Best Emergency Foods to Buy at Your Grocery Store: The 2-Week List, No-Cook Picks and a 7-Day Plan
Twenty-five shelf-stable staples sorted by aisle, with how much to buy for one, two or four people, safe ways to cook without power and a one-pot pantry recipe.
- Halal throughout
- Kid-friendly flags
- Shelf-life chart
- Printable checklist
The best emergency foods are already on your grocery store shelves: bottled water, canned fish and beans, white rice, oats, peanut butter and crackers that keep for months or years and still feed the household when a storm takes out the power, the water or the heat.
Below are the 25 that earn the space, sorted the way a supermarket is, then how much of each to buy, a no-cook menu, a 7-day plan that uses nothing else, and the water math most lists skip. Every recipe and swap is halal.
Quick answer
Top 10 from any grocery store: bottled water, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned beans, peanut butter, white rice, rolled oats, crackers, canned vegetables and canned fruit. All but the rice can be eaten without cooking.
Water1 gallon of water per person per day
At home2 weeks of food, 3 days at minimum
Don’t forgeta manual can opener
The 25 Best Emergency Foods From the Grocery Store
This emergency food list sticks to what a regular supermarket sells all year. Each pick earns its place on at least one of four counts: it needs no cooking, it keeps for years, children will eat it, or it packs a lot of calories into a small space.
Tags on every card: No-cook means it can be eaten straight from the pack; Long shelf life means 2 years or more unopened; Kid-friendly marks familiar foods most children eat; High-calorie means about 2,000 calories a pound or more, the foods that stretch a supply.
Aisle 1 Water and drinks No. 1–2
Bottled water
Nothing else on this list works without it. Sealed store-bought water needs no treating and travels if you leave home. Gallon jugs cost least per gallon; small bottles are easier to share out.
- Keeps: about 2 years, sealed
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 14 gallons
Instant coffee and tea
A hot drink keeps a long, dark evening feeling normal, and both weigh almost nothing. Instant coffee also dissolves in cold water. Add powdered milk and honey from the list.
- Keeps: 2 years or more
- No-cook: no (hot water)
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 1 small jar or 20 tea bags
Aisle 2 Proteins No. 3–9
Canned tuna
The cheapest ready-to-eat protein on the shelf. Eat it from the can, flake it over crackers or fold it into rice at the end. Pull-tab lids skip the can opener.
- Keeps: 3 to 5 years
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 4 cans (5 oz)
Canned salmon and sardines
Richer and more filling than tuna, with soft edible bones in most cans. Sardines usually have pull-tab lids; salmon flakes into hot rice or pasta when there is a stove.
- Keeps: 3 to 5 years
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 3 cans
Canned chicken
Fully cooked, so it goes cold into tortillas or browned into the rice and bean bowl below. Choose halal canned chicken where available, and drain it well.
- Keeps: 2 to 5 years
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 3 cans (5 oz)
Canned beans
Cooked, filling and cheap, with protein and fiber in every spoonful. Pinto, black beans and chickpeas eat well cold, and vegetarian baked beans are ready straight from the can.
- Keeps: 2 to 5 years
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 4 cans (15 oz)
Dried lentils and beans
A pound packs about 1,600 calories for very little money. Lentils and split peas cook in 20 to 30 minutes with no soaking; dried beans need an overnight soak and more fuel.
- Keeps: 2 to 3 years; 10+ sealed
- No-cook: no
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 2 lb
Peanut butter
About 2,600 calories a pound, no cooking, no fridge after opening, and most kids love it. Spread it on crackers or tortillas or stir it into hot oats. Sunflower seed butter covers nut allergies.
- Keeps: 6 to 24 months unopened
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 1 jar (16 oz)
Nuts
Dense calories for snacking between meals or adding crunch to oats. Buy sealed jars or bags of almonds, peanuts or mixed nuts, and store them cool so the oils stay fresh.
- Keeps: 6 to 12 months
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 8 oz
Aisle 3 Grains and starches No. 10–15
White rice
The backbone of a long-term pantry: cheap, filling and about 1,650 calories a pound dry. White rice outlasts brown, which goes rancid in 6 to 12 months. Needs a stove and water.
- Keeps: 2 years; 25+ sealed
- No-cook: no
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 3 lb
Rolled oats
About 1,700 calories a pound and breakfast for days. Cook them on a camp stove, or soak them overnight in shelf-stable milk for no-cook oats. Quick oats soften fastest.
- Keeps: 1 to 2 years
- No-cook: yes, soaked overnight
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 2 lb (a 32-oz canister)
Dried pasta
Children eat it without complaint, and it pairs with every can on this list. Thin shapes such as angel hair cook in 4 to 5 minutes, which saves fuel on a camp stove.
- Keeps: 2 years
- No-cook: no
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 2 lb
Crackers
The no-cook bread. Saltines and whole-grain crackers carry tuna, peanut butter and beans. Unsalted tops are kinder when water is short, since salty food makes people thirstier.
- Keeps: 6 to 9 months
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 1 box (16 oz)
Tortillas
Flat, light and ready to wrap anything: tuna, beans, or peanut butter and honey. Shelf-stable flour tortillas outlast a loaf of bread by weeks; keep the pack sealed and cool.
- Keeps: the pack date, often several weeks
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 1 pack of 10
Instant mashed potatoes
Comfort in 5 minutes with nothing but hot water, and a soft base for canned chicken and vegetables. A spoonful of flakes also thickens broth into gravy. Plain flakes keep longest.
- Keeps: about 1 year
- No-cook: no (hot water)
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 1 box
Aisle 4 Fruit and vegetables No. 16–19
Canned vegetables
Already cooked, so they are safe cold, and the liquid in the can counts toward fluids. Corn, green beans, peas and carrots go into rice, pasta or a cold bean salad.
- Keeps: 2 to 5 years
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 7 cans
Canned tomatoes
Diced, fire-roasted or crushed, they turn rice, pasta and lentils into a meal. Being acidic, they keep for a shorter time than beans, so rotate them first.
