Here are 5 important tips you can use when preparing your emergency food storage. Food storage should be an important part of our lives because it prepares us for times of crisis.

Not only are food storages meant for emergency situations like natural disasters, they can also be of great use when food prices shoot up drastically. If you have stocked up on food items back when they were still at their low prices, you won’t have to purchase them when they are very expensive.

According to an announcement by the Agriculture Department last year, “U.S. consumers should brace for the biggest increase in food prices in nearly a decade this year due to surging meat and produce prices.”

An announcement like this from a government agency needs to be taken very seriously. So are you prepared to deal with a possible shortage in personal supply due to high prices? Better stock up on that emergency food storage now. Here are some tips to help you out:

1. Make sure the containers you use are very clean. Proper sanitation is a strict requirement. Clean and sanitize completely the containers where you are storing your food. It’s a no brainer. Also, make sure they are completely dried before you start placing foods in them.

2. Keep your food containers tightly sealed. Oxygen causes deterioration in food so better make sure no air seeps in. As much as you can, store food close to the lid to greatly reduce space where air can be present. You can also use air absorbers or dry ice to keep oxygen away.

3. Store food containers at places with proper temperature. You often see warnings on food items that ask you to store them in a cool, dry place. Place your food at areas with temperatures below 50 degrees. Insects, bugs proliferate in places with temperatures above 50 degrees.

4. Implement a first-in, first-out strategy. Consume food that was placed first because, obviously, they are the ones that will rot faster. Label everything you put in your food storage so that you’ll know which one was stored when. Labeling will make proper and efficient food consumption easier to accomplish.

5. Make an inventory. This will help you monitor how much you have and how much you have left. Based on the inventory, you will be able to plan your way of consuming the food.

These simple tips will greatly help you prepare emergency food storage better.