Calguns.net  

Home My iTrader Join the NRA Donate to CGSSA Sponsors CGN Google Search
CA Semiauto Ban(AW)ID Flowchart CA Handgun Ban ID Flowchart CA Shotgun Ban ID Flowchart
Go Back   Calguns.net > OUTDOORS, HUNTING AND SURVIVAL > Survival and Preparations
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

Survival and Preparations Long and short term survival and 'prepping'.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-20-2021, 9:09 PM
SomeGuy75's Avatar
SomeGuy75 SomeGuy75 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Liberty Hill, TX
Posts: 1,402
iTrader: 47 / 100%
Default Emergency food

So I’m fairly new to suburban prepping, and I wanted to get your professional opinion on this:



Is it worth it? Is there something better I should look into?


Thanks in advance
__________________
That’s what she said!!!

Last edited by SomeGuy75; 02-20-2021 at 9:15 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-20-2021, 9:47 PM
Librarian's Avatar
Librarian Librarian is offline
Administrator
CGN Contributor - Lifetime
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cottage Grove, OR
Posts: 44,418
iTrader: 4 / 100%
Default

That is, of course, the Costco ad - https://www.costco.com/mountain-hous...100642273.html

You need to discover total calories in the kit - ignore 'servings'.

An adult man needs about 3000 Cal/day; a woman about 2500 Cal/day

I just pulled out a can of Nalley's Turkey Chili with beans - 520 calories in the can, costs about $1.50. 10 cans, equivalent content, would feed 1 man, 1 woman, for 1 day, for about $15.

Weighs 1 lb 0.4 oz. There might easily be reasons to carry lighter forms of food, but you pay extra for the pleasure, and still have to have the water to re-hydrate it.

ETA here's an approximately equivalent collection from Mountain House - https://mountainhouse.com/collection...cy-food-supply
Quote:
An emergency supply of breakfast, lunch & dinner for 1 person, for 96 hours. This stackable kit contains 24 total servings of Mountain House’s acclaimed easy-to-make entrees. With approximately 1,735 calories each day, ....
or, 6,940 in the kit - 2 days and a meal for a man, 3 days for a woman - list price is $99; needs 16 cups of water to rehydrate 53.4 oz of product.

Last edited by Librarian; 02-20-2021 at 11:47 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-20-2021, 10:21 PM
WalterJones WalterJones is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Escaped from PRK
Posts: 278
iTrader: 1 / 100%
Default

You can also order bulk in #10 cans from the Mormons. Their stock has been crazy since covid panic buying started and ship times are delayed.

The price listed is the price shipped, at least it was last time I ordered.

And no, they won't put you on a recruitment list.

https://store.churchofjesuschrist.or...t&beginIndex=0
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-20-2021, 10:30 PM
sealocan sealocan is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 9,755
iTrader: 20 / 100%
Default

With the freeze dried long-term food some companies use fake meat/ highly processed soy protein or something similar.

If you need to go freeze-dried for lightweight benefits you're going to pay more for it per calorie than normally processed food/can food so I would recommend a company that has tasty meals where they use real meat ( unless you're a vegetarian or have dietary allergies) like the brand you've chosen, Mountain House. They've been in the freeze-dried camping / emergency / long-term food storage for a while and personally I think their meat lasagna is one of the best freeze-dried meals I've ever tasted. When it's prepared right it tastes just like supermarket store lasagna, but that's been through a blender.

But like Librarian mentioned above you're probably better off just buying lots of long-term storage capable "normal food items" that you're going to eat in rotation, as you normally would.

Like your favorite canned chili, soup, stew, tuna fish, salmon, sardines, big bags of rice or beans, boxes of dried pasta that hopefully you can repack into smaller vacuum sealed or Ziploc bags ...etc.
Or whatever items you would eat normally that also have the capability of long-term storage.