- Keeps: 12 to 18 months
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 3 cans (14.5 oz)
Canned fruit and applesauce cups
Sweet, cold and ready with a spoon, which matters to children in a dark house. Choose fruit packed in juice, since the juice is drinkable. Applesauce cups need no opener.
- Keeps: 12 to 18 months
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 4 cans plus 6 cups
Dried fruit
Raisins, apricots, dates and cranberries are sweet, light and calorie-dense, about 1,350 calories a pound for raisins. Mix them with nuts as trail mix or stir them into oats.
- Keeps: 6 to 12 months
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 8 oz
Aisle 5 Dairy and fats No. 20–21
Shelf-stable or powdered milk
Boxed milk needs no fridge until opened; powdered milk keeps longer and mixes with stored water. Canned coconut milk makes rice and lentils richer.
- Keeps: box date; powder 1 to 2 years
- No-cook: yes (powder needs water)
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 4 quarts or 1 lb powder
Cooking oil
The most calories for the space, about 120 a tablespoon. A little browns canned chicken, dresses a cold bean salad and makes plain rice taste finished.
- Keeps: about 1 year unopened
- No-cook: only in cold dressings
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 1 cup (8 oz)
Aisle 6 Flavor and comfort No. 22–25
Honey
Keeps for years and sweetens oats, tea and peanut butter tortillas. If it crystallizes, stand the jar in warm water. Never give honey to babies under 12 months.
- Keeps: indefinitely, sealed
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 1 bottle (12 oz)
Salt, spices and shelf-stable broth
Plain rice and beans get old fast. A shaker of salt, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder and a carton of broth make the same staples taste like dinner.
- Keeps: salt and spices 2+ years
- No-cook: no (broth is best hot)
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 1 carton broth plus spices
Dark chocolate
A square after dinner is a small morale boost, and dark chocolate keeps longer than milk chocolate. A white bloom on an old bar looks odd but is harmless.
- Keeps: 1 to 2 years
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 2 bars (3.5 oz)
Granola and protein bars
Breakfast on the move, a snack for a long wait or food for a go-bag. Check the dates when buying, since bars go stale sooner than canned goods.
- Keeps: 6 to 12 months
- No-cook: yes
- 1 person, 2 weeks: 7 bars
Two quiet rules hold the list together. Buy what the household already eats, so nothing is wasted when it rotates out. And plan on about 2,000 calories per adult per day: the amounts below give a little more, because appetites rise when the house is cold.
How Much Emergency Food to Buy for 1, 2 or 4 People
Ready.gov asks every household for at least a 3-day supply of food and water, and a 2-week supply at home is the common target when space and budget allow. Start with the 2-week column for your household; the amounts come straight from the 25 and work out to roughly 2,600 calories a day per person.
Go deeper: the printable 2-week emergency food supply list for a family of 4, the 3-month supply plan and how to build it on a budget.
| Item | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| ItemWater | 1 person14 gallons | 2 people28 gallons | 4 people56 gallons |
| ItemWhite rice | 1 person3 lb | 2 people6 lb | 4 people12 lb |
| ItemRolled oats | 1 person2 lb | 2 people4 lb | 4 people8 lb |
| ItemDried pasta | 1 person2 lb | 2 people4 lb | 4 people8 lb |
| ItemDried lentils and beans | 1 person2 lb | 2 people4 lb | 4 people8 lb |
| ItemCanned beans (15 oz) | 1 person4 cans | 2 people8 cans | 4 people16 cans |
| ItemCanned tuna, salmon, sardines and chicken | 1 person10 cans | 2 people20 cans | 4 people40 cans |
| ItemPeanut butter (16 oz jars) | 1 person1 jar | 2 people2 jars | 4 people4 jars |
| ItemNuts and dried fruit | 1 person1 lb | 2 people2 lb | 4 people4 lb |
| ItemCrackers (1 lb boxes) | 1 person1 box | 2 people2 boxes | 4 people4 boxes |
| ItemTortillas (packs of 10) | 1 person1 pack | 2 people2 packs | 4 people4 packs |
| ItemInstant mashed potatoes | 1 person1 box | 2 people2 boxes | 4 people4 boxes |
| ItemCanned vegetables and tomatoes | 1 person10 cans | 2 people20 cans | 4 people40 cans |
| ItemCanned fruit | 1 person4 cans | 2 people8 cans | 4 people16 cans |
| ItemApplesauce cups | 1 person6 cups | 2 people12 cups | 4 people24 cups |
| ItemShelf-stable milk (quarts) | 1 person4 quarts | 2 people8 quarts | 4 people16 quarts |
| ItemCooking oil | 1 person1 cup | 2 people2 cups | 4 people4 cups |
| ItemGranola or protein bars | 1 person7 bars | 2 people14 bars | 4 people28 bars |
| ItemDark chocolate (3.5 oz bars) | 1 person2 bars | 2 people4 bars | 4 people8 bars |
| ItemHoney, broth, coffee or tea, salt and spices | 1 person1 of each | 2 people1 of each | 4 people2 of each |
| ItemManual can opener | 1 person1 | 2 people1 | 4 people2 |
Water is the heaviest line by far: 56 gallons for a family of four weighs about 467 lb, so spread it around the house rather than stacking it on one shelf. Can’t fit it all yet? Build up with a few extra cans on every shopping trip.
96 Hours, 30 Days or 90 Days
Tap a length of time. The 96-hour and 30-day lists need no cooking at all; the 90-day list assumes an outdoor camp stove or grill for the rice, oats, pasta and lentils.
