CHAPTER 30 - SHELF LIFE BASICS
When deciding which foods you are going to store in case of an emergency shortage of food, the shelf life of your food choices if one of the most important details if not the most important. The term “shelf life” refers to how long foods can be stored before they spoil or lose nutritional value.
Unrefined food basics such as flour, rice, grains, beans, etc. can often remain viable indefinitely – especially if they are stored with the proper methods and kept in an area that is cool, dark, and as airtight as possible.
Optimal temperature for food storage is 70 degrees or below, and the less humidity in the storage area the better. It is suggested that food be stored with less than 10% moisture content in the air if possible.