Survival Food Test Off the Shelf Instant Refried Beans

Survival Food Test Off the Shelf Instant Refried Beans

Having food items that can serve a variety of purposes can help increase your level of efficiency of your food storage. A simple can of beans works great for home storage. If you have to bug out, something a little lighter and easier to carry make be more suitable. This is where having dehydrated food can save you time and effort.

RW, Jr. and I are always looking for backpacking food that is convenient and easy to fix. Unfortunately, most dehydrated meal packets contain enough servings to feed a small army because of their larger portions. It also helps if you don’t have to violate the storage integrity of the larger food packet that is normally intended for long term storage. 

Many times there are products that can be found sitting on the shelf at your local supermarket that will solve these problems. For the purposes of this test, we will be using a small package of instant (dehydrated) refried beans straight off the shelf for our survival food test.

The package of dehydrated refried beans we used weighed a total of 7.25 ounces and came packaged in a Mylar pouch that can be resealed. The single serving size was 1/3 cup dry mix (or about 4 heaping teaspoons) combined with 1/3 cup of water (about 3 ounces). This makes a serving (or two) easily prepared in a GSI cup that many backpackers use. The contents do provide a sufficient quantity of product that will make a total of six servings. This would be more than sufficient for a single meal that would provide enough for a family of four. 

With 140 calories per serving that include 2 grams of fat, 21 grams of carbohydrates and 7 grams of protein, this a pretty powerful serving of food that includes vitamin C and iron. This is a pretty well balanced serving as far as simple nutrition is concerned.

It was easily prepared by just adding hot water, stirring the ingredients and then letting it set for a few minutes to allow the beans to rehydrate. It really doesn’t get much easier than that.

When the size and weight was compared, it would take two 16 ounce cans of refried beans to get the same number of servings that were in a single pouch of instant refried beans. The cost of the instant pouch is about twice the cost of two cans of refried beans. You do need to remember that you can buy these packages individually and don’t have to buy a big bucket all at once. This could work in your favor if you are on a tight budget.

Summary of Test Results

The instant refried beans win in the number of servings (6 in a pouch versus 3 in a can) and also save a lot in the weight department (7 ounces versus 2 lbs.) but are more costly (about twice the cost of the canned version). The instant refried beans have a shelf life similar to the canned product and they actually taste very similar to each other. I personally could not tell a difference between the canned version and the instant refried beans.

As a long term storage food, this product works well. It also works great as a backpacking food and could be easily added to your bug out bag as a simple to prepare meal that is also a nutritious food item. It also doesnt add a lot of weight to your bug out bag.

Got instant food?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Food Test Off the Shelf Instant Refried Beans

Survival Food Test RW Tests Freeze Dried Meals from DailyBread

Survival Food Test RW Tests Freeze Dried Meals from DailyBread

Daily Bread is a sister site of foodinsurance.com and offers freeze dried meals with a 25 year shelf life. A decision was made that it was time for Riverwalker to check out their freeze-dried food products. After receiving a free sample from my friend Jeff at dailybread.com, Mrs. RW and I had a nice lunch of Beef Stroganoff with noodles and Lasagna with meat sauce. The results were a pleasant surprise.

The first thing that impressed me was the quality of the packaging. The packages were clearly labeled with nutrition information, contents and very clear and concise preparation instructions. They also featured an easy open tear notch on the package that worked as it was intended. There was also an inner zip lock inside the pouch that is used to seal the pouch while waiting for your meal to heat up after adding the required hot water. All the features of the packaging worked as intended. Riverwalker gives the packaging thumbs up!

The next thing that impressed me was that the meal was easily prepared in the pouch. This eliminates the need for a separate cooking container. It also means there won’t be any dirty dishes to be washed. This is important if water sources are at a premium during a crisis. You will need to remove the oxygen absorber from the pouch (the little blue packets in the pic) before adding the hot water. Preparation gets a thumbs up from RW!

