Food storage options and opinions

So, reading the post by @Oddcaliber the other day got me thinking about the things we store in our vehicles. One thing that came to the forefront for me was food.

Every work day starts the same: coffee, shower, dress, and go. But before the 'go' part, I need to load the vehicle...lunchbox, thermos, coffee cup, computer/bag, and up until recently, my get-home bag, which I have started to just leave in Ox to save some time in the mornings. I work about 40 miles from home, so not having it with me is not an option.

The get-home bag is chock full of all the usual, and maybe not-so-usual items we carry. My concern now is the food. Being summer now, vehicle interiors get hot. I use a sunshade in the front, have tinted glass, and keep the windows cracked. The inside stays pretty decently cool comparatively speaking. The food being kept in said bag that concerns me is the canned goods: Spam, sardines, shredded pork and chicken, and tuna. Maybe not all at the same time, but a representative example. I've been stuck away from home before, and having food is always a good thing.

So, the question is this: how do the elevated temps effect canned food long-term? What is currently in the bag has been there about 3 months. Is it safe to eat? None of the cans are bulging, etc. Scrolling a few pages on the innerwebs has revealed that nutrient loss, taste, texture, etc can be affected, but as far as storage in hot temps go, they just say don't do it.

Comments and opinions encouraged and welcomed.

 

I found a cup of noodles in our VW that had been barely moved in the last 2 years.
I cooked up the cup of noodles and it smelled and tasted like chemiclas. Only tried one noodle. It was nasty.

For winter you would be alright except your water is going to freeze in most of the US.

 

High temp sin an auto will destroy canned food quickly.

40 miles - call that, what, 3 days worth of chow you need?

Firsrt, consider this


folding 3 speed with rack. Avg speed on level ground with a rider in poor shape - about 8 MPH. Time to home - 5 hours, more or less.

Option 2 - if you work inside, carry your bag inside with you. Or just put you Chow in a gym bag, and take that inside.

Whatever is in the bag, may I also suggest you try carrying for for 10 miles or so on a weekend? You just may find the water you need (about 2 gallons) - all by itself, is far more than you would want to carry for any distance - hence my suggest for a folding bike.

Good luck

 

Yep...freezing tends to be an issue here in CO.

 

Option 1 is out, unfortunately. Best egress from the city is through/across farmlands, sporadic stands of trees, and riverbeds.

Option 2 is the likely solution. That's what I have to do through the winter to keep things from freezing. Unfortunately, my promotion has necessitated me packing more junk to and from home to work. Just takes more time, I guess....

Water weight is an issue, and I have sources mapped out along my route to help with that. And yeah, ruckin is no fun at all. However, it gets done regularly to help keep me feeling younger than I really am....for the most part.

 

I figured as much. And no, I definitely don't need any colon catastrophes.

Trying to be prepared for the unforseen is good, and necessary. It can backfire, too, without some forethought.

So, how do you guys go about this? Pack it in and out daily?

 

Pack and water stay in the truck, foods stay in a plastic sack or two in the house. Easy to check or reload as you carry it out and just looks like a big lunch when you carry into work.

Use to use the gime's cotton sacks with handles.

 

Copy that. As suggested, a small duffle bag may be the way to go.

 

Everyone at work carries a duffle bag for the in work gym...wouldn't be odd for me. I have a locking 2-drawer filing cabinet and a locking upright "coat closet" in my cube. Considering a bag that stays at work and I grab on the way out. Keeping it all locked.

 

I may just need to make room in the side locker on my toolbox...desk and cabinets are full.

By the way...this is Ox

 

Energy bars and water in the personal vehicle. when I drove the country I had c-rations with me in case I got stuck somewhere.

 

I was keeping water and bars in my car but no more. I have hard candies always in the car but in my backpack which goes inside with me, I have bars, candies and a bottle of water. Also, at work I have a stash of food. If something happens and I have to walk from work, I can pack the food prior to leaving. The bottom drawer of my desk is all food.

I would not eat a can of food left in the car for a week. CO resident also, it is way too hot. My car sits in the sun all day so food and water cannot stay in there. I think one question that needs to be asked is how much food do you think you need for a 3 day hike? Are you planning on cooking?

 

The heat is an issue in my AO. I have 6 assorted food bars in my computer bag and an empty 2 quart canteen in my vehicle. Should I have to make the 14 mile hike on foot I'll fill up the water and go. I have scoped out a place 2 miles away that has vending machines outside and I wouldn't hesitate to raid them. I have made the walk carrying a daypack with jerky, food bars, and a sandwich and 1 quart of sweet iced tea. It took me 5 hours, the tea, the sandwich, and all the jerky. I used the Heartwalk as the excuse and the station even sponsored me at $10 a mile.
Basically for the OP, you'll either have to carry it inside, leave it inside as a secondary supply (my desk has at least 10,000 calories in one of the drawers) or replace it weekly. I'd say to stash 1000 calories in the computer bag, have an essentials kit in a backpack in the Ox, and a lifestraw or similar and scope water for the trip home along with a reasonable sized water carrying instrument. I could have done my trip with nothing (would have been miserable by the end) and you'll be surprised at how far you can go on very little. I would also ditch the canned food option right away. Too heavy for the nutrition contained.

 

You beat me to it. It's crossed my mind, however, space is at a premium. Not so much daily, but once you load the family up, well....
I have been looking in to the dual battery setup, but will have to get creative under the hood. I'm looking to add the winch shortly.

 

Here's the thing: I'm a long way from home. I have water sources scouted out. Weight and water have been mentioned, as well. Its all about convenience and double duty for me. I don't want to have to cook /rehydrate if I need food. Sometimes, it's just lunch at work. However, if I'm humping it through a corn field and need some water...well, I have that too. Maybe not quite as refreshing as pure water, but water from a can of tuna or such hydrates just the same.

 

Protein bars, check. Covered there.

 

I keep water in my vehicle. Used to use store-bought clear plastic bottles, but they can get a bit groady after awhile, needing cleaning. Now I use stainless steel bottles. The water will be hot when the vehicle is in the sun, which it usually is. Still drinkable. After running the AC awhile, it's cooler.
Don't keep food in the vehicle. I bring some along when needed.