By The Ready Store

What is a READYpack? These 6-can collections are a great way to test out new products while still getting the bulk savings!

READYpacks are collections of 6-can food storage items that are typically bundled with like items. So for example, the Gourmet Vegetable READYpack includes 1 can of Diced Broccoli Florets, 2 cans of Potato Chunks, 1 can of Zucchini Slices, Cauliflower Pearls and Asparagus.

If you were to purchase all of these items separately, you’d pay a little more than $116. However, if you purchased them together in the READYpack, you’d save $11!

We have a wide variety of READYpacks including collections of fruits, vegetables, just-add-water meals, meats, dairy products, breakfasts and more!

You can typically save 8 – 10 percent when purchasing READYpacks instead of cans individually.

Take a look at some of our selection of READYpacks here.

If you have any questions, please let us know! We’ll try and answer the question as quickly as possible!

By The Ready Store

While many of us are excited for the hot weather of summer, others are worried about another type of heat: Wildfires!

Groups like the Westcoast Wildland Strike Teams, based in Portland, Ore., spend weeks on end camping out fighting wildfires across the coast.

And while fighting fires to protect our communities, who do the Westcoast Wildland Strike Teams depend on? The Ready Store!

We were so excited to receive this letter last week from Kevin Hawke, Engine Boss and Emergency Medical Technician for the WWST.

Dear The Ready Store,

On behalf of Westcoast Wildland Strike Teams from Portland, Oregon, I would like to extend a big “thank you!” for providing us with such great products for our busy fire seasons.

While out fighting forest fires all summer my engine crew is often “spike camped,” which means we must stay out in the woods for several weeks at a time, and we are in charge of our own food and water supply. Proper nutrition is vital while working 20 hour shifts, and we appreciate an easily prepared hot meal to keep us going strong.

The MRE’s, #10 cans, and freeze-dried food pouches store perfectly in our engine compartments, and can withstand the bumpy conditions of our engines driving up and over bumpy logging roads all day.

While covered from head to toe with black ash, and nodding off from exhaustion, the last thing I want to think about is how to prepare food for up to 16 firefighters. The MRE’s, the freeze-dried food in #10 cans, and the pouches are considered delicacies out there compared to the “food” we are given by the commanding agency.

We also have a few vegetarians in our company, so we appreciate the vegetarian options available.

We will continue to use The Ready Store exclusively as our food and water supplier!

Once again we extend a big THANK YOU, and we will continue to use your products while we are protecting life, property, and the environment. Have a great day!

Kevin Hawke
Engine Boss & Emergency Medical Technician
Westcoast Wildland Strike Teams

Thank you Kevin for protecting us! We hope to continue making good products that your strike team will enjoy!

If you’d like to send us an e-mail about our products, you can e-mail customerservice@thereadystore.com. You can also review a specific product by clicking on “Add Your Review” next to the product photo after logging into your account.

You can also receive 50 ReadyRewards points for each review you do! (Limit 10 reviews per day.)

By The Ready Store

We often get questions about the manufacture dates printed on our #10 cans.

Cans of food.
Previously, The Ready Store placed a Julian calendar date on our #10 cans, however, we have recently simplified the everything by printing new, easy-to-read manufacturer dates!

MREs.
Meals-Ready-to-Eat are primarily used by the United States military, which uses a Julian calendar. Click on this link to see how MRE manufacture dates are figured.

Expiration Dates
Many times, people will ask us “Why don’t you just put an expiration date on the can?” The reason is because the expiration date depends on your storage environment. Ideally, you would store the food in an environment with temperatures between 60-75 °F.

Manufacture Dates
The Ready Store is in the process of changing the way we label our cans. While we previously listed a Julian Calendar date, we will now be labeling our #10 cans with easy-to-read dates!

MREs, which are manufactured by the same companies who provides MREs to the military, will continue to use the Julian Calendar system and we have no ability to influence a change. You can learn more about decoding the MRE manufacture dates here.

Julian Calendar
We realize that many people will have food they purchased in their food storage pantry with the julian date stamps. So, we thought it would be important to highlight how you can figure out the numbers date based on the Julian Calendar.

The Julian Calendar has been around for centuries. In our day, it is widely used on a wide variety of manufactured products as a standard means of dating. It is also used by parts of the military and as an astrological measurement. The Julian Calendar is basically a continuous count of days starting January 1, 4713 BC.

The Ready Store used a modified version of the Julian Calendar. Let me show you some examples:

So in the first example, you can see that the Julian date is 10229. This means that the product was manufactured in 2010 on the 229th day of the year.

In the second example, the Julian date is 11067. This option includes a bath reference number and a product code. The Julian code will show that 11067 was manufactured on March 8, 2011.

The last example highlights the Julian date a little more. It puts a dash between the batch reference number and the Julian code. 11143 would translate to May 23, 2011.

Print Out
We’ve also prepared a printable sheet that you can keep with your food storage documents in order to reference the dates in case of an emergency or power outage.