96 Hours (3 to 4 Days), No Cooking
A short outage kit: everything is ready to eat, and the amounts round up to whole cans, jars and boxes.
| Item | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| ItemWater | 1 person4 gallons | 2 people8 gallons | 4 people16 gallons |
| ItemCanned tuna, salmon, sardines or chicken | 1 person4 cans | 2 people8 cans | 4 people16 cans |
| ItemCanned beans (15 oz) | 1 person2 cans | 2 people4 cans | 4 people8 cans |
| ItemPeanut butter (16 oz jars) | 1 person1 jar | 2 people1 jar | 4 people2 jars |
| ItemCrackers or tortillas (1 lb boxes or packs) | 1 person1 box | 2 people2 boxes | 4 people4 boxes |
| ItemCanned fruit or applesauce cups | 1 person4 cans or cups | 2 people8 cans or cups | 4 people16 cans or cups |
| ItemCanned vegetables | 1 person2 cans | 2 people4 cans | 4 people8 cans |
| ItemNuts and dried fruit | 1 person8 oz | 2 people1 lb | 4 people2 lb |
| ItemGranola or protein bars | 1 person4 bars | 2 people8 bars | 4 people16 bars |
| ItemShelf-stable milk (quarts) | 1 person1 quart | 2 people2 quarts | 4 people4 quarts |
| ItemDark chocolate (3.5 oz bars) | 1 person1 bar | 2 people2 bars | 4 people4 bars |
| ItemManual can opener | 1 person1 | 2 people1 | 4 people1, plus a spare |
30 Days for 2 People With No Water or Heat
All no-cook, with nothing to mix or boil, so the stored water is only for drinking. About 2,000 calories per person a day.
| Item | 2 people, 30 days | Per person, per day |
|---|---|---|
| ItemWater | 2 people, 30 days60 gallons | Per person, per day1 gallon |
| ItemCanned tuna, salmon, sardines or chicken | 2 people, 30 days60 cans | Per person, per day1 can |
| ItemCanned beans (15 oz) | 2 people, 30 days30 cans | Per person, per day½ can |
| ItemPeanut butter (16 oz jars) | 2 people, 30 days8 jars | Per person, per day2 oz (4 tbsp) |
| ItemCrackers or tortillas (1 lb boxes or packs) | 2 people, 30 days15 boxes | Per person, per day4 oz |
| ItemCanned fruit or applesauce cups | 2 people, 30 days60 cans or cups | Per person, per day1 can or cup |
| ItemCanned vegetables | 2 people, 30 days30 cans | Per person, per day½ can |
| ItemNuts and dried fruit | 2 people, 30 days8 lb | Per person, per day2 oz |
| ItemGranola or protein bars | 2 people, 30 days60 bars | Per person, per day1 |
| ItemShelf-stable milk (quarts) | 2 people, 30 days15 quarts | Per person, per day1 cup |
| ItemDark chocolate (3.5 oz bars) | 2 people, 30 days15 bars | Per person, per day1 square or two |
90 Days Without Power
The 2-week basket scaled up, with powdered milk in place of boxed. At this length a propane grill with spare tanks beats butane canisters, and a filter or tablets stretch the water.
| Item | 1 person | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| ItemWater | 1 person90 gallons | 2 people180 gallons | 4 people360 gallons |
| ItemWhite rice | 1 person20 lb | 2 people39 lb | 4 people78 lb |
| ItemRolled oats | 1 person13 lb | 2 people26 lb | 4 people52 lb |
| ItemDried pasta | 1 person13 lb | 2 people26 lb | 4 people52 lb |
| ItemDried lentils and beans | 1 person13 lb | 2 people26 lb | 4 people52 lb |
| ItemCanned beans (15 oz) | 1 person26 cans | 2 people52 cans | 4 people103 cans |
| ItemCanned tuna, salmon, sardines and chicken | 1 person65 cans | 2 people129 cans | 4 people258 cans |
| ItemPeanut butter (16 oz jars) | 1 person7 jars | 2 people13 jars | 4 people26 jars |
| ItemNuts and dried fruit | 1 person7 lb | 2 people13 lb | 4 people26 lb |
| ItemCrackers (1 lb boxes) | 1 person7 boxes | 2 people13 boxes | 4 people26 boxes |
| ItemCanned vegetables and tomatoes | 1 person65 cans | 2 people129 cans | 4 people258 cans |
| ItemCanned fruit | 1 person26 cans | 2 people52 cans | 4 people103 cans |
| ItemPowdered milk | 1 person7 lb | 2 people13 lb | 4 people26 lb |
| ItemCooking oil | 1 person7 cups | 2 people13 cups | 4 people26 cups |
| ItemGranola or protein bars | 1 person45 bars | 2 people90 bars | 4 people180 bars |
What to Buy Before a Storm (What Sells Out First)
Water, bread, batteries and ice tend to vanish from the shelves first once a storm is named, so buy those early. Canned goods, rice and pasta usually last longer, but the pull-tab cans go quickly too.
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day, plus some for pets
- Bread and tortillas for the first days
- Batteries in the sizes the lantern and radio take
- Ice and a cooler for the fridge food that gets eaten first
- Fuel for an outdoor stove or grill
- A manual can opener, and a spare
- Ready-to-eat canned fish, chicken and beans
- Peanut butter, crackers, fruit cups and bars
No-Cook Emergency Food From the Grocery Store (No Power, No Water, No Heat)
When the stove is out of action, eat food that is already cooked or needs nothing at all. 18 of the 25 qualify, and canned goods count: the beans, vegetables, fish and chicken inside were cooked during canning, so they are safe cold. Tap a number to jump to its card.
Go deeper: what to eat when the power goes out, with 20 no-cook meals and a 3-day menu.
1 3 4 5 6 8 9 11 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 22 24 25
Short on water as well? Skip anything that needs mixing (powdered milk, instant potatoes, coffee) and favor canned fruit and vegetables packed in liquid, which counts toward fluids. Salty crackers and nuts make people thirstier, so choose unsalted versions when water is tight.
The Best Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Foods on Store Shelves
- Canned tuna, salmon, sardines and chicken with pull-tab lids
- Canned beans, including vegetarian baked beans
- Peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
- Crackers and shelf-stable tortillas
- Applesauce cups and canned fruit in juice
- Boxed shelf-stable milk in small cartons
- Granola and protein bars
- Nuts, trail mix and dried fruit
A 3-Day No-Cook Emergency Menu
Per person, from the list only. Open only what gets eaten at one sitting: without a fridge, an opened can is good for about 2 hours.
