Catastrophic events are inevitable nowadays.
Any number of catastrophic disasters could occur. It may be harsh as it may seem, but it will blow your mind away if you come unequipped.
We can label these as emergencies that are deemed to be crucial and thus require utmost precaution.
A hurricane that wipes out the shoreline and devastates communities several miles inland.
Or a super-typhoon that strikes an island nation, turning life upside down for cities and neighborhoods.
Regardless of the severity of the calamity and untimely disastrous events, we should be highly inclined to the situation.
Basic necessity should boil down from here. Foods are essential to sustain our energy; thus, storing the most important foods is imperative.
When packing for a trip outdoors, a general rule of thumb is always to pack an extra day's worth of food and plenty of water. When planning to bring emergency food supplies, it is also wise to pack foods that do not require cooking—or foods with their self-contained means of cooking.
You want to rely on something other than a specific cooking method. You may also not have time to cook in an emergency.
This article lists the best long-lasting food for survival during an emergency with distinct classifications and is specified accordingly.
Surviving for weeks without food is possible, but who would want to? There will be a lot of work during a prolonged emergency.
Everyone will be better able to perform their chores if they are well-nourished and satisfied.
The list contains foods with a long shelf-life and items with multiple uses. This can give you definite ideas about this array of foods!
As you are selecting foods for your emergency stockpile, you need to consider the following:
- To store emergency foods that will not require refrigeration and should require little electricity or fuel to prepare.
- Most foods aren't packed for long-term storage, except canned foods.
- You want foods that give you the maximum nutrition for the minimum bulk.
- Avoid all "snack foods" as they cannot store them for long periods.
These items have lengthy expiration dates, so you can stash them away for long periods. Make a list of everything in your Stockpile and check expiration dates every 6 to 12 months to keep things fresh.
And don't forget to always have a can opener on hand—all that food won't be helpful if you can't open it.
Survival Food that Adds Flavor & Comfort
Most comfort foods have less to do with health and nutrition than they have to do with feeling good.
Indeed, you want to concentrate as much as possible on natural foods, preferably fresh, organic foods, for your family.
Comfort foods will serve as a break from your regular diet to bring a sense of normalcy during a highly stressful time.
These four things can be stored for over ten years and are a great way to add some flavor to your cooking. If stored properly, they will last indefinitely.
- Salt
- Sugar – Brown or White
- Raw Honey
- Alcohol – Whiskey, Vodka, etc.…
Base Cooking Ingredients with a Long Shelf Life
Here is a detailed list of various foods, ingredients, etc., which have years of shelf life, while some can be stored indefinitely and edible.
Hard Grains:
They store longer because their hard outer shell protects the seed's germ. Stored properly, hard grains have a shelf life of around 10 – 12 years.
- Buckwheat
- Dry Corn
- Kamut
- Hard Red Wheat
- Soft White Wheat
- Millet
- Durum wheat
- Spelled
Soft grains:
Some grains have a soft outer shell that doesn't protect the inner seed. These Soft Grains have a storage life of about eight years at 70 degrees F. If you have a way to keep your food storage cooler, your storage time may be longer. It should be sealed without oxygen.
- Barley,
- Oat Groats,
- Quinoa
- Rye
Beans:
Beans like Kidney beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, lima beans, pinto beans, and others are all high in calories, contain a fair amount of protein per serving, and have several essential vitamins and minerals. Sealed and kept from oxygen, the following beans can last 8 – 10 years.
- Pinto Beans
- Kidney Beans
- Lentils
- Lima Beans
- Adzuki Beans
- Garbanzo Beans
- Mung Beans
- Black Turtle Beans
- Blackeye Beans
Flours and Mixes and Pasta:
These cooking ingredients are certainly nutrient-rich. This highly-fat-in protein can last for about 5 – 8 years.
- All-Purpose Flour
- White Flour
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Cornmeal
- Pasta
- White Rice ( up to 10 years)
Oils:
Coconut oil has one of the most extended shelf lives of any oil. It lasts over two years and is an excellent addition to your survival food supply list.
Survival Foods That Are Great During Short-Term Disasters
The following items are great for short-term emergencies and will stay fresh for long.
During most disasters, you will want food that requires very little cooking or can be eaten without any preparation.
We recommend avoiding fresh ingredients and keeping all items in an airtight container to ensure they last as long as possible.
Check out the list below to see which survival foods are cut. Make sure some of your Stockpile includes these types of food.
