When disaster strikes, there’s a pretty good chance your local grocery stores will be stripped bare in a matter of hours. From panicked people trying to stock up on last-minute supplies to those who failed to prepare for even short-term disasters and now find themselves facing the prospect of starving, your local grocery store will look like a battleground in a post-apocalyptic movie.
Most grocery stores have a maximum three-day supply of goods on hand before they run dry. That means even short-term disasters like hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes can cause supply chain problems that will quickly wipe out their inventory. Now throw in a long-term disaster that cuts off supplies for months, and you have a real recipe for disaster.
To be prepared to face an emergency situation where supply chains fail and food deliveries are blocked, you need to invest in a long-term food supply. This supply should be made up of at least six months’ worth of emergency food with a long shelf-life – preferably something that you already eat.
From Supermarket Shelves to Survival Pantry: Building Your Emergency Food Stockpile with Long-Lasting Food From The Grocery Store
In the face of so many uncertainties, it’s important to ensure you and your loved ones’ survival by stocking an emergency pantry with long-lasting food supplies. While many so-called survival experts try selling commercial ‘survival food’ as the answer, we advocate for building your stockpile with familiar foods you probably already eat – all from your local grocery store or farmer’s markets.
During an emergency situation, the last thing you want to do is eat a bunch of weird survival foods that you’ve never eaten before – from possible allergy concerns to the stuff just downright tasting like crap, now is not the time to start experimenting. On top of that, we don’t like wasting money, so buying foods you already eat and running them on a rotation system that ensures you don’t find yourself years from now with a pantry full of expired food!
With the help of suggestions that have come in from our readers, we have compiled a list of the top food items and emergency supplies that you can buy at the grocery store. The list contains foods with a long shelf-life, items that have multiple uses, and supplies that are great for bartering.
Survival Foods that add flavor & comfort:
Comfort foods can be a huge morale booster during a stressful survival situation, something that needs to be kept in mind when starting to stockpile food. These four things can be stored for over 10 years, and are a great way to add a little bit of flavor to your cooking. If stored properly they will probably last indefinitely.
- Salt: From food preservation to maintaining proper electrolyte balance in the body to enhancing the flavor of your food, salt is an an essential part of your food storage stockpile!
- Sugar: – Brown or White sugars can be stored for quite some time and during emergencies or high-stress situations can help boost energy levels and provide a quick source of fuel. It can also be a huge morale booster when things start getting tough.
- Raw Honey: Honey has an incredibly long shelf life contains numerous vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Honey has also been used for centuries as a natural remedy for wound healing due to its antimicrobial properties.
- Alcohol – Whiskey, Vodka, etc.: From bartering to health and medicinal uses, alcohol is one of those items that should be part of any good preparedness stockpile. Check out our article on which liquors are best to stockpile for preparedness.
Base cooking ingredients with a long shelf life
Many people today lack the ability to cook anything from scratch, relying heavily on prepackaged and processed foods. This trend is unhealthy, but it could prove deadly during a long-term survival situation. Learning how to cook from basic ingredients is crucial for successfully preparing for emergencies and ensuring self-sufficiency in food storage.
The following categories of food make up the foundation of most recipes and are all things that store well.
Hard Grains: 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
- Spelt
Soft grains: These soft grains will last around 8 years at 70 degrees, sealed without oxygen.
- Barley,
- Oat Groats,
- Quinoa
- Rye
Beans: Sealed and kept away from oxygen the following beans can last for around 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 Pastas: 5 – 8 years
- All Purpose Flour
- White Flour
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Cornmeal
- Pasta
- White Rice ( up to 10 years)
Oils: It’s important to include fats in your stockpile. Fats are a concentrated source of energy and are crucial for overall health and well-being.
- Coconut oil – Unrefined, virgin coconut oil has one of the longest shelf lives of any kind of oil. It can last for over 2 years, has numerous health benefits, and is a great item to add to your survival food supply list.
- Clarified butter (Ghee): Clarified butter, also known as ghee, is butter that has been heated to remove moisture and milk solids. The process increases the fats stability and extends its shelf life. Ghee can last for several months to a year when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil has a decent shelf life and can be stored for up to a year or more if kept in a cool, dark location.