Even though the contents showed a higher sodium content than I normally prefer, the meals were not too salty and the seasoning was adequate and not overdone. Mrs. RW said she was quite surprised at how tasty the meals were and offered to help me finish off my beef Stroganoff and noodles. I also sampled her lasagna with meat sauce and found it to be very tasty as well. While only being around 300 calories each, they did alleviate my hunger and left me with a very satisfied feeling. Taste gets another thumbs up from Mrs. RW and myself.

These freeze dried meals would also be great for camping and backpacking. They are lightweight and require only the ability to heat water to prepare. They also mean you don’t have unnecessary cleanup chores or extra cooking containers to haul around. A dozen or so empty pouches would weigh significantly less than the average cooking pot.

You can experience the taste of Daily Bread products by visiting dailybread.com

where you can sign up for your own free sample of Daily Bread.

The Glock Lady, my daughter, is a big fan of their products and also recommends you check out their Emergency Supplies.

Got  foodinsurance?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Food Test RW Tests Freeze Dried Meals from DailyBread

Riverwalker’s Book Review and Giveaway Good Clean Food

Riverwalker’s Book Review and Giveaway Good Clean Food

In a world of ever increasing dominance of large national companies that control our food sources, it is increasingly important that we make ourselves aware of the risks this poses to our food supply. In his new book,Good Clean Food, Samuel Epstein, MD helps to inform everyone of these risks and gives you a better understanding of the effects certain practices are having on our current food supply.

One of the main features of this book is the help and understanding that can be gained from knowing about how our food is labeled and whether it is truly organic and safe from toxic substances that can affect our health. There is a wide discrepancy in the manner in which our food is labeled and everyone should be aware of how to properly read and understand the labels on our food products. While most labeling isnt meant to be deceptive, it can also be very misleading if you arent careful when reading the label. You can also learn to decipher the codes on fruit and vegetables in order for you to determine which products are truly organic and better for you and your family.

The book also offers tips on shopping locally (farmer’s markets, etc.), growing your own food and even tips for dining out. It also offers advice on nutritional and dietary approaches to help undo some of the harmful effects in many of our processed foods.

There is also a section at the end of each chapter with information on different organic farms and growers that are considered to have safe and reliable food products. There is also an extensive index with numerous businesses in the various states that have reliable products that you can trust to be safe for your consumption.

Information can be a vital key to understanding what is going on in our world. With government regulations that are at most inadequate in the majority of cases where our food supply is concerned, it is important to educate yourself about the possible risks to your food supply.

The Giveaway

As an added bonus, a lucky reader will also receive a free copy of “Good Clean Food” direct from the publisher at no charge. Simply leave a comment about how you are taking the necessary steps to have good clean food available for yourself and your family. Whether it is growing your own vegetables, forming a buying club, or going to farmer’s markets, let us know how you are working to make your food supply safer. A winner will be chosen at random from the comments received. If commenting anonymously, please leave an identifier in your comments. The winner will be announced in a separate post on July 15th from the comments received.

  

About the Author

Samuel Epstein, MD is an internationally recognized authority on avoidable causes of cancer. He is the author of more than twenty books and 270 peer-reviewed articles and has served as president of the Society for Occupational and Environmental Health, the Rachel Carson Council, professor emeritus of environmental and occupational medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health, and chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition. 

Got Good Clean Food?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker’s Book Review and Giveaway Good Clean Food

Food for Survival

Food for Survival

Natural disasters are no mystery to everyone and we know they happen. They are inevitable and the only thing we can do is to be prepared for whatever these might bring. When disaster strikes, the first thing that comes into mind is how you and your family would survive the onslaught of calamity. Surviving means staying alive and to do this, you need food to keep you going.

Anything can happen whenever there is a disaster. The government may ask you to evacuate your house stay somewhere else safer for the meantime or you might be prompted to stay at your house without leaving its comfort. Both situations pose a problem when it comes to food and water supplies: when you evacuate, will your family be given enough food and water? When you have to stay in, will your supplies last until it’s safe to go out? Whichever situation comes beating down your door, both call for preparation for long-term food storage. You may bring well-stored food items with you if you have to evacuate your home, and if there’s no other option for you but to stay, a well-stocked food storage bin will keep you and your family from starvation.

