How You Can Make Your Coronavirus Stockpile Last Longer

Here are some ways that you can follow to make your coronavirus stockpile last longer.

Shop strategically

The CDC is advising everyone to stay home as much as possible to avoid unnecessary disclosure to the virus, so you want to make the most of your shopping trips. Buy about two weeks’ worth of groceries at a time. To do that right, you’ll need to plan forward. First, take list of what you have, and then figure out how many people you need to feed. Try to make a meal plan for the week so you’re not urge-eating. And you might want to save recipes that require unusual ingredients until after the pandemic. Consider keeping recipes basic so you don’t need to buy specialty ingredients that may be hard to reuse in other dishes. Once you have a shopping list in hand, you’re ready to hit the store.

Use beans to make other foods last longer

Beans are one of the most popular “tragedy foods” for a reason—they have a long shelf life. They can also help make other products in your supply, like meat, last longer, in addition to make meals more filling and ultimately help you eat less. This concept also applies to other overstocked foods in your pantry that you’re not sure what to do with.

Arrange your perishables

Most of us are used to eating what we want, when we want it. However, if you want your food to last as long as possible, you need to have a plan. Arrange your unpreserved items, and eat those first so you don’t have excess food waste. For example, if you have milk, plan breakfasts that involve cereal before switching to eggs or oatmeal, which can last longer in the fridge or pantry.

Freeze fresh foods

If you have a large freezer, now is the time to use it. When you are able to go grocery shopping, collect on fresh foods and put them in the freezer for a later day. You can also dehydrate many fresh foods, so they won’t go bad. It’s not the same as eating fresh produce, but dried fruits make a great snack and you’ll still be getting your nutrients.

Dilute certain liquids

Diluting some items with water can absolutely help to stretch your stockpile. Orange juice and soy sauce, for example, can be easily diluted without an issue. But you can’t do this for all items. You should not stretch items that need a certain symmetry, or concentration, to be effective. Baby formula is one of these; diluting it can result in an infant’s failure to thrive and even death. However, you can opt for the powdered form instead of the liquid to get more bang for your buck.

Repurpose cleaning supplies you already have

Don’t panic if you can’t find wipes and disinfectants online or in stores. Instead, take list of what you already have—in unexpected areas of your home. For example, just because a cleaning product is proposed for your bathroom, it doesn’t mean that it won’t work in the kitchen. Check your bathroom cleaners that you use on the shower or sink. Some are EPA approved to kill 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses. Good old-fashioned soap and water can also be used to kill COVID-19.

Maximize your masks

The government is presently advising people to wear masks whenever they go out in public. They’re hard to come upon, but there’s a good chance that you might already have one somewhere in your home. Check your garage. You may have a construction mask that you haven’t used. It doesn’t need to be hospital grade, but it works as a face covering when you’re out. If you happen to find any N95 masks, however, you should donate them to health care workers.

Only use hand sanitizer when you really need it

Most stores have been sold out of hand sanitizer for weeks. However, you shouldn’t panic if you can’t get your hands on a bottle. Save what you have for when you’re on the go. Soap and water does the trick when you’re at home and is actually more effective. In fact, you can prevent these diseases just by washing your hands.

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