Best Ways to Store Food Without Electricity?

[TeaTimeTalisman]

Looking for some advice and first-hand experiences on keeping food fresh long-term without relying on freezers or electricity. I’ve got a decent root cellar going for potatoes, carrots, and beets, but I’m wondering about best practices for dry goods, dairy, and meats. I’ve started canning and dehydrating,

 

[BlueSkyWanderer]

I’ve got a decent root cellar going for potatoes, carrots, and beets, but I’m wondering about best practices for dry goods, dairy, and meats.

For dry goods, I swear by glass jars with tight lids—keeps bugs and moisture out for ages. Meat's trickier; have you ever tried salt curing or making jerky, TeaTimeTalisman?

 

[OrbitJazz21]

Glass jars really are a game changer for dry goods—keeps the mice and humidity at bay too. As for meat, salt curing works if you can get the hang of it, but I prefer smoking or turning it into jerky. Seems to last longer, and you can pack a lot of flavor in there. Anybody tried fermenting dairy, like making hard cheeses? That’s one thing I still haven’t nailed without a fridge.

 

[AquaFern1028]

Canning meats under pressure’s worked well for me—no fridge needed, and they keep flavor better than I expected. Anyone found a good way to store butter long term without it going rancid?

 

[BlueSkyWanderer]

Crocs of salted butter, covered with brine, keep surprisingly well for months in a cool spot. Anyone tried ghee? Folks say it lasts ages even unrefrigerated, but I’ve only read about it.