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | Snacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DayDay 1 | BreakfastOvernight oats: rolled oats soaked in shelf-stable milk with raisins and honey | LunchTuna on crackers, canned peaches | DinnerCold bean salad (canned beans, corn and diced tomatoes with oil, salt and cumin) scooped into tortillas | SnacksApplesauce cup, a handful of nuts |
| DayDay 2 | BreakfastPeanut butter and honey tortilla, a box of shelf-stable milk | LunchCanned chicken with oil, salt and smoked paprika on crackers, canned pears | DinnerSalmon or sardines with crackers and canned green beans | SnacksGranola bar, a square of dark chocolate |
| DayDay 3 | BreakfastProtein bar, canned fruit, shelf-stable milk | LunchTuna and white bean tortilla wraps | DinnerCanned chicken, black beans and fire-roasted tomatoes rolled in tortillas | SnacksDried fruit and nuts, peanut butter crackers |
For a full 96 hours, repeat Day 1 on the fourth day with salmon in place of the tuna.
7-Day Emergency Pantry Meal Plan (Camp Stove or No-Cook)
Seven days of breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack, built only from the 25 foods above and well inside the 2-week amounts. Dinner has two columns: cook it on a camp stove outdoors, or take the no-cook swap on a day with no fuel or bad weather.
Go deeper: 15 emergency pantry recipes from cans and dry goods and the best canned foods for emergencies.
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Camp-stove dinner | No-cook dinner | Snack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DayDay 1 | BreakfastHot oats with powdered milk, honey and raisins | LunchTuna on crackers, canned peaches | Camp-stove dinnerRice and bean bowl with canned chicken (recipe below) | No-cook dinnerCold bean salad in tortillas | SnackApplesauce cup, nuts |
| DayDay 2 | BreakfastPeanut butter and honey tortilla, coffee or tea | LunchCanned chicken on crackers, canned corn | Camp-stove dinnerPasta with canned tomatoes, oil, garlic powder and tuna | No-cook dinnerTuna with crackers and canned tomatoes, oil and salt | SnackGranola bar |
| DayDay 3 | BreakfastOats with peanut butter and honey | LunchSardines or salmon on crackers, canned green beans | Camp-stove dinnerLentil and tomato stew made with broth, spooned over rice | No-cook dinnerCanned beans and tomatoes with cumin, in tortillas | SnackDark chocolate, dried fruit |
| DayDay 4 | BreakfastProtein bar, canned fruit, shelf-stable milk | LunchPeanut butter crackers, dried fruit | Camp-stove dinnerInstant mashed potatoes with canned chicken, peas and broth gravy | No-cook dinnerChicken, beans and corn rolled in tortillas | SnackApplesauce cup |
| DayDay 5 | BreakfastHot oats with canned fruit | LunchTuna and white bean salad with oil and salt | Camp-stove dinnerMeatless rice and bean bowl (the third can of beans) | No-cook dinnerBean salad with crackers | SnackNuts, granola bar |
| DayDay 6 | BreakfastPeanut butter and honey tortilla, coffee or tea | LunchCanned chicken salad (oil, salt, spices) on crackers | Camp-stove dinnerLentil soup with broth, canned tomatoes and canned carrots | No-cook dinnerSalmon with crackers and canned vegetables | SnackDark chocolate |
| DayDay 7 | BreakfastOats with dried fruit and nuts | LunchSardines or tuna in tortillas, canned fruit | Camp-stove dinnerPasta with canned tomatoes, oil, garlic powder and salmon | No-cook dinnerTuna, beans and corn with oil and salt | SnackDried fruit, applesauce cup |
Stove safety: camp stoves, grills and charcoal are for outdoors only, never inside the house, a garage or a closed porch, because they give off carbon monoxide. Cook only what gets eaten at one meal; without a fridge, cooked rice and pasta should not sit out more than 2 hours.
Emergency Pantry Rice and Bean Bowl: One Pot, Camp-Stove Friendly
Every can on the shelf comes together in one pot. The card is set for 4 servings with canned chicken; tap 2 or 8, or switch to tuna or a meatless third can of beans, and the amounts and steps change to match.
Emergency Pantry Rice and Bean Bowl
Canned chicken, pinto beans, fire-roasted tomatoes and rice simmered together in one pot with cumin and smoked paprika. Tap a size and a protein and the recipe changes to match.
How many servings?
Protein
Ingredients
- 2 tsp1 tbsp2 tbsp2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 can (5 oz)2 cans (5 oz each)4 cans (5 oz each)4 cans (5 oz each)1 can (15 oz)1 can (15 oz)2 cans (15 oz each)2 cans (15 oz each) halal canned chicken breast, drainedcanned tuna in water, drained (it goes in at the end)black beans, drained and rinsed (the third can of beans)
- ½ tsp1 tsp2 tsp2 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp1 tsp2 tsp2 tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp½ tsp1 tsp1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp½ tsp1 tsp1 tsp onion powder
- 1 can (14.5 oz)1 can (14.5 oz)2 cans (14.5 oz each)2 cans (14.5 oz each) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, with their juice
- 1 can (15 oz)2 cans (15 oz each)4 cans (15 oz each)4 cans (15 oz each) pinto beans, drained and rinsed (just drained if water is short)
- ½ cup1 cup2 cups2 cups long-grain white rice
- ¾ cup2 cups4 cups (a 32-oz carton)4 cups (a 32-oz carton) shelf-stable halal chicken broth or vegetable brothshelf-stable vegetable broth
- ¼ tsp½ tsp1 tsp1 tsp salt, to taste (canned beans and broth are already salty)
- a pinch¼ tsp½ tsp½ tsp black pepper
- lime wedges or bottled lime juice, to serve (optional)
- hot sauce, to serve (optional)
Liquid check: 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of broth plus the tomato juice is right for this one-pot simmer, because the beans are drained. If the pot looks dry before the rice is tender, add ¼ cup broth or water.