Last edited by sealocan; 02-20-2021 at 10:37 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-20-2021, 11:08 PM
IronsightsRifleman's Avatar
IronsightsRifleman IronsightsRifleman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 586
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

I'm against the idea of storing foods long term that you don't normally eat but think you'll rely on in difficult times. Instead, stock more of what you normally eat and develop a rotation system. In an emergency you will have the necessary bulk items and you can focus your shopping on fresh meats and vegetables to supplement your diet.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-20-2021, 11:34 PM
Tango_Down's Avatar
Tango_Down Tango_Down is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Hill Valley
Posts: 1,176
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by IronsightsRifleman View Post
I'm against the idea of storing foods long term that you don't normally eat but think you'll rely on in difficult times. Instead, stock more of what you normally eat and develop a rotation system. In an emergency you will have the necessary bulk items and you can focus your shopping on fresh meats and vegetables to supplement your diet.
^ This. The only advantage I see in freeze dried foods in portability. Easier to carry in a backpack, etc. to travel with.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-21-2021, 12:59 AM
axhoaxho's Avatar
axhoaxho axhoaxho is offline
Calguns Addict
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,730
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

I've been eating Mountain House meals for years (camping,) and I actually like eating 'em.

The ($63) 15-Pouch Meal Kit is pretty good price. I actually bought one myself.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-21-2021, 6:26 AM
KevinB KevinB is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,311
iTrader: 6 / 100%
Default

Break it down per cost per calorie. It is the worst value there for cost. Do the math !!!.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-21-2021, 10:32 PM
Nessal Nessal is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mckinney, Texas/ Fremont, CA
Posts: 2,261
iTrader: 36 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by IronsightsRifleman View Post
I'm against the idea of storing foods long term that you don't normally eat but think you'll rely on in difficult times. Instead, stock more of what you normally eat and develop a rotation system. In an emergency you will have the necessary bulk items and you can focus your shopping on fresh meats and vegetables to supplement your diet.
The problem is getting things to rotate when you cook fresh food at home almost 7 days a week.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-20-2021, 11:22 PM
unusedusername's Avatar
unusedusername unusedusername is offline
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Between SJ and SF
Posts: 4,114
iTrader: 28 / 100%
Default

Mountain house is the best of the brands for the freeze dried stuff. That said, order one pouch of each to see if you like it.

Beans, rice, dried meat, and canned veggies are cheapest, but require a working kitchen to make them ready to eat. If you plan on making dried beans, try at least once to prepare them without using your kitchen or anything in it.

Freeze dried is more expensive per calorie, but is easier to prepare if your kitchen is not usable vs raw ingredients. It requires hot water, so make sure to store a bunch of extra water m.

MREs are easiest to prepare in that no prep is needed and also the most expensive per calorie. I personally find every MRE I’ve tried to be disgusting.

I went with a mix of regular ingredients and freeze dried stuff.

Last edited by unusedusername; 02-20-2021 at 11:24 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-21-2021, 7:44 AM
jeffyhog jeffyhog is offline
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Southern Oregon
Posts: 2,748
iTrader: 78 / 100%
Default

Only about 7000 calories in that box, so enough food for 2-3 days per person, at $20-30 per day. These are a fair deal if you're buying them for a backpacking trip or plan to use a couple now and then.

This kit at Midway has 25000 calories for $120, so roughly 10 days of calories at $12 per day. I know the Mountain House meals are pretty good, but I've never tried this brand. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021687746


I also agree that the best approach is storing what you regularly eat either as canned goods or sealed in mylar bags. It's much cheaper and you already know what you like.

One advantage of the freeze dried foods is that they have 25-30 year shelf life. You could put some away and if we ever see massive inflation or food shortages, $10 or $20 per person per day for food could be cheap.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 02-21-2021, 8:35 AM
deckhandmike's Avatar
deckhandmike deckhandmike is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Morro Bay
Posts: 8,167
iTrader: 6 / 100%
Default

Learn to fish. I just walk down to the beach and pull dinner out in like 10 minutes if I’m being picky.