Click here to view the PDF.

By The Ready Store

You might have noticed while shopping for food storage that you have come across cans of meat TVP and others without the TVP distinction. For example, Saratoga Farms offers a Freeze-dried Ground Beef but they also offer a Beef Crumble TVP. What’s the difference?

What is TVP?
TVP stands for Textured Vegetable Protein. Basically, TVP is high-fiber, high-protein meat substitute. It’s made from soy flour after the soybean oil has been extracted. It is cooked under pressure and dried. You might have also seen TVP being called Textured Soy Flour (TSF).

Another major difference is that TVP is dehydrated instead of freeze-dried. So, when you prepare the TVP you will need to cook it for a bit before it’s ready to eat.

Uses of TVP
You’re probably more familiar with TVP than you realize. TVP is used on a wide scale at restaurants and in public schools. The TVP is rehydrated and has a great shelf-life, so many companies use it for the benefit of storage and shipping.

You’ve probably seen TVP on pizza toppings, as bacon bits, in sloppy joes and more!

Benefits of TVP
TVP is more affordable. Since cuts of meat can be pretty expensive, this is a great substitute that doesn’t lack for taste. You get the similar taste for less price.

It’s easy to prepare. All you have to do is add water to the TVP, simmer it for a few minutes and it’s ready to use in your family’s favorite recipes. You can also substitute it in meals by just adding a bit more water and letting it simmer for a few minutes longer.

Substitute for diets. TVP is a great substitute for vegetarians or people on a Kosher diet.

Would you rather have meat?
Higher level of protein. While TVP is a great substitute for protein, if you compare a cup of TVP to a cup of meat, the regular freeze-dried meat will have more protein in it.

Less sodium. Since salt and other flavoring is added to the TVP to make it taste good, more often than not they have higher sodium levels.

Less soy. TVP will have higher soy levels than meat. If you are on a low-soy diet or want to avoid soy, meats will be a better choice.

By The Ready Store

Everyone knows that you just need to add water to a freeze-dried meal to prepare it! However, there are a few things that you can do to make sure that your freeze-dried meals turn out perfect every time!

I’ve had many opportunities to prepare freeze-dried foods and meals. And throughout the years, I’ve collected a few pointers on preparation. Here they are:

Shake the can
Yes, that’s right! Step No. 1 is to shake the can.

You’ll want to mix all the contents in the can to ensure that they are mixed evenly. Sometimes powders can settle on the bottom of the can while broader contents (like noodles) will stay at the top. To ensure that you have enough flavoring on your food, shake the can before you open it.

When you’re shaking, don’t go crazy, you don’t to open your can to find that you’ve smashed all the contents inside.

Add water little by little
On the side of the can, you’ll find preparation instructions. This will give you a ratio of water and mix. So, for example, the label in the picture explains that you’ll need 1 cup of water and ½ cup of dry mix.

If you’re preparing all of the can’s contents at the same time, you can just add the required water that you need. I’ve noticed that many times stirring and mixing the food is easier as you add water little by little.

Add a little water, stir that in and then add a little more water. This will allow you to fine-tune your meal to your desired consistency! It will also make mixing a lot easier!

Put a lid on
When creating a hot dish, you’ll want to use boiling, or near boiling water. I’ve noticed that the food will reconstitute faster if there is a lid on the bowl or mixing cup. This will trap in the moisture and keep heat rotating inside your bowl.

When you put a lid on the food, it reconstitutes faster and more fully.

Your recommendations?
What have you found? What pointers would you give others on the best way to prepare freeze-dried foods?

By The Ready Store

Are you a last-minute shopper? Do you still not know what to get that special someone? Well, you’ve come to the right place this Valentine’s Day! (Seriously though? It’s Valentine’s Day morning. I’m sure they’ve realized you’re not ready yet. You need to plan better next year…)

The Ready Store has all the romantic items that you’ll need to make this day something special. Choose from the classic V-Day gifts like the following:

Chocolates
Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be complete without a supply of rich, wonderful chocolates. Of course you can always buy them Saratoga Farms Chocolate Instant Breakfast mix. What says “I love you” more than 20% of their daily Dietary Fiber, 130 calories per serving, and 50% of their daily Vitamin C.

You can also consider some Saratoga Farms Instant Premium Hot Cocoa Mix or an MRE Fudge Brownie!

Strawberries
Freeze-dried strawberries are a favorite snack in our office. (No, I’m not hinting at anything … unless you want to.) This #10 can will allow you and your loved one to share over a pound of strawberry slices after a romantic meal. Plus, these heart-shaped fruits are aphrodisiacs.

Flowers Flours
Guys, don’t forget to get your wife a nice set of flowers. Woops, I mean flours.

Why not get your loved one a set of flours that lasts for 20 years or more. While a bouquet of flowers will last a few days, Saratoga Farm’s flours will last for a couple decades. This is the Valentine’s Day gift that will continue to show your love for a long time to come.