On a camp stove: cook outdoors only, on a stable table out of the wind, in a heavy-bottomed pot on the lowest steady flame. Cook only what gets eaten at one meal: without a fridge, cooked rice should not sit out more than 2 hours.
Instructions
Brown the chicken
Heat the oil in a 2-quart saucepan3- to 4-quart pot6- to 8-quart pot6- to 8-quart pot over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook 3 minutes, breaking it into chunks, until the edges turn golden.
Warm the oil
Heat the oil in a 2-quart saucepan3- to 4-quart pot6- to 8-quart pot6- to 8-quart pot over medium heat for 1 minute. The tuna waits until the end so it stays in tender flakes. All three cans of beans go in at step 3.
Toast the spices
Stir in the cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder and onion powder and cook 30 seconds, until fragrant. Keep them moving so they don’t scorch.
Add the cans and rice
Add the tomatoes with their juice, the beans, rice, broth, salt and pepper. Stir, scraping the bottom, and bring to a boil, about 2 to 33 to 45 to 65 to 6 minutes.
Cover and simmer
Turn the heat to low, cover tightly and simmer 16 to 181820 to 2220 to 22 minutes without lifting the lid, until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
Rest and serve
Take the pot off the heat and leave it covered for 5 minutes. Fold in the tuna, cover again and let it warm through for 2 minutes. Fluff with a fork, taste for salt and serve with lime and hot sauce.
Nutrition (approximate, per serving)
One of 4 servings, about 2 cups, made with canned chicken. Estimated from standard values for the ingredients as written; the tuna and meatless versions come out close.
Cooking Without Electricity: Camp Stoves, Grills and Safe Fuel
Most of the list needs no heat, but a hot meal makes a long outage easier. These are the safe, practical ways to cook when the power is out, and how much fuel to keep for a family of four eating two hot meals a day.
Go deeper: how to cook without electricity: 8 safe methods, fuel math and carbon monoxide rules.
| Method | Best for | Fuel for a week | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| MethodButane camp stove | Best forBoiling water, rice, pasta, one-pot meals | Fuel for a week8-oz canisters: plan about 1 a day for a family of four | WhereOutdoors only, on a stable table out of the wind |
| MethodPropane grill (with or without a side burner) | Best forPots on the grate, flatbreads, heating cans emptied into a pan | Fuel for a weekA full 20-lb tank usually covers a week of dinners | WhereOutdoors only, well away from doors, windows and vents |
| MethodRocket stove | Best forBoiling and simmering on twigs and small sticks | Fuel for a weekA few armfuls of dry sticks a day | WhereOutdoors only, on bare ground or paving |
| MethodSolar cooker | Best forSlow-cooked rice, lentils and stews on sunny days | Fuel for a weekSunshine; 2 to 4 hours a dish | WhereOutdoors, in full sun |
| MethodGel chafing fuel | Best forWarming canned food in a pan on a chafing rack (not boiling) | Fuel for a weekCans sold as 2 to 6 hours of burn time | WhereAs the label directs, never left burning unattended |
Carbon monoxide: never run a camp stove, grill, charcoal or a generator indoors, in a garage, a tent or on an enclosed porch. The gas has no smell and builds up quickly. Cook outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents, and keep a battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm inside.
How Much Fuel for a Week
Many single-burner butane stoves run about 1½ to 2 hours on high from one 8-oz canister, longer on low; the stove’s manual gives the real figure. Two hot meals and hot drinks a day for four people comes to about one canister a day, so keep 7 or 8 for a week and 14 for 2 weeks.
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Gas One GS-3400P Dual Fuel Portable Camping Stove
Runs on one 8 oz butane canister or, with the included regulator, a 16.4 oz propane cylinder, with push-button ignition and a carrying case. Use it outdoors only: a patio, balcony or driveway.
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Chef Master Butane Fuel Canisters, 8 oz (4-Pack)
Four 8 oz canisters, rated on the label at about 2 hours on high or 4 on a simmer. At roughly one canister a day for a family of four, two packs cover a week.
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KitchenAid Classic Multifunction Can Opener
A sharp stainless cutting wheel, an oversized turning knob and a bottle opener built in. Keep one in the emergency box, not the kitchen drawer.
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Lichamp LED Camping Lanterns (4-Pack)
Four collapsible lanterns, 350 lumens each on 3 AA batteries: pull the top up to switch on. One per room is far safer than candles. Batteries are not included, so buy them together.
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Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Radio
Hand crank, solar and battery power, NOAA weather alerts, an SOS flashlight and a USB port to top up a phone while the power is out.
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INIU 20,000mAh Portable Charger
Pocket-size with fast charging, a built-in flashlight and a USB-C cable that doubles as the lanyard; about four phone charges by the maker’s count. Charge it the day a storm is forecast.
Check Price on Amazon →Water: The Part Most Lists Forget
Plan on 1 gallon of water per person per day: about half to drink and half for cooking and washing. Store more for hot weather, nursing mothers, anyone who is ill, and pets.
Go deeper: how to store water for emergencies: containers, sanitizing, treating and how long it keeps.
| Household | 96 hours | 2 weeks | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Household1 person | 96 hours4 gallons | 2 weeks14 gallons | 30 days30 gallons |
| Household2 people | 96 hours8 gallons | 2 weeks28 gallons | 30 days60 gallons |
| Household4 people | 96 hours16 gallons | 2 weeks56 gallons | 30 days120 gallons |
Bottled Water or Your Own Containers
Sealed bottled water keeps until the date on the pack and needs no attention. Tap water stored in clean, food-grade containers is cheaper; replace it every 6 months. Skip milk and juice jugs, which are hard to clean and break down, and keep water away from fuel, cleaning products and sun.
Before the Storm: Fill Everything
When a storm is forecast, fill the bathtub for flushing and washing, and fill clean pots, pitchers and bottles for drinking. Frozen bottles of water keep the freezer colder for longer and become drinking water as they thaw.
