladenton5034]

We have had the occasional municipal 'boil order' so having some water storage is key. Especially if you have foods that need to be reconstituted from freeze dried or dehydrated. Also, if you garden, have extra seed stock - heirloom (non-hybrid) varieties is a good idea. When stored properly, seed stock is often good for several years, though germination rates may start to fall off. And learn to seed save.

[@murda2999]

I have a lot of food on hand, but yours is so nicely organized! Great job.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@kdaisy2296]

This is something some of you might not want to hear but with stocking a dry pantry, make sure you store easy open packing, paper, boxes, plastic, etc, into containers that insects or rodents can't get into. I live in a small apartment so I have a small pantry. I ended up having a mouse problem because I didn't store easy packaging food into containers. I've had to throw a lot of food away for that reason. So, make sure nothing can get to your food.

[@Henleehomestead]

I’m sorry that happened to you. Good advice, thank you 🙂

[@sherenafreeman9601]

Yep I had the same thing happen so I don't leave anything out period

[@sophiagrace8362]

To be extra safe no matter how you store your food mix flour and baking soda mice cannot fart so the baking soda causes them to bloat and die so if your pet finds them there not gonna get hurt put small dishes around for the mice

[@KellyHall-f2b]

Yes! Mice will get in boxes (cake, etc) and bags and anything their teeth can chew into. 😢 Lesson learned the hard way.

[@compiticny1445]

My second pantry is similar to a library where we restock from the back so we do not have to pull everything out when putting new items on the shelves. Also, make sure that you check the dates of the items you buy as we have noticed that some of the "new" items have earlier use-by dates than the stuff we already have.

[@Henleehomestead]

Great tips, thank you 🙂

[@kerryberry142]

Just found your channel and subscribed. Something that really helped me when I started was tracking what we used in a month and then saying we need X amount of an item for 3, 6, 12 months….then I could shop the sales. Loved the tip on bread….I am now baking to practice, canning, dehydrating, gardening, etc. I’d rather fail now then later when it matters 😊

[@Henleehomestead]

Welcome to our channel, we’re glad you found us! You’re exactly right, failing now so we can learn and try again is so important so that when we really need a skill we’re ready 🙂

[@thespicyonion]

Safeway just had butter on sale $1.98 each box . I got about 40 boxes. Goes in freezer and take out as I need

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s an excellent price!

[@thespicyonion]

@@Henleehomestead right . I went back for unsalted and they were out . I got a Rain check for 20 more Boxes lol if anything i will share with my mom and some friends that do a lot of baking if I don’t use it .

[@Henleehomestead]

@@thespicyonion I don’t blame you, I’d have gotten a rain check too. Cheapest I’ve paid for butter in as long as I can remember is $3.49.

[@thespicyonion]

@@Henleehomestead yeah it’s gotten so expensive the one on sale is Normally $5.99. I’ve also started using lard in my BAked goods. Great results and it’s shelf stable

[@rexcarebear4701]

I do the exact same thing when I find a goodbye on butter usually around Thanksgiving I stock up by as much as I can and try to get as much as I can for a year freeze it use it as needed great idea

[@terrysummers9424]

expiration date is just a manufacturer suggestion

[@frankfranklin3365]

I just ate a few cans of spam that expired 2 years ago. Totally fine.

[@niko714]

Also, most cans have valuable water inside that you should consume with your prepped emergency meals .. should you need it.

[@deborahhetzel6287]

You really do a wonderful job of getting the point across about what we need to do. You cover everything we need to stock up on ,that's great because it's easy to forget about some things such as body soap and laundry detergent or pet supplies and such. Thank you for making it simple. 😁🤗

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you for those kind words 😊

[@teresahegerich8835]

My first effort at a pantry was panic buying for Y2K. It was a disaster, and a huge waste of money. The second time was following Hurricane Irene after having no power for 5 days(No property damage, Thank God). That time went much better, and I was ready for Sandy in the following year. Don't forget a can opener, and maybe a spare. And some cash if electronic banking is down.