Consider Whole Wheat Flour, White Flour, or Peanut Flour for your Valentine’s Day gift.

And now a Valentine’s Day video:
(The commercial isn’t loading lately but the video will play after a short wait;)

Calories can be one of the most important aspects of a food storage meal. It is important to find a food storage supply that is balanced and provides enough calories in case of an emergency. EverydayHealth.com states:

As a general rule, people need a minimum of 1,200 calories daily to stay healthy. People who have a strenuous fitness routine or perform many daily activities need more calories. If you have reduced your calorie intake below 1,200 calories a day, you could be hurting your body …

“Consuming less than 1,200 calories per day may make it difficult to meet vitamin and mineral needs via food,” says nutrition therapist Andrea Spivack, MA, RD, LDN, with Penn Behavioral Health at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. (Read the original article.)

Typically, the first outward sign of undernutrition is a drop in body fat, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. In serious cases, bones protrude, cheeks appear hollow, hair falls out and skin becomes inelastic and thin.

Other symptoms of undernutrition include loss of appetite, irritability, unresponsiveness, fatigue and an inability to stay warm. Patients will find it hard to complete everyday tasks due to weakness. More serious complications can also occur, depending on the severity of the calorie deficiency. (Read the original article at LiveStrong.com)

Dodging a bullet
You remember when you were a kid and everyone told you that if there was a nuclear explosion the only things that would survive would be Twinkies and cockroaches?

Well, looks like Twinkies have come across some problems in the past few weeks.

The company went from cream filling to bankruptcy filing on Wednesday, just three years after emerging from an earlier restructuring.

The company has been struggling under the weight of an $860 million debt load and soaring expenses tied to its labor force. Hostess has up to 100,000 creditors, chief among them labor unions and pension funds that represent the company’s employees, according to the Chapter 11 petition filed in United States Bankruptcy Court in New York. (Read the New York Times article.)

But don’t worry, the Twinkie will still be able to weather the storm (pun definitely intended).

Hostess Brands, the storied American manufacturer of snack cakes … said it will continue to churn out Ho Hos, Ding Dongs and other iconic products.

“Throughout the proceeding, we’re going to operate business as normal,” said Hostess spokesman Erik Halvorson. “They’ll keep making Twinkies.” (Read the CNN article.)

Shelf life of a Twinkie
As Americans give a collective sigh, we started wondering about the legend that Twinkies could survive a nuclear blast. Turns out that the iconic movies of the ‘80s were wrong (surprise surprise). The shelf life of a Twinkie is a whopping 26 days.

Shelf life at The Ready Store
So if you’ve been hoarding Twinkies since Wednesday, please reconsider. First, they’re still going to make them. Second, you’d be much better off buying some freeze-dried meals from The Ready Store. A freeze-dried meal will last 20-30 years!

Some fun facts
In celebration of the continued Twinkie legacy, here are a few fun numbers about Twinkies courtesy of UrbanMyths.com.

• 10: The minutes it takes to bake a Twinkie.
• 1930: The year James Dewar invented the two-for-a-nickel treat.
• 150: The number of calories in one Twinkie.
• 50: The number of recipes in the Twinkies Cookbook.
• 7: The number of Twinkies needed to make the “Patriotic Twinkie Pie” recipe in the Twinkies Cookbook.
• 1: The rank of New Orleans in terms of per capita Twinkie consumption compared to other cities in the U.S.
• 1999: The year President Bill Clinton included Twinkies in the millennium time capsule.

If you want the most convenient option for food storage, you need freeze-dried food.  Mountain House and Saratoga Farms Freeze-Dried Entrées make food storage easy and here is why:

1. It’s Real Food. Remember when you were little and your mom told you to stop eating junk and eat some real food? (This may or may not be what she was talking about.) Freeze-dried food is prepared by making real, quality food, then gently removing the water and oxygen. By simply adding water, freeze-dried food returns to its original state, full of nutritional value.
2. It’s Simple to Prepare. During a disaster you won’t have much time to prepare an exquisite meal. You’ll have to keep your wits about you. The great thing about freeze-dried food is that you just add water. You can quickly create a delicious meal within minutes by just adding some H2O.
3. Freeze-Dried Food is Light-Weight. Since the majority of water is removed from freeze-dried food, the weight of the meal is drastically reduced. This means that you can quickly put it an emergency pack and be on your way.
4. Freeze-Dried Food Stores Longer. Don’t want to rotate your food storage?  Want to get it and forget it? Not a problem with freeze-dried food! Since freeze-dried food extracts oxygen and water, the food can be stored for up to 30 years and in some cases longer.
5. Freeze-Dried Food Tastes Great. If you have ever tried to eat other types of food storage you know that some of them are not easy on the taste buds. Food Storage is not worth anything if your family will not eat it.  Freeze-dried food entrées are not only easy, light weight, and a great long term storage option, they also taste fantastic!