What spices should I get for my long-term stockpile?
There are many spices at the store… which ones should I get?
I usually use many spices with each meal… Can I get all of them?
I have salt, sugar, soy sauce and miso. Is that not enough?
For long-term emergency situations, spices will be like extra, bonus food. You’ll be OK without spices, but if you have them, you will feel “lucky.” If we cook meals, simply, it will be enough to use just salt or sugar.
This post follows post #19 : 16 emergency stockpile foods.
I already picked up vinegar, miso and soy sauce, as discussed in previous posts about long-term stockpile food. Thus, I hardly need to get additional spices, but if you prefer to get more than just vinegar, miso and soy sauce, you should by all means get some spices for your long term stockpile.
Please, do not feel like there are ingredients you are “supposed to use” or “must have.” For example, “I need chili powder for my soup!!” Or “I must have black pepper for my chicken.” Or how about, “My cook book says I’m supposed to use cinnamon!”
These kinds of restrictive ideas will not help you in an emergency situation, and in a true emergency, you’re not going to have the chance to worry about such things.
💡
We can survive without spices. If you really need spices, try to find leaves in the mountains, or else plant your own favorite herbs and grow them fresh.
I pick up…
If I find myself in an emergency, when I finish using all the spices in my kitchen, it’s at that point that I will consider the emergency to be a long-term emergency. And at that point, I will conserve food more seriously and eat simple food as much as possible. I picked up two spices which can be used with a wide variety of foods and that have totally different flavors.
1. Black pepper
2. Curry powder. (S&B)
How to store
Generally speaking, whole spices have a long shelf life (3-4 years), while ground spices have shorter shelf life (2 years). Storing your spices in a cool, dark, dry place will extend the shelf life. Using mylar bags will also help.
Things to Remember
▪︎ Keep your spices in a cool, dark and dry place. No heat and no direct sunlight.
▪︎ Please do not forget that before eating long-term stockpile foods, absolutely check the foods’ appearance and smell. Trust your five senses. Eat them at your own risk.
Recommendations
Use vegetables or fruits to make your own spices. One very simple way is to just mix your chosen ingredient with salt. Maybe it’s not technically a “spice,” but it’s a spice for me!
First, you dry your vegetable or fruit, and then you grind it. Finally, add salt.
I try to make my own salt with dried vegetables.
Celery salt
Picking up spices for your long-term stockpile should be based entirely on your own preferences. But please, do not take up a lot of space just for a bunch of spices and herbs. We can survive without spices. If you really need spices, try to find leaves in the mountains, or else plant your own favorite herbs and grow them fresh. It is going to be a challenge.
See you next time
Remember, “Protect your life by yourself” （自分の命は自分で守る). You need to survive first, and then you need your emergency supply. No matter how well you prepared your emergency supplies, if you die, then all of your preparations will have been for nothing. First and foremost, keep your health up all the time. Build your stamina so that if you need to, you can evacuate as quickly as possible. Stay healthy
