Food how much sugar and salt

[Shooter]

i got in a couple of cases of food grade buckets and lids, wanna up a lot of stuff, a 5 gallon bucket will hold 35 pounds of white sugar

a 5 gallon bucket will hold about 60 pounds of salt.

these are 2 things I always read about people running short of in stories.

problem is I dont know how many people will be here,

also. can you eat watersoftener salt? or the aminal feed salt blocks?

 

[blackguard]

I store a decent amount of salt, both the iodized and non iodized. I have around 35 -40 pounds of it. With sugar I have closer to 50 pounds. I add to both because as you mentioned it is something that people will run out of. I feel that having quantities of both is a good thing. I also keep about 5-10 pounds of brown sugar on hand as well.

 

[Illini Warrior]

salt makes a great trade item - a variety of salt - study up on the various uses and the particular salt for the purpose >>> example: the animal salt blocks will be useful animal draws in a regulations gone post-SHTF ....

something about salt that isn't emphasized enough - salt itself is one of the "forever" preps - but ionized salt deteriorates with it returning to plain old salt ...

 

[FireDance]

Oh, I licked animal salt blocks as a kid. I don’t think it did anything to me brain. Although at times, I have wondered what was in them besides salt. Lol.

 

[attilla]

We store a "large " amount of "mixing" salt. It is straight salt, no additives, from the animal feed store. Runs about .10/lb.
Useful for salting pork etc.
Farm use is sprinkled over animal grain so they do not overeat.
600lbs fills a 55 gal drum fyi.

 

[school marm]

How much? The LDS Church recommended minimum amounts to store for one adult for one year are 8-10 lbs of salt and 60 lbs of sugar. I've got sugar in a lot of forms. I always buy cane sugar for my family, but I've started picking up beet sugar on sale for bartering purposes.

I wouldn't recommend putting salt in 5 gallon buckets for most people. Not only is it too heavy for many people to move, but there's also the risk of the handle breaking when you do move it.

 

[hiwall]

Sugar and salt are both relatively cheap and both store forever. Why not have a bunch on hand?

 

[John Deere Girl]

Sugar and salt are both relatively cheap and both store forever. Why not have a bunch on hand?

And flour is too right now.

 

[hiwall]

We have very limited climate-controlled storage space. Many things can get hot or cold with no damage. Sugar and salt are two of those things. Store them anyplace in sealed containers. We use a lot of the clear plastic juice bottles.
We store a couple of 50# animal salt blocks. We cycle through them because I keep one out always for the elk to use. I don't hunt them (currently) and we like to watch the elk fight over the salt. Plus it keeps meat-on-the-hoof close by. One block lasts about a year.

 

[Shooter]

ok, thanks, im already way over whats recomended than

 

[nomifyle]

I just added 4 cannisters of iodine salt and I probably have twice that much. We don't use it though, so I have plenty of pink himilayian salt stored. We don't use much salt though. As for sugar I have about 100 pounds stuck back that DH doesn't know about.

DH uses sugar for what he calls ice cream. He takes three cans of fruit, puts them in the bullet, then he adds sugar and freezes it. He eats it as a snack and also to cool off. I eat a little bit of it, too fattening but it does taste good. When he needs sugar, he has to buy it. I can no longer fund some things for him.

Sugar and salt would be a good thing for barter, but I hesitate to do that, some people around here will have their hand out and have nothing in return. I don't mind that now, but if things are shut down, I would not look too kindly on that.

 

[paxsim2]

10 lbs of cannister salt and 30 lbs of sugar. I also have 20 lbs of canning salt and about 6 lbs of kosher salt. I also store molasses, karo syrup and have a little over 20 lbs of honey which I will be adding to this summer.

 

[John Deere Girl]

I just added 4 cannisters of iodine salt and I probably have twice that much. We don't use it though, so I have plenty of pink himilayian salt stored. We don't use much salt though. As for sugar I have about 100 pounds stuck back that DH doesn't know about.

