Types of Food Storage

There are many types of food preparations that we carry at TruPrep. We discuss each of these types below:

Freeze-dried Foods

Freeze-dried foods are fresh or cooked and then frozen. The freeze-drying process involves a special chamber that causes the water in the food to quickly change from a solid to a gas. This process preserves the cell structure of the food without compromising vitamins, nutrients, color or aroma. The result is a light-weight food option that appears and tastes fresh after being rehydrated with a minimum amount of water. Many freeze-dried options are ‘entrees’ containing multiple items for a complete meal. Freeze-dried foods need to be reconstituted by adding boiling water in order to consume.

Shelf Life: 15 to 30-years
Advantages:  Does not require refrigeration, lightweight, quick preparation, texture
Disadvantages:  Due to the more costly process, the cost of freeze-dried foods is typically higher than dehydrated

Dehydrated Foods

Dehydrated foods are made by slowly removing the water through the use of heat. This has been done for hundreds of years through the process of air drying, sun drying, smoking, or wind drying.  It can be done today by the individual using dehydrators or commercially using large commercial units.  Dehydrated foods are usually single ingredients that can be mixed to formulate your own meals.
Shelf Life: 15 to 30-years
Advantages: Does not require refrigeration (can be stored at room temp), lightweight, space savings, cost effective, taste retention
Disadvantages: Texture can be considered ‘chewy’

Canned Foods

Canned foods are like those bought off the grocery store shelf.  For the sake of this type of stored food, we are talking about foods stored in liquids.  Items can be bought in a store or home-canned using a canner.  Commercially canned foods retain their best quality until the expiration date on the can, which is usually 2-5 years from the date of manufacture.  For emergency storage, commercially canned foods remain safe to consume as long as the seal has not been broken (as long as there is no swelling or obvious signs of spoilage), but the quality will not be guaranteed. We offer canning supplies and canners for the do it yourselfer. TruPrep offers the Keystone brand canned meats which include: Pork, Chicken, Turkey and Beef which usually carry a 5-year shelf life.
Shelf Life: 2 to 30-years
Advantages: More readily available, easy to can at home
Disadvantages: Requires more space to store same amount of food, shorter shelf life, frequently contains high levels of sweetener or sodium, temperature controlled storage required

Dry Goods Storage

This storage method involves sealing bulk foods inside air-tight containers. Containers are usually food-grade 5-gallon buckets with Gamma lids and several oxygen absorbers are added to provide maximum shelflife.  Sometimes the contents are placed inside a large Mylar bag with oxygen absorbers before being sealed in the bucket which is referred to as “super-pails”.  This is the most economical method of storing goods as it doesn’t require any processing of the food prior to storage.  These foods are typically good for 8 to 15-years or more depending on storage conditions.  Only certain food items are suitable for this storage method.  Items stored using this method are typically grains, rice, and beans/peas.
Shelf Life: 8 to 25-years
Advantages: Lower cost, easy to store
Disadvantages:  Items require full cooking prior to consumption, limited food options

Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs)

MREs are complete meal solutions.  This is a popular food type, due to its use within the military.  They are not the best choice for long-term food preparedness due to their high-fat, high-protein, high-carbohydrate, and low-fiber content.  Because of this, the Department of Defense recommends they not be used for longer than 21 consecutive days.   They also have a more limited 3 to 10 year shelf life.  When comparing MREs, pay special attention to the number of calories they contain.  The lower-cost MREs typically contain a very low calorie count and aren’t ideal solutions for people who will be very active.
Shelf Life: 3 to 10-years
Advantages: Does not require refrigeration (can be stored at room temp), complete meal solutions
Disadvantages: Shorter shelf life, poorer nutritional content, limited use, temperature controlled storage required

Mountain House

Mountain House are sold in individual, two or three serving packages and are very popular with the backpacking and camping crowd.  These entrees are generally considered tastier and are typically sold individually for consumption. #10-Cans are also available in many varieties and contain between seven and 22-servings.

Wise Company

Wise Company food storage solutions are sold as individually sealed pre-packaged entrees stored in buckets. Wise Company foods contain a mixture of freeze-dried and dehydrated products. These are very popular for long-term food storage due to their long shelf life and the ease with which they can be prepared.  This makes it a great solution for long-term emergency preparedness.  The longer shelf life Wise Food solutions are entrees containing VBP (Vegetable-based protein).  Newer meat/fruit/vegetable-only products are now available in the Wise Food line of products as well.  Wise Food Grab and Go buckets can be bought as individual buckets or as part of a larger food storage solution.

Honeyville

Since 1951 Honeyville has grown from a specialty grain mill into a national food supplier leader specializing in storable foods, quality baking ingredients, and kitchen appliances. We strive to offer excellent quality foods at competitive prices to all of our customers no matter what your volume requirement is. Honeyville’s diverse line of products includes freeze dried and dehydrated foods, whole grains, flours, baking ingredients, canned foods, corn products. You will find most of our Honeyville products at TruPrep comes in #10 cans for your storage convenience. These cans include: Instant potatoes, Egg Whites, Fettuccine Alfredo, Beef Crumbles, White Chicken, to Dried Mangos and much, much more.

Keystone

A premium USDA product with an average shelf-life of 5-years, Keystone meats is a very easy and economical way to store animal based proteins as part of your family’s food security. Options like, Shredded Beef, Chicken, Pork, Turkey and Beef Crumbles are a welcome addition to any food pantry and offer a quick addition of calorie dense nutrition to your dried grains or pastas. TruPrep has carried Keystone products since we opened our doors, that’s how good they are.

MRE-Star

An American company with offices in North Carolina and Florida,  MRE STAR and its associates boast more than 30-years of experience in the food industry.  Their staff and advisers are highly recognized in the “retort” area of food production or the food engineering process, which provides the extended shelf life to the MRE meal products. Truprep offers MRE Stars full line of entrees which include: Cheese Tortellini with Marinara Sauce, Beef Stew with Potatoes and Vegetables, BBQ Chicken with Black Beans and Potatoes, Chicken Noodle Stew with Vegetables, Pasta with Marinara Sauce and Veggie Crumbles, Chicken Rice with Vegetables, Vegetarian Chili, Lentil Stew with Potatoes and Ham and Pinto Bean Stew with Ham. We sell them individually or by the case which makes for great food security and a quick and easy source of nourishment for you and your family during and emergency.

Datrex

Datrex is the gold standard in simple emergency food rations. They are individually wrapped and highly concentrated into individual 200 calorie bars then vacuum bagged in a specially designed polymer-foil package.  This high level of protection is certified to keep the contents fresh for a minimum of five years in even the harshest environments. Get the best, you or your family’s lives could depend on it!  Baked and packaged in America at FDA certified facilities. These bars are available through Truprep and we recommend them for any bug-out-bag especially ones for your long haul boats.