Local, national, and global events often affect you in unexpected ways. Inflation is one way you can be affected financially. To prepare for the future, people often make investments in things that hold value. They invest in the stock market, land, and in precious metals. Historically, people have also invested in salt, spices, silk, and even tulip bulbs! I saw a meme the other day that said “When I was a kid, we used to throw eggs and toilet paper in the yards of our enemies.” Now toilet paper and eggs are precious commodities!
Since this month we’re talking about food storage, I thought I’d bring up some options for eggs in our emergency supplies. Eggs are a great protein. Fried, boiled, or scrambled, we eat them in different ways. They are also used in many baked goods and other recipes. Though it is a great addition to your food storage supplies, it is not a good idea to store fresh eggs on a shelf.
Utah State University Extension tells us: Covering eggs in Vaseline for room temperature storage is simply dangerous. There is no sound principle of food preservation being applied here what-so-ever. In fact, this is quite the opposite—conditions are being created to favor foodborne illness microorganisms. USU Extension – Hazardous Food Preservation and Storage Advice
Fridge and freezer
The best way to store fresh eggs are in the carton, in the refrigerator. But, there are only so many eggs you can keep in one fridge, and they still have a limited shelf-life. You can extend shelf-life by cracking them open, freezing them, and storing them in the freezer (USU Ext. Storing Eggs Safely), but this is not necessarily a great option if the power is out for a few days.
There are many things that can be used as egg substitutes in recipes when fresh eggs are hard to come by. Some of them include yogurt, ground flaxseed, bananas, applesauce, vinegar and baking soda, and even tofu. They can all work in a pinch, but if you prepare beforehand, why not use the real thing that has been prepared with a longer shelf life?
Powdered eggs
I was chatting with someone the other day about the price of eggs. I mentioned that powdered eggs are a great long-term substitute for fresh eggs. His eyes went big.
“Powdered eggs? Is that a thing? People eat that?”
I replied, “Yep. In fact, I just had some this morning with my breakfast. We’ve been trying to rotate through some of our older food storage lately, so I’ve been trying out some new things. It wasn’t bad at all.”
“Huh.”
A can of powdered eggs has about a ten-year shelf-life if you keep it cool, dark, and dry. One tablespoon of whole egg powder with three tablespoons of water, mixed in a shaker, is the equivalent of one egg. Then you can use it like you would a normal, fresh egg. If used in a recipe, mix the egg powder with the dry ingredients and then add the water with your wet ingredients. Easy as, well … pie.
If you eat cooked eggs made from whole egg powder, you will probably notice a bit of a difference from fresh eggs in taste and texture. I often add a bit of parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and it’s fine. If you eat your eggs with salsa or another condiment, you may not notice much of a difference at all.
Powdered eggs can be purchased at most any emergency preparedness store, and in many grocery stores in their emergency canned food section. It is available as whole egg powder, egg white powder, or as an egg mix. The egg mix usually has fillers like powdered milk, vegetable oil, and salt to make it less expensive. Read the label before buying so you know what you are getting.
Also, compare prices and volume of product between different brands. Most powdered eggs are sold in typical coffee-sized cans. Some may be less expensive per can than other brands because they put less egg powder in the can, but are more expensive per ounce. Be a smart shopper and shop around for the best prices.
Freeze dried
If you are looking for breakfast-style eggs, not baking, just for eating, it’s hard to beat freeze-dried scrambled eggs. These eggs have already been cooked, but then they’ve been put through the freeze-drying process to give them a much longer shelf life. Some manufacturers claim their freeze-dried eggs can last up to 25 years in a sealed container. Once the container is opened, the dry product will only last a few months.
To eat the freeze-dried eggs, all you need to do is add boiling water, stir, and let it rehydrate for about 15 minutes. Make sure it’s completely hydrated or it may be a bit chewy. When it’s ready, it tastes like a freshly scrambled egg. Any leftovers need to be refrigerated like a freshly cooked egg.
When planning your food storage supplies, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “Eat what you store, and store what you eat.” If you are going to include powdered eggs and/or freeze-dried eggs in your storage, remember that they are not meant to be investments for future generations. Make plans to include them periodically in your everyday meals. This keeps them rotated, preventing waste, and it allows you time to figure out how to best use them in your recipes. Plus, if for some reason someone in your household has an allergy or is unable to consume dried eggs, you will find that out now, and not during an emergency.
Right now, eggs are expensive. Eventually, we hope the price will come down when production is once again able to meet demand. Having dry, powdered eggs and freeze-dried eggs as part of your food storage can help you stay within your grocery budget, turning this “egg emergency” into just an “egg inconvenience.”
What have you learned from this eggscruciating eggsperience? (Sorry. I had to throw in a pun somewhere.) What other food and preparedness supplies are you low on? What else do you need to live comfortably that could be hard to come by in an emergency? Take time now to inventory the most crucial things in your life and make plans and set aside some of your budget to include these items in your emergency stores.
Visit the following page from BeReadyUtah.gov for more information on Food Storage and Nutrition.
Do This:
- Store a MINIMUM one-month food supply in your home for you and your family. Work towards a three-month supply.
- Set aside a food and emergency supply storage area in your home.
- Develop and maintain a food rotation system to prevent waste.
Videos: Watch and share with someone you care about
- Eggs Food Storage (1.0 min)
- It’s NOT Toxic! Canned Food Best By Dates (1.5 min)
- The Be Ready Buzz: Eat What You Store (1.5 min)
- The Be Ready Buzz: Try New Food Storage Recipes (1.5 min)
- The Be Ready Buzz: Store What You Eat (1.5 min)
- PrepCast: Nutrition and Long-Term Food Storage (7.5 min)
- PrepCast: Eat What You Store, Store What You Eat (8.0 min)
Printable brochures: Read and share with someone you care about
For the Workplace: Consider food storage at the workplace. You may find yourself needing to care for the needs of customers and possibly neighbors. Every business is a part of the larger community, so think beyond the borders of your workplace and ways your business can be a neighbor to others and a support to the larger community. Check out this “Community Capabilities and Services Matrix”, see what your business could help with and contact your city Emergency Manager to let them know. Learn more with the free online Business Continuity Training Unit on “Neighbors Helping Neighbors / Thinking Beyond Your Borders,” and find planning tools in the Be Ready Business Library. Also check out our new executive summary on Crisis Communications and Continuity of Authority for business continuity planning. Share these links with your employer to prepare your workplace for 2025.
For the School: If something happens at your school that requires evacuation, will they be able to feed the students at the alternate location? Once the evacuation is done, what is your school’s reunification plan? Consider asking your school about their reunification plan, and what to expect as a parent. If your school doesn’t have a plan, encourage your school to Make a Plan to be more prepared in 2025.
For the Community: When community evacuations occur, or in the event you lose your home, or are separated from loved ones, often the municipality you live in or arrive in will provide a family assistance and reunification center that helps provide the food, provisions, and reunification support you may need. Ask your city or county Emergency Manager if your community has plans for a family assistance center, and consider volunteering to help.
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Prepare and share what you learned with someone you care about.
- Individuals can use this for family and household activities and learning.
- Schools can share this with employees, students, and parents.
- Workplaces can share this with employees.
- Community, faith-based, and other social groups can share this with their community.
- And much more…