What mistakes have you made prepping?

Do's and Don't to preparing?

 

 

We've discussed a lot of topics I'm now at a 1 year mark of prepping.  I made a couple of mistakes.  I've also done things right. 

 

Please tell your top must do's, and don'ts.  Lets help the newer members get it right the first time. 

 

2nd:  I bought powered milk that last on 6 month to 1 year.  I should have bought the milk that last for 5 years. I'm now using my powered milk in my cooking.  

 

3rd.  I lost track of expiration dates.  I have an excel file with all of this but didn't pay attention.   I have to say the items that have expired 6 month ago are still good but that food should have been rotated.

 

4th: I didn't freeze my flour, rice or beans at first...They were in there original packages for 8 months.  This is not good at all.  The rice I did put in buckets didn't have oxygen absorbers.   They should have...

 

 

5th:  Sometime I was lazy and just put the food I bought away in my kitchen.    I should have put the food downstairs, place them in the back of the food thats already there.  The food that is in the front should now be taken upstairs to be eaten next.

 

Ex:  5 ketchups downstairs.

Take the new ketchup and place it in the back of the ketchups already down there and take from the front.

 

This guarantee fresh food...

 

 

6th and biggest mistake was, I didn't replace the food I used.  Slowly but surely I would go to my store in the basement, and take what I needed...This is the way I rotated my food...However if you don't make a list, and replace that exact food you took from your preps, your supply will go to half...This is counter productive..

 

Replace the food you have taken...Make that list...Put it on the Re fridge so everyone can just jot down what they've taken.  Next trip replace it.

 

 

Those are my don'ts to prepping.

 

 

expiration dates are the worst. last year, or maybe more than a year ago I cought some dayquil.  went to get it today and it expired in february.  I found vitamins that expired in 06. 

 I bought crackers and cookies that we dont normaslly eat and had to throw them out as they were expired and tasted stale. .

Don't buy scented candles for lighting....Some person  here said that when they had a power outage they lit quite a few candles and all the different smell where to much...

I purchased cases of canned vegetables like green beans and peas. Normally do not eat that stuff, so now it sits with an upcoming expiration date and no one really wants to eat it. Bad Prepper! D

we made several mistakes...I see some of them here... feeling right at home.  like peas and scented candles....

Do try to live
 with your preps for a month without any shopping
and see how you do and what you need most, learn from mistakes
(if you  shop  buy only preps but don't use them  just store them)

now we shop just 1 monthly, or every other month
trying to shop every 3 month
we are buynig everything in bulk it is much cheeper
we just  bought 60 eggs expiry Apr.15
milk, butter, bread  you can put in the freezer,
once montly we go to the bakery (used to go 3-5 times a week)
 oranges, apples, cabage, carrots, potatoes ,
garlic, oinon,etc we buy in bulk for 3-6 month
it is a livestyle for us

I think I bought too many items that need water added and I am now trying to correct that by buying foods that will need very little or none.

true... we tasted them first...the saltines were awful... gone.

Our biggest mistake was buying a couple dozen cans of Spam.  Ick!!!!!!!  I guess in an emergency we will like it a whole lot more.

Hey Westy1, I grew up poor and spam was a regular item on the menu. If you have to use it, you will get used to it. Fry it, that's the best way and serve it with potatoes if possible. In the event of a pandemic I think a lot of "ugly" food will be pretty good looking!

Wunjo Wagon wrote: Wouldn't you know it! Somebody always has to knock Spam...It is credited with helping to win WW II.  I grew up with it and my mother used to do the glaze think with the pineapples and cloves, yummy!!!  My children were raised on it and still come over and "borrow" some out of my stores now and then, now the grandchildren are hooked.  It is cooked in the can, so you don't have to fry it, it does taste just fine right of the can.  It can be used in hundreds of recipes and it is good/cheap protein that lasts for years in storage. And yes I always keep over 100 cans in stock. Spam is no mistake, it's the sacred meat... Joy to the World!

I like SPAM. It's great fried on a egg sandwich.

Westy, If you lived close to MO., I would make you a offer.     

Fry some spam and then place in on a hotdog bun with mustard. I call it a spam dog! Its a glorified hot dog but actually has flavor.

    SPAM HIstory
Interesting I did not know SPAM served during the war....


SPAM Family of Products History


SPAM CLASSIC STANDS THE TEST OF TIME
World-famous product is Americana at its best

AUSTIN, MINN. - No single product in human history is better known for its heroics during wartime, its accomplishments during peacetime and its popularity during mealtime than SPAM Classic. After more than six decades in the marketplace, SPAM is still the unique, high-quality kitchen staple the world has come to know and love.

SPAM is Born
Hormel Foods first produced SPAM luncheon meat in 1937 in Austin, Minn. One of the first moderately priced, convenient and great-tasting food products on the market, SPAM became America's favorite luncheon meat almost immediately. By 1941, 40 million pounds of SPAM had been sold, and with America's entry into World War II, SPAM was called to action overseas.

With Allied forces fighting to liberate Europe, Hormel Foods provided 15 million cans of luncheon meat to troops each week. SPAM became an essential item in soldiers' diets, earning praise for feeding starving British and Soviet troops and civilians. Following the war, world leaders including Dwight Eisenhower, Margaret Thatcher and Nikita Khrushchev all credited SPAM for its role in the Allies' victory.

