Salt Question

[Tiger 59]

A buddy of mine keeps telling me the importance of storing salt. How much is a realistic amount for a family of six.

[OLDWarrior64]

The best thing to start with is the Food Storage Calculator.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/dow...o=file&id=1364

That should give you a starting point unless there are any special dietary requirements.

[9111315]

How much can you get for $25.00.

I've picked up quite a few boxes of Canning & Pickling Salt. It is not Iodized. You don't want to use Iodized salt in large quantities in canning and preserving food.

I also have some Ice Cream and Coarse Kosher Salt for a variety. The Kosher salt is more expensive but works great for Rimming Margarita glasses.

I've wanted to pick up a few large bags of rock salt -- but don't know for sure it would be safely usable for preserving food in a SHTF situation. Is the water softener salt just rock salt?

[Moccasin]

Originally Posted by Tiger 59

A buddy of mine keeps telling me the importance of storing salt. How much is a realistic amount for a family of six.

Well, what do you intend to do with it, and how long are we talking about? Salting meat, pickling, tanning hides, all that will use quite a bit on top of normal consumption. If you're thinking about TEOTWAWKI and decades of turmoil during which you'll have no readily available salt supply, that's one thing. If we're talking a few days, or you live near the ocean or a naturally occurring salt deposit, that's another.

[MikeK]

Salt is one of those things that I always suggest going overboard on. It's cheap and easy to store, so why not? You can use a lot of it if you'll be curing, salting, pickling or fermenting foods. It may also end up being one of the most valuable of all barter supplies. And since it never spoils, it won't ever go to waste.

[Illini Warrior]

If you live in the midwest, salt is a very important element in the preps package ..... even the Hollyweird writers of Jerico keyed into the importance .....

[Tiger 59]

Originally Posted by Moccasin

Well, what do you intend to do with it, and how long are we talking about? Salting meat, pickling, tanning hides, all that will use quite a bit on top of normal consumption. If you're thinking about TEOTWAWKI and decades of turmoil during which you'll have no readily available salt supply, that's one thing. If we're talking a few days, or you live near the ocean or a naturally occurring salt deposit, that's another.

I was thinking normal consumption, six months or so

[Allamakee County]

Originally Posted by 9111315

I've wanted to pick up a few large bags of rock salt -- but don't know for sure it would be safely usable for preserving food in a SHTF situation. Is the water softener salt just rock salt?

Yes, it's just natural salt! (Make sure that's what it says on the package. Morton's sells some that's just plain ol' salt.) And it's wonderful for making a crust on a piece of meat that will seal in the juices and flavors as you slow cook it.

[kmech]

I can buy, at the local winco. A 5 gal plastic bucket with a gamma lid and 50 lbs of sea salt for less than a 20 dollar bill.

[9111315]

Looks like rock salt or pool salt can be had for $6 to $7 for a 50lb bag ( 14 cents/lb).

Morton Canning and Pickling Salt at the Grocery is $1.39 for a 4lb box ( 35 cents/lb).

So, I can get a 50 pound of salt in a bag the leaks or for $10 more I can get 50 pounds of food grade salt in 4lb boxes that leak.

In another forum, some guy had 800 pounds of salt. Sounds like a lot, but only cost about $110 for rock salt.

Edit: kmech, did not refresh to see your post before mine. ---- the 5 Gal plastic bucket would eliminate the bag and box leaks. Thanks.

[Allamakee County]

Originally Posted by 9111315

So, I can get a 50 pound of salt in a bag that leaks or for $10 more I can get 50 pounds of food grade salt in 4lb boxes that leak.

LOL

What a choice. I wish we had WINCO around here!

[hogan646]

I currently only have a one gallon Mylar bag stored now but I think I need more. Without a good source of table salt in a prolonged TEOTWAWKI situation we could be facing an epidemic of iodine deficiency. (see extract below) I am fortunate in this sense to I live by the ocean so seaweed could be used as a source of iodine and the ocean for salt.

[vicdotcom]

Originally Posted by hogan646

I currently only have a one gallon Mylar bag stored now but I think I need more. Without a good source of table salt in a prolonged TEOTWAWKI situation we could be facing an epidemic of iodine deficiency. (see extract below) I am fortunate in this sense to I live by the ocean so seaweed could be used as a source of iodine and the ocean for salt.

