Sunday, January 31, 2016

The Shelf Stable Meals Buying Guide

By Ryan Adams


The canned, ready to eat meals are prepared and preserved in a way that they do not spoil easily. They serve a specific purpose of providing emergency foods. They are particularly popular with military troops and other security personnel when in the field. Those going for camping, picnics, mountain climbing, deep sea fishing, hunting and other related activities also find shelf stable meals very useful. In case of the storm or any other emergency, no one should die of hunger.

Most shelf stable goods require heating. Before heating it, always check if there are no attached plastics or styrofoams on the food. Plastics are dangerous and may cause grave diseases. Plastic contains polystyrene which is used to make clam shells.

Every household must be knowledgeable for some safety tips before purchasing and heating such products. Before buying a canned good, it is extremely important to be wary of the printed expiration date either at the back or at the top of the rim of the cans. Eating shelf foods at the precise date and time will greatly eliminate danger like food poisoning.

The date of expiry must be considered. It is important that the food you buy has the dates of manufacturing and that of expiry are clearly indicated. The expired or spoilt food can cause food poisoning and illness. Closely related to the expiry date is the ideal condition to store the food. When the conditions are not right, the food may spoil even before the actual expiry date.

Some shelf stable foods have been wrapped with plastic which is dangerous. Some household, when heating meal ignores the plastic which the food is being wrapped. This is extremely hazardous because plastics have deadly chemicals which are unsafe for the body of a human being. It is important to check every product before heating it to avoid life-threatening illnesses.

They are available in cans, pouches, boxes and cans. There are hundreds of brands available and most can be found on the supermarket shelves. In most cases, they can be stored for several months in the pantry. However, you must keep checking the expiry date so that it is replaced at the right time. If you are working late or want something for quick lunch, this is the solution.

If the food you are buying is canned, then you should first check the physical appearance of the tin. The cans that have been on shelves for long tends to exhibit some physical appearances like discoloration, rust, and general dullness. The rust and leaks should also be monitored when buying. Should you discover any problem after paying for an item, it can still be returned to the store for a replacement, as long as it has not been used.

If there is still food inside the can, it is advisable to store the tin inside the fridge. Though nonperishable goods do not spoil easily, it must be put inside a cold storage if already opened. This then will eliminate the formation of dangerous bacteria which is the main reason of food poisoning and illnesses. Nonperishable goods are always a great help in times of need, but taking it too much will lead to certain diseases. These products do not perish easily because of certain preservatives. These preservatives make the food unhealthy to consume and thus leads to undesirable illnesses.




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