Shelf Stable: Storing Foods Without Refrigeration: Keeping Pantry

By Lara Manetta

Non-perishible food is a pantry essential for people living without refrigeration. This reference guide gets you acquainted with the shelf-stable foods you should have in your pantry if you want to eat well even when the power goes out.

An excellent reference for:

• preparing for natural disasters like earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes.
• going off the grid, whether on a homestead or in an RV out in the mountains.
• expanding your food options.
• watching your grocery budget

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lara Manetta
• Release date: May 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223737247

Lara Manetta

Lara Manetta is a writer and painter who lives on her tiny sailboat. She's passionate about food, sustainability, and eating well from her provisions.

Book preview

Introduction

Living without refrigeration in the US is unusual—figures from the New York Times say 99.5% of Americans own a refrigerator. However, people who find themselves exploring alternate lifestyles like van dwelling or liveaboard boating will often find refrigeration moves from the necessity column to luxury.

Increasingly common severe weather can also leave people without power for days or weeks at a time. If you don’t have a cooler that stands up to this, it means no access to chilled foods for the duration.

For the first two years I lived on boats, I had no refrigeration. My boats (first a 1969 C&C Corvette, then a 1972 S2 9.2) were older and finances prevented me from dropping much on even a small refrigerator.

I have a small fridge now—a Dometic CF25, which specs say is just large enough for 27 cans of beer—but I still maintain a good pantry of shelf stable foods.

This is a guide for anyone who wants to avoid depending on a refrigerator for their food needs. Maybe you are away from markets for extended periods of time. Maybe you’d rather reserve precious fridge space for beer and cold sodas.

These are the foods I keep on hand to enjoy a varied, indulgent, even kind of healthy diet. I use very few prepared foods. You won’t find a lot of canned soup or dry seasoned noodles on my list.

Instead, these are staples I have selected for quality and versatility. Items in the provisioning chapters are organized first by type then alphabetically. Recipes are sprinkled here and there where they seem helpful and appropriate.

Who Is This Book For?

BUDGET-CONSCIOUS SHOPPERS: Shelf-stable foods are often less expensive than fresh or refrigerated options, making them an attractive option for individuals on a budget. Learn when you shop the sales and stock up to keep your food costs low.

Homesteaders and Off-Grid Living Enthusiasts: People who live in remote or rural areas, who may have limited access to fresh food, may rely on shelf-stable foods as a significant part of their diet. Keep your diet interesting even when you are miles from the nearest store.

Van Lifers: Chances are good your fridge is either small or nonexistent. You don't have to shop every day or live on restaurant meals. These staples can be