How to Make Water Safe to Drink
| Method | How | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| MethodBoil | HowA rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 feet), then cool covered | Good to knowKills germs; does not remove chemicals. Pour between clean containers to improve the flat taste |
| MethodUnscented household bleach | How6% bleach: 8 drops per gallon; 8.25% bleach: 6 drops. Stir and wait 30 minutes | Good to knowUse only plain, unscented bleach. Double the dose for cloudy water after filtering it through a clean cloth |
| MethodPurification tablets | HowFollow the packet for the dose and the wait time | Good to knowLight and long-lasting; some take up to 4 hours to work |
| MethodFilter or filter straw | HowUse as the maker directs | Good to knowCheck what it is rated to remove; many portable filters do not remove viruses, so disinfect as well |
Once the taps are safe again, a filter for everyday drinking water is a separate job; see these countertop water filter systems. For dry goods bought in bulk, a vacuum sealer from this roundup of vacuum sealers keeps rice, beans and oats compact and dry.
Stainless Steel Milk Can with Spigot
A stainless steel can with a silicone-sealed, latching lid and a tap, sold in sizes from about 4 to 20 gallons. Water weighs 8.3 lb a gallon, so fill the big sizes where they will stay.
Check Price on Amazon →
Lormandy Straw Water Filter (5-Pack)
Five filter straws so everyone gets their own, with syringes for backflushing and a pouch. They filter, they do not boil, so add tablets or boiling where viruses are a concern.
Check Price on Amazon →
Aquatabs Water Purification Tablets (100 Pack)
One 49 mg tablet treats 0.75 to 2 liters in 30 minutes, per the packet, and each is sealed in a foil strip. A light, inexpensive back-up to boiling.
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ePackageSupply 5-Gallon Food-Grade Buckets with Gamma Seal Lids (6-Pack)
Six food-grade buckets with screw-on gamma lids that open and reseal without a tool. One bucket holds about 30 lb of rice packed in mylar bags.
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Home Sensei 1-Gallon Mylar Bags with Oxygen Absorbers (30 Pack)
Thirty zip-top, heat-sealable bags with 400cc oxygen absorbers and labels. Fill, drop in an absorber, iron the seal shut and stand the bags in a bucket. One bag holds about 7 lb of rice.
Check Price on Amazon →How to Store Emergency Food So It Lasts
Good storage doubles the life of most of the list. Four habits do almost all the work.
Go deeper: long term food storage, with mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and buckets.
Cool, dry and dark
Heat shortens shelf life fastest. A closet or the space under a bed beats a hot garage or the cupboard beside the stove; ideally keep it below about 75°F, off the floor and out of sun.
Airtight against pests and damp
Move rice, oats, pasta and beans from paper bags into food-grade buckets, glass jars or sealed bags. Vacuum-sealed bags keep dry goods compact and fresh for months longer.
Oxygen absorbers for the long haul
For keeping rice, beans and oats for years, seal them in mylar bags with an oxygen absorber and stand the bags in a bucket. Dry, low-fat foods only; brown rice and nuts are too oily.
Store what you eat, eat what you store
Rotate: new cans go to the back, the oldest come forward and into weekly meals. Write the purchase date on every can and bag with a marker, and check the whole supply every 6 months.
Vacuum sealing works well for opened bags of rice and oats; these vacuum sealer bags and rolls cover the bags themselves. Short on cupboard space? These storage ideas for a kitchen without a pantry find room under beds, on closet shelves and on the backs of doors.
Shelf-Life Chart: 20 Emergency Foods
Approximate times for best quality, kept cool and dry; the date on the package comes first. Canned goods in good condition stay safe past the best-by date. Brown rice and whole wheat flour go rancid in 6 to 12 months, which is why white rice and white pasta are on the list instead.
| Food | Unopened | After opening | Signs it’s off |
|---|---|---|---|
| FoodBottled water | UnopenedAbout 2 years (pack date) | After openingA few days, capped | Signs it’s offOff smell or taste |
| FoodWhite rice | Unopened2 years in the bag; 25+ sealed with oxygen absorbers | After opening1 to 2 years airtight | Signs it’s offBugs, webbing, musty smell |
| FoodDried beans and lentils | Unopened2 to 3 years; 10+ sealed | After opening1 year airtight | Signs it’s offBugs; very old beans stay hard however long they cook |
| FoodRolled oats | Unopened1 to 2 years | After opening6 to 12 months airtight | Signs it’s offRancid or musty smell |
| FoodDried pasta | Unopened2 years | After opening1 year airtight | Signs it’s offBugs, off smell |
| FoodCanned tuna, salmon, sardines | Unopened3 to 5 years | After opening2 hours unchilled; 3 to 4 days in a fridge | Signs it’s offBulging, leaking or spurting can; sour smell |
| FoodCanned chicken | Unopened2 to 5 years | After opening2 hours unchilled; 3 to 4 days in a fridge | Signs it’s offBulging, leaking or spurting can; sour smell |
| FoodCanned beans and vegetables | Unopened2 to 5 years | After opening2 hours unchilled; 3 to 4 days in a fridge | Signs it’s offBulging, rust on the seams, foamy liquid |
| FoodCanned tomatoes, fruit, applesauce | Unopened12 to 18 months | After opening2 hours unchilled; 5 to 7 days in a fridge | Signs it’s offBulging, leaking, fizzing, mold |
| FoodPeanut butter | Unopened6 to 24 months | After opening2 to 3 months in the pantry | Signs it’s offSharp, paint-like smell |
| FoodNuts | Unopened6 to 12 months | After openingAbout 3 months; longer chilled | Signs it’s offBitter or paint-like smell |
| FoodCrackers | Unopened6 to 9 months | After opening1 to 2 weeks before they go soft | Signs it’s offStale or rancid smell |
| FoodFlour tortillas | UnopenedThe pack date, often several weeks | After openingAbout a week, sealed | Signs it’s offMold spots, sour smell |
| FoodInstant mashed potatoes | UnopenedAbout 1 year | After openingSeveral months airtight | Signs it’s offOff smell, clumps from damp |
| FoodDried fruit | Unopened6 to 12 months | After opening6 months airtight | Signs it’s offMold or a fermented smell (a sugary crust is fine) |
| FoodShelf-stable boxed milk | UnopenedThe box date, often several months | After opening7 to 10 days in a fridge; 2 hours unchilled | Signs it’s offSour smell, lumps, puffed box |
| FoodPowdered milk | Unopened1 to 2 years for best flavor | After openingA few months airtight; mixed, treat as fresh milk | Signs it’s offYellowing, stale smell, hard clumps |
| FoodCooking oil | UnopenedAbout 1 year | After opening3 to 6 months | Signs it’s offSharp, painty or crayon smell |
| FoodHoney | UnopenedIndefinitely | After openingIndefinitely, lid on | Signs it’s offCrystals are normal; a sour, fizzy smell is not |
| FoodShelf-stable broth | UnopenedThe carton date, often about a year | After opening4 to 5 days in a fridge | Signs it’s offSour smell, swollen carton |
Pantry Inventory Checklist
Print it or save a screenshot. The goals are the 2-week amounts for a family of four; tick what is stocked, note the oldest date, and check the whole supply every 6 months.