Remember also that most canned foods and even freeze dried pre-packaged meals are high in iodized salt already.

Also there really isn't a need to store salt in Mylar as it won't go bad and bugs don't eat it. Just keep it dry.

[Teslin]

For normal meal consumption, be sure to store iodized table salt. Kosher and most sea salts are not iodized and are great once in a while for that extra burst of finishing salty flavour, but, should not be used exclusively. Sea salt naturally contains some iodine however processing often removes it and/or the amounts are small or 'unmeasured' so you cannot be sure how much you are getting.

In North America we are beginning to see again iodine deficiencies that have not been seen in a long time here. Commericial producers of processed foods often don't use the iodized salt any more (check the labels - if it doesn't say there is iodized salt in the ingredients list, there is most likely no iodine), and restaurants tend to use sea salt because customers like it and they can use it, as I mentioned, just for finishing.

As others have posted however, using iodized salt for curing/preserving, etc. is not advised. While it is not harmful, it does affect the colour - often turning home 'canned' foods brown for instance.

As a hypothyroidism sufferer, I urge you to look for and store mostly iodized salt. I do. For 2 people, I probably have about 30 lbs. of salt for 1 year (which is really overkill for us but I store extra - there are other uses for salt like cleaning, etc.) but how much you store depends on how much you normally use over whatever time period in your own house with the type of cooking you do and the level of saltiness you and your family like. If you do the cooking, pay attention to how often you need to go to the cupboard or store for more salt. If your wife/husband does the cooking, ask them to keep a tally - and then get that amount plus some extra times whatever time period you are aiming to store for.

[Old Warrior]

Originally Posted by kmech

I can buy, at the local winco. A 5 gal plastic bucket with a gamma lid and 50 lbs of sea salt for less than a 20 dollar bill.

Originally Posted by Allamakee County

I wish we had WINCO around here!

I second that AC. I picked up two 50# bags of sea salt at WinCo in Pocatello in July when I was passing through. They were $9.99 a bag, so when you figure a Gamma seal lid + bucket I guess that's not a bad @ under a Jackson for the deal.
I also picked up split peas @ $12.84 for 25#, lentils @ $20.68 for 25#, and red kidney beans @ $22.80 for 25#.

I have about 250 lbs of salt right now, 100 lbs of sea salt and 150 lbs of mineral salt.

[rickb223]

Originally Posted by Tiger 59

A buddy of mine keeps telling me the importance of storing salt. How much is a realistic amount for a family of six.

About 400 pounds. IOW, as much as you can comfortably afford.

Salt is one item I WOULD barter. Definitely before I'd barter ammo.

Seriously, salt was used as a food preservative before refrigeration.

Salt was so important at one time, that they paid the Roman Legions in salt instead of money.

[rickb223]

Originally Posted by vicdotcom

Just keep it dry.

And if it gets wet, just break apart & re-grind.

[9111315]

OK, I'm making a salt run to WINCO. Anyone need anything?

LOL. I just may do this some time.

[TheLawClerk]

[QUOTE=rickb223;3251061]About 400 pounds. IOW, as much as you can comfortably afford.

Salt is one item I WOULD barter. Definitely before I'd barter ammo.

Seriously, salt was used as a food preservative before refrigeration.

Salt was so important at one time, that they paid the Roman Legions in salt instead of money.[/QUOTE]

That's where the phrase "Not worth one's salt" came from.

[Illini Warrior]

Originally Posted by hogan646

I currently only have a one gallon Mylar bag stored now but I think I need more. Without a good source of table salt in a prolonged TEOTWAWKI situation we could be facing an epidemic of iodine deficiency. (see extract below) I am fortunate in this sense to I live by the ocean so seaweed could be used as a source of iodine and the ocean for salt.

No harm, but a waste of a mylar bag to store salt or sugar ...... keep it dry and clean is all that is needed ...... pound packs in sandwich size zip lock bags are perfect barter stock .......

just a reminder not to use garbage bags for any kind of food storage