This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
Over the years I have discussed the challenges of storing food when you have very little space. Apartments do not have a lot of pantry space, but some people live in even smaller spaces like tiny homes, vehicles or just rent a bed with storage underneath. Can you even store any food at all if all you have is a small shelf?
I think you can still store at least three days worth food for emergencies.
Food storage options if you have no space
I used to think canned foods are small enough but there are even better options.
Meats in a pouch
A lot of meats are now sold in pouches. I was very leery about them but I tested tuna steaks in a pouch a while back. The one I tested turned out really good and I’d recommend trying them out. I like Spam which you can buy in pouches as well.
Freeze dried meals
Freeze dried meals, the kind that backpackers take with them on those long treks, are also great for food storage. Not only are they lightweight, they stack well and require no refrigeration when unopened. My favorite meal in a pouch is the Mountain House Noodles and Chicken. Walmart carries them in the camping section. Don’t go all out and buy a whole bunch without trying it first. I like to try one packet at a time to see if I like it before buying several for food storage.
Fruit and vegetables
Meats and starches are not the only foods that come in packs. You can get vegetables and fruit as well. You don’t need to order them online, you can get them straight from Trader Joe’s if you have one near you.
Breakfast
Add oatmeal packets to your stash so you have something to eat for breakfast. Just take them out of the bulky box and transfer them to a large gallon size seal-able plastic bag. All you need to add is water. Stash some good coffee and tea.
If there is no power, you’ll need a small portable stove and pans to heat water.
Good places for storage
Set up a thin piece of plywood under your bed. Get a small cardboard box (such as a small Amazon box) and stack your food pouches in the box. Place the box on the plywood under the bed. While you’re at it, stack some sturdy water bottles in another box and you now have water for emergencies.
Here are a few more tips for storage: 10 Best Tips for Storing Emergency Supplies in a Small Space
Everyone should have some food stored in case of emergencies. By choosing your foods carefully and storing with little creativity, you won’t go hungry when an emergency happens.
About the author:
Bernie Carr is the founder of Apartment Prepper. She has written several books including the best-selling Prepper’s Pocket Guide, Jake and Miller’s Big Adventure, The Penny-Pinching Prepper and How to Prepare for Most Emergencies on a $50 a Month Budget. Her work appears in sites such as the Allstate Blog and Clark.com, as well as print magazines such as Backwoods Survival Guide and Prepper Survival Guide. She has been featured in national publications such as Fox Business and Popular Mechanics. Learn more about Bernie here.
Image by u_jup1hbno from Pixabay
I use my Food Saver vacuum packer on the instant oatmeal packets and on the pouches of rice and nodule side dishes that I also store. This makes them very flat and I know that the bugs will not get into them. I had some that weevils got in to and I had to throw them out. I like the rice and the nodule side dishes because you also just need boiling water to fix them. I have not tried the SPAM in a pouch yet but I have tried tuna fish in a pouch and it was good but cost a lot more that just a can. You can also look at Uncle Ben’s cooked rice in a pouch you can eat it right out of the pouch or heat it up. I also like Hormel’s meals in the heat and serve package the are a fairly flat package and have a number of different meals. And can be eaten cold right out of the package if need be.
I like you tips and information. You have had many that I never thought of.
Glad you like the tips. The food saver works really well keeping them fresh. Thanks for your additions as well.
Walk into your closet. Turn around. Look up. There’s a whole lot of wasted space above the door where a 6″ shelf could e hung, maybe two depending on height.
Mainer, Good point- the space above the closet door can be utilized. Thanks for the comment.