| Item | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ItemWater | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks56 gallons | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemCanned tuna, salmon, sardines and chicken | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks40 cans | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemCanned beans | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks16 cans | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemCanned vegetables and tomatoes | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks40 cans | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemCanned fruit and applesauce cups | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks16 cans plus 24 cups | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemRice, oats, pasta, dried lentils | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks12 + 8 + 8 + 8 lb | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemPeanut butter | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks4 jars | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemCrackers and tortillas | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks4 boxes plus 4 packs | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemShelf-stable milk | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks16 quarts | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemCooking oil | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks4 cups | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemBars and dark chocolate | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks28 bars plus 8 chocolate bars | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemManual can opener | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks2 | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
| ItemStove fuel (8-oz canisters) | Goal: 4 people, 2 weeks14 | Stocked | Oldest date | 6-month check Spring Fall |
Bulk Staples and Ready-Made Kits: Are They Worth It?
Grocery store food is the better value for most homes: it costs less per calorie, tastes familiar and rotates into everyday cooking. Freeze-dried kits win on shelf life and convenience, but most pouches need boiling water, which means fuel and water of their own.
A sensible middle path: keep the 2-week grocery list, add bulk rice and beans repacked for the long term, and treat a kit as the back-up for the back-up.
The Survival Tabs, 15-Day Emergency Food Supply
Chewable vanilla tablets, 180 to a bottle at about 20 calories each, sold as a 15-day supply. A compact go-bag back-up, not a replacement for the meals on this page.
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Datrex Emergency Drinking Water Pouches
Small sealed water pouches for a go-bag, the car or a desk drawer, where a plastic bottle can split.
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Iberia Jasmine Rice, Long Grain White, 18 lb
An 18 lb bag of long-grain jasmine rice, labelled halal, kosher and gluten-free. Repack it into mylar bags and a bucket for long storage.
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High Plains Pinto Beans, 10 lb Bag
Ten pounds of triple-cleaned dry pinto beans for a 30 or 90-day pantry. They need a soak and more fuel than canned beans, so stock both.
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Jif Creamy Peanut Butter, 16 oz (6 Jars)
Six jars of no-cook protein and calories. Rotate them into everyday breakfasts and lunch boxes before the date.
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Hoosier Hill Farm Whole Milk Powder, 1 lb
One pound makes about 12 cups, by the maker’s count. Mix with stored water for drinks, oats and mashed potatoes; keep it cool and dry.
Check Price on Amazon →Comfort Foods and Special Needs: Babies, Older Adults, Allergies and Pets
A week of plain rice and beans wears people down. A few familiar treats keep spirits up, especially for children, and cost little.
Go deeper: emergency food for kids by age and the 72 hour emergency kit food list.
- Instant hot cocoa and the family’s usual tea
- Shortbread or sandwich cookies in sealed packs
- Gelatin-free or halal-certified gummies
- Popcorn kernels, popped in a pot on the camp stove outdoors
- A favorite breakfast cereal, eaten dry or with boxed milk
- Dark chocolate and dried fruit
Babies
Ready-to-feed liquid formula needs no water or mixing, which makes it the simplest choice for an outage. Powdered formula needs bottled water or water boiled and cooled. Follow their pediatrician’s guidance and keep the brand they already take.
Older adults
Choose easy-open cans with pull tabs, soft foods such as applesauce, beans and oats, and smaller portions so nothing sits open. Keep any nutrition drinks they already use, and a list of their medicines with the supply.
Allergies, diabetes and celiac
Follow their doctor’s guidance and stock what they already eat: certified gluten-free oats and crackers, sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter, or the snacks they use for low blood sugar. Read every label when buying in bulk.
Pets
The same number of days of their usual food, in sealed bags or cans, plus their own water on top of the household’s gallon a day.
Power Outage Food Safety: What to Eat First
When the power goes out, keep the fridge and freezer doors shut and eat in this order. The timings are USDA guidance.
Go deeper: the full power outage food safety keep-or-toss charts.
First 4 hours: the fridge
A closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours. Eat milk, leftovers, cut fruit and fresh meat first, and open the door as little as possible.
Next: the freezer
A full freezer holds for about 48 hours, a half-full one about 24, if the door stays shut. Thawing food that still has ice crystals, or is at 40°F or below, can be cooked or refrozen.
Last: the pantry
Canned and dry food waits. Save it for day two and beyond, so the 2-week supply really lasts 2 weeks.
An appliance thermometer settles every doubt: the fridge should read 40°F or below and the freezer 0°F. These fridge thermometers are cheap and need no power. Throw out perishable food that has been above 40°F for more than 2 hours, and never taste food to test it. When in doubt, throw it out.
Best Emergency Foods From the Grocery Store: FAQ
What are the top 10 best emergency foods to buy at the grocery store?