I’d buy a months worth of that freeze dried junk and stash it away. It does last and can supplement whatever you can scavenge up. It would be nice to have in event of a earthquake but we really don’t have gnarly prolonged food shortages in the coastal areas.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 02-21-2021, 9:29 AM
M60A1Rise's Avatar
M60A1Rise M60A1Rise is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 898
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

IMHO and I do have this stuff is that it's better to store can goods. Most can goods are higher in calorie content and don't need water to prepare & cost less, water will be the biggest factor in any SHTF event , again this is just my opinion.

I have a rotation of Mountain House , a few MRE's and can goods , rice/pasta/beans. I'm slacking on the oats though.
__________________
"Common sense is self defense"
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 02-21-2021, 2:54 PM
Flyron's Avatar
Flyron Flyron is offline
CGN/CGSSA Contributor
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SoCal
Posts: 439
iTrader: 2 / 100%
Default Emergency food

MRE’s and cases of canned goods, meat, veggies, tuna, soups and potatoes. All have everything one needs to get by during a crisis. No need to add water or even cook if things get that bad?
Also remember any stored water in bottles, containers can go bad. So, be sure to have some unscented liquid bleach on hand to disinfect water.



Water Purification:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf..._flyer_508.pdf

Last edited by Flyron; 02-21-2021 at 3:07 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 02-21-2021, 2:59 PM
envelope envelope is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 321
iTrader: 13 / 100%
Default

I think Everyone here is right in their own way. There's a time and place for mountain House pouches. From a price standpoint for mountain House, that's a decent price. Note that premade freeze dried meals are the most expensive type of food storage out the, but the least work and most convenient.

I like them for backpacking and sharing increments with others, and with a 30yr shelf life, you can set it and forget it as a low risk asset.

When starting off I bought them, but #10 cans and bulk grains are the way to go, but take up a lot of space, require lots of other nutritional variety to augment the monotony. Plus I understand if there's a concern of a little social stigma to non preparedness folks, whatever importance that is to you.

Imo I like a some of these pouches and augmenting with lots of bulk grains/beans. If anything you can add rice or pasta to one pouch to make it stretch, since they run salty
__________________
For every $1 spent on a firearm, you should spend $2 training with it.

Stay safe and stay legal. You can't protect your family from within a prison cell.

NRA Certified Instructor. Feel free to ping me about ad-hoc instruction and coaching.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 02-21-2021, 3:27 PM
sonofeugene's Avatar
sonofeugene sonofeugene is offline
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,802
iTrader: 1 / 100%
Default

I have a couple buckets of Augussen Farms freeze dried food as well as one bucket of Mountain House. They will outlast my wife and I. I also have 110 gallons of water plus a bunch of other things stashed away.

However, for the regular pantry, I have lots of canned and dried food that I simply rotate into my regular meals. I've got enough to survive on for a few months.

I also take calorie amounts with a grain of salt. No way would my wife or I require the 2000-3500 per day. We sit around on our butts most of the time and can survive on much less.
__________________
Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them. - Rabindranath Tagore

A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it. - Rabindranath Tagore

Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see. - Arthur Schopenhaur
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 02-21-2021, 4:22 PM
Librarian's Avatar
Librarian Librarian is offline
Administrator
CGN Contributor - Lifetime
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cottage Grove, OR
Posts: 44,418
iTrader: 4 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sonofeugene View Post
I have a couple buckets of Augussen Farms freeze dried food as well as one bucket of Mountain House. They will outlast my wife and I. I also have 110 gallons of water plus a bunch of other things stashed away.

However, for the regular pantry, I have lots of canned and dried food that I simply rotate into my regular meals. I've got enough to survive on for a few months.

I also take calorie amounts with a grain of salt. No way would my wife or I require the 2000-3500 per day. We sit around on our butts most of the time and can survive on much less.
Calorie requirement is largely based on activity, of course. If you can shelter in place, and watch the world go by - my plan, exactly! - then less input would be needed.

Other folks seem to anticipate walking or laboring above the sedentary level.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 02-22-2021, 9:43 AM
sonofeugene's Avatar
sonofeugene sonofeugene is offline
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,802
iTrader: 1 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TFA777 View Post
U realize in SHTF including earthquake hurricane wildfire etc you'll be consuming calories like crazy.
You won't be sitting on your *** watching Netflix when half your walls missing, rain or flood is coming etc.

