Food storage/preservation alternatives

[joshoisasleep]

Being on a long trip, I've begun to discover that it would be an advantage to be able to store perishable foods. However, an actual fridge doesn't really fit into the way our rig is set up (too big and heavy, we move all our gear in and out constantly, and we just don't really have space), and I don't really want to shell out the cash for a proper overlanding one.

I was looking into the idea of keeping my veggies and such in a vacuum. Does anyone know how much this provides as far as preservation in comparison to a fridge?

There's two ways I was thinking of going about it.
1. Make a big vacuum box, kind of like a small fridge that I can put everything in, and then suck the air out of.
2. Put things in jars, and seal them in a vacuum using the techniques detailed here

What do you all think? The fridge style box would be simpler in some ways, but it would mean de-evacuating and re-evacuating the whole thing every time we wanted to get something out.
Any thoughts?

[highlandcruzer]

I don't have any experience with long term vacuum, fresh vegetable [ no oxygen ] storage...

How long are you talking ?

What types of vegetables/meals ?

I did grow up around old school farm type food preservation techniques though , and have read a fair bit on the subject , and might have some recommendations , if you can elaborate .

My grandfather lived for 10 years almost solely off of what grandma preserved , after she was placed in a nursing home .

[mrlocksmith]

Folks:

I recently stumbled onto this web site:

Freezer Bag Cooking™ | Outdoor Food Simplified

It is geared towards backpackers but addresses drying meats and using shelf stable items that are yummy and require just hot water for prep work. Including DIY drying and re-hydrating veggies.

I just got the authors book and will be trying out some the recipes in the next few weeks. I might even try to dehydrate a

Mark

[highlandcruzer]

I might be able to help with modern preservation techniques , maybe I wasn't clear.

There are alot of options . It just depends on your specific needs.....

There are a lot of almost forgotten methods , that are easy and safe .

People kept perishable's for many thousands of years before refrigeration.

Even "fresh" foods to last for months. Many would be helpful for camping/expeditions

[highlandcruzer]

I think "Josh O is asleep ".....

[joshoisasleep]

Cool, cool. OK, I'll detail our uses.

We don't use milk, so that's not a concern.

Our main need would be storing fresh fruits and vegetables... maybe bread too and cheese if possible in a hot climate. My girlfriend does the cooking and she's vegetarian, so meat storage is not necessary. I wasn't originally thinking long-term because I was just thinking the sort of things I would keep in a fridge.

After I mentioned the idea of jarring things, my girlfriend thought maybe we could even have whole jarred premade meals and things. I did some very brief reading on canning just now, and it appears that for proper preserved canning I would need to pressure cook the food to 240 degrees...? In any case, my goal is not to preserve food for long term... I can always buy non-perishable canned food. All I want to do is keep my veggies and leftovers fresh for a few days to a week, maybe a week and a half. My usage would be kind of like how you're meant to use these containers. I'd probably just buy some if I could find a retailer where I am.

Keeping yummy leftovers for up to a month or so would be awesome too, if there is a safe technique for doing that.

Do you think by keeping them vacuum-jarred they would retain freshness as well as in a traditional fridge? Keep in mind we're in a hot climate.

[joshoisasleep]

...nope not asleep. just researching!

Originally Posted by mrlocksmith

Folks:

I recently stumbled onto this web site:

Freezer Bag Cooking™ | Outdoor Food Simplified

Thanks for the link, I'll have a read through.
My main goal though is to attempt to increase comfort and simplicity, as with a fridge. I realize that jarring things is a big more complex than putting them in the fridge... but at least it's fresh food and ingredients for normal cooking.
We're going to be on this trip for a fair while yet (another 8 months or more), and I want to try and live as far from backpacker style as possible...
One advantage is that often we'll be driving for long periods of time, and have no need to be able to 'reach into the fridge' at a moments notice, decreasing the inconvenience of vacuum packing.

[highlandcruzer]

Yeah , those containers are great.

Don't be to intimidated by pressure cookers/canning......They aren't that expensive......and it's not as complicated as it might seem.

You might be surprised at the difference in flavor/nutrition of home canned vs. what you buy canned at the store. I would think a vegetarian/vegan would especially appreciate that.

If you plan on cooking with your veggies , you might consider dehydration as well as the vacuum containers.

When placed back in water an cooked /rehydrated , you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. [if you do it yourself , the pre-packaged camping stuff can be nasty IMO]

[joshoisasleep]

Oh I wouldn't mind doing the pressure cooking and stuff. My problem with that is I need to keep the equipment involved to a bare minimum. The simplest method I came across for jarring my food involves a small device made from a bicycle pump, a piece of rubber and a large tin can. I have space and weight limitations above all else.

I'm not sure exactly how pressure cookers work. Do you think it would be possible to construct a very small portable one?

Also keep in mind the idea is to have nice, civilized FRESH tomatoes that I can cut up and put in my sandwich. I'm really just trying to figure out if I can emulate a fridge without a fridge... I don't need to store food for a long time as I can always stop at a store. I just need the comfort at home without the bulk of a fridge, or the worry of it all going bad if my fridge is without power...

