11 Best Survival Food

We tested the best survival food on the market for 2023 and this is how they performed.

Updated on June 21st, 2023
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Featured Photo: Courtesy of Mountain House

We tested the best survival brands available today according to price, calories, nutrition, and shelf-life. Read on to see how they performed, which is best for you, and get some valuable buying advice.

Best Survival Food

The best survival foods are:

    The product comparison table below is sortable. Click the arrow in the heading cell to sort the models by preferred spec.

    BRAND PRICE
    PER
    SERVING

    CALORIES
    PER
    SERVING

    MACROS
    PER
    SERVING

    SHELF
    LIFE

    1. Mountain House $5.61 200 200 30 years
    2. Quake Kare $0.78 410 410 5 years
    3. Augason Farms $1.26 56 56 25-30 years
    4. Peak Refuel $7 430 430 5 years
    5. 4Patriots $1.26 257 257 25 years
    6. Mother Earth Products $1.76 92 92 2-5 years
    7. SOS Food Labs $2.00 450 450 5 years
    8. Legacy Food Storage $2.96 354.64 354.64 25 years
    9. ReadyWise $2.02 144.91 144.91 25 years
    10. Datrex $5.74 216.67 216.67 5 years
    11. Prepared Pantry $0.33 130 130 6 months-2 years

    Best Overall Survival Food

    Mountain House

    Price per serving: $5.61

    mountain house survival food
    Pros

    ✅ Long shelf life

    ✅ Good taste

    ✅ Lots of macros per serving

    Cons

    ❌ Expensive

    KEY SPECS

    • Calories per serving: 200
    • Macros per serving: 200
    • Shelf life: 30 years
    • Minimally Processed?: Y
    • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
    • Preservatives?: Y
    • Added Salt?: Y
    • Protein per Serving: 19.83
    • Fiber per Serving: 0.67
    • Fat per Serving: 8.25

    Mountain House, a backpacking staple, is known for its variety of freeze-dried, ready-to-eat meals. For survival food kits Mountain House comes in #10 cans. They have a mix of freeze-dried meats and freeze-dried meals. We found that ingredient-wise, Mountain House falls in the middle.

    We like that it has a decent taste but packs a lot of salt. The calories are a little low per serving compared to other brands we tested, but it has an impressive amount of macros per serving: the second highest on our list.

    A big plus for us is the 30-year shelf life, the longest on our list. The food does need to be eaten within a week of opening, which means a lack of variety for one person to get through the large can, but if you’re two or more, it’s not a huge issue.

    A major bonus for us is that Mountain House has a wide distribution and can be found in retail stores like Walmart and REI. It‘s one of the more expensive brands we tested. However, the long shelf life, decent taste, and loads of macros make it our best overall survival food brand.

    Our Favorites: Diced Chicken, Ground Beef, Beef Stroganoff, Diced Beef, Lasagna with Meat Sauce


      Best Budget Survival Food

      Quake Kare

      Price per serving: $0.78

      quake kare survival food
      Pros

      ✅ Best budget option

      ✅ High in calories and macros

      Cons

      ❌ Shorter shelf life

      ❌ Fewer quality ingredients

      ❌ Less variety in taste

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 410
      • Macros per serving: 410
      • Shelf life: 5 years
      • Minimally Processed?: N
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: Y
      • Added Salt?: Y
      • Protein per Serving: 7
      • Fiber per Serving: 2
      • Fat per Serving: 18

      Quake Kare is known for their 2,400- and 3,600-calorie food bars (dare we say, bricks), which contain 6 and 9 410-calorie rations, respectively. A 2,4000 packet would last you about 2 days while our favorite, 3,600 bar, will cover your nutritional needs for as long as 3.

      A major benefit of these ER Bars is the price. They are the second most affordable on our list at just $0.78 per serving. The bars also taste pretty good—for a brick of energy, although there isn’t much variety.

      We found the flavor is a little sweet, and the texture is extremely dense, although not too dry. The packaging is resealable, which is convenient, but keep in mind that the 5-year shelf-life won't apply anymore once you've opened the pouch. The packaging is also supposedly meant to protect the food in extreme temperatures (-22F to 149F), making it ok to keep those in your car without risk.