You'll be burning calories fixing / repairing / draining / sealing / evacuating stuff / clearing brush / cutting downed trees etc

Not to mention if roads out / car destroyed / ran out of gas etc and all you have is a bicycle you'll be burning calories getting to and from places.
Maybe some of that, but most not. No draining to do where I'm at. And I won't be sealing or evacuating nor clearing brush or downed trees. And no place to go other than to get food. I'd pretty much be parked in my tent in the back yard if it came to that.
__________________
Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them. - Rabindranath Tagore

A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it. - Rabindranath Tagore

Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see. - Arthur Schopenhaur
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 02-21-2021, 3:34 PM
anthonyca anthonyca is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 6,316
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

You said you are fairly new to prepping so it sounds like you dont have a store of food. Mountian House is high quality, real meat and not as high in salt and synthetic sugar as Wise and some other brands. Wise and others also use fake meat.

It takes a while and a lot of reading and planning to get a plan and all the supplies for prepping. Like most things in life, getting started is the hardest part. If you have nothing yet, I would suggest getting this and some water storage, treatment and a filter.

Then start building the best prep based on your budget and needs. Many people are harping on the price. I dont know you, maybee you have a lot of disposable income and want the best calories and vitamins available, maybee you are down on your luck and need to try to survive on rice and beans.

The main thing everyone forgets about prepping. Of uou really need to use your stock, stress levels will be high and that is when you need proper nutrition and vitamins as well as minerals. Sugar in the form of rice, wheat, soy, corn etc are the cheapest calories but they are not healthy at all.

You will have to find what works for you but my suggestion is to get started ASAP.
__________________
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Union...70812799700206

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wherryj View Post
I am a physician. I am held to being "the expert" in medicine. I can't fall back on feigned ignorance and the statement that the patient should have known better than I. When an officer "can't be expected to know the entire penal code", but a citizen is held to "ignorance is no excuse", this is equivalent to ME being able to sue my patient for my own malpractice-after all, the patient should have known better, right?
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 02-21-2021, 4:31 PM
Librarian's Avatar
Librarian Librarian is offline
Administrator
CGN Contributor - Lifetime
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cottage Grove, OR
Posts: 44,418
iTrader: 4 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyca View Post

It takes a while and a lot of reading and planning to get a plan and all the supplies for prepping. Like most things in life, getting started is the hardest part. If you have nothing yet, I would suggest getting this and some water storage, treatment and a filter.
...

You will have to find what works for you but my suggestion is to get started ASAP.
Yes, a bit of 'I found something I actually can do!' would put you ahead of about half the country (unevenly distributed by geography).
https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthma...-preparedness/
Quote:
48% of Americans lack emergency supplies for use in the event of a disaster.

Recent storms in the mid-Atlantic region resulted in 3 million people without power during a heat wave. In these circumstances, those individuals and families who had matches, flashlights, and non-perishable foods and water stored in their emergency kit had an easier time. Trying to get supplies after a disaster hits often isn’t feasible. Big or small, if something happens in your area like flooding, winter storms, or black outs you may not be able to access road ways, grocery stores may be closed, and ATMs may not even be working. Responding to an emergency starts with you. Local, state, and federal help may not be available right away so it’s important that you’re able to provide for yourself and your family following an event.
That was 2012. Didn't change much in 6 more years - https://www.sciencealert.com/natural...d?limitstart=1
Quote:
It's as accurate as a traditional scientific survey, MSN said.

According to the poll, only three in ten Americans say they have an emergency preparedness kit, 42 percent of Americans say they're not at all prepared for a disaster, and 46 percent say they're only prepared a little.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 02-21-2021, 9:34 PM
Norcalkid's Avatar
Norcalkid Norcalkid is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,971
iTrader: 1 / 100%
Default

I'd much rather get one with 1850 calories a day. I have seen them for under 100 bucks, currently 120 on Amazon shipped. (55,000 cal).

https://www.amazon.com/Augason-Farms.../dp/B00IW1NQDC




I don't think one of these + a bag of rice to increase calories is a bad way to get started.