Counting food for your family

If you consider your family to be a big one, you should also consider that a large amount of food supplies is needed to sustain everyone for at least two weeks: that’s 42 meals for each family member if you will be eating meals three times a day. Not only your family size but also your eating habits will tell you how much food you need to store for the ‘rainy’ days that may come your way. Families who prefer cereals for breakfast would have different preparation activities from those who prefer eggs and sausages (who may have to do without eggs during disaster time). A disaster is not the time to indulge in food you like to eat; more often than not, you have to stick to canned food and ready-mixes that can be easily prepared, even without cooking. You may take individual needs in mind and work it into your disaster meal plan. Consider your family size and diet restrictions when planning meals. The meals should be simple but still nutritious, easily prepared, and are able to keep well even without heating and refrigerating. Schedule “fresher” food for the first week and leave the canned food for the second.

Food basics for survival

You might think that canned foods are the only choices you can stock when disaster comes. Sure, canned goods get high marks for long term food storage but you don’t actually have to stick to them entirely. Pasta, powdered milk, sugar, beans, honey, wheat and several other recipe ingredients are actually good choices for long-term food since they don’t expire quickly, and if properly stored should keep for a span of 10 to 30 years. Non-perishable goods also make the list, like freeze-dried or dehydrated food like fruit preserves and even candies. Biscuits and cookies may also be a good choice. Just make sure that you seal them in re-sealable bags or airtight containers to keep them fresh even if they have to stay in your survival food bag for two weeks (unless they already get snacked on during the first couple of days!). Ready-to-eat, complete meals are also available in grocery stores.

Just remember not to wolf down all of your food provisions at once. Moderate your food consumption; strictly follow your disaster meal planning. Conserve your food especially when you are not sure when you will be able to replenish your stocks. Don’t forget to keep enough supply of fresh water as your body would need it more than food. Having food for your family amidst a disaster ensures that you’re a step ahead to survive any calamity that may happen at any time.

About the Author

Adeline is a writer who specializes in food preparation and long term food storage.

References

The Epicenter: How to Prepare for an Emergency;

http://theepicenter.com/howto.html

 

 

Family Survival Planning: Survival Planning – Emergency Supplies – Survival Tips;

http://www.family-survival-planning.com/#axzz2KbEeDI9X

The Daily Beast: 10 Ways to Prepare for Disaster;

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2009/12/27/10-ways-to-prepare-for-disaster.html

 Thanks Adeline for an excellent guest post.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Food for Survival

Survival Food Review MRE’s from Meal Kit Supply

Survival Food Review MRE’s from Meal Kit Supply

During an emergency or a crisis you never really know what kind of meal is going to wind up on your plate. While there are many types of long term storage food options, few can beat the simplicity and ease of use of an MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat).

While they may not be quite the same as a “home-cooked” meal, MRE’s do provide a total meal and include beverages and a snack as well. The different menu plans do offer a decent amount of variety for your diet that normally includes breakfast and the “veggie” option. While there really is no “wow” factor when you consider the taste of the entrees in an MRE, they do furnish an adequate amount of calories and the necessary nutrition for your survival.

One distinct advantage of MRE’s is that they come with condiments, as in sugar, salt and pepper. With the right amount of seasoning, anything on your plate or in your MRE is going to taste a whole lot better. 

There is also an important note about MRE’s to remember. You will need water to properly prepare your MRE and also to make your beverage. 

The MRE’s from Meal Kit Supply were shipped in a sturdy container that contained 12 individual units that included 4 breakfast entrees and a couple of “veggie” options. All the individual packages were in excellent condition and suffered no damage in transit. They also arrived promptly in just a few days after being ordered. Variety is an important consideration when considering an item for long term food storage.

There are also very clearly marked date codes on the bottom of the case with instructions on how to read the date code properly. This makes it easy to keep a proper rotation of your storage food items. Clearly marked date codes are a must when considering an item for long term food storage.

