Kellene Bishop of Preparedness Pro is such a guru on preparedness and preserving foods. She recently referenced this article and since that’s something I do quite often, I thought I’d share some of what I do for my preserved foods.
I will ruin my reputation here because, for the most part, boxed mixes don’t find much favor with my menu planning. There are a few exceptions. I buy Ramen noodles for the Chinese Cabbage Salad recipe that I make. I buy cake mixes because sometimes they’re used as the base in good cakes. I buy brownie mix because Vince likes brownies and I do not! That’s kinda bad, huh? Seriously, he picks times when I couldn’t eat another bite and he’s starving for brownies so . . a mix is what I make. I buy a Risotto mix that I’ve found at Big Lots, and though it’s loaded with sodium and we don’t eat it often, I really like it. The exception to those exceptions is that I only buy these items, as with most items, when they’re on sale.
Since I am 100% sure that properly preserved, cake mixes, brownie mixes, Ramen noodles and Risotto will last at least five years, so when I find them on sale, I buy a lot! A whole lot! Prices haven’t been going down lately so I consider my well stocked pantry just as important as money in the bank. I keep an inventory of what I have and what I use and what I need. My pantry is set up so that I pull from the front and stock from the back so the newest items are in the back. I use the older items in the front first.
Here’s what I do with those mixes. I take them out of the box and cut the instructions off the box.
On the flap of the bag, I write any identifying info that I need to write.
Using half gallon Mason jars, I can stuff two cake mixes into one jar, or two brownie mixes into one jar, or three Risotto mixes into a jar. Using the jar sealer attachment to the FoodSaver, I seal the jars.
I label the outside of the jar. These were labeled with Post-It tape but I put packing tape over that.
The jars go into their original boxes, along with the instruction portion which I’ve cut from the boxes.
Any time I need or want a cake mix or brownie mix, or whatever I might have, I go to the pantry, pop open a sealed jar and grab what I need. These lids will re-seal several times. I never try to re-use lids on canned food except when using Tattler lids.
In August, 2008, I caught a huge sale on shredded wheat. It was the strawberry flavored, which I love, and I bought a lot . . a whole lot. I love doing that! I’m not going to say I’ve had shredded wheat every day for 4 years but I have it fairly often and still have quite a bit left. Not too long ago, I wrote about it here and this is the jar I’m opening when Vince is away and I won’t be fixing breakfast every morning. If we have a big lunch, often Vince will want only a sandwich or something light for dinner and I’m happy to have a bowl of shredded wheat.
The FoodSaver, the jar sealer attachment and these half gallon Mason jars are some of my favorite items to use when preserving food.
Kim W says
Great idea. Do you keep a list with each box of jars with the contents in that box?
Where do these boxes then get stored?
Judy Laquidara says
I keep the boxes of cake mix/brownie mix/muffin mix — those kinds of things together. I keep wheat that’s stored in jars stored off in a corner. I’m not terribly organized but I know the general area where the different types of things are stored.
It mostly stays in the closets in the sewing room or under the longarm.
Susan says
How do you feel about the Tattler lids? I ordered two boxes on the last bulk foods order, and I have mixed feelings. =)
Judy Laquidara says
I really like the Tattler lids. I haven’t had but a couple that didn’t seal and both times, I think it was because the top of the jar had a little bit of food on it.
Mary in VA says
how do you seal the mason jars with strawberry shredded wheat? I’ve used the vacuum sealer for my sealer jars but have never used mason jars for dry goods.
Judy Laquidara says
I use the jar sealer attachment.
gardenpat says
Oh, how I have loved my Food Saver and it’s Mason jar attachments over the years! I decided when I first bought it that if I put it into one of my kitchen cupboards that I probably wouldn’t use it as often so I have a place on my kitchen counter where it lives-always out and ready to do it’s job!!! When I dry herbs, strawberries, bananas,etc. in my dehydrator, they immediately get placed into a Mason jar and sealed tight with my trusty Food Saver! One of my favorite apliances
gardenpat says
“appliances” as well!! I also take homemade bread that is drying out and cut into cubes, dehydrate and put cubes into Mason jars with Food Saver lids for stuffing mix or even bread crumbs as needed! Such is my “convenience” food!!!
Judy Laquidara says
One of my favorites too. I keep mine set up on the counter in the sewing room since most of what I store gets started in the sewing room.
Robin says
I’ve found many of the cake mixes, etc have use by dates on them.
Judy Laquidara says
I would guess that they all have expiration dates but once the bags are sealed and there’s no exposure to air and humidity, those expiration dates don’t mean a lot.
Sue G says
I am seriously so impressed with your thriftyness and organization, you have such great ideas.
Katie z. says
I have a food saver and vacuum attachments, but in preparation for the move, they were never opened. I think it’s time!
Alma says
I will eat shredded wheat for dinner too. Sometimes we go out for lunch late and/ or eat a BIG lunch so that’s when I am more than happy with just a bowl of cereal.
Dar in MO says
Judy, As usual you are just the inspiration and reminder that I needed today to get my jar saver attachment out and put it to work again. I loved what we did with the salads in a jar and was good about eating more veggies and greens when I did that. Now it’s time to get busy again with some jar saving and dehydrating. Thanks for reminding me.!
Lee says
I KNOW I have to get myself a FoodSaver and attachments, but waiting until the kitchen remodel. @Robin: my personal opinion on most (not all – as in meat, dairy, etc.) is that ‘expiration dates’ has more to do with marketing ploys than anything & because the populace a few decades ago demanded such things as unscrupulous stores left some things on the shelves far too long. No doubt some things do deteriorate over time – baking powder & yeast, things get stale, things with high oil content get rancid. Around here, that ‘outdated’ stuff, ends up at the food pantry and women’s shelters from what I’ve heard.
Mel Meister says
Interesting…. I grabbed a brownie mix out of the cupboard a few months back and made them and they were horrible. I pulled the box out of the trash and they were a couple of years old! I think the box was old on the shelf when I bought it because I surely didn’t have that box for over two years!
Doe in Mi says
Hey, people I heard on TV this week that alot of the shredded wheat is being recalled because of some metal shreads in it so Pleeeeeeeeeeze be careful..
Becky in Georgia says
Judy, Is there a reason to use the jars and seal them as opposed to using the bags? Love the idea of buying cereal on sale and using the food saver. We are on our second machine:)