What foods can be preserved so that they'll last longer?

Just about all foods can be stored in this manner I think but only for limited amounts of time. Have you searched online for instructions for freezing and dehydrating properly?

You can freeze just about anything except vegetables you want to use for fresh salads! Milk, cheese, eggs, meat, fish, poultry, vegetables and fruits. Some of them require certain methods, so you'll need to research before jumping into it with both feet if you don't want to waste food. For instance, eggs are good after being frozen only if they're scrambled. If you scramble them individually, then freeze in ice cube trays, one to each cube, you can use them to cook or bake with, or to make scrambled eggs, french toast, etc. Cheese tends to crumble after being thawed, but it's still good for many things. If you freeze fruits and vegetables, many of them will have to be prepared either by blanching or adding sugar to them (fruits). Go to the library and get a good book on freezing foods, or search for the topic on the internet. There are several good sites to guide you.

Some of the things that I always have in our freezer are meats and vegetables. I always buy the meats in bulk because it is cheaper. I then package them so that each package has enough for 1 meal. That way all I have to do is pull them out of the freezer and I am ready to make a meal! One of the things that I like to do with the meats is season them before putting them in the freezer. This works really well with the vacuum sealer. The seasonings really get absorbed into the meat. It also makes for a quick dinner or an easy meal to plan! Whenever we have enough vegetables from the garden, I always try to freeze some for later in the year when we dont have as much fresh produce. It is much cheaper than buying from the store all the time! This also works with a lot of fruits. I also usually freeze some lasagna when I make it. There are some other casseroles and things that freeze well to make for easy meals when necessary. The best thing you can do is try once. If you think something might freeze, but arent sure, try it. Freeze just a little bit of it. A few weeks later, thaw it out and try it. If it is awful, you know not to do it again. If it is still good, you know that it is something else you can freeze! Times also vary with different products. With trial and error, you will learn a lot. Good luck!