[@anjiliveach3267]

If you struggle with rotating your stock of canned goods, you can buy or DIY a system for your shelves where you put the newest ones in and they roll down to sit on top of the older ones, and the older ones are accessible to grab when you're ready to use them. Especially if you have a wide variety of canned goods and a large quantity of each item, as you clearly do, it can make a huge difference.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you 😊

[@debbiec6216]

where did you buy yours ( rotating shelves ) ????? Thank you !!!

[@wintersoldier7099]

ADDITIONAL TIPS: collecting/storing rain water, means of purification of water (fiters/bleach/straws) water containers (milk jugs, etc) sharping stones ( and means of self defence/ axes, knives, other)

[@Henleehomestead]

Great tips, thank you for sharing!

[@hhhservicesllc3163]

Great Advice!

[@TUKByV1]

Calcium Hypochlorite is inexpensive, has a respectable shelf life, and a little goes far.

[@muskokaoma7470]

Hi I'm a new subscriber. Something I do with the dog kibble or extra dog cookies is I put them in a mason jar an vac seal it when I can afford extra dog food. I'm currently in the process of starting over with food storage as I needed to use my food storage this year. I've also found it helpful. When I buy a bag of onions or frozen peppers I dehydrate 1/2 the bag and put it in a jar for use later when I need it. Being on very fixed income w prices skyrocketing I find this way causes less pain for wallet and I feel like I might be getting somewhere with my goals

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s great that you had a food storage when you needed it. Excellent tip on the dog food/ treats and the onions/ peppers. Thank you 😊

[@jenns-extra-ordinary-life]

Great tips! I agree, #3 is the hardest🤣. Great idea about having the "luxury items" because having something like brownies when you're in a situation where you don't have the "luxury" of buying that type of stuff will bring a little bit of joy that can go a long way. I also liked that you mentioned to only add a few things a week and when its on sale vs. spending all of your money to build a pantry. And, I hadn't thought about meds and HBA items!

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you! 😊

[@emilylanore757]

I agree with you, but I feel like we might be limited on milk, butter, and eggs at some point. We may not be able to make the desserts or Mac and cheese.

[@dearpastorr]

@@emilylanore757 milk can be bought in powdered form. Butter can be canned and eggs can also be stored long term.

[@Holly-ys1me]

I have assorted baking mixes with many as just add water. I was stocking Krusteaz basic muffin mix but it got too expensive. I have been working on practicing using cookie mixes and cake mixes to make cookies using only shelf stable ingredients. They have egg substitutes like applesauce or buttermilk. They sell ghee which is butter in shelf stable jars. They sell butter powder. I like a variety of foods so I have been experimenting with sweets.

[@sophiagrace8362]

@@emilylanore757 make ghee from your butter it becomes shelf stable over 5 years shelf stable milk is sold at dollor tree

[@edselgreaves6503]

Here's a tip that no one talks about: Expensive food paired together with cheap food can become REALLY cheap if you stretch it out. For example, the price of avocados used to really intimidate me and I never bought them. Until one day I was hosting a dinner party and I decided to make bruschetta for appetizers. I bought 8 avocados for $20 bucks and 4 French baguettes for $1 dollar each. I was amazed to find that I could slice those French baguettes into 14 slices and just 1 avocado was enough to go on all 14 slices. Add a little cherry tomatoes on top, and voila! Avocado bruschetta for 25 cents each! Now the price of avocados don't scare me anymore because I know how far I can stretch it. They have gone from rare luxury to weekend treats in our house!

[@Henleehomestead]

Sounds delicious, thank you for sharing 🙂

[@TUKByV1]

We add diced avocado to salads. Half of one per bowl of salad, so we can have it 2 nights. I miss my compost bin, as I used to use the seeds and skins for that as well.