      Our Favorites: 2400 Calorie Emergency Food Bar, 3600 Calorie Emergency Food Bar


      Most Versatile Survival Food

      Augason Farms

      Price per serving: $1.26

      augason farms survival food
      Pros

      ✅ Inexpensive

      ✅ Long shelf life

      ✅ Great taste

      ✅ Clean ingredients

      Cons

      ❌ Low calories and macros per serving

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 56
      • Macros per serving: 56
      • Shelf life: 25-30 years
      • Minimally Processed?: Y
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: Y
      • Added Salt?: Y
      • Protein per Serving: 3.50
      • Fiber per Serving: 2
      • Fat per Serving: 0.25

      Augason Farms is similar to Mother Earth Foods, providing you with lots of individual ingredients to build your meals. They do have a few pre-made meal options, like creamy chicken-flavored rice and a tasty vegetable stew. However, we like that they cost significantly less than Mother Earth Foods.

      If you’re willing to put in the prep work yourself, we love Augason Farms' versatility. We found the range impressive. They have everything from freeze-dried veggies to fruits, dairy products, meats, and peanut butter. You could set up a full pantry of food if you plan to cook while you ride out the apocalypse. Since the products are sold as individual ingredients, they are lower in calories and macros.

      We wouldn’t recommend these for those looking for a ‘bug out’ option. But if you’re going to be hunkering down, Augason Farms will allow you to come up with many culinary delights.

      Our Favorites: Vegetable Stew Blend, Country Fresh 100% Real Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, Freeze-Dried Sliced Strawberries, Tomato Powder, Peanut Butter Powder


      Most Nutritious Survival Food

      Peak Refuel

      Price per serving: $7

      peak refuel survival food
      Pros

      ✅ High calories and macros

      ✅ Great taste

      ✅ Quality ingredients

      Cons

      ❌ Expensive

      ❌ Shorter shelf life

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 430
      • Macros per serving: 430
      • Shelf life: 5 years
      • Minimally Processed?: Y
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: Y
      • Added Salt?: Y
      • Protein per Serving: 22.83
      • Fiber per Serving: 1.50
      • Fat per Serving: 24.83

      A backpacker favorite, we love that Peak Refuel uses only premium, non-GMO ingredients to make ready-to-eat meals. And we found their meals are packed full of protein, offering nearly double the amount of protein as other meals.

      These are by far the most nutritious survival food meals we tested. Their wide range of meals crosses over into the gourmet realm, with meals like Bison-infused potatoes and elk ragu pasta.

      However, you’re going to pay for all that quality and taste. These meals cost, on average, $7 per serving. The 5-year shelf life is good, but significantly less than other brands. However, if you want to survive the next pandemic with a high-class survival food kit, Peak Refuel is our top choice.

      Our Favorites: Chicken Alfredo, Beef Stroganoff, Beef Pasta Marinara. Breakfast Skillet, Chicken Pesto Pasta


      Survival Food Kits With The Longest Shelf Life

      4Patriots

      Price per serving: $1.26

      4patriots survival food
      Pros

      ✅ Inexpensive

      ✅ Long shelf life

      ✅ Best survival food kits

      Cons

      ❌ Lower-quality ingredients

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 257
      • Macros per serving: 257
      • Shelf life: 25 years
      • Minimally Processed?: N
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: Y
      • Added Salt?: Y
      • Protein per Serving: 5.50
      • Fiber per Serving: 5
      • Fat per Serving: 6

      4Patriots is a solid emergency food supply that scores high in almost all of our categories. We like the 25-year shelf life and the price point, tied for the third cheapest on our list. Our favorite thing about 4Patriots is their kits. With 72-hour, 4-week, and 3-month options, it’s easy to stock up for the length you want.

      They have a good variety of meals, although not as many as brands like Readywise. The kits are a bit light on calories, averaging about 1,250 per day. And we found the ingredient list less clean than we would have liked. But if you want to shore up your survival kit with just a few mouse clicks 4Patriots is our favorite brand for ready-made kits.

      Our Favorites: 4-Week Survival Food Kit, 3-Month Survival Food Kit, Emergency Food Bars, 72-Hour Survival Food Kit


      Survival Food with the Cleanest Ingredients

      Mother Earth Products

      Price per serving: $1.76

      mother earth products survival food
      Pros

      ✅ Clean ingredients

      ✅ Great tasting

      Cons

      ❌ Low calories per serving

      ❌ Short shelf life

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 92
      • Macros per serving: 92
      • Shelf life: 2-5 years
      • Minimally Processed?: Y
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: N
      • Added Salt?: N
      • Protein per Serving: 3.83
      • Fiber per Serving: 4
      • Fat per Serving: 0

      Mother Earth Products prides itself on its all-natural ingredients, which we love. The company uses Non-GMO and preservative-free ingredients to produce dehydrated and freeze-dried food. Unlike brands like ReadyWise and Mountain House, Mother Earth makes stand-alone ingredients like blueberries, carrots, onion, and garlic.

