11 Ways To Make Your Pantry Sustainable
Here are 11 ways to make your pantry sustainable. Here’s the deal: A sweet relative called me yesterday to ask me which bread machine, bread mixer, wheat grinder, electric, and hand crank to buy. People understand the need to learn to make bread as soon as possible. Yes, it has carbs, but today, it’s about being able to feed our family.
So, I decided to write about the basics of stocking a pantry. Please remember that no one will deliver food or water to our homes after a disaster; it’s a fact that we must be self-reliant.
Of course, we all need water. I suggest 4 gallons per person daily, but please do what you can and do it a little each month. So now, let’s move on to the need for a pantry to feed your family.
We may need a hand-crank wheat grinder if we make whole wheat bread, but we must live today. Please get an electric one and enjoy making whole wheat bread every week. If you are new to making bread, start with sourdough or white bread. Then, learn to grind wheat and make whole wheat bread if you decide to.
11 Ways To Make Your Pantry Sustainable
1. Learn To Make Bread
If you can learn to make bread, you can feed your family now and after a disaster when the stores are closed. People get angry when hungry; this item goes well with soup to keep the belly full.
Items To Make Bread
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Bosch Bread Mixer
- Zojirushi Bread Maker (I do not bake it in the machine, only in the oven after mixing)
- 1/2 gallon Silicone Bags for Ingredients
- Bread Pans
- Dough Cutter
- Bread Bags For Storage
In case you missed these posts, Bread Machine Bread-How To Make It and How To Make My No-Fail Homemade Bread or How To Make A Sourdough Starter + Bread
Ingredients for the Bread Machine Recipe (2 Loaves)
- 1-1/2 cups water
- 4 cups bread flour or all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Two tablespoons of dry instant milk
- Two teaspoons salt
- Two tablespoons butter
- One tablespoon Saf Instant yeast
The recipe is here: Bread Machine Bread-How To Make It
2. Learn To Make Biscuits
I grew up on biscuits and gravy, with butter and jam, which fills the belly with soup or cream-chipped beef.
Items You Will Need
- Biscuit Cutter
- Rolling Pin
- Mixing Bowl
- Danish Whisk
- Cookie Sheet
In case you missed this post, Easy Homemade Biscuit Recipe
Ingredients for Homemade Biscuits
- Four tsp. instant SAF yeast (please store in freezer)
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 cups buttermilk (How To Make Buttermilk)
- 1/2 cup of warm water
- 1 cup shortening or softened butter (I use butter)
- 5 cups white bread flour
3. Spices You May Want To Stock
It doesn’t matter what you cook, bake items, or prepare a fresh salad or vegetables; spices make things taste better. I wrote this post, 33 Essential Spices I Recommend Stocking Up On. Some of you may have missed it, so I will gently remind you to stock up on your favorite spices.
- 33 Essential Spices I Recommend To Stock
- 1. Basil
- 2. Bay Leaf
- 3. Black Pepper
- 4. Cavender’s Greek Seasoning
- 5. Cayenne Red Pepper
- 6. Celery Salt
- 7. Cilantro
- 9. Cinnamon (Ground)
- 9. Chili Powder
- 10. Chives
- 11. Cream of Tartar
- 12. Cumin (Ground)
- 13. Curry Powder
- 14. Dill Weed
- 15. Garlic Powder
- 16. Garlic Salt
- 17. Ginger (Ground)
- 18. Himalayan Pink Salt
- 19. Italian Seasoning
- 20. Mustard (Dry Powdered)
- 21. Nutmeg (Ground)
- 22. Old Bay Seasoning
- 23. Onion Powder
- 24. Onion Salt
- 25. Lemon Pepper
- 26. Oregano
- 27. Paprika (Ground)
- 28. Parsley Flakes
- 29. Red Pepper (Crushed)
- 30. Poppy Seed
- 31. Sage (Rubbed)
- 32. Seasoned Salt (Similar to Lawry’s Salt)
- 33. Sesame Seeds
- 34. Thyme
4. Stock Canned Meats
One thing we all may want is some protein. I wrote a post on the Canned Meats I Recommend to give people some ideas. Here’s the deal: Everyone has food they will enjoy eating or cooking with. I get it.