[@danniemcdonald4903]

Great tips! According to the USDA, canned food, if stored properly, will last indefinitely. I will eventually lose some nutritional value, but will still be safe to eat. Also, don't forget about dehydration.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you! And yes, water is soooo important!

[@judya8044]

I love your videos. You are so educated with these things. Would you consider doing a video just on the dehydrator? Maybe show us how to use it and what you do? That would help out so much. Thank you again

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you, that is so kind! I am actually planning a video hopefully this week about 4 different types of home preservation but I would be happy to do another video on each type with detail regarding each method 🙂

[@judya8044]

@@Henleehomestead thank you! That would be great!!!!!

[@SnowGardener]

Good afternoon! I love these tips! I just filmed my updated pantry and have been loving your channel! I love that you are prepping for not only yourself but also for other family members. Right now I am striving for 6 months of food and 1 year of nonfood items for my family of 3, but I would love to get to a year of food and also extras for other family members. 💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@Henleehomestead]

Hi! Thank you 🙂 you’ll make it to 6 months in no time, it amazed me when we started how fast our pantry grew.

[@b-chomesteading3066]

These are all really great tips! I think I started preparing by first making out a weekly menu and purchasing what I would need to make each meal. That was many years ago when my children were little. We used our stockpile quite often over the years due to so many things, power outage, job loss, sickness, etc. I also prepare for my grandchildren and my mom. My children (now grown and on their own) all like to keep a good stockpile in their pantries. I purchase one size bigger clothing and shoes for my grandchildren each year as they go on season sales. I keep clothing here at my home for when the grandchildren are staying with me on school breaks, summer break, etc. I also keep sewing supplies on hand. My mom is diabetic, so I keep foods that she can eat, meaning goodies as well as healthy stuff in my pantry. I don't think there is any one event I prepare for other than events that have already happened in my lifetime to me and my family. I doubt I could prepare for 25 years, too.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you for sharing ❤️

[@brendahowell5946]

Thanks. Rotation is hard!!We will eat tuna, can chicken, use flour and sugar , certain things if we have to. Keeping it rotated has been so hard because we don't use it as much.But if things go wrong we will have it

[@muskokaoma7470]

What I did was I took a couple cardboard boxes and put all the tins and packages that were dated for a year or more in advance I'd mark the year on the boxes and store it in a closet. The cupboard shelf and pantry shelves had stuff for only the current year on it. When stuff on my shelf was gone I'd go to the store for more . Boxed stuff goes on shelves, new stuff in the boxes. Might not work for everyone...but it worked for me.

[@janetgills6024]

@@muskokaoma7470 great idea! Physically rotating every time you buy new stock can be exhausting!

[@peaches911]

Enjoyed the video. You brought up some very important points. I struggle with food rotation myself. It is a challenge at times. New subscriber!

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you and welcome to our channel 🙂

[@christinajackson3104]

Beautiful

[@brg2743]

Great job stocking up. You are well prepared for a long time to come.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@jennifermock3292]

Loved this video. Being prepared makes life way less stressful, no matter what comes our way. I just processed some milk yesterday in our freeze dryer. So glad I had watched your past video about it. Thanks! 😊

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you! I completely agree with you, being prepared is such a comfort. It’s not about fear it’s about making a plan to care for the people we love 😊

[@sunaugvttony7746]

Another good thing to think of is how much does your family eat. If each person can eat 1 can of soup then for 4 people especially because I have teens would be 4 cans of soup per meal. So it may look like alot on the shelves but when you think how much do i need for each meal it really might not go as far as you think. Im in the process of going through expired or close to best buy date for all I bought at the beginning of the pandemic.

