Spoiling Freeze-Dried Food Myths

Every once in a while I’ll notice someone saying or writing something negative about freeze-dried food.

Such as, it’s too expensive. Or that the freeze-drying process depletes the food’s nutritional value. Or simply that it doesn’t taste very good.

My first reaction is, none of that is true. My second thought is, I wonder what their preparedness alternative is.

Do they think they’ll be able to open and enjoy a can of soup in 20 years? In reality, that soup will probably go bad five years from now, tops.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But if inaccurate myths about freeze-dried food get spread around, some folks might not stockpile it. And that could be hazardous to the health of them and their families someday.

Water removal the key

Today my goal is to debunk those myths. As well as a few others. If you’ve read my emails in the past, you know I sometimes like to toss in a little history. So, here goes.

The ancient Peruvian Incas of the Andes were the first to utilize the freeze-dried process. At least as far as we know.

They stored potatoes and other crops on mountain peaks. The temperatures would freeze the food. Low air pressure in high altitudes would slowly vaporize water inside the food.

These days, food is quickly frozen to start the freeze-drying process. Then the ice is turned into water vapor and removed by placing the frozen food in a vacuum. This results in a dehydrated product.

Now, about those myths…

Myth #1: Canned food is all you need.

Having some canned foods in your pantry is not a bad idea. It can’t hurt. But shelf lives probably fall well short of what you and your family may end up needing someday.

Freeze-dried foods last much longer. And they will taste as fresh in many years as they would today.

Freeze-dried food can stay good for up to 25 years. Assuming it is properly stored.

And that means keeping it in a cool, dark, dry place. Where air, light, moisture and rodents can’t get at it.

Myth #2: Freeze-dried food tastes bad and loses nutritional value.

Unlike canned food that can lose its taste and nutritional value over time, freeze-dried food tastes as good and fresh as the day it is packaged.

Natural food has moisture in it. That’s what helps it taste good. But that moisture also makes it vulnerable to microorganisms that cause spoilage.

When food is frozen, microorganisms are unable to grow. Freeze-drying removes nearly all moisture.

Once food is freeze-dried, it’s simply a matter of packaging it properly in airtight bags. Such as bags made of Mylar. And then storing it where it can’t be contaminated by the elements.

This process also helps freeze-dried food retain its nutritional value better than canned food. Without chemicals.

Myth #3: Freeze-dried meats don’t break down well in our bodies.

Some people have concerns about how freeze-dried meat might affect their digestive systems.

But freeze-dried food is usually more easily digested than canned food. That’s due to the fact that it does not contain additives or preservatives.

Myth #4: Freeze-dried foods are expensive.

People sometimes worry about the cost of freeze-dried food. Prices may seem higher because freeze-dried food is often sold in bulk.

But by using a calculator, you realize you’re saving money by purchasing freeze-dried food.

Myth #5: Your options are limited with freeze-dried food.

When many people hear “freeze-dried,” they first think of fruits and vegetables. And those are certainly items you should stockpile.

But freeze-dried pasta, beans, rice and more can also provide plenty of nutrition. Including much-needed protein, minerals and other nutrients.

Why is this important? For one thing, if a crisis goes on for more than several days, you’re going to desire something other than fruits and vegetables.

For another, the stress you’ll experience during an emergency will raise your cortisol levels. That means potential muscle loss. Maintaining strength will be a must in a crisis.

Lumberjack Survival Food Kit

As you know, we offer a wide variety of survival food with a long shelf life. But as I’m writing this, my stomach is grumbling from hunger. So, I want to mention one of my favorite kits that’s guaranteed to fill you up.

Our Lumberjack Survival Food Kit provides you with 20,800 calories of hearty preparedness in 80 servings.

These delicious family favorites include Classic Bean Chili, Cowboy Rice & Beans, Frank’s Favorite Alfredo, Nonna’s Best Lasagna-Style Marinara and plenty more.

Everything is stored in airtight, disaster-resistant, space-age Mylar packages. And guaranteed to stay fresh for up to 25 years. No refrigeration is required. It’s all secured in a convenient tote.

Claim yours here

Here’s Your Winter Camping Checklist

There are two kinds of campers in America. One can hardly wait until spring so they can start camping again after at least three months away from it.

The other kind of camper doesn’t care which season it is. Camping is a passion for them. They’ll camp in the winter just as often – and with as much enthusiasm – as they will in the spring, summer or fall.

Obviously, staying warm is a challenge with winter camping. But there are advantages to camping during this season. Including solitude, quiet, more unused camping locations and a lack of pesky bugs.

