So you’ve done it. You’ve made the commitment to invest in long-term food storage. Now the question is, where does it all go? When it comes to maintaining the shelf life and preserving the quality of many products used as emergency food storage there are a few things to think about before you stash away the new supply. Very important to consider is the impact that light and heat have on food. These two forces can spoil the texture, taste and nutritional value of any kind of emergency food storage, causing accelerated spoiling and increasing the likelihood that the product will go bad sooner than the expiration date indicates. With that in mind here are a few recommendations and ideas on how and where to keep your survival food storage safe, secure and out of the way.

1. Cellars and Basements

--In terms of ideal conditions, this is generally the best option for people who have such a space available in their homes. With fairly consistent temperatures and minimum exposure to light and moisture, cellars are also a great place for storage because you’re not clogging up living space. A finished basement is also a good area to try and create room for additional storage, as it’s always cooler and darker below ground level.

2. Garage or Shed

--The man’s sanctuary is also the place where people tend to put things that have nowhere else to go. It’s true that a garage or shed is perfectly suitable for food storage if you keep a few things in mind. Both of these storage areas can get extremely hot and extremely cold if detached from a house or not insulated. If this is the case, be mindful of the negative impact that varying and extreme temperatures can have on storage food. If practical, you may want to consider transferring storage to a secondary location during the season that has the most intense temperatures in your area.

3. Pantries and Closets

--If you have the space, this is a perfectly reasonable, and perhaps the most convenient place for emergency food. Not only is it easy to access, but if sealed in containers the food storage in your living space will be well protected. Coat closets and baby rooms are also two places that can often be rearranged in order to create a bit of extra storage space. Just be cautious of stacking any heavy containers on high shelves that could create potential hazards if they were to fall.

4. Discovering Creative Space

--With food storage it’s often a matter of creating more room. It’s can be a challenge just to fit personal belongings in a limited area, and the more space we have the more likely it is we will accumulate more stuff. It’s not unheard of for people to make more room by pulling the couch away from the wall a bit and using that space for storage, or stacking food storage containers and covering them with some interesting fabric, then putting houseplants on top. It’s also a great reason to start de-junking your life and getting rid of some of the stuff you never use to free up soma extra space.

5. Cave

--Not many people I know have access to a suitable cave, or any cave at all for that matter, but I can’t really think of a better spot to stockpile your survival food. The temperature is consistent, it’s always dark, and it’s not intruding on the space you have reserved for storing the Easter decorations of artificial Christmas tree. In all honesty, the only real hazards are bears or cave robbers. I’m joking of course, but wouldn’t that be handy if we all had access to a food storage cave right outside our back door? Talk about convenience.All funny business aside, finding space for an emergency food storage supply generally requires a little effort and a bit of reorganizing. But with some planning and creativity it’s realistic and doable in most any situation, and you’ll be happy you made the commitment to be prepared. --Jared Matkin --Jared Matkin is a Salt Lake City based freelance writer and outdoor enthusiast who is continually on the lookout for innovative and usable products designed to help improve the way we live.