[@donnadivis8654]

Hi. Thought this video of tips was very informative. Thank you for sharing. I’ve had a prepper pantry for years. I think it is wise, and it does take time. It won’t happen overnight, but it can be accomplished even on a budget. Thanks again for sharing.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you! 🙂

[@teddibear6033]

So I found writing date on the top and the side of the can is really great so you can see it at a glance either way you are looking at it. Also what has really helped, I have a shelf of food I use for the current year. So all the other food is stored in boxes by food type and the year so anything in that box expires 2025 lets say. Then if I run out of the current year I start stocking it back up with the next year. It really has made it simple to keep it rotated, To mark the cans if I don't have time to date when I bring them home. I keep the cans out of the way and will watch a movie or something and date them and then put away. If I don't have time to sort the cans, I will organize at least by the year and write misc. till I have time to sort. Took me a while to figure out this system but it is awesome, especially since my husband doesn't like using food past the date.

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s a great tip/ method for keeping your stock rotated! Thank you for sharing 🙂

[@shaunaleessnackidies]

I entered today, harvest right still does freeze dryer giveaways, great tips thanks!

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s great, good luck! Thank you for watching 🙂

[@someoneyoudontknow7407]

Buying slowly and using it as you buy it’s great because then things expire at different times. If someone just bought a bunch all at once then it will expire all at once.

[@justincase1152]

I just found your channel. You have a new subscriber! Love your calm and sensible way you presented information.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you and welcome to our channel! 🙂

[@DM-te6ci]

I stock up on wipes, so good for hands, body, so needed if you have limited water, I buy two pkts every time I go to store. Diana NZ

[@Henleehomestead]

Wipes are a great prepper item!

[@11aaf]

I don't know if it's true or not, but if you get the biodegradable, or flushable wipes, they might have a definite shelf life, and start falling apart after awhile.

[@susanwidner794]

I'm so glad I found your channel, thanks for sharing your tips with us

[@Henleehomestead]

Hello and welcome! I’m glad you found us too 🙂

[@lisanowakow3688]

Wonderful tips! If you grow any of your food I recommend buying seeds now as well.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@11aaf]

*Thank you, for all the great tips!* We use a sturdy table (4'x8'), that's about 24" high. And when the cans are stacked, they'll come to almost my waste. We can walk around the table, It's easy to look over everything, and easy to rotate the items. I use a white bed sheet that covers the entire table, and the items can scoot easily on the sheet. If all the cans were stackable, it would make the job even easier.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you for watching and for sharing your method! 😊

[@Hisalone]

Hi there, thank you so much, I think it is always important to be prepared with foods, drinks (water, tea coffee etc), toiletries detergents and some sort of medication, pain meds, flu meds etc. Batteries, candles matches and so on is also important, here in South Africa we are experiencing what they call load shedding, they turn the electricity off for a number of hours multiple times during the day and night. So most of us have gas stoves and those that can afford solar panels they have them, most of us can't afford these things so we are quickly learning to do without electricity.

[@Henleehomestead]

We’ve used our pantry many times over the years, being prepared is such a blessing. We haven’t experienced a loss of electricity where we live due to it being periodically turned off but they do that here in the United States as well in many places to help the electrical grid handle being overwhelmed especially in extreme weather.

[@thespicyonion]

My kids love the cans of chicken and dumplings . I throw that over some Rice and they love it. Cheap and easy. I’m Placing a dollar tree order today and getting that as well as a ton of shelf Stable milk

[@Henleehomestead]

I love to stock up on all kinds of things at dollar tree 🙂

[@tdog4240]

Try adding cream of chicken soup and extra can of chicken, then vegetable. I threw in corn and green beans. It was like a big pot of chicken and dumplings soup.

[@dawncrossland3028]

I haven’t Ever Thought about Placing an OnLine Order from Dollar Tree!!

[@ladyofmerced]

Suggestion for all. In rotating your cans. If you had extended your shelving out into the center so one side is old stuff and new purchases can easily put in on the other side, instead of having to reach in back. I to put exp date on front label, but know it is so much easier if you also extend out your shelve in center of room with one short end will be against wall. Also look for bulging cans, as I remember one of my cans of pineapple burst and making a mess.

