The news is dire: The USDA is predicting an upcoming huge inflation in the price of food. Egg prices predicted to increase 20%, and other groceries 8% or more. Prices overall from April of 2021 to April of 2022 are up 9.4%.
The level of food price inflation varies depending on whether the food was purchased for consumption away from home or at home:
- The food-away-from-home (restaurant purchases) CPI increased 0.6 percent in April 2022 and was 7.2 percent higher than April 2021; and
- The food-at-home (grocery store or supermarket food purchases) CPI increased 1.3 percent from March 2022 to April 2022 and was 10.8 percent higher than April 2021.
Food price increases are expected to be above the increases observed in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, food-at-home prices are predicted to increase between 7.0 and 8.0 percent, and food-away-from-home prices are predicted to increase between 6.0 and 7.0 percent. Price increases for food away from home are expected to exceed historical averages and the inflation rate in 2021. [. . .]
An ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has reduced the U.S. egg-layer flock and drove a 10.3 percent increase in retail egg prices in April 2022. Retail poultry prices have been high, with historically low stocks of frozen chicken (also called “cold storage”). The ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak has also contributed to increasing poultry prices as over 38 million birds have been affected. The disease prevalence also impacts international demand for U.S. poultry. Price impacts of the outbreak will be monitored closely. Poultry prices are now predicted to increase between 8.5 and 9.5 percent, and egg prices are predicted to increase between 19.5 and 20.5 percent. [. . .]
Farm-level egg prices are now predicted to increase between 73.5 and 76.5 percent in 2022.
Wholesale dairy prices increased by 2.7 percent in April 2022 on strong domestic and international demand. Wholesale dairy prices are predicted to increase between 13.0 and 16.0 percent.
So what can we do?
Obviously, we can begin (or continue) to stockpile. It is easy to stock up on dry and canned ingredients. It is more difficult to get good stocks of things like milk and eggs. And the USDA says that egg prices increased by 10% in April and is predicting an increase in the price of eggs of 20%!
You can purchase dry and canned milk. And, yes, you can get whole milk powder (check the internet). You can even freeze milk, if you have the freezer space.
Eggs are a bit more difficult. You can raise your own chickens for eggs, if possible. You can buy dried egg products (either whites or whole eggs). Those are especially good for cooking and baking, but they are expensive. You can also do what I am planning: freezing eggs. Here is a guide for freezing fresh eggs that you buy at the grocery store; whole eggs, egg whites, or egg yolks:
Can I Freeze Whole (Raw) Eggs In Their Shells?
When you think about freezing eggs, freezing whole eggs — shells and all — is probably what comes to mind. But we recommend that you do not do this. Here’s why. First, because eggs are liquid, they expand when they freeze and crack their shells, exposing the interiors to freezer burn and turning into a gloopy shell-studded mess when thawed. Second, whole eggs yolks don’t freeze well — they thicken into an unappealing gelatinous mass.
What’s the Best Way to Freeze Whole Eggs?
Crack them out of those shells! Then lightly whisk the yolks and whites together until just combined and transfer them to a resealable freezer bag. Yes, you must mix together the yolk and the white. Consider these your future scrambled eggs and omelets. Next, label and date that bag and freeze it flat. To thaw, transfer to the refrigerator overnight. When you’re ready to cook with the eggs, use this equation: 3 tablespoons = 1 whole egg.
Visit the article for additional tips.
Stella's Place 
Thanks for the info on freezing eggs.
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When I was in high school, my breakfast was French toast with elderberry syrup. I haven’t eaten it in what, 50 years? Not much of an egg eater anymore. Devil(ed) eggs can be awful tempting though!
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French toast is prepared with eggs, and elderberry syrup is good for you. Lots of baked goods require eggs too.
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Spoke with DIL a couple three weeks ago re: freezing eggs, as I rarely, if ever, finish an entire dozen before the “sell by” date.
DIL bakes them in the oven and freezes them, and then uses them for use as an egg-mcmuffin type sandwich or scrambled eggs. Haven’t tried baking them yet, but DIL says she has much success with baking rather than frying them, and they also don’t turn soggy in the freezer like scrambled eggs do.
Thx for the tips, Stella. One suspects you and DIL could spend hours talking!
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The plus of freezing uncooked eggs is that they can be used in cooking and baking, rather than just eating. Both methods are valuable, depending on how you want to use them.
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Also, eggs are good to use far beyond the sell by date. If you aren’t sure, crack each egg into a separate vessel (even a paper cup works) before adding them to a mix or the pan.
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DIL also successfully signed me up for food assistance last week, something I have never ever considered as I support myself, but DIL said her taxes pay for that stuff and she wants some return on her investment. She used my disintegrating frame as the reason plus my age, and it worked.
Were you aware there is an over $200 federal benefit per month for food assistance since the CCP Virus was introduced? No wonder people won’t work.
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That’s interesting.
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Hm. I would like to get some of that. Unfortunately, I can’t use my disintegrating frame as an excuse. 🙄
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Czar and I never got around to getting chickens and building or buying a coop, but I have the land and lots of bugs and vegetation for them to eat even if I don’t buy chicken feed. Neighbors sell their extra eggs.
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I have tomatoes, cubes, salad peppers and eggplant in pots on the porch, and am ready to till and plant seeds and beans in the old garden space as needed.
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Cukes not cubes. Stupid spell check.
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That’s the best!
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This 3.52 lb can of powdered whole milk is available on Amazon. Their lowest price is just over $20, with free shipping.
It is available at my local market for $20.70.
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Another thing you might want to add to your stash is some form of dried potatoes – sliced or instant mashed.
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Right. I will add that to my stash. My concern is water and I don’t know what to do about that.
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I buy a gallon or two every so often. You will have to wait until you move, I think.
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Yeah, I do that, too, but I have always drunk bottled water so I don’t get too far ahead. Guess I had better work on it. I am having doubts about ever going now. I can’t go until I find someplace to live. I sent an email to a place that has an available studio apt. But, it is been almost a week and I haven’t heard back from them about anything. I think it is because they have such long wait lists. They don’t even bother to answer questions by email or the phone.
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You can bottle your own water too. Since you will be moving to a cold climate, there is always snow melt . . .
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Right now I have to plan for here.
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You can also blanch and freeze potatoes, if you have enough freezer space.
https://www.food.com/recipe/how-to-freeze-potatoes-510612
ADD: If you have a dehydrator, you can also blanch and dry your own potato slices or shreds. I have a dehydrator, but haven’t yet tried this.
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