If you’re one of the latter group, or if you want to try winter camping for the first time, today I’m going to provide you with a checklist of items to include in your winter camping gear. And as I often do, I’m saving one of the most important items for last.

Staying warm… awake or asleep

First and foremost, include plenty of warm clothing. Focus on layers. That means t-shirts, flannel shirts, waterproof jackets and a water-resistant down coat. And plenty of extra long underwear and thick socks. Plus a warm hat.

Waterproof boots and gloves are also essentials, of course. Your sleeping bags will probably have down insulation. It’s more expensive but is lighter, lasts longer and compresses smaller.

Sleeping pads are also very important. They’ll put an extra layer between the cold ground and you. Many people prefer inflatable pads to foam pads.

Needless to say, you’ll want to include plenty of blankets and pillows. Do your best to keep them dry.

More essentials

Here are more items I haven’t mentioned yet. How many of these you take will depend on whether you’re roughing it or heading to a campground where some amenities are provided. It might also depend on how long you’ll be gone.

Four-season tent, with footprints, stakes and mallet/hammer
Ground cloth/tarp
Backpack
Headlamps, flashlights and extra batteries
Camp table and chairs (if the site doesn’t have them)
Lantern
Snowshoes
Toiletries
First-aid kit including prescription meds
Lip balm
Sunglasses
Bandanas
Survival knife
Multi-tool
Duct tape
Paracord or rope
Saw or ax for cutting firewood
Compass and GPS
Binoculars
Whistle
Walkie-talkies
NOAA emergency radio
Disinfectant wipes
Documents including vehicle registration, insurance, reservations, etc.

Food-related items

Perishable food packed in a cooler or ice chest
Non-perishable food for snacking
Plenty of bottled water and other beverages
Personal water purifier
Fire starters
Cooking, serving and eating utensils
Cooking pots, pans, plates and cups
Tongs and skewers
Oven mitts
Cutting board
Canteen/thermos
Coffee pot
Can opener
Heavy duty aluminum foil
Dishwashing liquid and sponges
Paper towels and napkins
Tupperware
Zip-top bags
Trash and recycle bags

StarFire Camp Stove

As promised, I saved one of the most crucial winter camping items for the end. It’s the StarFire Camp Stove from 4Patriots.

When you need to cook food or stay warm without electrical power and without gas or butane, this is your best choice. Made of stainless steel, it “runs” on twigs and leaves, which you can find for free just about anywhere.

This low-smoke device turns cold food into hot meals. It boils water in eight to 12 minutes. It can also provide light and warmth. And since it weighs only about one pound, it fits in just about any backpack or bug-out bag. That’s portability.

Best of all, if you purchase four, you receive more than $270 in free gifts. Including the Patriot Power Cell, two 72-Hour Survival Food Kits, a Freedom Flame Flexible Arc Lighter and more. Not to mention an easy payment plan if you want it.

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Proper Hygiene for Indoors and Outdoors

It could be argued that improper hygiene has killed more people than anything else in world history.

Many who have died from various diseases through the centuries either didn’t know how to avoid those illnesses or were physically unable to. But proper hygiene could have saved many of them.

Few of us are overly concerned about our lives ending due to improper hygiene. But the fact is, many have perished due to COVID-19 the past two years and from the flu for many years because they didn’t take precautions. Including their personal hygiene.

Today I want to talk about the importance of hygiene for staying healthy and safe for what promises to be some challenging years ahead.

The cleaner the better

There are countless viruses floating around out there – as well as harmful bacteria. Good hygiene limits the spread of germs and infectious diseases.

In addition to strengthening our immune system, we should keep personal hygiene top of mind. The cleaner your hands are, for example, the less likely you will be to transfer anything harmful to your mouth, nose or eyes.

Whether you are home or out and about, you can expect injuries as small as cuts on your hands to something more crucial such as gashes elsewhere on your body. The cleaner you are to start, the less likely you are to pick up a bacterial infection or worse.

The best hygiene hack I know of is the Patriot Pure Sanitizing Solution Machine. Using just salt and water, you can create a powerful disinfectant in minutes. It will destroy germs without leaving a toxic residue behind.

2 kits are better than one

You should also build a hygiene kit. It will help you stay clean and healthy, no matter your situation. It could mean the difference between sickness and health during emergency conditions. These kits are often overlooked in survival planning.

Actually, I recommend putting together two DIY hygiene kits. A small, lightweight kit for your bug-out bag that has supplies for several days, and a larger, more complete kit for your home survival supplies that contains hygiene items needed to survive up to three months.

Both kits should contain supplies needed to bathe and cover your basic haircare and dental needs. With additional sanitary supplies for women and diapering supplies if you have young children. Your larger home kit should contain items to aid you in a longer duration such as haircutting supplies.