This is why it’s critical to go to the grocery store, the dollar store, Costco, or Sam’s Club and choose the ones your family will eat.
Of course, we all would love freshly sliced deli meat, but the stores may be closed after a disaster. These cans of meat will fill the belly with homemade bread or crackers.
I have to laugh. I’m looking at those Vienna Sausages. I can still remember eating those when I was little, but not so much now.
5. Store Canned Vegetables
Now we’re onto canned vegetables. I try to buy the low-sodium ones, but I also realize I can rinse off the liquid and hopefully consume less salt.
As I look at these cans, I think to myself, “I love my garden’s fresh vegetables.” But I must be realistic. Where I live now, the weather is much colder, and I know I must have ready-to-eat vegetables to feed my family when needed.
6. Stock Canned Fruits
I love fresh fruit, frozen fruit, and even canned fruit. These are the ones I recommended to stock. Every family has their favorites; choose those. Canned Fruit I Recommend
7. Baking Supplies
When you love to bake, you stock supplies for cookies, bread, muffins, cakes, and anything sweet or plain and simple. Please stock those baking items you use often. Please remember to keep your SAF Yeast in the freezer. It will last for a few years, trust me I know. In case we lose power for an extended period. Please print your favorite recipes.
8. Snacks/Chocolate
Are you a snacker like me? You can see below a few of the snacks our family loves to stock. I love Oreos and dark chocolate; what’s not to love? It’s nice to have snacks for those around you to munch on in times of stress. You can play board games and have a few bowls of treats available.
9. Breakfast Items
In case you missed the post, here is Emergency Breakfast Food. I stock instant milk, cereal, freeze-dried bananas, and dehydrated bananas. I make homemade bread, so we always stock peanut butter and jam. Life is so good with hot bread out of the oven.
10. Dehydrated Food/Freeze-Dried Food
By now, you know I love to dehydrate food. I also purchase dehydrated food as well as freeze-dried food. It all depends on what my pantry needs. Some of it has a shelf-life that is short-term and long-term. It’s important to have various food storage items; we must be able to feed our family today or after a disaster.
Please remember that no one will deliver food or water to you immediately. That may sound harsh, but it’s the truth, my friends. After an unforeseen emergency, depending on the severity, it could be weeks.
11. Pet Food/Supplies
If you have small or large pets/animals, we all know how important it is to have the food they need to eat. It’s been hard to get some dog and cat food the last couple of years. My veterinarian warned me one day when I took my dog to be groomed that it was getting harder to get any animal food. I’m just giving you the heads-up if you haven’t heard it yet.
How To Make Food More Sustainable
- Grow a Garden (This is where I buy my garden seeds: SeedsNow)
- Eat what’s in Season
- Stop the Waste (Freeze or Dehydrate)
- Eat more Plants (Farmer’s Market, if available)
Final Word
I hope you enjoyed my post on 11 Ways To Make Your Pantry Sustainable today. My goal is to help others be prepared for the unexpected. May God Bless this World, Linda
“Yes it has carbs” I had to laugh even though I understand why you had to explain it. We’ve got it so good in this country….
Hi Matt, LOL! The carbs, LOL! I don’t count carbs or calories, and I doubt I ever will. I make bread every single week and have for 60+ years! I’m going to teach a friend how to make bread. It’s easier than people realize. You got me laughing, I love it! Linda
I make bread every week, too. I don’t know why so few people do. I have made it since I was first married (back with the dinosaurs). It is an important skill. Plus, it tastes better and costs less.
