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If you have Japanese friends who share their home-cooked meals, you may have noticed something about their cooking: almost everything has an extremely long shelf life. In addition to the frequent use of pre-cut, vacuum-sealed, and preservative-free ingredients, there are specific techniques that are used in Japanese home cooking that make all their dishes last longer.
When it comes to good foods with long shelf life we also want to look at nutritional value, not just taste. With that in mind here are top 9 Japanese foods for prepper inspiration.
Nimono – The art of preserving food
Nimono is the Japanese art of preserving food. In Japan, the art of preserving fish, vegetables, and other foods is as old as the culture itself. It’s also a great way to reduce food waste and save money.
Whether you’re learning Japanese cooking or want to incorporate more Japanese staples into your prepper pantry, you’ll want to keep an eye out for Japanese nimono-style foods. It is also used to ferment foods, like soybeans and soy sauce.
The process of fermentation has been around since the 9th century when it was discovered that fish hooks would last much longer if they were smeared with lactic acid bacteria, a type of bacteria created through fermentation.
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Rice – Top food with a long shelf life
Although a world food nowadays, rice is still a good food with long shelf life. However, from a Japanese diet perspective, it’s important to know how to store it properly.
The trick is to avoid airtight containers, where the air can cause it to go stale. Instead, keep your rice in a bowl covered with a damp paper towel to keep it fresh. If you have a large amount of rice, you can pour it into a large bowl or bucket and leave the lid open.
Plastic buckets are great because they don’t let water in and they can be used again and again, but you can also use a large bowl. If you’re storing rice for more than a few months, however, you’ll want to keep it in a freezer bag and other air-tight containers instead to prevent insects.
Soybeans and soy products
Soybeans are used in many different dishes in Japanese cuisine. If you’re going to choose soybean products for your long-term food storage plan, you’ll want to keep them in the freezer to prevent them from spoiling, and you’ll also want to make sure you buy them in their whole form such as these ones from this Amazon top seller.
Used all over the world as a meat substitute some good foods with long shelf life made from soy products are Textured Soy Protein, Tofu, Miso, Tempeh, and Edamame.
Dried Shiitake mushrooms
If you are looking for survival dried foods, dried Shiitake mushrooms are another great addition to that list. They also made to this list of good foods with long shelf life due to their flavor and health benefits.
A staple of Japanese cuisine Shiitake mushrooms are used in miso soup and many stir-fry dishes. To maintain their flavor, they should be stored in an airtight container and will last anywhere from 6 months to a year in your survival pantry.
They are pretty expensive to buy in their final dried form. For a better value, you can grow your own shiitake mushrooms using this Amazon 5-star 100-pack plug spawns and plant them in 3+ weeks rested logs. After the harvest, you can also dry them on your own. Check this quick youtube guide on how to dry shiitake mushrooms to help you with that.
Dried Shrimp
Dried shrimp are a great pantry staple because they can be used in many different recipes. They can be kept for up to one year if properly stored in an airtight container. Dried shrimp are really easy to make at home.
All you have to do is take fresh shrimp, slice them open, and let them dry in a very low oven, around 100 degrees Celsius, for 2 hours. The dried shrimp can be crumbled into smaller pieces, making them even easier to use.
Marinated Fish and Meat
Marinating fish and meat is a great way to infuse them with flavor so that you don’t have to season them as heavily after cooking. It’s a great food to add to this list of tasty long-term survival foods.
Marinating is also a good way to preserve many foods that might not last very long on their own. You’ll want to select fish with a long shelf life, such as salmon. Fish and meat can be marinated in shoyu (Japanese soy sauce), sake, and mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine), which help to preserve the food and add more flavor. If you have a large amount of a certain fish or meat that you would like to marinate, you can just place it in a large bowl and cover it with the mixture.
Dried Anchovies
Dried anchovies are a common ingredient in Japanese cuisine and can be used in various dishes. As good food with long shelf life, they’re also quite easy to make at home.
You’ll want to purchase fresh anchovies and dry them in a very low oven or use a good quality drier with many positive reviews such as this one from Amazon that can b used to dry all sorts of foods to increase their shelf life.
Dried anchovies can be crumbled into smaller pieces and are a great pantry staple because they can be used in many different dishes, from soups and salads to dashi, which is a Japanese type of broth made from dried fish.
Dried seaweed – Best Food with Long Shelf Life?
Maybe not as tasty as other options in this list dried seaweed is still a good food that has a long shelf life. You can find many different types of seaweed, such as konbu, kombu, and nori. Dried seaweed can last up to a year if kept in an airtight container.
It can be rehydrated in a large bowl of water and should be eaten within 2-3 days once rehydrated. It’s a great prepper food as it contains important vitamins and nutrients to help your mind and body stay fit during stressful times.
For staying on top of your health during an emergency situation, have a look at this comprehensive post about the most important first aid kit supplies any prepper should have.
Umeboshi and other pickled vegetables
Umeboshi is a Japanese pickled plum that’s often served as a side dish during meals. You can also find other types of pickled vegetables, such as cucumbers, cabbage, and carrots. Using the power of pickling is a great way to preserve food, and it’s also a common technique used in authentic Asian cuisine.
Pickled vegetables can last up to a year if kept in an airtight container. You can also make your own pickled vegetables by slicing your favorite vegetables and adding salt and vinegar to them.
Conclusion
Nimono, dried anchovies, dried shiitake mushrooms, and dried seaweed are some of the Japanese foods that I myself have in my pantry as I do like variety and multiple options. They can be found in any Asian store and can easily last for months or years if stored properly.
They can be preserved for a long time due to the high amounts of salt in them. If you’re looking to add more Japanese cuisine to your diet, or if you just want to make your pantry last longer, these are great food options coming from thousands of miles and years away. What do you think about this list of so-called good foods with a long shelf life?
What about you? Do you have any of them in your prepper’s pantry? Which one would you add to this list? Please let us know in the comments section and help others become better preppers – calm and ready for any situation.
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