Last edited by Norcalkid; 02-21-2021 at 9:39 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 02-21-2021, 10:16 PM
Nessal Nessal is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mckinney, Texas/ Fremont, CA
Posts: 2,261
iTrader: 36 / 100%
Default

Focus on calories. You need calories in a survival situation. I find that a lot of these emergency food advertise servings but there can be a variance of up to 100% in calories.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 02-22-2021, 11:33 AM
Gun Kraft's Avatar
Gun Kraft Gun Kraft is offline
Vendor/Retailer
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 757
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

Survival prep is a complex subject that can't be summarized in a single post, much less one thread. Personally I think freeze dried (FD) can have a place, just like everything else. Note you do not need hot water to rehydrate FD; you can simply add water and let it sit for a while, then eat cold.

If they cost the same per calorie, I prefer FD pouches to #10 cans since the cans tend to have a lot of empty air which adds to storage bulk. Plus pouches are individual servings which makes food prep/consumption easier, you don't have to worry about partially open cans and carrying them is easier too.

Dried beans and rice are really cheap and last a long time, but rehydrating them and cooking takes a fair bit of water and fuel. Both might be in short supply in an emergency.

Canned goods are reasonably cheap. Canned goods and MREs suffer from remembering to cycle them every few years.

The FDA considers bottled water to have an indefinite shelf life if it’s produced in accordance with regulations and remains unopened. So expiration dates on bottles are voluntary and may reflect concerns about taste and odor rather than safety. Bottled water should be stored in a cool location away from direct sunlight.
__________________
SF Bay Area firearm training
www.gunkraft.com
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 02-22-2021, 1:20 PM
Neil McCauley's Avatar
Neil McCauley Neil McCauley is offline
I need a LIFE!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 13,676
iTrader: 27 / 100%
Default

I found this girl on offer up who is enlisted with the national guard and she said they make them buy MRE's and she hates them so she sells them to me for like $40 for a box of 12. All are within a year of production. I bought all her 10 boxes and I told her whenever she has more to sell them hit me up. You never know you can meet if you just look/ask.
__________________
A guy told me one time "don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat from around the corner"
Robert Deniro

Last edited by Neil McCauley; 02-22-2021 at 1:37 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 02-22-2021, 3:23 PM
vino68's Avatar
vino68 vino68 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,623
iTrader: 3 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil McCauley View Post
I found this girl on offer up who is enlisted with the national guard and she said they make them buy MRE's and she hates them so she sells them to me for like $40 for a box of 12. All are within a year of production. I bought all her 10 boxes and I told her whenever she has more to sell them hit me up. You never know you can meet if you just look/ask.
Is she hot?
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 02-22-2021, 4:02 PM
Garand Hunter Garand Hunter is offline
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 2,719
iTrader: 2 / 100%
Default

She is selling MREs, he didn't say she was selling heat.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 02-22-2021, 5:05 PM
PaintItBlack's Avatar
PaintItBlack PaintItBlack is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Jose/Fremont
Posts: 273
iTrader: 35 / 100%
Default

For $63.99 you can get a lot of can goods at Dollar Tree.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 02-22-2021, 5:35 PM
harbormaster's Avatar
harbormaster harbormaster is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Marina on the Delta
Posts: 2,496
iTrader: 6 / 100%
Default

Costco in store today had a $59.99 bucket / Wise products with 128 servings. I didn’t read detail but I’m sure they consider the orange drink a serving.
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 02-22-2021, 6:06 PM
Librarian's Avatar
Librarian Librarian is offline
Administrator
CGN Contributor - Lifetime
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cottage Grove, OR
Posts: 44,418
iTrader: 4 / 100%
Default

Wise is pretty much all Textured Vegetable Protein - TVP - and while I have a couple buckets (they were cheap once, and got another as a gift) I expect soy will be pretty annoying in short order.