Bottled water, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned beans, peanut butter, white rice, rolled oats, crackers, canned vegetables and canned fruit or applesauce cups. Together they cover drinking water, protein, starch, produce and calories, and all but the rice can be eaten without cooking. They are also the best survival foods most supermarkets stock year-round.
What is the best dry food for emergency food from the grocery store?
White rice, dried lentils and beans, rolled oats and dried pasta. They are cheap, light and calorie-dense, at roughly 1,600 to 1,700 calories a pound, and keep for years sealed with oxygen absorbers. They need water and fuel to cook, so pair them with canned food for days without either.
What emergency food from the grocery store needs no cooking?
Canned tuna, salmon, sardines and chicken, canned beans and vegetables (already cooked), peanut butter, crackers, tortillas, canned fruit, applesauce cups, nuts, dried fruit, granola bars, boxed milk and dark chocolate. Rolled oats work too, soaked overnight in milk. Keep a manual can opener with them.
What should I buy for a 96-hour emergency food supply?
Per person, all no-cook: 4 gallons of water, 4 cans of tuna or chicken, 2 cans of beans, 1 jar of peanut butter, 1 box of crackers, 4 cans or cups of fruit or applesauce, 2 cans of vegetables, 8 oz of nuts and dried fruit, 4 bars and 1 quart of boxed milk. Add a manual can opener.
What is the best food to store for 30 days for 2 people with no water or heat?
No-cook food that brings its own liquid: 60 cans of fish or chicken, 30 cans of beans, 30 cans of vegetables, 60 cans or cups of fruit, 8 jars of peanut butter, 15 boxes or packs of crackers, 8 lb of nuts and dried fruit, 60 bars and 15 quarts of boxed milk, plus 60 gallons of water.
What are the best foods to have in the house for 90 days without power?
Dry staples cooked outdoors on a camp stove or grill. Per person: about 20 lb of white rice, 13 lb each of oats, pasta and dried lentils, 65 cans of fish and chicken, 65 cans of vegetables, 7 jars of peanut butter and 7 lb of powdered milk, plus 90 gallons of water or a way to treat more.
What is the best ready-to-eat (RTE) food on store shelves for an emergency?
Canned fish and chicken with pull-tab lids, canned beans, peanut butter, crackers, applesauce cups, canned fruit in juice, nuts, granola bars and boxed shelf-stable milk. They need no water, heat or fridge, and most keep a year or more. Buy small sizes, since opened cans spoil within 2 hours without a fridge.
What food do you store for an emergency?
Food the household already eats, in forms that keep without a fridge: canned proteins, beans, vegetables and fruit, dry rice, oats and pasta, peanut butter, crackers, boxed milk, oil, and a few comforts such as honey, coffee and chocolate. Store what you eat and eat what you store, rotating the oldest cans into weekly meals.
Is store-bought emergency food better than freeze-dried kits?
For most homes, grocery store food is the better value: it costs less per calorie, tastes familiar and rotates into everyday meals. Freeze-dried kits win on shelf life, often labelled for 25 years, and on convenience, but most pouches need boiling water. Many families keep grocery staples for the first 2 weeks and a kit as a back-up.
How long does canned food last for emergencies?
Low-acid cans such as beans, fish, chicken and vegetables keep their best quality for 2 to 5 years; high-acid tomatoes and fruit for 12 to 18 months, according to USDA guidance. Cans in good condition stay safe past the best-by date. Throw out any can that bulges, leaks, spurts when opened, or is rusted or deeply dented on a seam.
How much water do you need for an emergency?
One gallon per person per day: about half to drink and half for cooking and washing. That is 4 gallons each for 96 hours, 14 for 2 weeks, and 56 for a family of four for 2 weeks. Store more for hot weather, nursing mothers, anyone who is ill, and pets.
Can you cook indoors on a camp stove during a power outage?
No. Camp stoves, grills, charcoal and generators give off carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that builds up indoors, in garages and on enclosed porches. Cook outdoors on a stable surface away from doors and windows, and keep a battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm inside. Indoors, eat no-cook food.
What foods should you buy before a storm or other emergency?
Water first, then ready-to-eat food: canned fish, chicken and beans, peanut butter, crackers, fruit cups, bars and boxed milk. Add batteries, a manual can opener, ice for the first day’s cooler and fuel for an outdoor stove. Water, bread, batteries and ice tend to sell out first once a storm is named.
What emergency foods from the grocery store are good for kids?
Familiar ones: peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter for allergies), crackers, tortillas, applesauce cups, canned fruit, dried fruit, granola bars, pasta, instant mashed potatoes and boxed milk. Let children choose a few comfort snacks, and keep portions small so opened food gets eaten before it spoils.
The Full Emergency Food Series
Twelve guides that go deeper on each part of this list, from water and storage to outage food safety and kids.
Emergency Food Supply List
Two weeks for a family of 4, with a printable checklist. See the list → No PowerWhat to Eat When the Power Goes Out
Fridge first, then freezer, then pantry: 20 no-cook meals. See the meals → Food SafetyPower Outage Food Safety
Keep-or-toss charts for the fridge and the freezer. See the charts → No PowerHow to Cook Without Electricity
Eight safe ways to cook, outdoors, and the fuel to keep. See the methods → WaterHow to Store Water for Emergencies
How much, which containers and how long it keeps. See the guide → Go-Bag72 Hour Emergency Kit Food List
Three days of light, no-cook food per person. See the list → CansBest Canned Foods for Emergencies
25 picks and 15 meals to make from them. See the picks → RecipesEmergency Pantry Recipes
15 meals from cans and dry goods, stove or no-cook. See the recipes → StorageLong Term Food Storage
Foods that last decades and how to pack them. See the guide → BudgetEmergency Food on a Budget
The cheapest staples, one grocery run at a time. See the plan → 3 Months3 Month Emergency Food Supply
Quantities, storage and a rotation plan. See the plan → KidsEmergency Food for Kids
What to stock for babies, toddlers and school-age kids. See the guide →Water first, then cans that need no cooking, then the dry staples.
Keep this list of the best emergency foods handy for the next storm warning, and check the shelf every six months.