[@barbaragoodman1789]

Just found your channel, really like how calm and informative you are, other channels I’ve seen, and some I follow for the information are hard to watch, but I really like how you are easy to listen too, great tips too !!!

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you so much, that’s so kind 😊

[@belladrapeau8234]

i get chicken breast cut into different ways and season them as i cook it then vacuum seal all as well as scramble eggs hamburg ect all seasoned cooked and vacuum i have a area of different yrs

[@Henleehomestead]

I love cooking ahead and having easy meals ready 🙂

[@djssquibbs3295]

great tips and very calm and not so scary as other preppers w channels on youtube.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@shirleymorgan9254]

New to your channel, thank you for all the tips on stocking our pantry. Thank you for sharing.🎃

[@Henleehomestead]

Hello and welcome, we’re glad you found us!

[@steppib.4598]

Tip No. 1: Never show off your cache of supplies to others! 😄😄

[@Henleehomestead]

I respect and understand your opinion on that.

[@danajowers1971]

I need a shopping date with you! 😊 this is awesome!

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@bluemoon3699]

You have a lovely pantry. Well done! My advise is mouse proof your food. I have mice and they get into everything that isn't in glass or tin.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@jeffarnold8425]

other tips hand can opener and other ways to cook during power outage i have a way to keep freezer/fridge cold for long power outage

[@soniab.estacio3008]

Thank you ❤️you are truly blessed !

[@kawikalo]

I'm watching this exactly 2 years after you filmed this.

[@Henleehomestead]

Oh wow, that’s really cool! Things look a lot different for us right now, we just listed our house for sale last week so everything is packed away in storage. I can’t wait to have it all back up where can I access it easily again.

[@kawikalo]

@@Henleehomestead oh, wow.. I really hope its by choice. If not, I really hope things turn out better than you are expecting. It seems like tough times are happening everywhere. Watching from Honduras, in Central America.

[@Henleehomestead]

@@kawikalo​​⁠thank you. It was by choice. We purchased some land and we are planning to have livestock and bigger gardens. You’re so right, so many are experiencing difficult times.. I pray things will get better soon. Thank you for watching, it always amazes me when people find our channel from so far away. I think that is so neat.

[@hungrytimetv]

If you stock oats you can make oat milk , 🥛 I made a video on it , I pantry prep to, I've needed it a few times due to health issues mainly and it's come in handy, great tips have a wonderful day

[@Henleehomestead]

I just subscribed to your channel, I’m excited to check out your videos. 😊

[@Iamhome365]

I put the dates on the front of the cans, really easy to see at a glance. Absolutely love your pantry!! I can bake, make irish brown bread, white bread, I cook from scratch but what I'd really love is a really great bean recipe or 2 !! I'm in Ireland and beans aren't eaten the way they're eaten there but any suggestions of a good recipe. I'd really love to be able to can products too but it's virtually unheard of here, you can't get canners here and even the jars are over $5 each

[@Henleehomestead]

I’m so glad you commented, I love hearing about how things are done differently in other places. Jars where I live average between $12 and $16 for a case of 12. I’ll see if I can figure a way to add a thread or post for recipes for beans and other things we can all share, that would be a great resource for all of us 🙂

[@itsjustmeVeraVera]

We do the same, the cans get labeled as they come home before they go on shelves.

[@susielansford9500]

Excellent practical advice. Very well done!

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you 😊

[@nathanhatley4753]

Good job. Keep going. Got my harvest a year ago

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you! We are absolutely loving our harvest right 🙂

[@donavonmacallister3101]

Thanks for making this video.i learned so much.

[@Henleehomestead]

You’re welcome, thank you for watching 🙂

[@curtisreed4580]

Lighting is one thing that is a must have for us we have 3 kerosene lamps with extra kerosene

[@Henleehomestead]

Great tip, thank you!