Individual MRE’s from Meal Kit Supply come in a sturdy package that is almost identical to the regular government issue MRE’s. The actual wording on the MRE’s from Meal Kit Supply was a lot easier to read. Sturdy packaging is a must when considering an item for long term food storage.

The pork sausage patty MRE was a nice change of pace from some of the usual breakfast entrees. This also helped enhance the variety of the menus offered in these MRE’s. It’s really nice when they include something besides oatmeal for breakfast.

The chicken fajita MRE was a pleasant surprise in the taste department and adds a lot to the menu variety. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this meal an 8 (with 10 being reserved for homemade fajitas). The tortillas were actually quite good. This puts it right up there in the taste category and is probably one of the better meals that came in the case of MRE’s from Meal Kit Supply.

The chili and beans MRE was my next favorite item and it tasted as good as, if not better, than the canned versions available in the grocery store. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give this meal a strong 7 only because I’m very picky about my chili and beans. I really prefer my own “homemade” version but wouldnt have any trouble eating this MRE on a regular basis.

  If you want a long term food storage product with sturdy packaging, easy to read date codes, a wide variety of menu options and that is simple and easy to prepare, then MRE’s from Meal Kit Supply  may be just what you are looking for to solve your long term food storage needs. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised by the taste and quality of these MRE’s.

Got MRE’s?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Food Review MRE’s from Meal Kit Supply

Survival Food Test Spam 411

Survival Food Test Spam 411

Invariably some food items in your pantry will somehow manage to sit around in the cabinet and avoid your best efforts at proper rotation until their “Best By” date expires. Fortunately, this doesnt mean it’s unfit for consumption but will still be perfectly palatable. There are still a few things you need to check to insure that it is safe for consumption.

For the purposes of this survival food test, we will be using one of the favorite food items of survivalists everywhere...spam. Spam is a very versatile food that is rumored to have an indefinite shelf life when properly stored. It is now going to be put to the test.

We will be using a can of spam with a “Best by” date of 04/11, which makes it slightly out of date by more than a couple of years. Here is the manner in which it was checked to see if it was still a viable food source.

The first thing checked was proper storage conditions. Having been stored in my pantry for well over three years under proper conditions this was not a concern. If the storage conditions can’t be verified, you will need to exercise additional caution and be a lot more critical of the next steps in determining it’s viability as a food source.

The second thing to check was the overall condition of the can. It appeared in good shape and had no dents, leaks, swelling or bulging areas and had no rust.

The third item checked was the presence of any visible deterioration of the food product in the form of mold or mildew that might be present. The spam was also sliced to make sure there was no interior contamination. None was evident.

The fourth item checked was the smell of the food item. It actually had a very fresh smell and reminded me of spam that I had been eaten on previous occasions. No problems with the spam in the smell department.

The final check was the taste test. After frying up several slices of the spam, it was supplemented with some eggs. It made for a very satisfying meal.

When using canned food items that may have passed their “Best by” date, a few simple precautions can help you avoid problems.

1. If possible, always check that proper storage conditions of the food product were maintained.

2. Examine the container for any visible damage that could affect the food item.

3. Examine the contents for any visible signs of deterioration.

4. Use the smell test...if it smells bad, it probably is.

5. Finally, use the taste test on a small sample before consuming the food item.

There is an old saying that is easy to remember and applies in this type of situation.

When in doubt, throw it out!

Got spam?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Food Test Spam 411

Survival Food Test Valley Food Storage Product Review

Survival Food Test Valley Food Storage Product Review

When deciding upon a long term food storage product, it helps to sample the product before purchasing a large quantity for your emergency pantry. This is a product review of one of the long term food storage products available from www.valleyfoodstorage.com.

After receiving a sample from Valley Food Storage, a test was conducted on the various aspects that are important in a long term food storage product. The sample food product tested was a package of “Enchilada Beans and Rice”.

