Meals in a jar

[Gadagirl]

I came across this on pinterest and thought some preparing a long crossing might find it useful. She claims the meals can last 3-7 years.

Chef Tess Bakeresse: 52 Method Jar Info

[atoll]

jarred peaches in brandy are my favourite! they only improve with age

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by Gadagirl

I came across this on pinterest and thought some preparing a long crossing might find it useful. She claims the meals can last 3-7 years.

Chef Tess Bakeresse: 52 Method Jar Info

Gadagirl:

Good find and interesting meals. I also checked out the site where she gets her ingredients:
Freeze Dried Food & Baking Ingredients | #1 in Storable Foods | Honeyvillegrain.com
and ordered a few items I'm going to try on board for regular meals.

[D&D]

We're thinking about the whole 'meals in a jar thing', altho 3-7yr old food doesn't sit all that well with our view of what's good for the body.

While we're on the topic of food preparation techniques suited to vessels, we'll throw in a plug for thermal cooking. Developed many years ago for rail travel, the Shuttle Chef is an absolutely simple (fool proof, unbreakable and never needs repair or upgrade) 'system' that is ideal for life on vessels. An incredible array of delicious foods (curries, breads, cakes, soups, pastas, yoghurt, roasts and much more) can be prepared in advance using only a tiny fraction of the energy (gas or whatever) used in traditional stove top or oven cooking...and the food is then hot and ready-to-eat over a long time window so that your meal(s) or dessert(s) can be enjoyed whenever conditions suit.

Here is a pic of today's thermal-cooked (as in boiled for 30 mins then popped into the Shuttle Chef overnight!) food creation/treat, a yummy carrot cake shown with home made ice cream, but check out the link below for a lot more information about thermal cooking and how it all works...



http://floatingimpressions.com.au/im...it%20Works.pdf

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by D&D

...3-7yr old food doesn't sit all that well with our view of what's good for the body.

3-7 year old food, made with healthy, natural ingredients, and properly stored, is a whole lot better for your body than chemical-laden junk food that was prepared yesterday. How old it is doesn't make any difference at all, so long as it is properly stored and eaten within its appropriate lifespan (which could easily mean 15-20 years, depending on the food and the storage method).

[barnakiel]

What jars? Glass?

b.

[zeehag]

wonderful that food in a glass jar is able to last 3-7 yrs.
the off putting part is the shelf life that is expected of canned food, whether home canned or store bought is approx 6 months.
momma canned apricot jam in 1952. she found it in 1056. was sent in with the furniture from altadena, kali to gc, ny, where we moved when i was 6. the jam was deliscious but hard to look at, as changes occur--it turned brown, despite momma using the anti oxidation stuff (lemon, lime, pectin, whatever)she always used--was foogly but we didnt die....

as for storing glass on a boat--sox rock for that--is only use for sox i have found down here....wine bottles, glass jars, and rum all go into sox and stowed carefully in tight spaces.

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by atoll

jarred peaches in brandy are my favourite! they only improve with age

Same for prunes in Pusser's rum

[D&D]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

3-7 year old food, made with healthy, natural ingredients, and properly stored, is a whole lot better for your body than chemical-laden junk food that was prepared yesterday. How old it is doesn't make any difference at all, so long as it is properly stored and eaten within its appropriate lifespan (which could easily mean 15-20 years, depending on the food and the storage method).

Certainly not pressing the case for junk food...never touch the stuff...but we're huge advocates for fresh food. So we're definitely struggling with the notion of much food value in food stored for years...let alone 15-20 years...

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by D&D

Certainly not pressing the case for junk food...never touch the stuff...but we're huge advocates for fresh food. So we're definitely struggling with the notion of much food value in food stored for years...let alone 15-20 years...

I agree. I'll always eat fresh when I can but, having some freeze dried meals around IMO is better than having to leave a nice secluded anchorage to head to a harbor town to resupply. Also good for long passages as backup. Always good to have a backup! Plus you don't have to store this stuff on board for 15-20 years but, seems like a good idea to have a few weeks of meals on board in case a natural disaster (tsunami, hurricane etc...) plays havoc with the local food supply.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

What jars? Glass?

b.

My pressure cooker is small. Are smaller "Mason" type jars available?

[Crimea Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

My pressure cooker is small. Are smaller "Mason" type jars available?

You can get mason style jars in pints. Also many different mini versions of mason type jars for preserves and jams and such. You can check out attached site I use for many boating needs.

https://www.lehmans.com/c-62-jars-lids-and-rubbers.aspx

[bobconnie]

We find boat canned food all the time that we sorta lost ! We just ate some tuna I canned 3 yrs ago! Man was it ever good! It was some I smoked a little before we canned it !! Ate it 3 days ago and we are still alive and feelin fine !! All kidding aside, we eat our home or boat canned foods a bunch, and some of it is 3 or more years old ! If it's kept out of direct sunlight, in a normal semi- cool boat, I really don't have any Idea how long it will last, but I have eaten 6 yr old boat canned stuff! and Im 75 and as healthy as a semi-old horse LOL If it don't smell right don't eat it ! Simple!!

[Crimea Cruiser]

Recommended shelf life of various foods according to University of Nebraska.

http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/...uild/ec446.pdf

[Crimea Cruiser]

Here is another opinion.

Food Storage Guidelines, Food Storage Chart, How To Store Foods, Shelf Life of Food, Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Chart, Food Storage Procedure

Personally I have eaten self preserved and jarred foods several years old. Never died yet that I know of, but some of the contents lose their visual appeal and texture. I try to consume all within a year. Leaving only jams, relishes and such 1+ years consumption.