If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I'd be much obliged.
I'm looking for foods or ingredients that can last a long time but not spoil or become full of pests. The main problem is that the foodstuffs have to be things that could be handmade a hundred years ago. (No modern canning techniques.) Everything is going to be stored in a cool dry place.
So far the only things I can think of are honey and sugar for sure but I'm hoping that others will be able to come up with some more.
I was also considering jams or marmalades, but I have no idea how long they could last if left undisturbed.
Thoughts anyone?
----------
*****
2007: Miss. Marin
50,088 / 50,000
May 1, 2008 - 14 30
Hard cheeses. Smoked meats. Dried fruits. Dried grains and beans. Some tubers--potatoes, etc.--if stored properly.
50,088 / 50,000
May 1, 2008 - 14 49
Might just add--"modern canning techniques" date back farther than a hundred years. Home canning dates officially to 1858, I believe, when the Mason jar was patented.
26,147 / 50,000
May 1, 2008 - 15 27
grains like rice and corn, flours of all sorts will last a very long time if kept in sealed barrels or in containers with cloths tied tightly over the top so pests can't get in. Corn meal was very common and very hearty.
Eggs, if kept in a cool dry place in a covered container can last several days to a couple of weeks or so.
Pickling was very common that long ago as well so pickled eggs and pickled meats like corned beef and 'pickled' veggies like hominy (this is actually corn 'pickled' with a lye solution), pickled beets etc.
Dried herbs
salting foods was another way foods were preserved to last a long time. Meats like salt pork were common and could last for ages.
if you don't want to use 'modern canning techniques' then be careful with jams and such because they are made of fruits which will go bad and could carry botulism and other things like that if kept too long.
14,160 / 50,000
May 1, 2008 - 21 09
Dang, and I was going to suggest Twinkies.
Did anyone say jerky yet? That's really just (fairly) thinly sliced meat of some sort with salt/pepper/other seasonings and it can be hung out to dry, depending on where you live. Couldn't do that in, say, Hawaii, it would just rot.
0 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 20 02
Grains last, especially if they're properly stored - rice, as well as quinoa, amaranth, cereal, pasta, etc. Dried beans and legumes (peas) last. Dried anything, really - dried fruit, dried meat (jerky). Yeah, and so many artificial foods - twinkies and crackers.