Better than going hungry, more tender than shoe leather ...
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 02-22-2021, 9:05 PM
ChuckD ChuckD is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,333
iTrader: 11 / 100%
Default

If you are already maxxed out on canned goods and staples, then why not. On the other hand, if your not then your $64 would be better invested in adding an extra jar of peanut-butter, a case of Mac & Cheese, a big bag of Kosher Salt, a big bag of sugar, rice, beans, oatmeal, a case of corn, a case of green beans, a case of peas, etc.

Alternatively you could invest that money towards a pressure canner that would do far more for you over the long run.
Reply With Quote
  #31  
Old 02-22-2021, 10:47 PM
Zamble's Avatar
Zamble Zamble is offline
CGN/CGSSA Contributor
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Athol, ID
Posts: 2,324
iTrader: 25 / 100%
Default

We recently ordered a Harvest Right medium freeze drier. Instead of buying some manufacturers ideas of food, we would freeze dry our own. While the machine was expensive, I imagine the food that we throw away each year and the long term food we have been buying will eventually offset the cost of buying the machine. Plus the food is food we eat. Nothing more comforting as home cooked food.
Reply With Quote
  #32  
Old 02-23-2021, 4:42 AM
anthonyca anthonyca is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 6,316
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zamble View Post
We recently ordered a Harvest Right medium freeze drier. Instead of buying some manufacturers ideas of food, we would freeze dry our own. While the machine was expensive, I imagine the food that we throw away each year and the long term food we have been buying will eventually offset the cost of buying the machine. Plus the food is food we eat. Nothing more comforting as home cooked food.
I have the large. They are great and highly recommended for a serious prepper or group. If you have a large family or a group of people, it's actually more cost effective. The electricity consumption is very high so make sure to get full treys when you use it. My buddy has solar and runs his often.
__________________
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Union...70812799700206

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wherryj View Post
I am a physician. I am held to being "the expert" in medicine. I can't fall back on feigned ignorance and the statement that the patient should have known better than I. When an officer "can't be expected to know the entire penal code", but a citizen is held to "ignorance is no excuse", this is equivalent to ME being able to sue my patient for my own malpractice-after all, the patient should have known better, right?
Reply With Quote
  #33  
Old 02-23-2021, 8:54 PM
ChuckD ChuckD is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,333
iTrader: 11 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zamble View Post
We recently ordered a Harvest Right medium freeze drier. Instead of buying some manufacturers ideas of food, we would freeze dry our own. While the machine was expensive, I imagine the food that we throw away each year and the long term food we have been buying will eventually offset the cost of buying the machine. Plus the food is food we eat. Nothing more comforting as home cooked food.
The price of these, plus the price to operate it, compared to it's life expectancy mean that it will never pay for itself in the classical sense. On the other hand if you use it to preserve food and someday need that food and have no other options - well there is no price that can be put on that. I use an Excalibur 9 tray dehydrator and while it's not the same; it has already paid for itself several times over and will do most of what a Freeze drier will do.
Reply With Quote
  #34  
Old 02-27-2021, 6:09 AM
anthonyca anthonyca is offline
Calguns Addict
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 6,316
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckD View Post
The price of these, plus the price to operate it, compared to it's life expectancy mean that it will never pay for itself in the classical sense. On the other hand if you use it to preserve food and someday need that food and have no other options - well there is no price that can be put on that. I use an Excalibur 9 tray dehydrator and while it's not the same; it has already paid for itself several times over and will do most of what a Freeze drier will do.
Dehydrating has a place but it is nowhere near fresze drying when it comes to preservation of nutrition. If we have to use our preps to live, stress will be high and nutrition will be paramount to prevent sickness and disease. Energy levels from proper nutrition can be over emphasized when in a stressful situation, as wellbas mental cognition.
__________________
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Union...70812799700206

