Food shortages have been a problem for many of us for some time now. In the last few years, though, it’s reached crisis proportions in various parts of the world. There are several reasons behind this situation: environmental degradation, population growth, and human conflict being just a few of them. Because of this, there is an increasing need to find ways to store and preserve food so that we don’t run the risk of running out at any given moment. With self-sufficiency being an important element in almost everyone’s life these days, knowing how you can make your kitchen more self-sufficient is a great move. After all, if you can reduce your dependence on outside sources when it comes to food and other essentials then you’ll be able to weather most storms with ease.
Start with a food inventory
One of the first things that you should do when trying to make your kitchen more self-sufficient is to make a proper inventory of your food stores. If you don’t know how much is currently in your larder and what condition it’s in, you’ll struggle to make a good plan for the future. This might sound like an unnecessary step, but it’s one that will have a massive impact on your future self-sufficiency. It’s easy to make plans and list what you need to do if you know what you already have.
Drying is your best option
Drying is a tried and true method of preserving food that has been around for thousands of years. It is particularly useful for foods that are high in water, including meat and fish. These foods are often good candidates for drying because they will last a long time without refrigeration. They’re also easy to store because they take up very little space. Dried fruits, vegetables, herbs, and legumes are also great choices. These foods are low in water and become long shelf life foods when dried. They’re also easy to store because of their small size. You can even make flour from dried legumes if you want to add them to your food stores. Drying works best for foods that have low humidity. You can use humidifiers to increase the humidity if you live in a place that is naturally low in humidity.
Canning is also a good idea
While drying is the best option for certain foods, others just aren’t as suitable for that preservation process. In these cases, canning is a great choice. It’s a method that has been around for decades and is very reliable. You should, however, make sure that you use proper canning methods. Canned foods such as vegetables, fruits, beans, and even meats make great additions to your food stores. They’re easy to store and have a long shelf life if canned properly. Even when canned foods are past their expiration dates, they still have a lot of nutritional value. Canned foods do require a bit of space, though, so you’ll need a canning set-up in your kitchen if you want to go this route.
Other preservation methods you can use
There are other, less traditional methods that you can employ to preserve food in your kitchen and make it more self-sufficient. You can freeze some foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and other items that won’t be damaged by this process. Drying herbs is another great way to store them for a long time. If you want to add flavour to your future meals, then drying herbs is one of the best ways to do this.
Conclusion
Food shortages are an unfortunate reality for many people. There are ways to deal with this, though, such as making your kitchen more self-sufficient. With the right knowledge and equipment, you can preserve food and ensure you have long shelf life foods on hand regardless of food supply shortages. Keep in mind that there are many ways in which you can do this, but your options will be limited by access to specialist equipment and know-how. There are also many different foods that you can preserve, too. Finding the ones that work best for you and your kitchen is crucial if you want to make your household more self-sufficient and less dependent on outside sources.