Oatmeal packets for long-term food storage (3 recipes)

Prices are rising and products are shrinking, creating your own long-lasting food storage has never been more important. One versatile and easy solution? Oatmeal! By vacuum sealing your own ingredients, you can create fun foods that'll last for years, and you control exactly what goes in it. Here's how you can prepare and store your own dessert-style oatmeal using an Avid Armor vacuum sealer for peace of mind and long-term storage.

• Quaker Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
• Nutrient Survival Vitamin Powdered Milk
• Redmond Real Salt
• 20lb White Sugar
• Light Brown Sugar, 1 Gallon
• Ground Cinnamon
• Freeze Dried Sliced Strawberries Can
• Freeze Dried Banana Chips Can
• Freeze Dried Fuji Apples

1. Add the contents of a single packet into a medium saucepan
2. Add 2 cups of Water
3. Bring to a low simmer over med-low heat, stirring occasionally until thickened to your desired consistency
4. Remove from heat and serve

Oatmeal is a staple in many households , it’s affordable, filling, and endlessly customizable. But did you know you can extend the shelf life of your oatmeal by years with proper vacuum sealing? Whether you choose standard vacuum pouches or Mylar bags, you end up with just-add-water meals that outlast the cardboard canister they came in.

Start here: Chamber Vacuum Sealer Machine (use coupon code: BUCKHORN)

The Avid Armor vacuum sealer makes it simple to extend the shelf life of your homemade oatmeal packs.

• Enhanced Sealing Performance: This machine provides strong vacuum pressure, perfect for sealing your dry ingredients, keeping oats, freeze-dried fruit, and more fresh for years.
• Simple and Efficient Usage: One-touch controls and a 10-inch seal bar with dual sealing wires make the vacuum-sealing process fast and easy, allowing you to prepare your bulk oatmeal packs quickly.
• Compact Design: The machine is about 12.75 x 12.25 x 7.75 inches and weighs just under 19 pounds. The chamber inside is 10.5 x 10.5 x 3.5 inches, which sets the largest pouch you can seal.
• Flexible Accessory Hose: It includes a hose that connects to canisters, containers, and mason jars, making it versatile for storing large or multiple food items alongside your vacuum-sealed oatmeal packs.

• (80g) 1 cup Oats
• (28g) 3 Tbsp Dry Milk Powder
• (25-50g) 2-4 Tbsp White Sugar
• (4g) 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon 
• (1g) Pinch Salt
• (17g) 1/2 cup Freeze Dried Apples, broken into small pieces

• (80g) 1 cup Oats
• (28g) 3 Tbsp Dry Milk Powder
• (25-50g) 2-4 Tbsp White Sugar
• (1.5g) 1/2 tsp Cinnamon 
• (1g) Pinch Salt
• (5g) 1/4 cup Freeze Dried Strawberries, broken into small pieces
• (11g) 1/4 cup Freeze Dried Bananas, broken into small pieces

• (80g) 1 cup Oats
• (28g) 3 Tbsp Dry Milk Powder
• (52g) 4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
• (4g) 1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon 
• (1g) Pinch Salt

Mylar bags have become the gold standard for long-term food storage, and for good reason:

One of the biggest advantages of vacuum sealing is the ability to buy your ingredients in bulk. Not only does this help you save money in the long run, but it also ensures you have a stockpile of healthy, ready-to-eat meals at your fingertips. By taking a little time upfront to prepare and store your oatmeal, you’re giving yourself the gift of convenience and peace of mind, knowing that you’ve got food stored away for the future.

I like to think of food storage as part of a self-managed insurance plan, a proactive step to prepare for the unknown. In uncertain times, knowing you have nutritious, long-lasting meals stored away can provide immense peace of mind. Whether it’s an economic downturn, supply chain disruptions, or natural disasters, having a stock of vacuum-sealed oatmeal means you’re ready for whatever comes next.

Self Managed Insurance Plan (start here)

If you’re new to vacuum sealing or Mylar storage, the process is simple:

• Oats:
  • Standard Vacuum-Sealed Pouch : 2-3 years
  • Mylar Bag with an oxygen absorber: 5-10 years, possibly longer. A mixed packet only lasts as long as its shortest-lived ingredient, so the milk powder and brown sugar set the real date, not the oats or the fruit.
• Dry Milk Powder:
  • Standard Vacuum-Sealed Pouch: 2-5 years
  • Mylar Bag (Vacuum-Sealed): 5-10 years
• White Sugar:
  • Indefinite in both standard vacuum-sealed pouches and Mylar bags
• Brown Sugar:
  • Standard Vacuum-Sealed Pouch: 1-2+ years (may harden due to moisture)
  • Mylar Bag (Vacuum-Sealed): 1-2+ years
• Cinnamon:
  • Standard Vacuum-Sealed Pouch: 2-3 years
  • Mylar Bag (Vacuum-Sealed): 5+ years
• Salt:
  • Indefinite in both standard vacuum-sealed pouches and Mylar bags
• Freeze-Dried Fruit (Apples, Strawberries, Bananas):
  • Standard Vacuum-Sealed Pouch: 1-2 years. Clear vacuum pouches let oxygen and light through over time.
  • Mylar Bag (Vacuum-Sealed): 15-25+ years