2009 Food Storage Challenge (March Update) - Page 6

[JoyfamMama]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

As for the Depression Grandma, did you guys watch the newest video "poor man's feast?" Those meat strips were so thin!


Ami

Thanks for the dehydration youtube, and yes I did see the meat was sooo thin. Also, unless I'm mistaken, I think she puts the cooked meat back into the same juice that the raw meat was marinating in.

[Jyotsna]

Hi JTA Mom,

I tried to watch that video, but there were too many things going on at one time. I think it would be hard for me to watch the whole thing. : )

I'm very interested in drying food though, so if you find any more (simple) information, I'd be interested.

[JTA Mom]

Originally Posted by JoyfamMama

Thanks for the dehydration youtube, and yes I did see the meat was sooo thin. Also, unless I'm mistaken, I think she puts the cooked meat back into the same juice that the raw meat was marinating in.

Yea, that last part kind of squigged me out. Putting cooked meat back into the same marinade it was soaking in while raw is a big no-no. Ah well, what doesn't kill ya....:

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

Hi JTA Mom,

I tried to watch that video, but there were too many things going on at one time. I think it would be hard for me to watch the whole thing. : )

I'm very interested in drying food though, so if you find any more (simple) information, I'd be interested.

I just watched it to get an idea of what dehydrating food could be like & what using it would be like. The beginning ones are kind of hard to follow, but as you get further into the series it's really eye opening, especially when looking at how much actual food she's put by versus the space they take up. It is amazing to see the tiny dehydrated splinter sized baby carrots turn into full size, plump baby carrots in the stew. I use her more as a jumping off point, so I'm off to research a good dehydrating book and am saving up for an electric dehydrator. Hopefully I'll be able to make a solar one this summer.

Just for the visual effect, look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOoTw...eature=related

All that food in the jars (which are quart jars) used to be 30lbs of food. And it will be 30lbs again when rehydrated. It really opens up storage possibilities since they are more compact and very lightweight.

I'm just starting out, so I don't know too much about it, but it's definitely piqued my interest.

ETA: Here's an interesting basic food drying site I just found.

Ami

[Jyotsna]

Thanks for the second video. It definately is amazing how a person could store all that food, in such a small space. I want to check out drying potato. I'm vegetarian, so I know I won't be dealing with fish or meats, but it would be awesome to have 200lbs of veggies dryed and stored in my house. Maybe it would take too long. But little by little, it would be helpful.

I'll have to check out the dehydrators. I'm really interested in perhaps finding instructions on how to make a high quality non-electric dehydrator.

Thanks again.

[Jyotsna]

Kimche?

Has anyone tried the Kimche recipe that I posted on here from the Food Storage class?

I've got the ingredients to make it, and I'm going to do it tonight. I'd just love any guidance from those who make this regularly. I really want to try some fermented foods, and the idea of fermenting as a way to store food, really appeals to me.

Jyotsna

[Jyotsna]

I hate to see this thread disappear, since so many of you have read it and posted too. So I'm bumping it up. Perhaps it could be earmarked somewhere?

I got some bad news from Whole Foods. The manager told me they couldn't give out any more of the food grade buckets, because the buckets had the "Whole Foods" name on them. Legal issue I guess. Too bad, because I was hoping to pick some up over time. They ARE recycling them, so at least they aren't going to waste. I'm disappointed however, as I have made some plans with some extra buckets I was hoping to pickup. Anyone have other suggestions?

After I put my 25lbs in the storage buckets I had, I realized that it wasn't very much. We depend on rice as a major food source...our major source of carbs. I need to buy another 25lb bag of rice.

J.

[tightwaderin]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

I got some bad news from Whole Foods. The manager told me they couldn't give out any more of the food grade buckets, because the buckets had the "Whole Foods" name on them. Legal issue I guess. Too bad, because I was hoping to pick some up over time. They ARE recycling them, so at least they aren't going to waste. I'm disappointed however, as I have made some plans with some extra buckets I was hoping to pickup. Anyone have other suggestions?

J.

I'm sorry you can't get your buckets from them anymore. The whole legal excuse gets old with me. They have something they don't want, you want it. Should be simple enough.

I've been getting my buckets and lids from 2 local grocery stores' bakery departments. They're frosting buckets and while not the 5 gallon size, they do hold a considerable amount. One store's has rubber seals in the lids which I much prefer. I just keep checking back for more when I'm near. I have also heard that delis are a good place to pick up buckets though the pickle smell might hang around for a while.

[Aubergine68]

Originally Posted by Jyotsna

Has anyone tried the Kimche recipe that I posted on here from the Food Storage class?

I've got the ingredients to make it, and I'm going to do it tonight. I'd just love any guidance from those who make this regularly. I really want to try some fermented foods, and the idea of fermenting as a way to store food, really appeals to me.

Jyotsna

I have no idea how to make kimchee, but thanks for posting the recipe.

I actually went out and bought some kimchee, which I've only ever eaten in restaurants, and I am LOVING having it in my fridge.

My only experiment fermenting cabbage (for sauerkraut) went horribly wrong a few years back. I'd probably be looking for a good youtube tutorial.

[thewaggonerfamily]

Wow! This is uch a great thread! I actually have a dehydrator, I need to dig it out and learn to use it. I also water bath can and just got 2 pressure canners. 1 needs a new gasket.
(I'll probably replace the other while I'm at it) and they need their gauges tested, but our extension lost their testing equipment, so I need to go over to next county over to get it tested. I'm a little nervous about explosions, though. Any words of advice? Is it like birth where you hear everyone's horror stories, but its basically no big deal?