The two lists below contain the basics of what each kit should contain. Each member of your family should have their own personal hygiene kit. The home hygiene kit should contain enough for your entire family plus additional supplies if you have storage room.

Bug-out bag hygiene kit

This kit should be stored in a waterproof bag inside your bug-out bag, and should include the following:

Toilet paper – or travel-sized baby wipes will also work.

Antibacterial wipes – any brand will do, but look for lightweight packaging.

Hand sanitizer – look for an alcohol-based sanitizer, as it can double as a fire-starter.

Fine-tooth comb – the finer the comb, the easier it will be to remove debris plus ticks and other bugs from hair.

Travel-sized soap – you can use bar form, but liquid castile soap is recommended for its multi-use factor.

Wash cloth and small towel – consider microfiber, as they are lightweight, absorb more moisture and dry faster.

Toothbrush/toothpaste/dental floss – the smaller the better. The goal here is to keep your mouth as healthy as possible. So skip the mouthwash unless you require antiseptic wash for cleanliness.

Nail clippers and metal nail file – skip the emery board as it retains moisture.

Neosporin – this will not only be for small cuts, but also can be used as lip balm.

Alcohol wipes and bandages – you don’t need an entire box, just add a few.

Pain reliever – much like above, just add a small quantity. This isn’t to serve as a first-aid kit, but having a few small health-related items won’t hurt.

Small hand mirror – remember, pick something as lightweight as possible.

Waste bags – if you don’t want to purchase these, you can use small sandwich baggies or pet waste bags.

Home prep hygiene kit

This kit should be stored alongside other survival supplies, and should include the following:

Liquid castile soap – this biodegradable soap can be used for bathing, shampoo and shaving. And it can be used as a multipurpose cleaning solution to wash surfaces, laundry and even dishes.

Washcloths and bath towels

Shampoo and conditioner

Razor, blades and shaving gel

Hairbrush and fine tooth hair comb

Hair ties

Toothbrush/toothpaste/mouthwash/dental floss

Deodorant

Nail clippers and metal nail files

Mirror

Barber comb and scissors

Tweezers – this isn’t only for personal grooming, but also beneficial for removing splinters, etc.

Alcohol swabs and bandages – even with a first-aid kit containing these items, I still recommend adding them to your hygiene supplies.

Lotion

Hand sanitizer

Grease remover or lime oil – this removes grease, sap and soot

Facial tissue

Cotton balls and Q-tips

Antibacterial wipes

Women’s sanitary supplies – consider purchasing reusable supplies and the cleaning items needed to maintain hygienic use. This has a potential to be less expensive and also can reduce space in your supplies.

Diaper supplies – if you may have a child or an elderly person in your group. Think long-term, not just today.

Toilet paper/toilet wipes

Camp toilet set – in case an emergency leaves you without functional plumbing, you should have a back-up plan. If your toilet set doesn’t include a portable bidet, you may want to purchase one. This will help immensely with maintaining hygienic conditions and cut down on toilet paper waste.

Waste bags/garbage bags

Portable shower – if you don’t already have one in your emergency supplies, consider adding one. Cleanliness is crucial to your survival, and you want to make sure you have the option to shower.

The primary purpose of hygiene kits is to maintain health and prevent potential disease. If you or someone in your group needs additional items to accomplish this, now is the time to get them added to your supplies.

Keep in mind, your small hygiene kit should remain as light as possible so it doesn’t weigh down your bug-out bag. Refrain from adding too many unnecessary items. Save most optional items for your home hygiene kit.

Treating injuries

Here are some suggestions for dealing with cuts and wounds you might sustain in a survival situation.

Try to practice good hygiene over your entire body every day.

Take a first-aid training class.

Bandage, cover or seal all open cuts or abrasions, no matter how small.

Try to keep wounds out of contaminated water.

Wash even small wounds with purified water and salt daily.

If you have the supplies, bandage wounds with antiseptic ointments, honey or salt.

In cold weather conditions, do whatever it takes to stay as warm as possible and remember to stay well hydrated.

Poor hygiene produces problems

Why is it so important to practice good hygiene? Poor personal hygiene transforms the body into a perfect environment for germs to live long and prosper.

It also makes our bodies more vulnerable to infection. Failing to practice good hygiene can lead to a number of problems. Including diarrhea and gastroenteritis, respiratory infections including the flu and common cold, and staph infections.

As well as ringworm, scabies, lice, trachoma and other eye infections, athlete’s foot and tooth decay.

Whether you are able to hunker down during an emergency or have to bug-out, practicing good hygiene can make a world of difference.

Check out my favorite hygiene hack here

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