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wherryj View Post
I am a physician. I am held to being "the expert" in medicine. I can't fall back on feigned ignorance and the statement that the patient should have known better than I. When an officer "can't be expected to know the entire penal code", but a citizen is held to "ignorance is no excuse", this is equivalent to ME being able to sue my patient for my own malpractice-after all, the patient should have known better, right?
Reply With Quote
  #35  
Old 03-01-2021, 11:41 AM
ChuckD ChuckD is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,333
iTrader: 11 / 100%
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonyca View Post
Dehydrating has a place but it is nowhere near fresze drying when it comes to preservation of nutrition. If we have to use our preps to live, stress will be high and nutrition will be paramount to prevent sickness and disease. Energy levels from proper nutrition can be over emphasized when in a stressful situation, as wellbas mental cognition.
I agree with all that. The Freeze drier is definitely better, but does not have near the "bang for the buck" that a Excalibur (or similar) dehydrator has. So yeah, if the world ends, after a few years you with a freeze drier will be far better off than me - but there's so many variables in that equation that it's impossible to make a value judgement. Also with the freeze drier you need to stock up and store now, because once the power goes you wont be able to run it any more (unless you have a significantly expensive solar/renewable energy system), where I will continue to grow extra and dehydrate using a very small solar setup to stretch from one year to the next. It's possible (sounds likely) that you are in a different financial strata than me, & that's fine - if I had the money to buy & operate a Freeze Drier without compromising something I find more valuable I would . . . but I don't.

For all of us that blanch when we see the price tag - it's not that or nothing, you can do great things with an excalibur style dehydrator, some oven canning of staples, and canning.
Reply With Quote
  #36  
Old 03-01-2021, 5:18 PM
axhoaxho's Avatar
axhoaxho axhoaxho is offline
Calguns Addict
CGN Contributor
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,730
iTrader: 0 / 0%
Default

There are many choices for emergency food, they all have their places. Freeze-dried food (e.g. Mountain House) is just one of the many choices.

It doesn't hurt to keep some Mountain House meals around, just as an option.

https://youtu.be/dNXat2MbN_M


https://youtu.be/BOfbVW6gnVM
Reply With Quote
  #37  
Old 02-23-2021, 5:20 AM
middleofnowhere's Avatar
middleofnowhere middleofnowhere is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 579
iTrader: 1 / 100%
Default

Mountain House is good stuff and very expensive. I am constantly buying and using for easy backpack and hunting meals. I usually buy individual packets of meals I like on Sierra Trading Post.
Reply With Quote
  #38  
Old 03-02-2021, 1:55 PM
harbormaster's Avatar
harbormaster harbormaster is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Marina on the Delta
Posts: 2,496
iTrader: 6 / 100%
Default

Should SHTF my guess is what ever you have - you will be grateful for all its salt and anything else.
Reply With Quote
  #39  
Old 03-03-2021, 12:15 PM
harbormaster's Avatar
harbormaster harbormaster is online now
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Marina on the Delta
Posts: 2,496
iTrader: 6 / 100%
Default

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...1350_571713870

21,000 calories, 92 servings; I suspect in crisis this would give you enough energy for 10 days and if you were rationing and not worried about energy to work you could probably go beyond 2 weeks. Again in crisis mode you are at $6 a day. I'd imagine it'd suck but 3 of these you could probably go the whole month for $180. These should get sent to all on food stamps - instead of food stamps.
Reply With Quote
  #40  
Old 03-11-2021, 2:13 PM
STRICTLYFORMYNINJAS STRICTLYFORMYNINJAS is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 182
iTrader: 1 / 100%
Default

55 gallon sealed drum with 50lbs of jasmine rice, canned beans ,potatoes( low or no sodium) potato flakes , powdered eggs etc. I also keep the same items in the kitchen for regular meals. The cost of the freeze dried stuff doesn't sit well with considering I can make a fort out of top ramen for the price of one bucket of that ****.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:51 AM.




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Proudly hosted by GeoVario the Premier 2A host.
Calguns.net, the 'Calguns' name and all associated variants and logos are ® Trademark and © Copyright 2002-2021, Calguns.net an Incorporated Company All Rights Reserved.
All opinions, statements and remarks made by Calguns.net on this web site and elsewhere are solely attributable to Calguns.net.



Seams2SewBySusy