The Simple Life Shelf Stable
Building Your Pantry
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Create a Shelf Stable Supply
For healthy eating, economy and just plain fun, preserving food is the way to go. Harvest your garden to can it, ferment it or freeze dry it. Find what you need to stock your pantry at Lehman’ s.
Check out our new line of Lehman’ s exclusive water bath canners at LEHMANS. COM
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A Guide to Food Security and Self-Reliance
( SPONSORED CONTENT) – An empowering step you can take to the simpler life is to ensure your family’ s food security. While frozen meals may seem convenient, they’ re vulnerable to power outages. For those pursuing a homesteading lifestyle— where self-reliance and preparedness are key— building a shelf-stable food supply is a practical way to ensure your pantry’ s longevity.
Why Shelf-Stable Foods Matter
Shelf-stable foods don’ t require refrigeration and can last for months— or even years— when stored properly. This makes them ideal for anyone seeking to be ready in case of a power outage or just simple preparedness of having food on-hand when needed. A well-stocked pantry provides peace of mind, flexibility in the kitchen and the satisfaction of living more sustainably.
Start With What You Eat
The golden rule of food storage: Eat what you store and store what you eat. There’ s no point in storing garbanzo beans if no one in your household likes them. Start by taking inventory of your family’ s food preferences and pantry habits. Tailor your shelf-stable supply to fit your lifestyle.
Balance Convenience and Scratch Cooking
A balanced pantry includes both ready-to-eat options( like canned soups, stews, tuna and other like items) and staple ingredients you can use to cook from scratch. Scratch cooking is a cornerstone of homesteading, and mastering it means you can turn simple ingredients into wholesome meals.
Master the Art of Food Preservation
Learning to preserve food is a vital homesteading skill. Whether it’ s canning, dehydrating, fermenting, root cellaring or freeze-drying, preserving your harvest allows you to eat seasonally, waste less and store more. Start small— maybe a batch of dehydrated apples or homecanned tomatoes— and build your confidence over time.
Buy in Bulk and Store Smart
Buying dry goods like rice, beans and flour in bulk is more economical and reduces trips to the store. Foodgrade buckets( 25- to 40-pound capacity) are perfect for long-term storage. They’ re stackable, pest-resistant and moisture-proof. Don’ t forget a bucket opener— it’ s a small tool that can make a big difference.
Keep It Organized
Date everything and rotate your stock regularly so that older items are used first. A well-maintained inventory means nothing goes to waste and you always know what’ s on hand.
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Organize by Category
Consider these pantry categories:
• Fruits & Vegetables: Canned, dehydrated or freeze-dried.
• Proteins: Canned meats, legumes, peanut butter.
• Grains & Staples: Rice, pasta, oats, cornmeal, flour.
• Sauces & Condiments: Soy sauce, tomato paste, barbecue sauce.
• Cooking Aids: Baking powder, vinegar, cocoa, powdered milk / eggs.
• Fats: Olive oil, shortening, lard.
• Sweeteners: Honey, sugar, maple syrup.
• Spices & Herbs: Keep meals exciting and varied.
• Comfort Foods: Chocolate, tea or anything that lifts your spirits.
Start Small and Build Over Time
Building a food supply doesn’ t happen overnight. It helps to start by tracking what you use over the course of a month. This gives insight into your cooking habits and how much of each staple your family consumes.
Then, create a collection of go-to recipes using only shelf-stable ingredients. Aim for at least two weeks’ worth. Stock your pantry with what you need to make those meals— think rice, pasta, dry beans, canned tomatoes and plenty of spices to keep things flavorful.
Find Creative Storage Solutions
Not everyone has a walk-in pantry, and that’ s okay. Cool, dry and dark spaces are best for food storage. Look around your home— under beds, in closets or even inside furniture with hidden storage potential. With a little creativity, you can maximize every inch of space.
The Bigger Picture
Building a shelf-stable pantry is more than just practical— it’ s a statement of resilience. It’ s about taking control of your food future, nourishing your family with intention and embracing a simpler, more self-sufficient way of life. Like any homesteading skill, it takes time— but every jar on the shelf is a step toward freedom.
Remember: you don’ t need to do it all at once. As the old saying goes, How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
About Lehman’ s:
At Lehman’ s, we’ re dedicated to simple living, drawing on the expertise of homesteaders, self-sufficiency advocates and skilled makers. Whether it’ s our in-house team or trusted partners, we strive to be your go-to source for authentic knowledge and inspiration on your journey to a simpler life.
June 2025 AcreageLife 43