The first preparedness challenge in December is to buy sugars for your food storage, which may include: white or brown sugar, powdered sugar, jam or jelly, agave nectar, or molasses. We’ll buy pancake 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.
Buy Food Storage Sugars
WHITE SUGAR
- The recommended amount of sugar for one adult to store for a year is 60 lbs. Adjust amounts for children: Age 3 and under, 50%; 4-6, 70%; 7-10, 90%; 11 and up 100%.
- An example of 60 lbs.: 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 sugar from Costco in a few 5-gallon food grade buckets lined with a Mylar bag and use an easy to open Gamma twist lid. Never put oxygen absorber packets in white sugar, or it will turn rock solid.
- I also store canned 30-year shelf-life canned sugar from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It comes in 5.6 lb. #10 cans for $8.95 (2023). Anyone may purchase food storage from the Church. Read more at providentliving.org.
BROWN SUGAR AND POWDERED SUGAR
- I store 10 to 12 x 2-lb. brown sugar and powdered sugar bags in 5-gallon buckets. Buying smaller bags keeps my brown sugar soft.
HONEY
- You could store 45 lbs. of honey instead of white sugar. Honey is sweeter than sugar. However, 45 lbs. of honey costs about $200, whereas white sugar costs about $26.
- Honey stores best at room temperature or in a pantry, but will crystalize more quickly in a cold storage room.
- Crystallized honey can be softened in a pan of warm water. Do NOT microwave honey as this kills nutrients.
- Keep honey in its original plastic or glass container, store away from air and light, and avoid storing on a windowsill or near an oven.
- Do not reuse the spoon you dipped in your honey after you spread it on bread as it 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.