[@daval5563]

Thank you for your video. Great advice, ... I tell new preppers that they are a day late and a dollar short. I forget that a vast amount of people don't know how to cook and I don't know why I feel shocked every time I realize it again. I have a new puppy and She's eating human food mixed with kibble. If the day ever comes that I can't get or afford kibble, She'll be fine. She's an important part of this prepping unit and I have no problem cooking for Her. I like to cook when I'm not too distracted by life. "Life" is what happens when I'm making dinner plans, ... *sigh* As it is, I prep to cook from scratch. I look for old cookbooks in the used bookstores for down to earth recipes with traditional ingredients. I don't even bother with new recipes. I don't stock Unicorn farts and Fairy dust. Keep up the great work and good luck.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@thecrazylifeandtimesofacra2629]

i always stocked up but in march 2020 when i saw the bare shelves and couldnt find tp in months i will never be caught like a deer in the headlights again i have at a very minimum 2-5 years of food and supplies on hand now and im still growing i have learned tons of valuable new skills to teach my daughter in laws i have 2 already and i still have another son to marry some day my seasonings took a whole shelving unit them selves i cant eat without them you gotta be able to change things up a little bit i do know the easy stuff is first to go in our stores no one here can cook apparently all the staples were last to go so im set i only buy stapes and cook from scratch every meal we dont eat preprocessed foods and i got my dog on autoship we are good for a year on that and every month we get another to replace the one we used im saving for a freezedryer too im almost there another about 3 months less if i can save a bunch more of my grocery budget

[@debbiec6216]

Your story sounds close to mine. In 2020, I couldn't find TP , searched for a while, finally found one package of Tp. I started stocking up with year, I have enough TP and other items .

[@SouthoftheBigChicken]

Brother called, needed help to grind 20 lbs. of venison, we split a LEM meat grinder a few years ago and it has paid for itself already. Our meat and we know how it was handled, saved a ton of money on processers. Our recipe is 2 lbs. of venison and 1 lb. of Bacon ends and pieces, in the bacon cooler and will say "Bacon Ends and Pieces"' hard to find in certain areas. Also, hard to find in deer season. We ended up with about 20% fat content, give or take and 30 lbs. of burger. Venison burger on the grill tonight. Yum-Yum.....

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s awesome, thank you for sharing!

[@karladenton5034]

I hope my son gets max deer this year (he takes the first two and gives me one if he fills all his tags). I am low on venison. I put up ground 'half venison and half beef' or use a pound of each for all the spicy uses for ground beef - chili, pasta, etc. I'll have to try the bacon add it, it sounds yummy.

[@davidbaron6647]

Amazing Pantry, I have about half of what u have GREAT VIDEO! Yes remember the pets too.

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you! 😊

[@davidbaron6647]

@@Henleehomestead u r welcome, have a good weekend.

[@joannc147]

Well done! Those are great tips.❤

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you! 😊

[@janetsandham7058]

Hi ,new to ur chanel , Thanks for the vid ,its really helpful , I started prepping a few weeks ago I am at the moment stocking in my cubourds , Chose one double for stock ,other for now ,and its coming along nicely , I do how ever have plans ,they consist of ,pinching my utility room ,and turning it into a store room ,for food , Cleaners ,toiletries ect ect ,but to do that i need shelves ,so one setj of shrlves on order ,for next weel ,i will buy one a month ,til i have all around shelve ,im so excited and happy ,becoming a prepper , I buy for ,me ,hubby ,daughter and grands , Thanks sgain for ur vid , Wil let u know how i go on

[@Henleehomestead]

Welcome to my channel, I’m glad you found it. I’m so excited for you to be starting your stockpile, being prepared really helps take away some of the stress that comes with difficult situations. I look forward to hearing more about your journey 🙂

[@janetsandham7058]

@@Henleehomestead thank u so much

[@peternorthrup6274]

I have over 200 cans of Chef Boyare dee. It's on sale all the time. I love it. I love spam too. I have case's of it. Unlimited MREs. We are in great shape. Been at it for years. Working on water now. Prepping can be fun. If it's on sale. I buy it. Great show. Wish I could send some pics. Last year we worked on med supplies. This year is communications. Bought 2 ham radios. Should be fun?

