In looking at bulk foods for food storage, I have noticed that many companies and information are for dehydrated foods. I have only purchased coventional foods in larger sizes. What is the difference with dehydrated foods? The benefits?

 Dehydrated foods keep better, are cheaper to ship and take a lot less room to store than conventional foods. For instance, five or six large zucchini will fit into a quart jar easily when they're dehydrated. Dehydrated foods also keep much more of their nutritional value compared to canned. 

Pat:

Dehydrated foods also keep much more of their nutritional value compared to canned. 

I was wondering about the health aspect.

I found that Survival Acres has much of the types of foods I am interested in, They have dehydrated rice for example. I am assuming that it is not instant rice. How does this specifically differ from Mahatma rice at the grocery store? Would there be more rice per pound? Is it difficult to cook?

To be honest, dehydrated rice sounds like an oxymoron to me. The only advantage I can think of is if it's precooked so it takes a few minutes to cook. The link showed white rice, which isn't very nutritious to begin with. I think I'd steer clear of that - I doubt it would save storage space!  

Pat:

dehydrated rice sounds like an oxymoron to me

Agreed which is where some of my confusion comes in. I can understand dehydrated fruit easily but the rice I couldn't figure out.

I am not very interested in large quanities of white rice. I thought I saw brown on that site as well but when I looked for it this time, it couldn't be found. I am hunting the brown though.

Let us know what you find out, or if you come up with any real advantage of dehydrated rice. I like Walton Feed to make comparisons, but the cost of shipping makes the price jump pretty high.  

Pat:

Let us know what you find out, or if you come up with any real advantage of dehydrated rice

Since I am indeed researching, I'll be sure to post my findings.

Pat:

like Walton Feed to make comparisons, but the cost of shipping makes the price jump pretty high.

The site I posted to had many of the staples I want to purchase in larger amount and the price per item is close to what I spend now but the shipping is high. Emergency Essentials has some items and  some of those are a bit more than what I pay but the shipping is very reasonable.

 My goal at this time is to purchase in greater quantity for food and household supply and shorten my routine shopping trips. I also want to stock enough to be able to make it through several months without needing anything but the essentials and to prepare for storms.

I am working my way up to these things and comparing options to achieve it.

Brandy:

The site I posted to had many of the staples I want to purchase in larger amount and the price per item is close to what I spend now but the shipping is high. Emergency Essentials has some items and  some of those are a bit more than what I pay but the shipping is very reasonable.

Makes it hard to know what's the better deal, doesn't it?  

Pat:

Makes it hard to know what's the better deal, doesn't it?  

 It does make it hard.

Then I am comparing that to staying out of store savings and time saved by not having to shop. 

 If it gets to be too much, just remember that you set the goals. Let us know how it works out.