DH uses sugar for what he calls ice cream. He takes three cans of fruit, puts them in the bullet, then he adds sugar and freezes it. He eats it as a snack and also to cool off. I eat a little bit of it, too fattening but it does taste good. When he needs sugar, he has to buy it. I can no longer fund some things for him.

Sugar and salt would be a good thing for barter, but I hesitate to do that, some people around here will have their hand out and have nothing in return. I don't mind that now, but if things are shut down, I would not look too kindly on that.

I don't ever buy anything to barter with, and I have no intention of doing so.. I buy what we use. I think bartering would be a dangerous thing to engage in once things go south.

 

[nomifyle]

I don't ever buy anything to barter with, and I have no intention of doing so.. I buy what we use. I think bartering would be a dangerous thing to engage in once things go south.

I completely agree with you. I've got some distant cousins in this community that are complete scum and they concern me. In a normal world the are probably not dangerous but in an upside down world I would never trust them, well, actually, I don't trust them anyway.

 

[Babs]

I don't ever buy anything to barter with, and I have no intention of doing so.. I buy what we use. I think bartering would be a dangerous thing to engage in once things go south.

I agree. I will stock on a few bartering items, such as lighters, but never food for bartering. Just lets them know what you have.

 

[Freebirde]

I don't ever buy anything to barter with, and I have no intention of doing so.. I buy what we use. I think bartering would be a dangerous thing to engage in once things go south.

Bartering should wait until after things settle downs some or start to turn around. Waiting will also allow to see what is scarce and real value. Location matters also. If you down on the Gulf Coast between a sugar plantation and a salt processing plant, something like dried apples would be a better trade good. Look at what isn't grown or produced in your area.

 

[summerthyme]

It depends! Do you (or would you, if stuff wasn't available) bake? I can use 25# of sugar at Christmas time! Would you want to make wine... or hooch? You're gonna need sugar!

On salt, it's main value is in meat preservation if we can't refrigerate or freeze. It takes a lot.

I'm not going to say how much I have (on top of 12 50# salt blocks for the livestock), but let's just say the pails of sugar and salt were the only things the kids really bitched about moving!

And yes, you can buy bulk livestock salt and it's fine. I've even used it in canning and pickling with good results, despite the presence of an anti-cak8ng ingredient.

Summerthyme

 

[Quiet Man]

As mentioned earlier, table salt has added Iodine, but it also contains Silica (anti-caking ingredient). The Silica might not be good for certain uses of salt, like pickling or use in medicine. I made sure to have some pickling salt on hand because it is pure salt (nothing added).

Walmart has 4 lb boxes of Morton Canning and Pickling salt at a good price.

 

[philkar]

It depends! Do you (or would you, if stuff wasn't available) bake? I can use 25# of sugar at Christmas time! Would you want to make wine... or hooch? You're gonna need sugar!

On salt, it's main value is in meat preservation if we can't refrigerate or freeze. It takes a lot.

I'm not going to say how much I have (on top of 12 50# salt blocks for the livestock), but let's just say the pails of sugar and salt were the only things the kids really bitched about moving!

And yes, you can buy bulk livestock salt and it's fine. I've even used it in canning and pickling with good results, despite the presence of an anti-cak8ng ingredient.

Summerthyme

hadn't thought about livestock salt!

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

How much? The LDS Church recommended minimum amounts to store for one adult for one year are 8-10 lbs of salt and 60 lbs of sugar. I've got sugar in a lot of forms. I always buy cane sugar for my family, but I've started picking up beet sugar on sale for bartering purposes.

I wouldn't recommend putting salt in 5 gallon buckets for most people. Not only is it too heavy for many people to move, but there's also the risk of the handle breaking when you do move it.

8 to 10 pounds of salt per person, per year?

Ouch!

I use pink himilayan salt, and I buy it in 5 pound bags. A five pound bag lasts me, I guess around two years or so. That is cooking for 2 people.