Hi Janet, I’m in the dinosaur bread-making club as well. LOL! I taught a bread-making class at a church function where I live now. Only ONE person picked up the recipe and instructions out of maybe 30 who attended. It’s all good. My friend Melissa Richardson (author of “The Art Of Baking with Natural Yeast” https://amzn.to/3TVXfAA) said she sat in Costco and people walked right past her picked up a book and glanced through it and went back and bought loaves of bread. We both giggled over that for years! Linda
The main reason I don’t bake bread is because I eat it – all of it, smothered in butter!!! I grew up on homemade bread and I love love love it!! Mom always had a loaf coming out of the oven when the bus pulled up to let us kids off after school. There was a dish of homemade butter (we had our own milk cows so butter, cheese, milk, cream, etc.) and a dish of home jarred jam or jelly. I generally just wanted it with butter when the bread was hot! When it was cool and sliced, then I wanted jam or jelly on it. So, IF I make bread, as soon as I can handle the loaf (sometimes using oven mitts) I cut or tear off a big chunk, slather on the butter (not homemade sadly) and devour it! I have been known to eat half of a loaf while it was hot! So, I have chosen not to make bread, at least very often. The last time I made bread was last Thanksgiving as I was tasked with taking all the dinner rolls for 30 people!! I enjoyed it but of course I taste tested one or two!!
Hi Leanne, you made diner rolls for 30 on Thanksgiving! I love it! I can almost smell them coming out of the oven! Linda
Thank you for so much great information. It truly is valuable, especially in these times!
Hi Bethany, thank you for your kind words, we must be ready for hard times. Linda
Love this post, Linda! My grandmother made biscuits every day until after my granddaddy died. She made pinch off biscuits instead of cutting them. They were so soft and fluffy. I never learned how to make them.
One meat that we stock that you didn’t mention is BBQ pork. I think hubby got it from either Walmart of Amazon. It’s pretty good. We make pulled pork from it.
Hi Deborah, thank you for your kind word, my sweet friend. I forgot you mentioned that BBQ pork!! I want to go get some, thank you for the reminder. I love biscuits, I love hearing you grew up on them as well!! Linda
Linda,
As you and I have discussed, we need to make sure that the spices we store are not tainted by toxic heavy metals as reported in Consumer Reports after a study. The article can be read at this link: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/your-herbs-and-spices-might-contain-arsenic-cadmium-and-lead/
Hi Harry, oh thank you for the link! It makes you wonder what else is in our food! Thank you, Harry, Linda
Our world is headed for a very dark place, that I am not sure any of us can truly prepare for. We can only do our best, but I fear even that will come up short. Please stay safe and healthy.
Fresh bread and cookies always brought my kids into the kitchen fast, no matter where r they were outside. Those smells are always amazing!!
Hi Cheryl, I LOVE this! You are so right there is nothing better than something yummy baking in the oven! Linda
Thank you for all you do for us! Always learning from you.
Do you have a good / favorite Sourdough recipe for a soft “sandwich bread”?
Hi Laura, my sourdough recipe will make soft or crusty bread. It’s how it is baked. You just don’t bake it with in a Dutch oven with a lid. That’s what makes it crusty. I need to write a post to show people how easy that is. Great reminder, Linda
I love your posts and I always read all the comments. I’ve never seen a biscuit recipe with yeast. I’m anxious to try it
Hi Cindy, thank you for your kind words, my friend. I love biscuits, I try new recipes all the time. Linda
HA! You laugh at those Vienna Sausages but I still eat them. I add a can of them to a can of Bushes baked beans and heat them together! So good! And don’t even get me started on Spam! (bacon flavor).
Hi Bill-Bill, now that’s a great idea to put the Vienna sausages in Bushes Baked Beans! Now I need to check out the SPAM in bacon flavor, I think Matt mentioned that once, oh happy day! Linda
I’ve given away so much sourdough starter lately, it’s good to see the interest in home made bread, especially younger people taking it up. Overnight rise sourdough rye is my all time favourite. I’ve experimented with home made crackers as well, like the fancy ones with all the seeds. I like having canned corned beef around. When the frozen hash browns are on sale I grab a couple of bags for a very quick corned beef hash. That biscuit recipe looks good!
I’m just getting a garden set up here, there wasn’t one before. One of the things I want to plant is a bay laurel because I use a lot of bay leaves and it’s nice not having to buy them. My son has one at his place but he always forgets to bring me some.
Hi Alice, oh my gosh, you make overnight rise sourdough rye bread??????? I grew up on corned beef hash!!! You are an inspiration, thank you for sharing!! Linda
Hi Linda,
I’m lactose intolerant. What can I do to store milk for people like me?
Thank you.
