How long will my Food be good for?

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by tacmotusn, Jun 29, 2011.


  1. tacmotusn

    tacmotusn RIP 1/13/21

    I know alot of the newbies ask this question, and I have seen it asked in various forms time and time again.
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    Here is a testimonial for Mountain House Foods. I have a renter. He is a prepper. Approximately 5 years ago he had his pick of a ton of old mountain house food in #10 cans and cases. Right here in Florida. High Humidity, damn hot summers etc. This stuff was not stored where temps were constantly moderate to cool or dry. Several of the cans were rusted, bulging, and or breached and no good. He salvaged 18 cases that looked good to him. According to shipping info on some of the cases, this stuff was bought en masse 08/29/1980 ..... some 30 plus years ago.
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    He really has been hesitant to either dispose of this stuff, or use it either. Recently he decided why not try it. Since then he has prepared and eaten, Beef Stroganoff with noodles, Chicken Alfredo, and Beef Stew.
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    He has purchased newer versions of these same products and has liked them just fine.
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    Guess what? To him at least there is no difference in the new stuff and the 30 plus year old stuff. Samo Samo
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    I would say that is quite a testimonial. I tried the Beef Stroganoff, and it was fine to me.
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    It was Mountain House Foods, manufactured by Oregon Freeze Dried Foods Inc., Albany, Oregon 97321 USA[drooling]
     
  2. JC Refuge

    JC Refuge Emergency Essentials Store Vendor

    Cool.

    MH is an awesome product line. I stand behind it and so does OFD 100%.

    30 years is not surprising, though the storage conditions you mention make this noteworthy for sure.

    Thanks for sharing!
     
  3. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    A lot of processed foods are 'good' far past their 'use by:' dates. I have MH pouches rated at five years, that are proving still good ten years after purchase. I think the temp is less important than preventing exposure to moisture - rust and rotting.
    I just heard on the news, that the latest (and last) Shuttle mission is taking up a year's supply of extra food for the International Space Station - 'in case of delay in launching resupply ships later'..... hmmmm.... wonder what has them spooked? And are they using Mountain House?
     
  4. dewber

    dewber Monkey+

    Mountain House makes great tasting food. I really like it. But it is way too expensive for most. A single #10 can has only a days worth of calories for one person in most cases.
     
  5. Seawolf1090

    Seawolf1090 Retired Curmudgeonly IT Monkey Founding Member

    Yep, that's why I buy rice, beans, etc in bags and can it myself - Lowes and Homer Despot have new 'paint cans' that are great - just use a plastic baggy to protect as the gray liner is not rated 'food safe'. If you can find the gold lined cans, they are rated food safe.
     
  6. hedger

    hedger Monkey+

    Wow! That was one heck of an endorsement!

    I just read it word for word to my wife. We were both amazed.

    I'm sure that most of us are taking a bit of care to assure dry conditions and moderate temperatures for where we store our food.

    But I never expected an "abuse test" to deliver such positive results.
     
  7. tacmotusn

    tacmotusn RIP 1/13/21

    Yes and no. The stuff that had to be tossed due to poor storage conditions probably outnumbered what was salvaged by my renter on a 10 to 1 ratio.
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    But, If you store your stuff fairly well protected from moisture and temperature extremes you can expect 30 plus years storage easily!!!
     
  8. Nadja

    Nadja RIP 3-11-2013 Forum Leader

    Anyone interested in 1 qt or 1 gal cans with lids, brand new, can generally buy all you want from any autobody paint supply store. Have been getting them for years.
     
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