If all grocery stores shut permanently, how long would your current food stocks last?

[#1hoosierfan]

Maybe two weeks.

 

[Pink Partridge]

Probably a year. We just got a cow. Plus we have two other freezers full of various meats, veg, breads, junk pizzas and appetizers, etc. Our pantry currently needs to be cleaned out as it is. Tons of peanut butter, canned beans of every kind, ridiculous amount of soups, etc.

I really need to start meal planning around what we have.

 

[NYCgrrl]

really need to start meal planning around what we have.

That’s what I’m doing now. Almost a third of the way thru an apt sized chest freezer.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I have to ask, is freezer burn an issue? My mom's two sisters and brother all had large families, two had 5 kids, one had 6. They had a chest freezer, but I know one Aunt said generally everything in their freezers was used up in a month, and she dated everything in there because after two or three months it was suffering the effects of being frozen that long.

A Food Saver is one of the best things I ever bought. I can buy in bulk and vacuum seal inthe quantities I want. The food, vacuum sealed, does not suffer from freezer burn.

 

[tvguy]

A Food Saver is one of the best things I ever bought. I can buy in bulk and vacuum seal inthe quantities I want. The food, vacuum sealed, does not suffer from freezer burn.

But it is suggested that frozen foods be consumed within 3 months.

 

[barkley]

But it is suggested that frozen foods be consumed within 3 months.

who suggests that?

the u.s. government food safety site (foodsafety.gov) says frozen foods stored continuously at 0°F (-18°C) or below can be kept indefinitely. the usda says food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. and

Nutrient Retention​

The freezing process itself does not destroy nutrients. In meat and poultry products, there is little change in nutrient value during freezer storage.


people routinely buy half and whole sides of beef packaged up for freezing to feed their family for a year with no issue. hunters in our area 'thin the herd' of their freezers in preparation for elk and venison butchered into their choice of cuts to last them a year into the next hunting season. plenty of people stock up on frozen turkeys during thanksgiving planning to consume them many months later (popular item to smoke in the summer on a big green egg).

never heard of any 3 month concept (the ice cream, frozen veggies and microwavable meals i buy have further out best by dates).

 

[tvguy]

who suggests that?

the u.s. government food safety site (foodsafety.gov) says frozen foods stored continuously at 0°F (-18°C) or below can be kept indefinitely. the usda says food stored constantly at 0 °F will always be safe. and

Nutrient Retention​

The freezing process itself does not destroy nutrients. In meat and poultry products, there is little change in nutrient value during freezer storage.


people routinely buy half and whole sides of beef packaged up for freezing to feed their family for a year with no issue. hunters in our area 'thin the herd' of their freezers in preparation for elk and venison butchered into their choice of cuts to last them a year into the next hunting season. plenty of people stock up on frozen turkeys during thanksgiving planning to consume them many months later (popular item to smoke in the summer on a big green egg).

never heard of any 3 month concept (the ice cream, frozen veggies and microwavable meals i buy have further out best by dates).

FOODSAFETY.GOV Has a range depending on what you are freezing. I can't find the FDA link

https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts

 

[barkley]

FOODSAFETY.GOV Has a range depending on what you are freezing. I can't find the FDA link

https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts

and in the first paragraph it states-

Follow the guidelines below for storing food in the refrigerator and freezer. The short time limits for home-refrigerated foods will help keep them from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat. The guidelines for freezer storage are for quality only—frozen foods stored continuously at 0°F (-18°C) or below can be kept indefinitely.

 

[NYCgrrl]

But it is suggested that frozen foods be consumed within 3 months.

I’ll be cooking a 2” to 2.5” porterhouse steak I froze in December 2023, later this month. I anticipate no problems with the quality or food safety

 

[focusondisney]

FOODSAFETY.GOV Has a range depending on what you are freezing. I can't find the FDA link

https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts

Even that link has poultry, beef, pork, lamb, veal & some fish at 4-12 months. Many frozen foods have expiation dates well past 3 months. I bought a food saver in 2020 & use it regularly for all kinds of meat. They’re all absolutely fine for much longer than 3 months.

 

[tvguy]

I’ll be cooking a 2” to 2.5” porterhouse steak I froze in December 2023, later this month. I anticipate no problems with the quality or food safety

I had a friend growing up whose parents raised angus beef. I know there was a point when the beef they had kept for themselves was earmarked for the dog because it had been in the freezer too long. But I have no idea what the time frame is.

 

[WDWEPCOT]

With the exception of milk and eventually eggs as I would be making bread to freeze - I could go maybe three years as I don’t eat a lot and I’m loaded up with meat ! I could stretch those veggies for a long time ! Maybe trade some meat with neighbors for some veggies ! Plenty of rice & grits & pasta too !! Little low on fish !

 

[hobbs29]

Hmm. Good question. Maybe a couple weeks. Our meat stores are low right now.