Skip to content
In recent years, increased natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic have reminded us that we need to be ready for anything—including having access to food.
Having long-lasting, nutritious foods on hand is a vital part of preparing for emergencies. Thankfully, many emergency food supply options help you stay prepared for any situation. At the Meal Kit Review, we’re looking at the basics of emergency food storage and some of the best emergency food supply companies.
What is an Emergency Food Supply?
An emergency food supply is a stock of non-perishable food items you keep on hand in case you can’t leave your home. If a natural disaster or other emergency makes going to the grocery store impossible, having a well-prepared stock can ensure you and your loved ones can still access nourishing food.
What to Look for in an Emergency Food Supply
When creating your emergency food supply, there are a few key considerations to remember. For instance, it’s important to have foods that will last a long time and that you will actually enjoy eating. Here are the major qualities to look for when choosing your emergency food supplies.
Shelf Life
Shelf life is one of the most important considerations when selecting food items to store in case of emergency. You want to be confident that your food will still be edible and retain its nutritional value when you need it.
Nutritional Content
While you hopefully won’t have to sustain yourself and your family on emergency food for long, ensuring your food supply offers as much balanced nutrition as possible is best. You’ll want to consider shelf-stable sources of essential vitamins, minerals, and key macronutrients to maintain your health even in a crisis.
Packaging Durability
Packaging is an important factor when storing food for a long time. Your emergency food supply needs to withstand threats like moisture, pests, and changing temperatures. That way, you can be confident that your food will last as long as possible.
Ease of Preparation
We can’t predict what might cause us to need our emergency food supply. That means having meals you can quickly and easily prepare in any situation is important. For instance, if you cannot use your oven or stove, you’ll need safe and healthy food to eat without cooking.
The Best Emergency Food Supplies in 2024 According to Reviews
To help you choose which food to stock up on for emergencies, we’ve reviewed the best emergency food supply companies on the market, examining nutritional value, packaging options, and, of course, taste. The resources below are top-rated sources for emergency food kits based on consumer feedback and expert evaluation.
Augason Farms Emergency Food Supply
Augason Farms specializes in providing delicious, nutritious, shelf-stable food. They offer many freeze-dried basics designed to last a long time, like milk, eggs, produce, and proteins, as well as emergency food supply kits with prep-in-pouch, nutritionally complete meals. These items make stocking an emergency pantry with shelf-stable, high-quality foods easy.
Mountain House Freeze-Dried Food Kits
Mountain House offers freeze-dried food kits for outdoor adventurers and emergency preparation. Their convenient food kits come in cans, pouches, or buckets with assorted meal pouch options. Their products are shelf-stable and packaged to survive the elements while still offering delicious, comforting flavors.
Wise Company Emergency Food Kits
Wise Company specializes in emergency survival food, with kits for specific meals or key ingredients like milk, eggs, and produce. They offer compact packaging meant to be stored for a long time, with a shelf life of up to 25 years. Their kits are suitable for many scenarios, including long-term food supplies to keep you fed for anywhere from 72 hours to a year.
Legacy Food Storage Emergency Food Buckets
Legacy Food Storage’s comprehensive meal packages feature many different options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that are shelf-stable and designed to last up to 25 years. The nutritious, tasty, freeze-dried meals are vacuum-sealed in pouches and then stored in a durable bucket for extra security. They pride themselves on offering some of the best-tasting emergency food supplies on the market.
My Patriot Supply Emergency Food Packs
With My Patriot Supply, you’re getting affordable, easy-to-prepare meals that use organic ingredients to supply your essential vitamins and minerals. They offer 22 different foods and drinks in resealable, heavy-duty pouches stored in durable buckets. These meals provide enough calories to keep you well-nourished at a great price for budget-minded preppers.
Emergency Essentials Freeze-Dried Meals
Emergency Essentials offers free-dried meals in lightweight but durable packaging, ideal for food on the go or when sheltering in place. The meals can be quickly rehydrated, or you can opt for emergency ration bars. The foods are chef-crafted for flavor, and the kits are designed for long-term storage and durability.
What Food Should You Have in Your Emergency Food Supply Kit?
Canned Goods
Canned goods offer a long shelf life alongside nutritional versatility. Many foods, like tuna and beans, offer protein and key nutrients without much prep. Adding canned vegetables and fruits can help ensure your emergency pantry offers nutritional diversity.
Dried Fruits and Nuts
Dried fruits and nuts offer a great deal of energy and nutrition while taking up less space. Because they’re dried, they are lightweight and portable while also lasting long.
Whole Grain Cereals
Whole-grain cereal options like oatmeal or cereal bars can be a great source of fiber and essential nutrients. These items don’t require much preparation but can pack in great nutrition and calorie density without taking up too much space.
Energy Bars
Energy bars are convenient, on-the-go sources of nutrition that require no prep. Bars that balance carbohydrates, proteins, and fat can energize you and serve as meal replacements in emergencies when more elaborate meals aren’t possible.
Powdered Milk
Powdered milk provides essential nutrients like calcium and vitamin D. It offers a long shelf life and is a versatile ingredient for your emergency food supply.
How to Store Emergency Survival Food
It is important to store your emergency survival food in the best possible conditions to ensure its longevity. This means finding a cool, dry space to store your food and developing a schedule to check for and replace any expired items.
You want to make sure your food is in well-sealed, durable packaging. It is also recommended to keep any food pouches or cans in another layer of protection, such as a well-sealed bucket or prepper-specific container. This ensures your food has an extra layer of protection from environmental threats like moisture or pests.
Bottom Line
If you are in an emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is where to get food. By keeping a well-stocked supply of emergency food items, you can ensure that you and your loved ones will have the energy and nutrition you need in a crisis.
When choosing where to buy your emergency food kit supplies, consider the nutritional density and variety of food, shelf life, and packaging. You also want to choose your storage space carefully to ensure your food will store well and last as long as needed. Don’t forget to perform routine checks of your supplies to rotate out any foods that are no longer viable.
Selecting quality emergency preparedness foods stored in optimal conditions can help ensure you’re prepared when and if a disaster or crisis strikes.
