Watch Out...Fats and Oils!!

Fat is essential in every diet. Fats and oils play in important role in our perception of taste and texture and their absence would make many foods more difficult to prepare and consume. A small amount of dietary fat is necessary for our bodies to properly absorb fat soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. 20 pounds or 10 quarts per person of fats, i.e. shortening, cooking oil, butter/margarine, peanut butter and mayonnaise are suggested for storage.

Long term storage of fat can be challenging, but there are some general rules you can follow to help you...
"Storage conditions that affect the deterioration of fats, oils and food in general are summarized in the acronym HALT: Humidity, Air, Light, and Temperature. Reducing exposure to humidity, air, light, and warm temperatures will prolong storage life. Proper food packaging can reduce or eliminate moisture, air, and light. Newly opened oil should be left in its original container or be placed in a clean container, since even a small amount of old oil mixed with fresh oil will hasten rancidity. Temperature dramatically affects the storage life and quality of fats and oils. Some fats, such as butter or margarine, can be frozen to prolong storage time. All fats, oils and foods containing fat keep better in a cool area of a house, such as a basement." ~ Oscar Pike

I bought a book for my husband one year called "A Years Supply" by Barry and Lynette Crockett. In it is an article that was written for in the Ensign in June 1982, by a man named F. Enzio Busche. Elder Busche describes his experiences living in post-war Germany and "what were the most valuable items in the days of starvation?" His counsel has never left me. He said..." As for what we needed, the food item we relied on the most was vegetable oil. With a bottle of vegetable oil one could acquire nearly every other desirable item."

I have a good supply of fats and oils and by making my own bread and typical cake and cookie making I have had no problem rotating it. The oil I am using now was purchased in 2005 and has a "best if used by" 2007. I opened it about a month or two ago and it is still just fine...no odor whatsoever. If you are worried, you can store your opened oil in the refrigerator to keep the temperature down.

Next...a little about salts and seasonings and the importance of gardening.