10 Foods To Have In Your Pantry In Case of Emergency

Today's Emergency Pantry Foods guest post is written by John Alba, a family friend who writes over at www.aboblist.com. I know you'll really enjoy his tips for preparing for emergencies. If you've watched The Walking Dead, you can't help but to think about how you would survive if you needed to. After reading this list of emergency foods, you'll have more of an idea on what to do.

Emergency preparedness is important, no matter where you live.  Surviving a disaster of any sort is much easier when you have all of the necessities, the most important of which are of course food and water.

In fact, there is an extremely important and well known concept in emergency preparedness regarding the most basic but vital elements each human needs in order to survive any catastrophe. It is called the “Rule of Threes.”

The Rule of Threes goes as follows; “You can survive for three hours without shelter, You can survive for three days without water and You can survive for three weeks without food.”  With this in mind it is important to gather and properly store as much food and water your family will need in case disaster strikes.

We can all think of some basic items that are good to have in the pantry in case of an emergency (everyone’s go-to is canned food), but there are other options that just may save your life.

FOODS TO STOCK UP ON FOR EMERGENCIES

Pantry Tips

Before diving into your survival grocery list, here are a few tips on keeping your food fresh and accessible.

• Keep your survival supplies and normal food in different sections of your pantry.
• Keep durable cloth bags in your pantry for situation which require you to quickly leave your home.
• Buy replacements for your emergency food supply and use the old stuff before it expires. (First In, First Out)
• Inspect your food periodically for signs of damage, pests, and mold.
• Keep your pantry cool (not cold) and dry.

10 Foods to Have in Your Pantry for Emergencies

Most of these foods are commonly available and affordable, but no matter what your survival prep budget is, they are excellent choices.  Bottled water is a must and an obvious item, so I’ve left it off of this list (expert opinion on the expiration date of bottle water vary from two years to indefinitely).  In no particular order:

Whole wheat crackers or cereal: Hopefully we all know by now that whole wheat is a healthier choice, but it’s also more filling.  Crackers and cereal have a fairly long shelf-life - Cheerios, for example, can last up to 8 months.

On top of that, they’re easy to cycle into your food supply - I’m sure most of us have witnessed first hand how fast a box of Cheerios can vanish in a family of 3 or more.  But who wants cereal without milk?

Powdered milk: This is easily a staple for emergencies.  It may not be as tasty, but powdered milk can last anywhere from 2 to 10 years depending on what container it’s stored in (hint: transfer it to an airtight container if it’s not already in one).  Most powdered milk is fortified as well, which will make sure you and your loved ones stay healthy.

Energy/power bars: Granola bars are okay, but power bars are ideal.  These provide plenty of nutrients quickly and take up very little space.

Canned tuna in water: Protein tends to be missing in a lot of survival pantries.  Tuna is a good source of protein and has a long shelf life.  Just be sure to buy it in water, not oil - the oil variant will make your thirstier.

Canned or dried fruit: This is ultimately up to preference.  You’ll be happy to know that canned fruit is just as healthy as fresh fruit most of the time.  As with tuna, if you choose canned, go for water instead of syrup.

Peanut butter and peanuts: More protein!  Peanut butter can last almost an entire year unopened, and canned peanuts can last 2 years or longer.  Jam and marmalade may have a similar shelf life, but you’ll have to eat your PB&J on those wheat crackers.

Honey: Healthy, tasty, great for keeping your blood sugar levels up, and best of all, it basically lasts forever as long as you keep the lid on.  I actually recommend keeping old honey around long after it crystallizes - it’s a a lot less messy, and since it’s already solidified, it can be used to easily make honey-based snacks in the absence of a full pantry.

Apple cider vinegar: This is definitely one of the most useful things to have in your pantry in case of emergencies.  It can be used to add flavor to food, make beverages, preserve opened food, and fight off a cold.  If you have access to heat, apple cider vinegar with honey and water makes a great warm beverage that soothes the throat.

Whole grain rice and pasta: I strongly suggest having some method of cooking during an emergency, and if you do, rice and pasta are must-haves.  Long shelf life, cheap, filling - what more can you ask for?

Plain M&Ms or Hard Candy: Two words: comfort food.  Especially if you have children, something like a few pieces of candy after your canned tuna and powdered milk dinner will provide much needed morale and emotional stability in a long-term survival situation.  Plain M&Ms and hard candy last about a year, but ultimately this isn’t limited to candy.  Keep a small amount of any comfort food with a long shelf life.

Final thoughts

How to prepare for a disaster ultimately varies based on where you live and what kind of resources you have available.  Areas prone to flooding, for example, make canned food much more important since it is much harder to contaminate.  These items are great in almost all scenarios, but be sure to tailor your pantry to your needs.

 

About the author:

John Alba is a research expert on survivalism and emergency preparedness. He has been featured in such publications as the Journal of Civil Defense.  For more survival and emergency preparedness tips, go to www.aboblist.com.

Recommended reading for more information:

Find more information on food ideas that are perfect for emergency situations here, here and here. You can also find information about how long bottled water lasts and the rule of threes.

 

So, we'd love to know your thoughts. Do you stock up your pantry in case of emergency? Do you have any more foods to stock up on?