      A few soup mixtures are in the company's lineup, but you mostly purchase Mother Earth to make custom meals. Because they are meant to be parts of other meals, they pack a lower caloric density than other meals on our list. You’ll need to provide some additional fats, carbs, and protein to make these a well-rounded meal.

      The shelf life of 2-5 years is less than other brands we tested. If using Mother Earth Products, you’ll need to rotate your emergency food supply more often.

      Our Favorites: Dried Vegetable Soup Mix, Dried Carrots, Freeze Dried Broccoli. Dried Celery, Dried Onions


      The Other Noteworthy Models

      SOS Food Labs

      Price per serving: $2.00

      sos food labs suvival food
      Pros

      ✅ High in calories and macros

      Cons

      ❌ Not tasty

      ❌ Lower quality ingredients

      ❌ Shorter shelf life

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 450
      • Macros per serving: 450
      • Shelf life: 5 years
      • Minimally Processed?: N
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: Y
      • Added Salt?: Y
      • Protein per Serving: 6.33
      • Fiber per Serving: 1.00
      • Fat per Serving: 20.33

      SOS Food Lab is all about providing no-fuss nutrition and calories in a survival situation. We like that these emergency food ration bars are packed with over 400 calories and are high in fats and protein too. We also like the simplicity, and the bars don’t require cooking, making them ideal for extreme emergencies.

      However, they are not the tastiest bar we tested. There are a few “flavors,” but it is designed to be a brick of energy means not a lot of time was spent on taste. But you'll be happy to have them when you are hungry. The 5-year shelf life is shorter than many emergency food supply options, but it’s still long enough to make them a good option for your survival food kit.

      Our Favorites: Emergency Food Rations, Cinnamon Emergency Food Rations


      Legacy Food Storage

      Price per serving: $2.96

      legacy food storage survival food
      Pros

      ✅ High calories

      ✅ Long shelf life

      Cons

      ❌ Not tasty

      ❌ Less clean ingredient list

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 354.64
      • Macros per serving: 354.64
      • Shelf life: 25 years
      • Minimally Processed?: N
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: Y
      • Added Salt?: Y
      • Protein per Serving: 14.83
      • Fiber per Serving: 1.33
      • Fat per Serving: 4.42

      Legacy offers a wide variety of freeze-dried foods in different serving sizes. This is another brand that specializes in kits, and we especially like the 720 serving kit. That’s over 185 lbs of food! These meals will be familiar to most backpackers, and they come in just add water pouches similar to Mountain House.

      They have a similar 25-year shelf life to other freeze-dried brands we tested. We found them to be less tasty than other freeze-dried food kit brands. And with the cost being more than brands like 4Patriots, we find it hard to recommend them over others.

      Our Favorites: 16 Serving Family Entree Sample Pack, 183 Serving Mega Sample Pack, 120 Serving Entree Bucket, 120 Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Bucket, Premium 720 Servings Package


      ReadyWise

      Price per serving: $2.02

      readywise survival food
      Pros

      ✅ Long shelf life

      ✅ Good variety

      Cons

      ❌ Lower calories and macros per serving

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 144.91
      • Macros per serving: 144.91
      • Shelf life: 25 years
      • Minimally Processed?: N
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: Y
      • Added Salt?: Y
      • Protein per Serving: 5.67
      • Fiber per Serving: 2.33
      • Fat per Serving: 3.75

      ReadyWise balances affordable prices with quality food. More than just a bland MRE, we found ReadyWise meals tasty enough in an emergency situation. A big part of this is their variety. We love that the 60-serving bucket, yes, a literal bucket, has 13 different flavors.

      The variety is nice, but the meals are all rather carb-heavy and pack fewer calories and macros per serving than the other brands we tested. We like how easy they are to prepare. Readywise works like a standard freeze-dried backpacking meal; just add hot water and eat. With a shelf life of 25 years, we think Readywise is a solid choice.