There is probably some salt in the few processed foods I occasionally fixed - like my once a month frozen pizza that I used to enjoy before I went on the keto diet - and I know that there is some salt in the electrolyte fuel packets and the pickle juice bottles that I used to eat when I ran full marathons - but even with my run time electrolyte boost, I don’t think I have ever consumed that much salt in a year.

 

[school marm]

When everything is cooked from scratch, you use a lot more salt than you would think. And then if people start pickling or salting meat to preserve it, they'll need even more salt. Salt doesn't cost that much, especially if you pick it up from the feed store. Even if you buy it in the round cartons at the grocery store, it's less than $10 for a year's supply for one.

 

[summerthyme]

8 to 10 pounds of salt per person, per year?

Ouch!

I use pink himilayan salt, and I buy it in 5 pound bags. A five pound bag lasts me, I guess around two years or so. That is cooking for 2 people.

There is probably some salt in the few processed foods I occasionally fixed - like my once a month frozen pizza that I used to enjoy before I went on the keto diet - and I know that there is some salt in the electrolyte fuel packets and the pickle juice bottles that I used to eat when I ran full marathons - but even with my run time electrolyte boost, I don’t think I have ever consumed that much salt in a year.

If you do much pickling, or want to make sauerkraut, you'll need salt.

Summerthyme

 

[Illini Warrior]

I agree. I will stock on a few bartering items, such as lighters, but never food for bartering. Just lets them know what you have.

you don't even think trade until you are fully prepped - don't waste the $$$$ and time on uselessness >>> there isn't anything tradewise that'll equal out to not having your primaries covered - most will be totally unavailable and beyond any price or barter ...

as far as trade is concerned - you'll be trading with the locals for the most part - only survivors around that'll have anything SHTF worthwhile - if a sheeple has anything good chance they are a raider and their goods have blood on it .....

 

[Illini Warrior]

How much? The LDS Church recommended minimum amounts to store for one adult for one year are 8-10 lbs of salt and 60 lbs of sugar. I've got sugar in a lot of forms. I always buy cane sugar for my family, but I've started picking up beet sugar on sale for bartering purposes.

I wouldn't recommend putting salt in 5 gallon buckets for most people. Not only is it too heavy for many people to move, but there's also the risk of the handle breaking when you do move it.

the salt & sugar buckets will be heaviest you'll have - should always be ground based and never ever stacked - fill them where there'll go to live forever ....

the handle tearing out is the least of the problem - the weight will crack open the bucket bottom seam - problem is the engineered bottom recess - the center sits approx 3/16" off the floor compared to the floor resting outer rim - need to add a shim piece for adjustment - anything will do - piece of luan plywood or pieces of vinyl tile ...

 

[Babs]

you don't even think trade until you are fully prepped - don't waste the $$$$ and time on uselessness >>> there isn't anything tradewise that'll equal out to not having your primaries covered - most will be totally unavailable and beyond any price or barter ...

as far as trade is concerned - you'll be trading with the locals for the most part - only survivors around that'll have anything SHTF worthwhile - if a sheeple has anything good chance they are a raider and their goods have blood on it .....

Who says that I'm not fully prepped?

 

[school marm]

I don't ever buy anything to barter with, and I have no intention of doing so.. I buy what we use. I think bartering would be a dangerous thing to engage in once things go south.

I've been prepping for over 30 years, and never until this past year did I consider stocking anything for barter, for the same reasons you indicated.

However, in our new location, we are in an ultra-conservative tiny town where people prepare a little more than average--just a little--due to the potential for snowstorms to shut people in. Everyone has guns and hunts. Anyway, this is also a ranching community. Our house looks down on about a thousand head of cattle. While I have a freezer full of beef and lots of meat canned, I can see the potential down the road for being able to trade salt or sugar for beef. I will have no need for or interest in trade or barter for at least 18-24 months. Assuming that I prepared well, that is.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

If the round cardboard containers of salt has got hard as a brick, is it still good? After reading this thread, I checked all of mine. Yep, hard as a rock. How do you store salt to keep it from doing this?