Nina
HI Nina, this is a great question. I know I had a grandchild that was lactose intolerant and my daughter bought Rice Milk in boxes that did not need refrigeration. They are not for the long term but I’m guessing possibly a year. I just looked on Walmart.com. and they have some shelf-stable milk such as almond milk, and rice milk. You will have to check each case of the brand you decide on to see the expiration date. I have made oat milk, I know people make almond milk themselves, but you would need a blender. Linda
I can’t wait to be able to make bread! Love all of these tips and thank you so much for sharing, it’s appreciated!
Hi Jess, you. will love making bread, I promise!! Linda
All ways to be sustainable!! I still am of the mind that I need to store what I eat and eat what I store. With this method, I don’t have to worry so much about Best By dates.
Harry – thanks for the link – Food for thought for sure.
Nina – if you buy the best shelf stable milk of choice, use it! Unfortunately, shelf stable does not always translate into long term storage. I am lactose sensitive (not intolerant but really sensitive) but I have found that if I cook regular cows milk like in a soup, I do ok. But I also know that if I eat cheese tonight and have milk in other forms in the morning I could have issues!!
I keep Rice A Roni on hand a lot – especially when it is 10 for $10!! Not often now but in the past it was a monthly special at one of the stores I shop at. Just checked my favorite store and it is $1.59 a box!! Yikes! $1.28 at Walmart!
One meat that I like to keep on hand is Hormel Smoked Ham – 5 oz. Not cheap but it is versatile. It is packed sort of like canned chicken and tuna. I make ham salad for sandwiches, stir into my fried rice, make breakfast casseroles out of it and add it to navy bean for ham and bean soup!
Hi Leanne, oh my gosh, I am going to pick up some Hormel Smoked Ham in a can!!! I would use it in so many ways! Great tips, thank you! Linda
Right now I have to be very cautious about what I eat since I had bariatric stomach surgery a few months ago. If the SHTF in the next 6 month I could be in for a world of hurt, after everything heals I’ll be fine. Right now carb are like poison, but healing is taking place every day. We do have it so good here and can make all kinds of eating choices. My oldest daughter is a vegetarian and my youngest is a vegan. Neither will be survival in a long term disaster situation unless they are prepared with a small farm or homestead to grow and process their own food. The oldest wants to do that. The youngest is too clueless and I worry about her when she graduates from college.
For my son-in-law’s birthday I am making a 72 hour emergency food bag for their family. I am going to get one of the Augaston farms super cans with 4 packages to feed 4 people, a black bean burger mix, then add can of soups or spaghetti-o, cans of fruit, packets of oatmeal and etc. I bought a zippered reusable grocery bag to put everything in. He is the only family member that appreciates my prepping. Everyone else rolls their eyes and indulges me. When he was in high school a tornado destroyed their house and about 1/4 the town. They are related to half the town but he realized how bad it could be. I think my daughter might get an electric wheat grinder attachment for her kitchen aid for Christmas with some wheat berries and recipes.
Some one posted asking about milk for lactose intolerance. Amazon has lactose free powdered cow’s milk plus a selection of powered non-dairy milks. Worth a look.
Hi Topaz, good for you on your surgery, I will pray for a speedy recovery!! What a great idea for the 72-hour kit for your SIL’s birthday. Thanks for the tip on milk/lactose intolerance. The wheat grinder attachment is a great idea. Linda
As always, your posts are timely. Great reminders. If your readers wonder what to do if they don’t use up their canned goods before they expire (my problem),donate the soon to expire canned goods to local food pantries, soup kitchens or Blessings Boxes.
Hi Pam, I do the same thing, great reminder to all. The food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens or blessing boxes need whatever we can spare, I love this, Linda
Pam,
I hope you don’t get rid of canned goods because they are past the “Best Buy”. I know of people that do that and it is a waste. We have many times eaten canned goods that are up to several years past the BB date. They have never caused a problem and tasted fine. In fact, a couple examples are a can of Spam 7 years past the BB date and a can of green beans 3 years past. If the can is not dented or leaking, open it and do the smell test. We do that and have never found any that are “bad.” Just a suggestion to avoid waste.
I so agree with you Harry. I have used past BB canned foods alot. I always look for the bulging top and watch for the small explosion or poof (mostly tomato based items) and quickly smell it when it opens to make sure it doesn’t smell “off”. Waste not, want not!