      Our Favorites: 72 Hour Emergency Food and Drink Supply, 60 Serving Freeze Dried Meat Bucket + 20 Servings of Rice, 16 Serving Emergency Food Supply - Favorites Box, Emergency Freeze Dried Powdered Eggs - 144 Servings


      Datrex

      Price per serving: $5.74

      datrex survival food
      Pros

      ✅ Clean ingredient list

      Cons

      ❌ Expensive

      ❌ Shorter shelf life

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 216.67
      • Macros per serving: 216.67
      • Shelf life: 5 years
      • Minimally Processed?: Y
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: N
      • Added Salt?: N
      • Protein per Serving: 3.10
      • Fiber per Serving: 0.90
      • Fat per Serving: 11

      Datrex sells individually packed food bars for survival situations. These are your standard, no-cook energy bars, with one major exception. We love that they are made with natural ingredients and contain no preservatives. This does mean that the shelf life is only 5 years.

      Similar to other bar brands, we actually find that to be impressive, given the lack of preservatives. Even though there is little variety, we found the bars to taste like a granola bar you'd buy for hiking. Each bar supplies 200 calories, which is lower than similar survival bars we tested. Instead of eating three bars a day, you'd need to eat at least six.

      Our Favorites: Datrex Emergency Food Ration 3600 kcal, Datrex Emergency Food Ration 2400 kcal, Datrex Aviation Ration 1000 kcal


      Prepared Pantry

      Price per serving: $0.33

      prepared pantry survival food
      Pros

      ✅ Inexpensive

      ✅ Good ingredients

      ✅ Tasty

      Cons

      ❌ Short shelf life

      ❌ Low calories and macros per serving

      KEY SPECS

      • Calories per serving: 130
      • Macros per serving: 130
      • Shelf life: 6 months-2 years
      • Minimally Processed?: Y
      • Artificial Sweeteners?: N
      • Preservatives?: Y
      • Added Salt?: Y
      • Protein per Serving: 5
      • Fiber per Serving: 1
      • Fat per Serving: 0

      Prepared Pantry focuses on bread and other baking mixes, like cookies and muffins, for emergency supply foods. We found their bread machine mixes outstanding. Just add water and let the machine do the work. Because of the yeast in the bread mixes, the shelf life is much shorter than other brands we tested. Sometimes only six months, which isn’t very long for survival foods.

      They are very budget-friendly, though, largely because they focus on bread mixes instead of well-rounded meals. We wouldn’t recommend trying to survive on Prepared Pantry alone; they don’t pack many calories or macros (other than carbs).

      Our Favorites: French Bread Mix, Buttermilk White Bread Mix, San Francisco Style Sourdough Bread Machine Mix


      Key Factors To Consider When Choosing

      Price Per Serving

      Ingredients play a big part in the price. The more nutritious and clean the ingredients are, the higher the cost. Survival food companies that have more meal-based products are more expensive too. Survival food companies that sell separate single-ingredient packages or basic energy bars tend to be less expensive.

      Survival food brands that provide the best value:

      Most Affordable survival food brands:

      Premium survival food brands (most expensive):

      Calories Per Serving

      To survive, you need calories. Survival food should have as many calories per serving as possible. Carb-heavy meals are less calorically dense than meals with a good balance of fats. Survival foods with the highest calories per serving are usually energy bars especially formulated to be a (literal) brick of calories.

      The survival food brands with the most calories per serving:

      Nutrition and Ingredients

      Nutrition is highly variable depending on your survival situation. Are you eating only your survival food? Are you active or sedentary? Most people need 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day to stay alive, while 1,800 to 2,200 is a better target to remain active and alert. Ingredients are also important.

      Most survival foods brands have plenty of starches and proteins but often are light on fats. Items that are naturally high in fat tend to spoil more quickly than their low-fat counterparts. Preservatives will increase shelf life but are less healthy for you long term.

      The best survival food brands for minimally processed ingredients without added preservatives, sugars, or salt:

      Shelf-life

      Shelf life is incredibly important for survival foods. A survival stockpile is meant to last a long time and not be spoiled when you need it most. If you plan on rotating through your survival food fairly regularly, you can get away with a shorter shelf life. For peace of mind, we recommend getting one with at least a five-year, ideally 25-year, shelf life.

      The survival food brands with the longest shelf life:


      Other Things to Consider

      Types of Survival Foods

      Five basic types of survival foods are packaged for long-term storage. We describe each type and its advantages or disadvantages. Equipped with this knowledge, you can purchase the fare best suited to your needs.

