Like many preppers, when I started prepping I used the “first in first out” aka FIFO method for building my food storage. The FIFO method implies that you use some organizational method to use the oldest of a given item in your stockpile first by always placing the newest items in the back. There are numerous can racks and other shelving systems that make this easy to accomplish. However, what I didn’t expect were some of the pitfalls to this method:
- Changing Diets – The biggest pitfall that I experienced was that of a changing diet. When I started using FIFO we aggressively built up numerous items, storing as many as we calculated we would use before the oldest items began to go bad. However, my wife recently started on a KETO diet with great success. The problem… we now have many items on the shelf that don’t fit the diet plan and are expiring on the shelf. Whether it be a voluntary change in diet or one forced for medical reason, this change can seriously disrupt your FIFO storage plan.
- Going Overboard – As I said in the previous point, I used FIFO aggressively when I started prepping. I was trying to build a year stockpile, so it was necessary to take the method to the extreme. However, having 25, 50, or even 100 cans of a given item on the shelf that expire in 2 years opens you up to the risk of waste if your daily usage of that items changes even a little. FIFO works well for storing a little extra, a sound plan for any prepper, but should be used with caution to build a year supply.
- Changing Preferences – When I started using FIFO, I really loved having a can of fruit for breakfast every morning. The problem… I haven’t had a can of fruit for breakfast now in months. The reason is simple, my preferences changed and I just don’t have that craving any longer. Now my FIFO based food stockpile has dozens of cans of canned fruit that I probably won’t ever eat before they go bad.
- Out of Sight, Out of Mind – The final pitfall that I have experienced is that my massive FIFO food stockpile is located in the basement in the prepper room. The problem with this is that when my wife and I plan our meals we often don’t think to use these items because they are out of sight.
FIFO is a great method for storing a little extra in your kitchen pantry. However, I would caution against using it to build a year supply. You are better off making an investment of a freeze dried stockpile that will last 20 years. It’s okay if this stockpile is out of sight and out of mind and it won’t expire if your food preferences or diet change.
Luckily, there is a solution if you have too many items in your FIFO supply, you can always donate them to a food pantry before they expire and move on to a more sustainable solution.