Good addition to my comment, Robbie. We do try not to buy too far ahead on tomato based products since we have tomato powder for backup.
Hi Harry, Me too! Linda
Hi Robbie, I totally agree with you too! Linda
Hi Harry, I totally agree with you with the exception of tomatoes, I don’t just toss them just they have more acidic whatever in them so I worry about them.
Well, we don’t toss them either. It’s just something that we watch closely.
Hi Harry, I did have to toss about 15 #10 dehydrated food cans that after being in a climate controlled storage unit for 3 years because they had 8 years expirations, mainly egg powder, some tomato based, the cans were bulging, so it was time to toss and let go. Such is life, Linda
Linda, I love this post. Question: Why don’t you bake the bread in your Zojirushi machine?
I’d add cilantro to your list of spices. Jane and I grow it, chives, rosemary, thyme, basil and a few others fresh and dehydrate some for storage.
Jane is an extremely picky eater who often refuses to try anything new, and even though she’s a baker she won’t make whole wheat bread because she doesn’t like it. We have a bread machine but she doesn’t use it–kneading it herself or with my help.
Hi Ray, thank you for your kind words, my sweet friend. You know I grew up with 2 pound loaves and that’s what my Zojirushi machine makes, I prefer the smaller 1 pound loaves so I pull the dough out after the first rise and put the dough in 2 one-pound pans let it rise with plastic wrap, then bake it after removing the plastic wrap. My mom kneaded all of her bread, If Jane has only had hard red wheat bread that may be the reason. I grew up with my mom making “bricks”, we still loved it but then I learned how to make bread working at a Bosch store. I had Bosch bread machine for years. Its the wheat gluten and dough enhancer and hard white wheat that make all the difference. It’s so fluffy, now that I unpacked my wheat grinder I will be back to aking whole wheat bread. I would like to try it my Zojirushi machine. I will add cilantro to my list, nailed it on that one. I love cilantro!! Linda
Oh, by the way, I had to buy those bread bags you recommended. They will be perfect when Jane makes cinnamon bread.
Hi Ray, now I want to make some cinnamon bread! That sounds so good! Linda
I feel like you’ve been peeking in my pantry with these lists! I also wanted to recommend Spike seasoning. It’s my go to favourite. Another thing I like in my pantry is a jar of dehyrated sourdough starter that I make occasionally from my excess starter. Makes a good backup and is great for giving away to others.
Hi Alice, oh my gosh, I got the giggles about peeking into your pantry with these lists! I Love it! I’m going to order some Spike seasoning right now! I love learning about a new spice to me anyway! Oh my gosh, I have heard you can dehydrate your sourdough starter from the excess starter. I need to do this, what a great gift to give to someone! I love this idea! Now, that I’m in my house, I’m going to get a sourdough starter going again! What a great gift! Linda
In regard to your list of spices, I use only McCormick’s. Yes, it costs more and now is getting hard to find! However, all their spices (with the exception of some speciality ones) are gluten free. It doesn’t have to say GF on them but in talking with McCormick, they informed me their spices are gluten free. Walmart is slowly getting rid of McCormick and using their Great Value brand. However, nothing says GF and there’s no one to call to find out. Some other spices are gluten free but do they use facilities that have had gluten food in it? That’s where you have to be careful – cross contamination. We have a Fall Festival at church today and I made a chicken noodle soup that is gluten free. The noodles (omg, they’re expensive!) are from Raleys and are GF but I also know the spices are so I feel safe in telling everyone it’s gluten free. I’m just picky like that because of my daughter having Marsh 4 Celiac’s Disease. So I stick with McCormick so I don’t have to think about what spices I’m using in any given recipe.
Hi Robbie, that is good to know they are GF! This is good to know! Linda
I confess I use to have a bread maker, but I have no idea what happened to it. My go-to is Longhorn bread….. We get 10 loafs at a time…… freezes great, perfect for two people and only $1. a loaf……and comes with butter.
Hi Chris, if I could get ten loaves of bread with butter for $10.00 I would buy it! No clean up. LOL! Sounds yummy! Linda