Back in the United States, radio stations began airing the first-ever singing commercials in support of SPAM luncheon meat in 1941. George Burns and Gracie Allen also advertised SPAM while entertaining millions on their weekly radio program. In 1945, an entertainment troupe called the Hormel Girls toured cities across America to generate awareness for SPAM and other Hormel products.

After the war, SPAM continued making its mark around the world when Hormel Foods began distributing the already famous luncheon meat to international markets. Locations in Denmark, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea all began producing SPAM and today, SPAM is distributed in 41 countries and trademarked in more than 100 countries on six continents.

Billions and Billions Served
By the late 1950s, SPAM began achieving a series of milestones that continue to prove its popularity today. The one billionth can of SPAM was produced in 1959, and just 11 years later came the two billionth. Product innovations and a strong international presence played an important role in the production of SPAM luncheon meat's third, fourth and fifth billionth cans, which occurred in 1980, 1986 and 1994, respectively.

Through more than six decades, SPAM has remained a contemporary product by consistently providing what consumers want - versatility, high quality and good taste. In 1962, the original 12-ounce SPAM can was joined by a seven-ounce can for the convenience it provided small families and single people. Almost 10 years later, Hormel Foods developed SPAM smoke flavored to lend a delicious, outdoor flavor to already great-tasting SPAM classic. In 1986, SPAM less sodium entered the market for consumers concerned with sodium intake. SPAM lite was introduced in 1992, allowing SPAM devotees to enjoy the great taste of SPAM with reduced fat and sodium. And in 1999, Hormel Foods introduced SPAM oven roasted turkey. Featuring 100 percent white, lean turkey, it meets consumers' increased interest in foods that are light, nutritious, low fat and great tasting. Recently, Hormel Foods spiced things up by introducing SPAM hot and spicy featuring Tabasco® brand pepper sauce, to Southern and Southeastern U.S. supermarkets. Most recently, two limited-time-only seasonal flavors were introduced--SPAM with cheese and SPAM bbq flavored.

Celebrating SPAM
Worldwide, people enjoy celebrating SPAM as much as they enjoy eating it. In 1991, annual SPAM recipe contests were established to give cooks a chance to display their best SPAM creations at dozens of state and local fairs nationwide. Many new SPAM delicacies are prepared for the contest, including the 2002 national contest-winning recipe for SPAM and Jam Layered Sandwich and the 2003 national contest-winning recipe for Curried SPAM and Rice.

In 1998, SPAM luncheon meat caught the public eye again during many highly publicized events. SPAM officially went online with a new Web site at www.spam.com, and the Smithsonian Institute accepted the original and new SPAM packaging into its historical archives. "The Official SPAM Fan Club" also opened its doors and has inducted more than 9,000 members since its inception.

From May to December 2000, Minnesotans were given up to 25,000 more ways to love SPAM when the Minnesota State Lottery introduced a new $2 SPAM scratch-off lottery ticket. Each ticket featured a can of SPAM with the world-famous SPAMBURGER hamburger on the front. Cash prizes ranged from $2 to $25,000, with more than 170,000 prizes of $10 and higher.

In September 2001, the 16,500 square foot SPAM Museum opened in Austin, Minn celebrating the image, history and long-standing tradition of the world's favorite luncheon meat. The museum offers die-hard fans and the casually curious a wide variety of interactive SPAM exhibits and intriguing visual displays. Visitors can observe the World War II display depicting the role SPAM played in the war, test their knowledge in the SPA Exam, enjoy past and present SPAM advertisements and participate in a simulated SPAM production line.

Each year, more than 20,000 SPAM fans are welcomed to Austin, Minn. to pay tribute to their favorite luncheon meat at SPAM Jam, the only Hormel Foods-sanctioned celebration to honor the world famous meat in blue and yellow cans. For SPAM enthusiasts wishing to show their loyalty at home, work or play, a catalog offers SPAM branded merchandise. Fans can purchase everything from SPAM pens and pencils to SPAM umbrellas and SPAM boxer shorts.

"When SPAM was introduced in 1937, people immediately loved it," said Julie Craven,director of public relations, Hormel Foods. "From its continued popularity, it's apparent that America's love for SPAM has only grown stronger throughout the years."

Just like some of you have said, my mistakes have been buying without trying it first - I've bought some real stinkers. And not taking time to store properly, getting sloppy with the basement (I don't even want to go down there now!)

It gives me hives! I expect its the additives

I'll take all the SPAM any one what to give me!!!

tigger2 wrote:     I have some canned food stored in the basement. I have rats. I mean rats not mice. They have slowly but surely ate the labels off some of the cans. I have no idea what is in those cans. My pest man puts poison out on a regular basis. They must eat it. I have been thinking declaring war on them. You turn the lights down low. Get a paint can to sit on and wait. Have your pellet rifle or pistol ready.

    When I was a little boy. Money was a rare thing. We bought the basics, flour, sugar, cornmeal, salt and pepper. We planted most of our veggies. If you ate meat,
it was probably squirrel or rabbit. Fish was also on the menu

    Yes, Thanks. Why did I not think of that. Do you feel lucky, rats? Did I pump it 1 time or 15 times? lol.

Rat Burgers...Yummy....