Our second prep challenge in August is to buy food storage vegetables. This may include a 3-month supply of short-term shelf-life vegetables for your pantry, and long-term shelf-life dehydrated or freeze-dried vegetables. Shortages on fresh and frozen vegetables happen regularly, so be prepared. Of course you may can your own vegetables if that’s your thing. Whatever you do, start adding vegetables this month to your food storage supply.
Short-Term Food Storage Vegetables
- Store a variety of vegetables for better nutrition such as corn, green beans, diced chilies, potatoes, mushrooms, squash, spinach, and carrots.
- Small, canned vegetables typically have a 3–5-year shelf life. However, canned tomato products only have an 18 to 24-month shelf life because tomatoes are acidic.
- Gather or pin recipes that use canned vegetables and try them out as this will help you incorporate canned vegetables into your diet. Plan to Eat is a great website for storing and organizing recipes.
Long-Term Food Storage Vegetables
If you have storage space, also buy long-term dehydrated or freeze-dried vegetables that have a 10-30-year shelf life when stored properly.
Dehydrated Carrot Dices
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sells a 2.1 lb. can of dehydrated carrots with a 10-year shelf life at Home Storage Centers for $9.50 (2023). Best price on the market!!!
- Dehydrated carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A. Add them to soups, stews, omelets, casseroles, carrot cake, pizza toppings, and bread. I add them to my spaghetti sauce.
- To rehydrate dehydrated carrots, “add one part dried carrots to four parts water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Let soak for 20 minutes, and then drain excess water.”
Dehydrated Potato Flakes
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints sells dehydrated potato flakes with a 30-year shelf life in a 1.8 lb. #10 can for $7.83 (2023).
- Use potato flakes for making rolls, pancakes, thickening sauces, shepherd’s pie, and mashed potatoes, or any recipe that calls for mashed potatoes.
It will be a blessing for your family to have shelf-stable vegetables in your food storage.
Best wishes and stay focused,
Valerie Albrechtsen
The Food Storage Organizer
Purchase my food storage and emergency preparedness items in my Etsy shop.
If you have freezer space, having a supply of frozen veggies that you rotate through gives you an option to add more variety since veggies that lend themselves to canning are limited.
True, but we focus on shelf-stable vegetables for our 3-month food storage supply.
are your weekly challenges not printable any more? I was just wondering as I love to print them. I love your blog and have followed it for a couple of years so much information. Thank You!
I’m updating all of my prep challenges. Next month they will all be available in one download in my Etsy shop. Thanks!