[highlandcruzer]

I think I understand pretty much , what your needs are . Just trying to give alternative options. These might be of particular interest to a vegan in everyday life as well.

Anything kept in an oxygen free environment will be pretty well preserved......once exposed , it can deteriorate quickly however.


Pressure cookers are pretty simple in design.......Wouldn't be to hard to make a small one , that would work , if need be. I'm not sure what's available.

Do you have a kitchen that you could use to prep in advance. It's really a simple process.

You can , can many foods , with out actually "cooking" them . For a fresh tasting veggies. Even with out a pressure cooker.

Search : "cold canning"

[highlandcruzer]

Originally Posted by joshoisasleep

Also keep in mind the idea is to have nice, civilized FRESH tomatoes that I can cut up and put in my sandwich. I'm really just trying to figure out if I can emulate a fridge without a fridge... I don't need to store food for a long time as I can always stop at a store. I just need the comfort at home without the bulk of a fridge, or the worry of it all going bad if my fridge is without power...

Sorry , I guess I'm over complicating......I'm thinking "Expedition".....like ....Across Africa , or to South America.

[Mickldo]

I'm thinking about getting one of these Sunbeam >> IC:FoodSaver >> VS5200

At the moment I get my meat cyrovacced at the butcher before I put it in my Engel. Lasts heaps longer.

[joshoisasleep]

Originally Posted by highlandcruzer

Sorry , I guess I'm over complicating......I'm thinking "Expedition".....like ....Across Africa , or to South America.

no, no you were spot on. click on my website link my sig...

if we're driving we're always going through small towns where we can buy fresh produce... or if we're camped somewhere. The only problem is that the only time we can keep fresh things is if we camp at a hostel or somewhere that we can use the fridge. We eat a lot of non-perishable (ie preserved) food (as well as a lot of dodgy roadside restaurants and then get sick)... I really miss having fresh food all the time as well.

I see a lot of these products for vacuum sealing your food. Most of it seems to be aimed at vacuum sealing and then putting in the fridge or freezer though. I'm just hoping to vacuum instead of refrigerating.

After this thread and a bit of research, here's what I'm picturing:
We have a case full of jars holding our veggies, leftovers etc. Whenever we fill a jar, we simply vacuum seal it using a simple device like the one i linked to above. Using an electric tire pump like the one I have, I can get much closer to a true vacuum than household sealers probably do. The case of jars would sit in the shade, possibly with ice packs but not be refrigerated. If this works, I could have fresh fresh veggies and a few ready meals easily accessible, without the bulk, cost or energy requirements of an expedition fridge.
The other advantage is that jars can be stored on the roof without paranoia of having them stolen... I can't imagine leaving a $700 Arb fridge up there... or it surviving.

[highlandcruzer]

Don't forget about dry ice , as an option.

[highlandcruzer]

Originally Posted by joshoisasleep

no, no you were spot on. click on my website link my sig...

That's awesome......I'm envious. I wish I could swing something like that.

[joshoisasleep]

Originally Posted by highlandcruzer

Don't forget about dry ice , as an option.

Hey that's not such a bad idea... do you think I'd be able to find it readily available in south america though??

[joshoisasleep]

Originally Posted by highlandcruzer

That's awesome......I'm envious. I wish I could swing something like that.

Hey all you need is a year and a beat up old diesel 60. We're doing this on the cheap... (hence, we can't afford a fridge)

[highlandcruzer]

Another thing that you might want to research.........[that I'm not very familiar with]........

I know that a lot of produce growers/distributors use some type of inert gas.......[maybe just carbon dioxide ?] ...to stablize fruits and veggies , prior to distribution......

I don't know specifics......but it might be something that you could scale down to small containers , for longer term storage.

[highlandcruzer]

Originally Posted by joshoisasleep

Hey all you need is a year and a beat up old diesel 60. We're doing this on the cheap... (hence, we can't afford a fridge)

My wife has talked about moving to Alaska..........but with two little ones.......I don't think I could talk her into that much of a "road trip"

[highlandcruzer]

Originally Posted by joshoisasleep

Hey that's not such a bad idea... do you think I'd be able to find it readily available in south america though??

Can't answer that one.

[Phil in BC]

Be careful what you do as far as food storage. If its not done properly you risk getting botulism along with many other nasty illnesses. Not much fun! Thats why people dehydrate food. It lasts a long time that way.

[Bogo]

Originally Posted by highlandcruzer

I know that a lot of produce growers/distributors use some type of inert gas.......[maybe just carbon dioxide ?] ...to stablize fruits and veggies , prior to distribution......

Dry nitrogen. Both oxygen, and CO2 support life. Nitrogen doesn't.

[highlandcruzer]

Originally Posted by Bogo

Dry nitrogen. Both oxygen, and CO2 support life. Nitrogen doesn't.

hmm....Thanks