There are many great protein sources out there that work for food storage, including beans, peanut butter, and soy. If you’re like me, you get a lot of your body’s protein from meat, poultry, and fish. Sadly, these tasty, nutritious parts of our diets haven’t traditionally been great for long-term storage. Meat tends to spoil pretty quickly; even canned meats, such as tuna and chicken, can only last about three years under the best conditions. This has made it difficult to include meat in the average food storage supply.
For many years, one solution to this problem has come in the form of TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein), a soy-based meat replacement that packs in the protein with a taste and texture that’s pretty similar to real meat. You can see examples of TVP in our Meats & Beans section.
TVP can be seasoned to taste like chicken, beef, bacon, or any other kind of meat. Many people enjoy the taste and incorporate it into everyday meals, like the fajita shown above. Most restaurants use TVP in their dishes, so you’ve probably eaten it before without even noticing! Shelf Reliance offers seven varieties of TVP that can last about 10 years in your food storage pantry.Recently, another protein option has become available. Shelf Reliance now offers freeze dried meats, including
Sausage Crumbles,
Roast Beef, and
Diced Turkey. These meats are pre-cooked and put through a state-of-the-art freeze drying process that removes almost all of the moisture. That’s what makes our freeze dried meats capable of lasting as long as 25 years in your food storage!
If you’re trying to decide between TVP and Freeze Dried Meats, you should know that both are great sources of protein. TVP is generally more affordable, and it’s also great for vegetarians or those who are trying to decrease the fat in their diets. Of course, anything freeze dried will have a great shelf life, as well as superior taste and nutrition. Both are ready to eat or use in recipes with the addition of hot liquid, such as water, chicken stock, and beef stock.
No matter how you choose to do it, be sure to make some protein available in your food storage. Protein is essential for fighting off illness and aiding in recovery. A variety of beans and meats are available at ShelfReliance.com, as well as Whole Egg Powder that you can use in omelets and all sorts of baked goods. You can browse through different options and get everything you need by visiting our Meats & Beans section.
Thanks for reading today! Please share your own advice for implementing protein in your food storage in the comments section below.
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February 11th, 2010 at 9:28 AM
I’m curious how you make your TVP. Does it have hydrogenated oils? That is the ONE thing I’m always trying to avoid in all my food storage.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Three years for canned meats?! Yikes! I’d better do some rotating and fast!!
February 11th, 2010 at 10:57 AM
And, yes, I’d like to know about the hydrogenated oils too. They are extremely bad for you – just as bad, if not worse, than natural saturated fat from animal sources.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:14 PM
Since going vegetarian our family has learned a lot about alternate sources of protein. TVP is a very versatile ingredient, tastes pretty good, and doesn’t take a lot of special preparation. We find it substitutes for ground beef well in a lot of recipes, and without the odd after-tastes you can get from of the commercial hamburger replacers.