Save Money With Food Storage Solutions

I'm not a shopper. Standing in long lines, checking prices, and playing bumper carts with fellow shoppers is just not my idea of a day out. I always thought that buying in bulk was cheaper and would save me from another trip to the store. The problem with this strategy is that my bulk buys often expire before I can finish them. It was depressing to throw so much food away. I could see the dollar signs flowing into the trash can.

Eventually, I decided to have a good look at my pantry and do some planning. I found that there are a number of food items that will just last and last. It was smart to buy more of these. In addition to this epiphany, I was storing many items incorrectly. If I had a better shopping and storage plan I could buy more when my grocery items were on special, stock up and follow some basic storage rules. This could cut down on my grocery budget and save time.

Below is the list that I started to compile.

Unshelled nuts are cheaper than shelled nuts. Although unshelled nuts take up more room, they do last longer.

Once you have shelled nuts, put them in the refrigerator.

When in the pantry make sure they are in a cool, dry place with a temp under 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Shelled whole nuts last longer than chopped or shaved nuts.

Unsalted nuts will last longer than salted nuts.

Soft cheeses won’t last as long because of their moisture content. Moisture is needed to breed micro-organisms. The soft cheeses that I have frozen have a different texture when they thaw out. I avoid freezing these.

If you are thinking of stockpiling for a power outage you might want to think of freeze dried food. There is an impressive variety out on the market, anything from fruit and ice cream (lifespan 2 years) to scrambled eggs and bacon (lifespan 7 years). Then there are the extremes like dried milk, pancake mix, beef stew and others that are good for 25 years!

You don’t even have to go to a specialty store for these. I saw a full range at Walmart. Another great company with a wide range is Thrive. My pantry is stocked full with freeze-dried yogurt bits, vegetables, cheeses, fruit and more. I'm a little obsessed with the strawberries. Many good camping stores will have these too.

I am pretty sure my list above only touches on the possibilities but it got the ball rolling for me. I am far more efficient in my storage and budgeting efforts now. Please always check expiry dates and if something smells bad, it probably is.