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s great! Communications is definitely an area we are lacking in. You’re right, prepping can be fun and it also really helps give some peace of mind when thinking about going through difficult times 🙂

[@hillockfarm8404]

Write the last 2 digits of useby year where you can see it easily, so mostly on the label right next to the words saying what is in it. You could even group everything according to that number. And buy whole meals, so soup + extra veg., flavoured beanmix + more veg + meat or some such. Then you can just throw a few cans together in a pot, heat and have a meal. Add any fresh stuff from garden to it you have for variety. Loose cans of this and that are usefull, but they don't always make a tasty/whole meal. Group cans according to the meals they make, so have X complementing sets together so you can easily see how many meals of recipe Y you can still make. Makes for having more filling readymeals than just a one can meal and cheaper per serving to. To that add a batch of just plain ingredients that can be mixed with whatever comes out of the garden and so on. Some like fruit can also serve as a snack (dust with some cocoa powder/ceylon cinnamon/grated coconut/ ... ).

[@Henleehomestead]

Great tips, thank you 🙂

[@KP-bq7yc]

It's a max of 25 year shelf life (like if you happen to forget about it). But think of it this way: If you stock up some things for that will last that long and for some reason You Don't Have a Freeze Dryer anymore, it'll give you time to preserve the same foods another way.

[@jeneaneherzog4626]

I'm loving the freeze drier idea! Can't wait until l can afford one! You can freeze dry LIVER for your dogs too!!!😆

[@Henleehomestead]

Yes, knew about the liver! How cool is that!? I haven’t done it yet but I’ve thought about it for our Biscuit girl. This Friday’s video is on what to expect when you purchase a freeze dryer and how to use it 🙂

[@jeneaneherzog4626]

@@Henleehomestead when our first Akita Zeus was sick all he could eat for a while was chix& rice... freeze dry in mylar?!... any dogs dream! I used to make dog snacks for a friends dog... whole wheat flour peanutbutter& skim milk! She LOVED the things. Baked up soooo easy! Didn't even have to shape them. Just cut little 2in strips with a pizza cutter!😂

[@dtriesch62]

Harvest Right has a lay away plan. Wish I knew about it long ago. Got my freeze dryer about 6 months ago but would have bought years ago if I knew. Avocados will never go bad again at my house. I freeze dry guacamole and it will store for 2-3 years. Most things store for much longer but avocados have a lot of fat so they don't store as long.

[@jennychristiansen2632]

New subscriber. Just found your channel. Thank you for these tips.

[@Henleehomestead]

Welcome to our channel, we’re glad you found us!

[@jennychristiansen2632]

@@Henleehomestead thank you

[@trailbadger2345]

We're gluten free, so it eliminates a great deal of packaged foods. However, it doesn't prevent me from buying flour and just a few other things that i wouldn't usually buy for possible barter. (If it comes down to eating it if we're starving, we will.) Good vid.

[@Henleehomestead]

Barter items are great to have 🙂

[@carolinechavez9203]

Could you add your list for GF...I find it really difficult to get this kind of list for my family...

[@TUKByV1]

@@carolinechavez9203 I store a lot of cornmeal (various types), white rice, and dry beans. Properly stored, cornmeal can last 10+ years, white rice 30+, beans 5+ (reportedly, the nutrients in beans is almost gone by the 5-year mark). I highly recommend getting a little gear for taking small game and learning how to use it (traps, snares, fishing tackle). Stored well, those things will last decades and get you protein when the stores or your wallet cannot.

[@davidmangen1912]

Health is wealth. Check out moringa powder, the miracle food.

[@jerseystotler3615]

Like your channel! Very down to earth information!! SUBSCRIBED!