      DEHYDRATED FOOD: 15-20-YEAR SHELF LIFE, 15-20 MINUTES PREP TIME

      Dehydrated foods are dried using heated air until 90 to 95% moisture is removed. It's an easy process that you can even do at home. During dehydration, the food shrinks and becomes withered and hard. Because not all of the water is removed, dehydrated food tends to retain some of its weight. It also lowers its shelf life to about 15 to 20 years.

      Dehydration does tend to remove some of the essential nutrients in food, including Vitamins A and C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. You can eat dehydrated foods like banana chips without adding water, but most dehydrated food needs hot water and time (15-20 mins) to regain some of its original texture.

      FREEZE-DRIED FOOD: LIGHTWEIGHT, KEEPS NUTRITION, UP TO 30-YEAR SHELF LIFE

      Freeze-dried food is placed inside a vacuum chamber that lowers the temperature below freezing and then slowly raises it. During the freeze-drying process, nearly 99% of the water is removed from the food. It's an expensive process that requires specialized equipment and typically cannot be done at home affordably.

      Because almost all of the water is removed, freeze-dried food is lightweight and soft. It's practically powdery when you bite into it.

      Freeze-dried food has a long shelf life of 25 to 30 years and retains the most nutritional value. Freeze-dried food rehydrates quickly with either hot or cold water and is ready to eat in 5 to 10 mins.

      freeze dried survival food

      Dried carrots by Mother Earth Products.

      CANNED FOOD: STORES WELL, SHELF LIFE VARIES, BULKY AND HEAVY

      Canned food is typically cooked and then added to sterilized cans that are sealed under heat and pressure. This process sterilizes the food. It also drives the oxygen out of the can before sealing, preventing mold and bacterial contamination.

      Canning can be done in batches and is relatively easy to do at home. Because of the heat used in canning, many canned foods lose some nutritional value and experience texture changes.

      Canning also does not lower the weight of the food. On the contrary, the cans used to store the food add significant weight. Even though they are bulky, canned foods can preserve food almost indefinitely. The cans need to be in good shape and stored in cool, dry conditions. Cans also protect food from insects and rodents.

      As a bonus, eating canned food is easy. Just open the can, heat the contents if necessary, and consume. If you don't have a cooking vessel, you can even heat up food inside an open can over the fire.

      TABLETS: LIGHTWEIGHT AND ZERO PREP, TASTELESS

      Instead of worrying about eating balanced meals, some preppers choose to stock up on food tablets. Each tablet contains 200 calories and your recommended daily dose of essential vitamin and mineral supplements. They are convenient and a cinch to store, but you lose out on that feel-good experience of eating a real meal.

      FOOD BARS: READY-TO-EAT, NOT AS EXCITING AS A WARM MEAL

      Instead of canning or drying foods, some people prefer to store bar-style foods. These foods are designed to be meal replacements. They typically pack a ton of calories and nutrients into a small bar that you eat in place of a meal.

      survival food bar texture

      Food bars by SOS Food Lab.

      Macros

      Macronutrients are carbohydrates, fats, and protein, which are the nutrients you use in the largest amounts. In general, carbohydrates provide instant energy, fats provide long-term energy, and proteins build muscle framework and structure.

      We recommend choosing a survival food brand that has as many macros as possible. As a bonus, try to get a good macro balance too. The USDA recommends the total calories of a meal to be 45-65% carbs, 20-35% fats, and 10-35% protein.

      Survival food with the most macros per serving:

      Certifications

      There is no universal certification for survival food. The closest we have is the Quality Survival Standards or QSS. The Quality Survival Standards were introduced to ensure survival food meets the minimal requirement to maintain health in a survival situation.

      All QSS-certified foods have to supply at least 1,800 quality calories per day. Empty Calories from sugary drinks and similar are not included in this tally. The QSS standard also requires that a certified food provide a minimum of 40g of protein per day.

      QSS is the most common certification, but it is not the only standard being used. Some foods also claim to be "Coast Guard" certified food, which means they can stay fresh for up to five years.

      Pay attention to nutrient labeling and look for these certifications. You don't want to waste money and put your health at risk by purchasing foods that won't supply your body with the nutrients it needs.

      survival food nutrition

      Ingredients and nutrition for the SOS Food Labs survival bars.

