Question
Does my stored food still have any nutritional value?
Answer(s)
Nutrients in food are affected by exposure to heat, light, and air. There are many nutrients to consider in stored foods. Following are some effects of storage on some nutrients:
· Calories - foods continue to provide needed energy over time
· Minerals - very little change in stored foods
· Carbohydrates - very little change in stored foods
· Proteins - change in reaction in recipe; for example old wheat flour will not rise, because the proteins are unable to form gluten
· Fats - oxidation (become rancid) creates off flavors and odors
· Vitamins - some loss over time; destroyed by heat, light, and oxidation. Storing and eating a variety of foods can assure adequate vitamin intake.
Rotate stored food within 2 to 3 years to maintain optimal nutritional value.
Other Questions In This Topic
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- Is it possible to make a freezer-jam marmalade? I want to make my own, but don't have the supplies for actual canning.
- I have a question regarding commercially canned tomatoes. I have read on your website that the nutritional value of vegetables may not be maintained after the expiration date. I have heard somewhere that tomatoes are an exception, and there could be a problem with the tomatoes that would not be able to be detected, and that they should just be discarded at the expiration date for safety's sake. Is this true?
- will bananas go poisonous if kept in the fridge?
- Can you tell me what the adult form is for the weevil that I find in my flour and pasta?
- How much water should I store?
- My question regards appropriate storage of low-moisture foodstuffs in smaller quantities, i.e., grains for 1-2 person households. Can I store grain in clean canning jars and use dry ice? Would the O2 absorbers for smaller-volume containers work with glass canning jars, or would I need a flexible container to allow for the contraction as the chemical reaction proceeds? And if I use canning jars, would I need to do anything other than using fresh lids so that the sealing material around the lid perimeter would create a good seal? I would love your opinion, and if you can refer me to any studies that concern storage in smaller quantities (no 6-gal buckets, please) I would be most grateful. Thank you.
- I've read that dry pack food storage products expire within x amount of years depending on the product. My parents purchased a LARGE quantity (over 100 cases of #10 cans) of assorted dry pack 28 years ago from Desert Supply Company; wheat, cornmeal, powdered milk, eggs, instant potatoes etc. I'm having a hard time coming to terms with throwing it all out. Can you please confirm that this is wasted product or is there anything salvagable.. and if so for how much longer would it be good? It has been stored in a dry/dark cool basement.
