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[GP100]

Howdy,

In my quest to store one full month's worth of food (as well as one month's worth of water, so I wouldn't have to step outside for a whole month...like in the case of a virus outbreak, etc.), I've managed to stock up on some SPAM. About 40 can's worth. Note: I am not able to super-prep like many of you, in a small condo with a relatively non-prepping wife, a month's storage is basically what I can do.

I'm curious about your thoughts on SPAM as a survival food. I have several other food types to balance it out as a staple. Some key questions:

--Sodium? (I buy the low sodium kind, but still). Is that gonna be detrimental?
--True shelf life? This is a big question: If my cans say 2014 expiration, how far after that might it hold?
--Uncooked? Obviously cooked would be preferred. Anyone try this stuff uncooked though?

These and any other 0.02 appreciated.

(Note: Storing for myself, my wife, and a 1 year old baby).

[pico]

I have a few cans of spam... but like the DAK brand ham better. I like it cold from the can, but it is improved with a bit of mustard or jelly, IMO, if eating at room temp. Otherwise, frying it works great, as does grilling. I think the dates are conservative. I would think it would last longer, but it would lose much of its nutritive quantities. The sodium might be an issue, but probably not. I think the problem with eating Spam, jerky, or meat products in general in a SHTF scenario is that if you do not balance the meats, you will likely end up very constipated. You should look at buying cheaper products as well, although they may take up more space. I have been putting 24 pounds of spaghetti noodles in 6 pound sealed mylar bags. I have around 100 pounds of noodles, and these will last many years. I paid $0.60 per 14.5 ounce box for mine recently at Wal-Mart. Aldi sells 2 pound boxes for a pretty good price as well. Also, powdered mashed potatoes that require only water package well. In your case, you might look at storing powdered milk, but it is usually sold as non fat, which means you will need to find another way to supply the critical missing essentials for your child. I keep all of my bulk foods in 5 gallon buckets with gasket lids. If you are lacking much space, but have a bed with little to no items underneath, either buy or build a stand system to allow you to place items down there. If you have the means to build a bed frame, you could realistically store entire 5 gallon buckets underneath. If that doesn't work, you could always rent a storage closet somewhere that might run under $40 per month, which would allow you to stockpile a few months worth of food there... the only problem being it is not on hand and also the climate may reduce the lifespan significantly.

[GP100]

I have 3 or 4 cans of the DAK stuff, yep. I bet it does taste better, haven't tried it. I've got the evaporated milk too, that was one of the first things I got -- and calcium tablets for the baby's nutrients too.

The thing about SPAM that I like is its calories and protein per small space. It packs a punch. Fat too.

[Bob]

low sodium spam wont last as long, salt is a preservitive. If you keep the temp low it should last a long, long, time. Always give your long term storage food the smell test. If it smells good, it probably is good.

[GP100]

low sodium spam wont last as long, salt is a preservitive. If you keep the temp low it should last a long, long, time. Always give your long term storage food the smell test. If it smells good, it probably is good.

It's only 25% reduced. Thats still a lot of salt.

[pico]

Peanut Butter is a survivalists friend. I have a can in my GOOD bag, as it packs a lot of protein in a small space. Evaporated milk is good, but powdered might be a bit better if water is plentiful. Having a water purifier will clean any tainted qualities, and then you simply add the amount of water to the amount of powdered milk to get the amount you need. It is far easier to bulk store powdered milk versus canned milk.

Another thing we have on hand usually but are out of at the moment is the UHT milk. This is the boxed milk that requires no chilling to keep. It usually lasts half a year to a year, and we have a half dozen quarts on hand in the winter to tie us over if we run low and the snow is too much of an issue to go to the grocery store.

[Waymarker]

For me, the first thing to grab would be a few packs of multi-vitamin pills to ensure the body gets everything it needs, just pop one with every meal then it won't matter what bland junk food you eat to pad out your stomach and guts..:)

PS- and let's not forget to make sure we have a supply of meds for our ailments, personally i'd be laid up for 12 hours at a stretch at every migraine attack if not for dear old paracetamol to kill the headaches..

[pico]

For me, the first thing to grab would be a few packs of multi-vitamin pills to ensure the body gets everything it needs, just pop one with every meal then it won't matter what bland junk food you eat to pad out your stomach and guts..:)

PS- and let's not forget to make sure we have a supply of meds for our ailments, personally i'd be laid up for 12 hours at a stretch at every migraine attack if not for dear old paracetamol to kill the headaches..

Have you looked at a possible trigger for your migranes? I have them, and they come on from lack of sugar in my case. I have been drinking coffee these last few months and rarely get them. When I do, I drink a homebrew or coffee and usually that is my fix. I was having injections in the lower back of my skull to break up crystalized muscle tissue, which relieved much of my migranes without having to take injections and nasal inhalers. Once the hard spots were broken up, the migranes disappeared for a couple of years.

I think having meds on hand is a good idea, and so is having vitamins. My wife buys the clearanced ones often enough using coupons, so we often get these for little or no money... sometimes even get paid to buy them.

[Nu Kua]

You could go Hawaiian with it and make Spam Musubi. (aka Spam sushi)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNL5YTsEJno