      Taste

      You don’t need taste to survive, but it does keep you looking forward to mealtime. In general, we find pre-packaged meals to taste better overall than bars designed to get nutrition into your body. Taste is highly subjective. However, we highly recommend trying meals from different survival food companies before buying bulk to avoid buying food you won’t eat.

      Packaging

      Many people package their survival food in food-safe plastic storage bins that protect their food from rodents, moisture, and sunlight, which break down the nutrients in food. Save some cash by looking for products that already come packaged in these plastic containers.

      Some dried goods are stored in vacuum-sealed mylar bags that also protect the food from sunlight and moisture. They also typically contain an oxygen absorber to prevent molding and bacterial contamination of the food. Vacuum-sealed products may cost a bit more, but this packaging method can extend shelf-life significantly.

      freeze-dried mango for survival food

      Freeze-Dried mangoes by Mother Earth Products.

      Prep

      You can go in two primary directions with survival food. You can choose everyday food, like rice and beans, that require hot water and sometimes even cooking for up to 10 minutes or more. You'll need a reliable, long-term fuel source like wood or propane. These foods that require cooking will be easier to find and cheaper to purchase overall.

      There also are ready-to-eat options, but these tend to be more expensive. They also may not taste as good as store-bought food. Eating "normal" food during these abnormal circumstances can provide a necessary lift and make a difficult occasion much more bearable.

      Variety

      While not necessarily a need, variety is important when you’re planning how long you want your emergency food supply to last. If it’s a short time, under a week or so, you can probably get away with eating the same flavor meal. If it’s meant to last long-term, months, or even years, make sure you have some variety to keep your taste buds entertained.

      preparing survival food by rehydrating

      Dehydrated food and freeze-dried meals are ready in about 10-15 minutes.


      Natural Survival Food Ideas

      SHELF LIFE CALORIES PER 100G
      All Purpose Flour 1-2 years 400 calories
      Canned Meats 2-5 years 143 calories
      Canned vegetables 2-5 years 65 calories
      Coconut Oil 2-5 years 900 calories
      Dehydrated fruit 1 year 400 calories
      Dried Lentils 2-3 years 116 calories
      Oats 2 years 389 calories
      Otas (vacuum-sealed) 30 years 389 calories
      Pasta 2-3 years 100 calories
      Peanut Butter 6-9 months 600 calories
      Potato Flakes 10-15 years 354 calories
      Powdered Bouillon 2 years 267 calories
      Powdered eggs 5-10 years 155 calories
      Powdered Milk 25 years 500 calories
      Raw Honey 2 years 304 calories
      White Rice 20 years 100 calories

      Survival Food Planning

      OPTION 1: PURCHASE A SURVIVAL FOOD KIT

      The easiest way to build an emergency food supply is to purchase an all-in-one kit. These kits provide enough food for a single person to last a specific number of days. You could buy a 7-day emergency food kit, and be confident you could last a week on this supply. These kits are convenient but tend to be very expensive, especially if you feed a family.

      OPTION 2: BUILD YOUR OWN STASH OVER TIME

      To build an emergency food stash, you need to slowly purchase extra food every time you go shopping. Instead of buying two cans of soup, buy four cans and put the additional two aside. Within a few months, you'll have a significant food store. You should purchase food that you typically eat and try to buy a wide variety so you have the major food groups covered.

      PRO TIPS:

      • Evaluate Your Food Requirements First: First, you need to decide how much food you want to stockpile. Do you want enough food to last a few days after a storm knocks out power, or do you want enough to make it through the winter? You also need to think about how many people you will feed. It's much easier to plan for a single person than for a family.
      • Keep Your Stash Safe: Sunlight, moisture, and pests are the three biggies to avoid. If possible, store your food in a cool, dry, and dark location, free from rodents, insects, and other pests. Be sure to rotate your stock by eating the older items and putting the newly bought products in the back.
      Justin Sprecher photo

      About Justin Sprecher

      Justin is a thru-hiker and writer with a passion for wild backcountry. He's thru-hiked the Pacific Northwest Trail, LASHed the Great Divide Trail and Arizona Trail, and clocked up 1,000s of miles on long-distance trails around the world.

      About Greenbelly

      After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Chris Cage created Greenbelly to provide fast, filling and balanced meals to backpackers. Chris also wrote How to Hike the Appalachian Trail.

      Stoveless Backpacking Meals
      • 650-Calorie Fuel
      • No Cooking
      • No Cleaning