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First of all, Welcome to AFC!
Stockpiling is having what you need on hand, so that way when you run out you are not having to pay full price. Most of us will learn what is usable past expiration date.
Keeping your stockpile in a cool, dry place, away from extreme heat and cold, and out of direct sunlight, will be the best way to store it for maximum use.
You can use shelves, totes, peg board, boxes, what ever will work for you. And as one said, to rotate your stockpile, make sure the older product is up front to use first, and the new products are in the back. While in totes this might be a little more difficult, you can always write the date you purchased it or the expiration date, on it, with a sharpie.
I like to have my stockpile in one place. I was forgetting what I had, and buying more, when I really didn't need to.
I took over my basement, which was our (DH's) game room. I took it over about two years ago, and my DH has not once complained about not being able to play pool, darts, air hockey, or foosball.
I have an upright freezer, which I got free with the purchase of our house, and utilized a deal through our grocery store in march and bought a smaller chest freezer. I live in a small rural farming town in MN, so I don't get the great deals like others to pack both of them. But, I am working on this, and in time it will come.
Most of us have learned what will be ok past expiration. Most of your canned food items have long expiration dates.
You can freeze a lot of things that you didn't think you could. I have been looking into this, so that way when winter comes, I'm not on the road in the middle of a snow storm, or having to drive 45 min in ice, snow, and temps in the negative numbers.
Meat that you get can be frozen, another poster, posted a link for that. In my expierance, as long as it is stored properly, and keept at freezing temps, this can last for years.
I use mostly freezer bags, but my mom gave me her food saver, and I love it. I use it for the meat mostly, make sure you flash freeze it on a cookie sheet, before using the foodsaver so you don't suck up the blood and juices and ruin it.
I do buy a lot in bulk at Sams club. I buy the huge sacks of onions and will dice up the entire bag and fits into 2 gallon size zip loc bags, and this will last a year for my family of 5. If I need a fresh onion, then I'm only having to buy 1 at a time, and not a bag which could go bad if not used in time. Frozen onions will get soft after defrosting, so is best to use them in spaghetti, casseroles, things like that.
Stockpiling is not only food, health and beauty, and house hold cleaners. It can be school supplies, holiday items, toys, clothes, the list is endless. As long as you have room to store it, and it's free or nearly free, then it's a good idea to stock up.
If you have any other questions, or need any help, please feel free to PM me, I love to help out.
Lynda
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