Review Results:

1.) Cost - This product costs $11.95 for a 5 serving unit. This breaks down to about $2.39 a serving and is a reasonable price for a long term food storage product with an extended shelf life. They also offer a variety of discounts on their site.

2.) Packaging - The packaging is extremely sturdy and comes in a Mylar pouch that is resealable. The pouch was easy to re-seal and maintained a good seal afterwards. The left-over pouch can also be used as an emergency water container or to carry other snack items.

3.) Preparation - Prep time was roughly 20 minutes total and requires two cups of boiling water. Cooking was a fairly easy process if you follow the cooking directions on the package.

4.) Appearance - The contents looked and smelled very appetizing.

5.) Taste & Smell - When cooked, it had a pleasant aroma and the beans and rice were very soft. One noted exception is that there were no enchiladas in the package. “Enchilada flavored” would be a better description. Seasonings were well balanced. This is important for a person that doesn’t like a large amount of seasoning on their food.

All things considered, this is a very good food storage product. After sampling a wide variety of long term food storage products over the years, this item compares very favorably with other similar long term food storage products.

Got long term food storage?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Food Test Valley Food Storage Product Review

5 Easy Tips for starting an effective food storage

5 Easy Tips for starting an effective food storage

If you needed to live off of the items in your home for an undetermined amount of time, would you be ready?  No matter where you live, your home is susceptible to natural disasters and emergency situations. Creating an effective food storage is important for everyone, no matter their household size or living situation. Because starting your food storage may be a bit overwhelming at first, we’re here to help you take care of this important detail in emergency preparation. Check out these five easy tips then start building your food storage today!

1.       Take your time :

While it may feel like you should be getting this done ASAP, it’s important that you take your time to get it right. Add a few items to your supply each week until you have three months of food stored away for you and your family. It takes time to stock up on a whole year’s supply of food. Learn to use your freezer and make extra portions of your favorite foods to bag and freeze them.

2.       Planning:

You don’t have to go broke buying supplies for your food storage. Start with a food storage plan and add a little at a time. Use a checklist to ensure that you’ve purchased foods that you will actually eat. This will help you stick to a budget as you add to your food storage over time.

3.       Find Storage space:

One of the major obstacles you will encounter is finding enough space for your emergency preparedness supplies. Preparing space in advance will help you find areas for storage. Don’t panic if you have a restricted amount of space to work with. It’s fun to get creative when looking for storage space ideas. The most common places that are overlooked are under beds, in closets, under dressers, under desks, and under or behind sofas. You can also go through your household items and toss duplicate or seldom-used items.

4.       Create a Rotation:

Occasionally, you will have to go through your emergency food supply to replace older items. You will want to do this once a year or even every two years. It is important to restock what you remove. Rotating your long term food storage is an awesome way to introduce your family to the flavors of your emergency supplies while keeping it refreshed.

5.       Keep track of your items:

Find a simple system for tracking what you have as well as what you need. Without a food storage inventory, you could end up with too much or too little of food.

Guest post by: Augason Farms 

                                                                 

About Augason Farms:

For more than 40 years, Augason Farms has provided quality a la carte and bulk food storage items to home and business owners throughout the U.S. Our high quality kits and a-la-carte items provide our customers with easy and affordable solutions for starting an emergency food storage supply.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker 

5 Easy Tips for starting an effective food storage

Book Review Winner Good Clean Food

Book Review Winner Good Clean Food

We have a winner in our book review giveaway. Selene has won a free copy of Good Clean Food direct from the publisher.

Here is Selene’s winning comment:

Anonymous said...

This year we planted a larger garden.
Most of it was washed away in heavy rains. We replanted it. Because of health concerns, we feel it is very important for us to grow as many of the vegetables we eat as we can.
We have tomatoes, peppers, squash, peas, beans, radish, kale all doing well now.
Getting ready to plant some more veggies for fall harvest too.

Selene

July 9, 2013 at 6:11 PM

Selene, in order to claim your prize, please send me an e-mail with your shipping address so the publisher can send you your free copy of Good Clean Food.

Congratulations Selene!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Book Review Winner Good Clean Food