Simple newbie question about leftovers

[jimmycthemd]

First, we're preparing for just the two of us since we're new and don't know anyone else in the area that are like-minded. Second, we've designed our medium-term preps so far with portions in mind where we can cook and eat all or most of the food in a single sitting. We have cans of tuna and chicken that are 8 to 12 ounces, about the right amount of protein for two for a large meal (assuming we're burning a lot of calories in a stressful situation).

I looked at canned hams at the grocery store today with the idea of expanding the quantity and variety of our stores. The problem is that the hams are too big for the two of us to eat in a single meal or even a single day.

The assumption is kind of worst case...no electricity and the middle of a Georgia summer (95 degrees and high humidity). So, is there a way to preserve the leftovers for, say, a day or two so it can be eaten without fear of food poisoning? Or am I being paranoid and just put it in Tupperware and it should be fine?

Not something I want to try without asking.

(We don't have a generator and probably won't in the near future for OPSEC, money and fuel storage...haven't gotten that far in our preps yet).

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Dunno how to save the food but they do make smaller canned ham



it's a 1 lb can

the plan is for leftovers to be cooked into beans or stew on a solar cooker or small fire

[jimmycthemd]

Guess that'd work....straight ham for lunch (with other stuff obviously) and beans/ham or stew for supper. Other variations are available but as long as it's eaten within a short time. Thanks....kind of a 'duh' moment LOL

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Guess that'd work....straight ham for lunch (with other stuff obviously) and beans/ham or stew for supper. Other variations are available but as long as it's eaten within a short time. Thanks....kind of a 'duh' moment LOL

unless you have the means to can it I dunno what else to do and the solar cooker or stew method will buy you time to continue to work or whatever till time for the next meal. If you have a working dog might be his scraps or trap bait to catch the next meal especially if the meat does go bad

[Matt In Oklahoma]

BTW it's a good question and shows you are thinking not like alot of prepper folks I see with 100 giant #10 cans of green beans, ketchup and mayo and 2 folks in the house.

[WiseOwl]

BTW it's a good question and shows you are thinking not like alot of prepper folks I see with 100 giant #10 cans of green beans, ketchup and mayo and 2 folks in the house.

I just got a funny Dumbsday Preppers visual from this matt....lol

[jimmycthemd]

I just got a funny Dumbsday Preppers visual from this matt....lol

Thanks for the compliment, Matt. At least I'm not quite THAT bad LOL. The difference between me and them is I'm getting to know what I don't know and not just going blindly forward :-)

[BioG8r]

The Pot in a Pot refrigeration technique is a good way of keeping meat for a while. it is used in Africa and other High temp areas, here is a document http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Pot-in-pot_cooler) Matt referenced in a different thread. (https://www.survivalandpreparednessf...ut-Electricity) it does work, I used it for a demonstration of Thermal Dynamics, we then continued the lesson by making ice cream in a bag...

[jimmycthemd]

The Pot in a Pot refrigeration technique is a good way of keeping meat for a while. it is used in Africa and other High temp areas, here is a document http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Pot-in-pot_cooler) Matt referenced in a different thread. (https://www.survivalandpreparednessf...ut-Electricity) it does work, I used it for a demonstration of Thermal Dynamics, we then continued the lesson by making ice cream in a bag...

Excellent!! Now this is what I had in mind when I originally asked the question. I live in a high humidity area. Summer is coming on so I'll have to take a couple of clay pots, sand and some water and experiment to see just how cool it keeps the inside. A cheap experiment for daily leftovers!! Combined with the simple logic from Matt, pretty much may solve the leftover problem :-) It'd be great to cook a larger meal and eat leftovers especially in a high-stress labor-intensive situation. I'll have to look at building a cage around it or something to keep the critters out but that's just a little rabbit wire and simple 'engineering'. I'll also have to figure out a way to keep the bugs out of the food. A real issue in Georgia :-( Probably zip-lock baggies or something like that as long as my supply lasts. When I get around to running a test, I'll post the results.

[goatlady]

YOu could also just buy a few yards or so of a fine mesh netting/veil material in a fabric store, cut a square to size and tie it over the clay pots. You might want to get enough to make a skeeter net over your bed for more restful sleep in the summer on the porch or outside. Pier 1 used to sell standard skeeter netting with a hanging frame of sorts that would completely surround and enclose even a king size bed. I use them even inside in the summer. Really handy to have.

WalMart has them now cheap... http://www.walmart.com/ip/Jumbo-Mosq...ester/14225010

[jimmycthemd]

YOu could also just buy a few yards or so of a fine mesh netting/veil material in a fabric store, cut a square to size and tie it over the clay pots. You might want to get enough to make a skeeter net over your bed for more restful sleep in the summer on the porch or outside. Pier 1 used to sell standard skeeter netting with a hanging frame of sorts that would completely surround and enclose even a king size bed. I use them even inside in the summer. Really handy to have.

WalMart has them now cheap... http://www.walmart.com/ip/Jumbo-Mosq...ester/14225010

I'll have to give that a try. My wife's a mosquito magnet so I might try draping it over the swing on our deck and see if that helps her (it has a small awning built in to keep sun off). Anything to keep momma happy LOL Another multi-use item :-) Thanks again!!

[EX121]

Good thread. Brought up i need a food thermometer, so I can check the food temp. If I remember right the mantra is if it's supposed to be cold under 40 if hot above 140. The danger time is 4hrs between those temps.
Another option is to keep a stew pot going and just add to it, keep is on a slow simmer.

[jimmycthemd]

I'm going to get a couple of clay pots, some sand and a couple of thermometers (hopefully) this weekend and give it a try. It's awoken my 'geek' side LOL Dangers of being in IT :-)