 

[Gardener]

If the round cardboard containers of salt has got hard as a brick, is it still good? After reading this thread, I checked all of mine. Yep, hard as a rock. How do you store salt to keep it from doing this?

Yes, it is still good. I store my salt in plastic bags with the air squeezed out. This helps a lot, and even if it starts to get hard it is easier to break it up.

 

[hiwall]

Bartering will only happen much a long time after things go bad. The violence will have to get sorted out first.
Us and a couple of our neighbors might trade things between us if one has a need and another has an excess. Help is always freely given now and I don't see that changing.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Yes, it is still good. I store my salt in plastic bags with the air squeezed out. This helps a lot, and even if it starts to get hard it is easier to break it up.

Thanks. I'm not throwing this away, but am going to buy and stock more. I'll get something else to store it in, though, with maybe, a few grains of rice. I think I've read that rice will keep it from getting hard.

 

[prudentwatcher]

I figure that sugar and salt are two things that will never go bad, so why shouldn't I stock a bunch of it? Sugar is also often rationed in war situations. I have a heavy supply of both. Bought the sugar when it was still cheap and stacked it deep. For the salt I have the iodized, the kosher, the pink himalayan, and some generic regular. It is cheap too, so stacking isn't problem. Space is the problem

 

[summerthyme]

If the round cardboard containers of salt has got hard as a brick, is it still good? After reading this thread, I checked all of mine. Yep, hard as a rock. How do you store salt to keep it from doing this?

Just break it up into fist sized chunks with a hammer, then rub those through a wire mesh sieve. Perfectly "regranulated" sugar or salt.

I keep rice in our stove top salt shakers... it really keeps it from clumping. I'm not sure how much you'd need to keep a pailful from getting hard, though. The biggest thing is to not pack it in humid weather...

Summerthyme

 

[Tundra Gypsy]

Thanks for bringing this up. I am trying to think of things I need to store and how much. I didn't think about salt; was busy thinking about all the other things we need to stock up on. I've thinking about toothpaste, BIC lighters, extra socks, coffee, dried pasta, pancake syrup, dried soup mixes, tuna, canned meats, cocoa, beans, cooking oils, spam, and on and on.

 

[Freebirde]

For hard lumps of salt or sugar, stock some extra hand graters, also a good barter item. Sugar used to be shipped, and still is in Latin communities, in hard sugar cones. Get some small electric coffee grinders for grinding whole spices and if you want extra fine grains of salt (popcorn and such) or sugar (confectioner sugar). Whole spices last longer than pre-ground.

P.S. Blended powdered sugar and boric acid powder makes a good ant bait/poison.

 

[mecoastie]

I store several hundred pounds of salt from the feed store. Non iodized and doesnt have anything else in it. All I do is put the bags in a good plastic tote. Sugar I store at least 100 pounds. 10 pound bags in plastic totes. If either get hard I just whack them with a hammer.

 

[hiwall]

I just whack them with a hammer

That is my go-to answer for many things.

 

[school marm]

That is my go-to answer for many things.

The next step is to master the art of the kick. DS#2 can fix all kinds of things. He has "The Knack." But his most effective tool is apparently the kick. He's used it to fix DS#1's truck, a washing machine that even DH (who is really good at fixing just about everything) couldn't fix after trying for a couple of hours, and a few other things.

 

[Illini Warrior]

Who says that I'm not fully prepped?

Question is who the F....K was talking to YOU? - if you think every reply posting is something personal back to you - get a clue how a forum works - this isn't your personal correspondence site or blog .....

 

[Babs]

Question is who the F....K was talking to YOU? - if you think every reply posting is something personal back to you - get a clue how a forum works - this isn't your personal correspondence site or blog .....

You quoted my post, so the logical conclusion is that you were talking to me. Maybe look at your own post and learn how a forum works. You are incredibly rude. And another thing, I've been on this forum a hell of a lot longer than you.

 

[Millwright]

Illiniwarrior will not be contributing to this thread again.