Counting my food storage used to be so time consuming until I came up with a 52-Week Food Storage Inventory Schedule. After studying how various restaurants take their inventories, it became clear to me that they don’t count food once a year like many of us do. Food has to be managed regularly and carefully in order to keep it safe for human consumption. There is much to be learned from the restaurant industry because they are the guys trying to stay in business by being the most cost effective and safe. And we should be careful too.
You may get behind taking an inventory each week because life gets busy. When I was out of town for nine days, I counted two categories this week: Water and Paper & Plastic. Life is unpredictable, but it wasn’t difficult to count both areas. I enjoy straightening the items, throwing away a few boxes and bags, and seeing what more is needed. As I’m looking, I write down a few items I might want to buy during my next Costco shopping trip (toilet paper, paper plates, storage bags, and dish detergent).
I keep my inventory on a spreadsheet on my laptop, but I’m actually working on a more simplified list for a small binder. A paper list and pencil will do the job too. Or hanging lists on a cupboard or pantry door. An iPad would certainly be easier to carry than a laptop. See more ideas on my Pinterest board. Here is my food storage inventory schedule:
| 52-Week Inventory Schedule | |||
| MO | WK | CATEGORIES | X |
| JAN | 1 | Water | 6M |
| JAN | 2 | Beverages | 3M |
| JAN | 3 | Freezer | 3M |
| JAN | 4 | Toiletries | 3M |
| JAN | 5 | Breakfast Items | 3M |
| FEB | 6 | Fruits & Vegetables | 3M |
| FEB | 7 | Snacks | 3M |
| FEB | 8 | Beans, Meat & Soup | 3M |
| FEB | 9 | Baking Basics | 3M |
| MAR | 10 | First Aid & Medicine | 6M |
| MAR | 11 | Grains/Pasta/Potatoes | 6M |
| MAR | 12 | Oils & Fats | 6M |
| MAR | 13 | Emergency Kits | 6M |
| APR | 14 | Fuel & Light | 6M |
| APR | 15 | Beverages | 3M |
| APR | 16 | Cleaning | 6M |
| APR | 17 | Freezer | 3M |
| APR | 18 | Toiletries | 3M |
| MAY | 19 | Breakfast Items | 3M |
| MAY | 20 | Paper & Plastics | 3M |
| MAY | 21 | Beans, Meat & Soup | 3M |
| MAY | 22 | Baking Basics | 3M |
| JUN | 23 | Condiments | 6M |
| JUN | 24 | Spices | 6M |
| JUN | 25 | Snacks | 3M |
| JUN | 26 | Fruits & Vegetables | 3M |
| JUL | 27 | Water | 6M |
| JUL | 28 | Beverages | 3M |
| JUL | 29 | Freezer | 3M |
| JUL | 30 | Toiletries | 3M |
| JUL | 31 | Breakfast Items | 3M |
| AUG | 32 | Fruits & Vegetables | 3M |
| AUG | 33 | Snacks | 3M |
| AUG | 34 | Beans, Meat & Soup | 3M |
| AUG | 35 | Baking Basics | 3M |
| SEP | 36 | First Aid & Medicine | 6M |
| SEP | 37 | Grains/Pasta/Potatoes | 6M |
| SEP | 38 | Oils & Fats | 6M |
| SEP | 39 | Emergency Equipment | 6M |
| SEP | 40 | Fuel & Light | 6M |
| OCT | 41 | Cleaning | 6M |
| OCT | 42 | Beverages | 3M |
| OCT | 43 | Freezer | 3M |
| OCT | 44 | Toiletries | 3M |
| NOV | 45 | Breakfast Items | 3M |
| NOV | 46 | Paper & Plastics | 3M |
| NOV | 47 | Beans, Meat & Soup | 3M |
| NOV | 48 | Baking Basics | 3M |
| DEC | 50 | Condiments | 6M |
| DEC | 51 | Spices | 6M |
| DEC | 49 | Snacks | 3M |
| DEC | 52 | Fruits & Vegetables | 3M |
| Note: Each year, the months may not always correlate with the week number. | |||
| ©PreparedLDSFamily |
Printable for personal use
(Note: 9/2/13 Correction made)
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