Since the beginning of time, The human being has known how to take advantage of what the earth offered us and store for the cold months or absence of harvest.

Salting, dehydrated foods such as dried apricots or raisins, fermentations, burial in sand or coconut fiber that is applied to roots such as carrots or red beets and other preservation systems have been with us for millennia and others such as sterilization in a water bath for centuries.

In the 21st century Having a good pantry is quite simple and we have a variety of products and preserves to choose from, both for the freezer or refrigerator and to keep at room temperature.

Food or energy shortage: this is how to prepare

For a few months now, the “preparationists” movement which are people who store food and other survival items such as flashlights or water for possible emergency situations or gas, electricity or food shortages

Therefore, it would not be a basic pantry to consume in the family menus of the following weeks and help us with the logistics of the shopping basket, but rather foods to store longer term.

In these circumstances we can resort to a wide variety of cans and preserves both vegetables and fish or sausages/meat products and even processed ones such as energy bars or sweets.

But we could also prepare a long-lasting 100% vegetable and healthier pantry.

How to prepare a long-lasting pantry

The list of a possible vegetable pantry can be very long, but the best is:

• Choose few foods, but very nutritious, easy to heat or cook and long lasting.
• Mark the expiration date well. Some of the products mentioned, such as legumes, dry cereals or pasta, can last for years in the right place, dark, dry, away from humidity and in airtight containers, although it is recommended to consume them in about 18 months. In the rest of the foods, the expiration date will have to be reviewed in each case and taken into account to consume and replace them.
• For added protection, We can use cloves and dried bay leaves because they scare away insects. They can be placed inside containers or on shelves.

10 basics in an emergency pantry

This is the list of long-lasting canned alternatives to be prepared to follow a canned plant-based diet if circumstances require it.

1. Legumes in all their forms

They are the vegetable protein par excellence, satiating and very nutritious and can solve our basic diet in any type of social-economic crisis. We can store them both dry – if we then have the resources and fuel to cook them – and cooked. Glass preserves without preservatives are the most suitable.

2. Cereals and pseudocereals

Rice, oats, spelled, corn, quinoa, buckwheat… have been the basis of the diet of different civilizations and can enrich many meals.

• We can save them both in grain and cooked and they can even be frozen with the tray method, which consists of placing the cold, cooked grains on a tray and when they freeze, they are stored in jars. This way they are loose and not caked together.
• Here we would include flours and pasta, always assuming that we have options to cook them.

3. Nuts

dried fruits, preferably in shell, they will also be protagonists of this future pantry because they are powerful foods and in their small size and small quantity they offer many nutritional benefits, in addition to being energetic and protein-rich.

• We bet on local nuts and we have a wide variety to choose from such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, chestnuts… And let’s not forget the nutcracker or similar device.
• As nuts are very concentrated foods, A handful a day is enough.

4. Classic preserves

Classic preserved vegetables cooked are the references of the concept “pantry” and they will make any dish more delicious.

• Asparagus, roasted peppers, artichokes, peas, chard, green beans, raw tomatoes or fried tomato sauce… are examples of vegetables that are easily found in glass jars.

5. Pickles

Quality and fermented pickles such as olives, pickles, gherkins, sauerkraut, kimchi and others are good probiotics and fit into this type of equipment.

6. Seeds

The seeds are authentic nutritional pills because they contain all the elements that the plant needs to develop.

• Flax, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin or hemp seeds are easily found and lWe can preserve them in glass jars or in a vacuum.

7. Dehydrated foods

Nor can we miss all types of dehydrated foods, which we can easily prepare at home both in the sun, in a low-temperature oven or in electric dehydrating devices.

• Mushrooms, tomatoes, julienned fruits and vegetables, The more options, the more they will be delicious to the palate and a great resource in our pantry. And dried fruit can replace other unhealthy treats.

8. Canned protein

Regarding other vegetable proteins, beyond legumes, to be able to cook all types of recipes and preparations, the veggie market has evolved a lot in recent years and we can find jarred tempeh, tofu or seitan, textured soy, jack fruit (tropical fruit with a meat-like texture) or cans of carnita (gluten and almond-based product).

9. Oils, vinegars and sauces

Of course there is a wide list of foods that will be the perfect complement to our food logistics:olive oil, coconut oil, vinegar, soy sauce…

10. Dressings

It is a good idea to have available miso (ferment-medicine with which we can prepare a delicious soup in seconds by adding a teaspoon of miso to hot water), aromatic herbs and spices, seaweed, some powdered superfood or food supplement, sweeteners such as stevia, coconut sugar, cereal molasses; cinnamon, chocolate, vegetable drinks in brick or powder…