Other good survival foods: 2 – 5 years of shelf life
- Canned Tuna
- Canned Meats
- Canned Vegetables & Fruits
- Peanut Butter
- Coffee
- Tea
- Ramen Noodles – are not the most incredible food globally, but they are very cheap, so they made the survival food list.
- Hard Candy
- Powdered milk
- Dried herbs and spices
Items that can be used for more than cooking:
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Cleaning, cooking, and has antibiotic properties
- Baking Soda – Cleaning, cooking, etc.…
- Honey – Mentioned again for its antibiotic properties and wound healing.
Other Foods that you may include in your Stockpile
Cereal
Choose multigrain cereals that are individually packaged so they don't become stale after opening.
Granola bars and power bars
Healthy and filling, these portable snacks usually stay fresh for at least six months. Plus, they're an excellent source of carbohydrates. You can get more energy from carbohydrates without tons of food.
Nuts and trail mixes
Stock up on these high-energy foods—they're healthful and convenient for snacking. Look for vacuum-packed containers, which prevent the nuts from oxidizing and losing their freshness.
Dried fruits, such as apricots and raisins
Without fresh fruit, these healthy snacks offer potassium and dietary fiber. Dried fruits provide you with a significant amount of nutrients and calories.
Canned salmon, chicken, or turkey
Generally lasting at least two years in the pantry, canned meats provide essential protein. According to Diane Van, USDA meat and poultry hotline manager, vacuum-packed pouches have a shorter shelf life but will last at least six months.
Canned soups and chili
Soups and chili can be eaten straight out of the can and provide a variety of nutrients. Look for low-sodium options.
How to Store Food
Unless you're a homesteader, long-term food storage may look different from what average homeowners are used to.
To guarantee that everything is accounted for and doesn't spoil, stockpiling food can call for planning and effort.
Here, we'll explain how to accomplish this using two essential techniques.
Containers
Your pantry's quality and the material of containers will make or break it. Your food may unexpectedly spoil if your container allows air or moisture to enter.
For a good reason, Mason jars are regarded as the ultimate tool for food preparation. Because glass is a good pest and moisture barrier, they are widely used for food canning and storage.
A poorly organized pantry may also result from improper food storage. You should wrap cookies, crackers, and other dry items in plastic bags and store them in an airtight container to keep them dry. Similarly, store your loose grains, sugars, nuts, and fruits in tight containers to protect them from pests.
5-gallon buckets for bulk foods and mylar bags that block out light, moisture, and oxygen (with oxygen absorbers) are two other popular container choices. You should also have special water storage containers in your stockpile.
Labeling
Before storing your food, label it to prevent spoilage and forgotten items that could be dangerous in an emergency. Your food should be labeled with each item's purchase and expiration dates. Label the container with the food's name and the date it was canned if you are canning your food.
How Do You Know If You Have Enough?
We are curious to know if you can be sure you have enough.
'Enough' is a personal opinion based on your assessment of our risks. 'Enough' depends on how many people are in your family and how long you want your food storage to last.
One thing that can be suggested that will indeed work is to ask yourself every time you take an item from your pantry, "Do I have enough of these?"
That simple question often prompts us to add an item to our store.
Another trick that helps is browsing the supermarket when you have extra time. You'll walk up and down every aisle looking at everything on sale.
Occasionally, you come across an item and add it to your stock. The key is to think about it. That's the first step that leads to action.
When investing in your food supply, consider your family's food preferences and dietary needs. It would be highly advantageous to have a two-week supply (at a minimum) of these shelf-stable food items on hand to care for your family.
We never know when disasters or emergencies may strike, so why not be prudent and prepare for them before they affect our livelihood and well-being?
In Summary
This list seems rather extensive, but we can assume you will be stockpiling enough food to last you several months, if not a year.
While you can get by for short periods with much less, you'll need a well-balanced diet for a prolonged period.
You'll also need variety in your family's diet, which keeps everyone's morale up.
Before buying anything, take the time to figure out how much of each food type you'll need.
In other words, if your family uses a loaf of bread every two days, and your survival plan includes that much bread, how many of each ingredient do you need to make that much bread?
One system that works out very well for determining how much to buy is to develop a two-week menu for your family.
With that in hand, you can easily total up how much of each type of food you'll need to prepare everything for two weeks. Multiplying that out will give you an idea of how much food you need for your family.
Whatever you do, don't try to run out and buy a year's worth of food in one week. Take your time.
Start by building a two-week stockpile, then increase it to a month. Keep adding, a month at a time, until you reach the point you feel you need. Keep your eye open for sales, providing you with needed opportunities to save money.
