The first preparedness challenge in December is to buy a variety of sugars for your food storage. This could include white sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, jam or jelly, agave nectar, and molasses. We’ll buy pancake or maple syrup in February with our breakfast foods.
Store a 3-month supply of sugars if you live in a small home, and a year’s supply for a large home. Most sugars have an indefinite shelf life and tend to be inexpensive.
Buy Food Storage Sugars
WHITE SUGAR
- The recommended amount of sugar to store for one adult each year is 60 lbs. Adjust amounts for children: Age 3 and under, 50%; 4-6, 70%; 7-10, 90%; 11 and up 100%.
- One example of 60 lbs. of sugar: 24 lbs. white sugar, 16 lbs. brown & powdered sugar, 6 lbs. of honey, 6 lbs. of maple syrup and 8 lbs. of jam.
- I store 25 lbs. of sugar from Costco in a few 5-gallon food grade buckets lined with Mylar bags. Years ago, my sugar bucket cracked so now I’m prepared.
- You may purchase Gamma twist lids for your bucket at agricultural feed stores and sometimes on Amazon.
- Do NOT put an oxygen absorber packet in white sugar or it will turn rock solid. Been there, done that!
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sells 30-year shelf-life white sugar in 5.6 lb. #10 cans for $8.80 (2022). I store several of these cans in my food storage room. You do not have to be a member of the Latter-day Saint Church to buy food storage.
BROWN SUGAR AND POWDERED SUGAR
- I store 10 to 12 x 2-lb. bags of each in 5-gallon buckets. Buying smaller bags helps the brown sugar stay soft, and it’s easier to pour into my kitchen sugar canister.
HONEY
- You can store 45 lbs. of honey instead of 60 lbs. of white sugar because honey is sweeter than sugar, but 45 lbs. of honey costs about $200, and 50 lbs. of white sugar from Costco costs about $26.
- Honey stores best at room temperature or in a pantry and will crystalize more quickly in a cold storage room or your refrigerator. If it crystallizes, it can be warmed in a pan of warm water until dissolved. Do NOT microwave honey as this kills its nutrients.
- Keep honey in its original plastic or glass container if possible. Store away from air and light and avoid storing on a windowsill or near an oven.
- Do not return the spoon you dipped in your honey after you spread it on bread as this contaminates the honey.
- Here’s a list of Utah honey sources.
As you gather over time, you can build up a wonderful supply of food storage sugars.
Best wishes and stay sweet,
Valerie Albrechtsen
The Food Storage Organizer
Purchase my food storage and emergency preparedness items in my Etsy shop.