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you so much! 🙂

[@susanclair8623]

hello from Oregon.I am new to your channel. thanks for sharing

[@Henleehomestead]

Hello and welcome! 😊

[@bread-casserole]

I’m curious about those jars on the bottom shelf with white lids and a built in grip!

[@Henleehomestead]

The ones with dry beans? If so, those are from the dollar tree and they work great for storing beans I’m using within the year. I use mylar bags and mason jars for longer storage.

[@beckym5730]

How did you figure out the amount you needed for 1 year for that amount people , lbs ounces new to this .

[@Henleehomestead]

I figured up how often we go through certain items. For example if we use a 5lb bag of sugar every 2 weeks I know we need 26 bags for a year and I add a little extra for cushion.

[@Henleehomestead]

Don’t let it overwhelm you, when you first get started you can feel like you have to get everything at once but a little each week will fill pantry before you know it.

[@beckym5730]

@@Henleehomestead ok thank you

[@terryrodriguez6209]

You don’t t want to go out and buy a ton of things at the same time because each of those items is going to expire at the same time. I personally don’t want to have say 12 boxes of cereal expiring on the same date next October.

[@Henleehomestead]

Very good point 🙂

[@Henleehomestead]

@@LG-sw1ge that’s how I do too, replacing as we eat keeps us from having several of the same thing expiring at the same time. I meal plan with things that are coming up on their date 🙂

[@danielteegarden8982]

OCD Right ..... I Prep. But I have been doing this long enough that I know that I need to eat most of the food in a year , maybe 2 at best.

[@pauletterichards4755]

Can food will last for a long time beyond the expiration date

[@tooshieg2059]

Food is comfort. When the bad thing happens, your comfort foods will become that much more important to relieve stress. Dehydrating is another way to preserve garden harvest and foods on sale and can be done right in your oven. No special equipment required.

[@Henleehomestead]

Dehydrating is a great way to preserve foods!

[@bluemoon3699]

Expiration dates: Salad dressings & oils get rancid when old. I think cans last forever. (5 years at least)

[@lauraIngleswilder74]

I have eaten can goods that were 12 yr past best buy date and they were fine

[@judipepper6066]

Good info!🙋🏻‍♀️ NW GA

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@bjcdownunder]

Whilst I agree with the principle that you should buy what you eat, I still stock foods that we don't eat on a regular basis because of their value in a crisis situation. Dried beans and lentils, for example, are not a part of our normal diet, but I've got buckets of them stored anyway. (I have practised making meals out of them, and added many recipes to my personal cookbook, which I keep updated and in hard copy) They're relatively cheap, highly nutritious, and very versatile. I will still replace them as needed and use the old ones as chicken feed. Likewise, we eat very little white flour and sugar, but I've stocked up on both plus honey, maple syrup, and molasses so that I am ready to bake and preserve to add variety in tough times. I could go on, but I'm sure you get my point. Happy prepping friends.

[@Henleehomestead]

You’re absolutely right 🙂

[@hungrytimetv]

Yep buy food you eat and eat food you buy

[@MeaganShapiro]

Bulk seasoning are super cheap at your local Indian Food Mart!!!

[@tinabegone5269]

Loved this was great 👍 thank you

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you so much!

[@papichris4117]

great vid

[@Henleehomestead]

Thank you!

[@kurtsteiner8384]

Tins last a very long time, years use bey date are a gimick. They used tins issued in the boer war in sout africa in 1910. This is what i do, if i use something i replace it after i get new supplies. Ting are emergency meals.

[@christineratliff7735]

When you freeze dry do you get to put it on the shelf in the pantry or do you have to put it in the freezer

[@Henleehomestead]

Freeze drying makes the food shelf stable. After the machine freezes it, it dries it completely removing all moisture. It can then stored on the shelf.

[@hallhouse9902]

I’m just starting out and my first goal is 3 months supply for five people. My next goal is a year supply. ❤

[@Henleehomestead]

That’s great!! You’ll meet your goals sooner than you realize, a little here and there adds up fast 😊