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FOOD AND WATER STOCKPILING EXAMPLE 1: A #10 can of dehydrated fruit cocktail costs $25 and contains 2VÂŁ pounds for a $10 per pound cost. Table 8-3 shows that you need 9.7 pounds for a serving per day for one year. Thus the cost would be $97. The local supermarket sells #303 cans of fruit cocktail for $.55 each and you need 91 of them for the equivalent amount, giving a cost of $50.05. Dividing the $97 by the $50.05 shows the dehydrated would cost 94% more than the canned, or about double. EXAMPLE 2: Dehydrated green beans come in a one pound #10 can for $16. A serving per day for one year requires 5.3 pounds for a total cost of $84.80. Green beans at the supermarket are $.40 for a #303 can so 91 of them cost $36.40. Dividing the $84.80 by the $36.40 tells you the dehydrated cost 133% more than the canned (21/3 times).
The above examples fairly represent the cost differences although your exact figures will vary. Always use Table 8-3 because comparison figures provided by the companies are often not accurate. Don't fall for the "but inflation will make dehydrated foods cost less" gambit, either. It just makes both cost more. Space and Weight Savings. Although dehydrated foods may weigh only one-eighth as much as canned and, in the case of air dried, take up only one-fifth as much space, that certainly isn't the entire story. Those great savings in weight and space are due to a drastic reduction in water content. But water is vital, second only to oxygen in importance to the human body, and dehydrated foods aren't much good without water to re-hydrate them. The fruits and vegetables need about a gallon per pound of dehydrated product, while the eggs and meats average one-third gallon. So while the dehydrated foods may be easier to store, conceal and transport, you should store lots of water for them. And water is heavy, takes up lots of space and is hard to move! The space savings advantage also doesn't hold up in reality. Manufacturers tend to pack the cans lightly, using up additional space. This cuts the savings to where they take up about one-third the space of canned, but there is more to consider! Only a portion of any good storage plan is made up of fruits, vegetables and meats, the main dehydrated foods. The rest consists of grains, sugars, legumes, etc. that are the same regardless of the plan. When this is all considered, dehydrated food will only save one-fourth to one-fifth the total space. Actually, freeze dried uses more.