Tip #13: Make Use Of An Inventory And Checklist
For any pantry, especially one which you hope to equip you for a year or more, an inventory it an essential item. It is vital that during an emergency, and indeed before during the preparation stage, you know exactly how much of each food you have.
Keeping an up-to-date inventory is a matter of habit straight away. If possible, you should record the exact quantities, any instructions for preparation, the dates the food was stored and any expiration dates.
Once you start using your food store, you will need to keep it current by recording how much of each food you use. As well as separate inventory lists, a good idea is to also write the information directly onto the container labels.
Once you have built up your prepper's pantry, you will need to begin using and replacing food to ensure that your have a rotation of stock and that all the food is as fresh as it can be. This is when your inventory will start to become really instructive. Once you start to use items your inventory will give you an accurate record how much food your family uses and the particular items they consume. In turn, this can help you to think about modifying your pantry for the future.
How to choose the right foods for your pantry is a big issue. This guide will give you a number of pointers to help you choose the correct options. The following checklist can be really useful in evaluating foods:
For each food you consider putting into your pantry ask these ten questions: