Grain alcohol. During the Pandemic I bought grain alcohol because we could use it to sanitize in case we didn’t have iodine or hydrogen peroxide. I figured I could trade it if it ever got to the point where things got bad.
While hand sanitizer and the like was flying off the shelves, I could find what I needed for cheap.
Thank you for your comment! Welcome to my substack!
Grain alcohol is actually better than the store-bought sanitizers. The was a moonshine business here during the pandemic that was bottling it and giving it away because local retailers couldn't keep sanitizers in stock.
Much obliged! Will give a reason to try my Ecozoom rocket stove. I have seen some videos of women cooking coffee daily in Ethiopia and looked positively delicious. I vacuum sealed all of my coffee that I am not using. Some is frozen. The shelf life of green beans is very attractive. In the coffee world, roasters off-gas or de-gas after roasting for a week or two. What are your thoughts on that? Any ideas about acrylamide exposure when roasting by yourself particularly indoors?
We also vacuum seal our coffee, and we also have frozen some. Degassing the roasted beans can vary depending on the roast you prefer. The first time I roasted beans indoors, I said I would never do it again. It is smoky and it is actually a little unpleasant compared to doing it in a roaster. I don't like the oven method too well because every time you open the oven it releases too much heat, and frankly, it's a bit of a pain. We generally prefer to grill it outdoors or the popper method (also we do outdoors) because of exactly what you mentioned. The coffee beans do trap gas, CO2 to be exact. We usually like to let our roasted beans rest until they are completely cooled before storing ours for a week or more of resting before grinding. Beans ground too soon can affect the flavor of the coffee, giving it a bitter taste. We also add oxygen absorbers to reduce the oxygen content to increase the shelf life. Darker roasts degas quicker than the light roasts. Unfortunately, when coffee beans are roasted at such high heat, acrylamide is formed. There is no way to remove it because it is formed during the roasting process, especially when you first begin roasting, which is why we prefer the outdoor method of roasting the green beans. I'm not certain how the human body absorbs this chemical, but I've drank enough coffee in my lifetime that if it kills a person, I'd be dead by now! I do know that coffee substitutes and instant coffee do have a higher percentage acrylamide.
Hi Gene! Just for you, I just posted a few ways to roast those green beans! Make small batches until you get the hang of it and listen for the crackling! Happy roasting! Let me know how it turned out for you!
No, I was just having some idle fun, but I am very familiar with their chips, cheese puffs etc. when I lived in Ohio over 40 years ago. They rivaled Lays, Ruffles, at least before those companies were purchased by Pepsico and turned into pure poison.
Never heard of chips & puffs etc. from them. I wonder if it’s the same “Wise Foods” company? I see that the company has changed hands several times since I was at that gun show (see above).
They were a local company in, I believe, New Philadelphia, Ohio a few miles from where we lived.They once donated a warehouse of potatoes that were not going to be used in time to the folks in need. Back in the day they were a small outfit circa early 70's, a really decent company with quality goods. I missed them along with many other foods not available out here in Oregon. I didn't mean to hijack this thread, my name popped up and, well....
I don't believe I've ever heard of that brand. Soy us definitely not a healthy option, and is arguably one of the most controversial nutrition topics.
On one hand, it’s rich in nutrients, and diets containing it appear to be linked to health benefits, such as lower blood sugar levels, improved heart health, fewer menopause symptoms, and perhaps even a lower risk of certain cancers.
Yet, on the other hand, some people are concerned about the healthfulness of soy-rich diets. For instance, some fear that eating too much soy may increase the risk of breast cancer, hinder thyroid function, or have feminizing effects in men, to name a few. So, yes, you are correct! Glad to have you here!
I went to a gun show once in Denver, intending to look at the Prepper foods being offered there. One of the vendors was selling Wise. Since it reminded me of my friend Dave Wise (see below) I naturally tried out the samples being offered.
It was nasty! I'm glad I was able to try it before buying buckets full of the stuff!
Then I looked on the labels...
Uh huh. No meat. Only soy.
"Damn," I thought. "After a month of this stuff, you'll be ready to go outside the bunker and let the radiation get you!" Yeah. It was that bad.
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate any and all imput! 😊 Yes, you can freeze rice to kill weevils and their larva, but you will need to store it in the freezer. I usually use the oven method to kill any larva before storing to assure there is no moisture.
If you want to kill the weevils, rather than getting rid of the food, it is possible to destroy the bugs, their eggs and their pupae and larvae. Freeze the product at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for three days, or heat the product to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for one to two hours. Make sure the food can withstand heat; for example, not all nuts and seeds can maintain this temperature.
When you have cleaned a pantry that's been infested, discard the bags containing anything that might have weevils in it outside — away from the house. If you've discovered weevils after you've eaten your rice meal, don't panic. Bugs found in rice aren't poisonous. Eating one or two, or their eggs and larvae, won't hurt you — it just may make you a bit squeamish.
Grain alcohol. During the Pandemic I bought grain alcohol because we could use it to sanitize in case we didn’t have iodine or hydrogen peroxide. I figured I could trade it if it ever got to the point where things got bad.
While hand sanitizer and the like was flying off the shelves, I could find what I needed for cheap.
Thank you for your comment! Welcome to my substack!
Grain alcohol is actually better than the store-bought sanitizers. The was a moonshine business here during the pandemic that was bottling it and giving it away because local retailers couldn't keep sanitizers in stock.
That’s the spirit - pardon the pun.
I love the pun!
I am in the same boat! I consume 1 L per day. If you have a cowboy coffee recipe, put it up please.
Much obliged! Will give a reason to try my Ecozoom rocket stove. I have seen some videos of women cooking coffee daily in Ethiopia and looked positively delicious. I vacuum sealed all of my coffee that I am not using. Some is frozen. The shelf life of green beans is very attractive. In the coffee world, roasters off-gas or de-gas after roasting for a week or two. What are your thoughts on that? Any ideas about acrylamide exposure when roasting by yourself particularly indoors?
Thank you again!
We also vacuum seal our coffee, and we also have frozen some. Degassing the roasted beans can vary depending on the roast you prefer. The first time I roasted beans indoors, I said I would never do it again. It is smoky and it is actually a little unpleasant compared to doing it in a roaster. I don't like the oven method too well because every time you open the oven it releases too much heat, and frankly, it's a bit of a pain. We generally prefer to grill it outdoors or the popper method (also we do outdoors) because of exactly what you mentioned. The coffee beans do trap gas, CO2 to be exact. We usually like to let our roasted beans rest until they are completely cooled before storing ours for a week or more of resting before grinding. Beans ground too soon can affect the flavor of the coffee, giving it a bitter taste. We also add oxygen absorbers to reduce the oxygen content to increase the shelf life. Darker roasts degas quicker than the light roasts. Unfortunately, when coffee beans are roasted at such high heat, acrylamide is formed. There is no way to remove it because it is formed during the roasting process, especially when you first begin roasting, which is why we prefer the outdoor method of roasting the green beans. I'm not certain how the human body absorbs this chemical, but I've drank enough coffee in my lifetime that if it kills a person, I'd be dead by now! I do know that coffee substitutes and instant coffee do have a higher percentage acrylamide.
Hi Monica. Bought green coffee as per your prep article. How would you roast it outside in open air?
Hi Gene! Just for you, I just posted a few ways to roast those green beans! Make small batches until you get the hang of it and listen for the crackling! Happy roasting! Let me know how it turned out for you!
Just stay away from Wise Foods. They have no meat in them, only soy.
But on the good side, you'll grow some nice man-boobs to play with while you're waiting for the emergency to subside!
Hey, hey, you making fun of me, boy? (◑‿◐)
Oh, are they relatives of yours, Dave?
No, I was just having some idle fun, but I am very familiar with their chips, cheese puffs etc. when I lived in Ohio over 40 years ago. They rivaled Lays, Ruffles, at least before those companies were purchased by Pepsico and turned into pure poison.
Never heard of chips & puffs etc. from them. I wonder if it’s the same “Wise Foods” company? I see that the company has changed hands several times since I was at that gun show (see above).
They were a local company in, I believe, New Philadelphia, Ohio a few miles from where we lived.They once donated a warehouse of potatoes that were not going to be used in time to the folks in need. Back in the day they were a small outfit circa early 70's, a really decent company with quality goods. I missed them along with many other foods not available out here in Oregon. I didn't mean to hijack this thread, my name popped up and, well....
You didn't hijack the thread, you just made it enjoyable conversation, which I welcome! Happy you are here! Welcome! 😊
I don't believe I've ever heard of that brand. Soy us definitely not a healthy option, and is arguably one of the most controversial nutrition topics.
On one hand, it’s rich in nutrients, and diets containing it appear to be linked to health benefits, such as lower blood sugar levels, improved heart health, fewer menopause symptoms, and perhaps even a lower risk of certain cancers.
Yet, on the other hand, some people are concerned about the healthfulness of soy-rich diets. For instance, some fear that eating too much soy may increase the risk of breast cancer, hinder thyroid function, or have feminizing effects in men, to name a few. So, yes, you are correct! Glad to have you here!
I went to a gun show once in Denver, intending to look at the Prepper foods being offered there. One of the vendors was selling Wise. Since it reminded me of my friend Dave Wise (see below) I naturally tried out the samples being offered.
It was nasty! I'm glad I was able to try it before buying buckets full of the stuff!
Then I looked on the labels...
Uh huh. No meat. Only soy.
"Damn," I thought. "After a month of this stuff, you'll be ready to go outside the bunker and let the radiation get you!" Yeah. It was that bad.
Dave would not have been proud.
Certain pests can be inevitable in things like Rice, But storing the bag for 24 hours or more in a deep freezer destroys them.
Thank you for your comment! I appreciate any and all imput! 😊 Yes, you can freeze rice to kill weevils and their larva, but you will need to store it in the freezer. I usually use the oven method to kill any larva before storing to assure there is no moisture.
If you want to kill the weevils, rather than getting rid of the food, it is possible to destroy the bugs, their eggs and their pupae and larvae. Freeze the product at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for three days, or heat the product to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for one to two hours. Make sure the food can withstand heat; for example, not all nuts and seeds can maintain this temperature.
When you have cleaned a pantry that's been infested, discard the bags containing anything that might have weevils in it outside — away from the house. If you've discovered weevils after you've eaten your rice meal, don't panic. Bugs found in rice aren't poisonous. Eating one or two, or their eggs and larvae, won't hurt you — it just may make you a bit squeamish.
I know you are ready!
A good girl scout is always prepared!