For more information on cooking from scratch, check out these articles and books:
- Important Homesteading Preparedness Skills: Learn how to cook from scratch
- Best War Time Recipes: A Look at Preparedness Cooking Skills from the Past
- Fanny Farmer Cookbook
- Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook
- The Pioneer Woman’s Cookbooks
What About Buying Canned Goods for your Survival Pantry?
Proper Storage and Shelf Life of Canned Goods
We get a lot of questions on canned goods and how long they can safely be stored. To ensure the quality and safety of canned goods, it’s important to store them correctly and be aware of how long the manufacturer recommends they be stored. And remember, most best-by dates are placed there to protect the manufacturer from lawsuits, The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, they say canned goods will last for years and that dating is for quality, not safety.
Here are some guidelines to follow when dealing with store-bought canned goods and most shelf-stable foods:
1. Storage: Keep commercially canned foods and other shelf-stable products in a cool, dry location. Avoid placing them above the stove, under the sink, or in areas prone to high humidity or temperature fluctuations, such as a damp garage or basement.
2. Shelf life: The shelf life of canned goods varies depending on the type of food. High-acid foods like tomatoes and fruits maintain their best quality for up to 18 months, while low-acid foods such as meat and vegetables can maintain their original quality for 2 to 5 years. But again, if cans are undamaged (no dents, swelling, or rust) and have been stored properly in a cool, clean, dry environment, they can remain safe indefinitely.
3. Safety precautions: While extremely rare, the production of toxins by Clostridium botulinum bacteria poses the most significant risk when dealing with canned goods. To minimize the risk, make sure your cans are in good condition and show no signs of damage or contamination. If any cans appear compromised (bulges or leaks), it’s best to get rid of them to avoid any potential health hazards.
For more information on canning your own foods at home, check out our article on Canning your own food!
Survival Foods that are great during short-term disasters
The following items are great for short-term emergencies, and will stay fresh for a long period of time. During most disasters, you’re going to want to have food that requires very little cooking, or can be eaten without any preparation at all. Make sure some of your stockpile includes these types of food.
Other good survival foods: 2 – 5 years of shelf life
- Canned Fish: Tuna, Salmon, Sardines
- Canned Meats: Chicken, Beef, Pork, Spam & Sausages
- Canned Vegetables & Fruits
- Peanut Butter
- Coffee
- Tea
- Ramen Noodles – not the greatest food in the world but they are very cheap so they made the survival food list.
- Hard Candy
- Powdered milk
- Dried herbs and spices
- Canned soups (a variety of flavors)
- Canned pasta sauces
- Canned broth or stock (chicken, beef, or vegetable)
- Crackers or rice cakes
- Dried fruits (raisins, apricots, cranberries)
- Nuts (almonds, walnuts, peanuts)
- Granola bars or energy bars
- Cereal or granola
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.
Nonfood items to stock up on at the grocery store:
- Bic Lighters
- Toilet Paper
- Soaps
- Bottled Water
- Multi-vitamins or supplements
- Medicines
- Bandages
- Peroxide
- Lighter fluid
- Canning Supplies
- Charcoal
More Emergency Food Resources
While we always advise the DIY approach to stockpiling food, this way you have the things that you would normally cook and eat and can then rotate them in and out of your normal life, there are some circumstances where commercially made survival food supplies might make sense. Here are some of the top emergency survival foods that can help you quickly bulk up your emergency supplies.
In reply to Franks comment,
“Age and treachery will always overcome youth and fitness”
Can’t believe that people have not listed a radiation detector. Sure a few hundred dollars is expensive, but this is a once in lifetime investment. After all how do you know it is safe to go out?
Maybe people are not thinking of the event I am thinking of.
And I would add a bicycle, one for every two people.
The lighter person can sit on the handle bar.
You could easily travel thirty miles on one and get out of a nuclear radiation zone (once you feel it is safe to go out).
After all there won’t be usable gas stations around.
I think Fred needs only 2 things, a noose and a place from which to jump. I have a rope, Fred . . .
This is where the parachute cord comes in!!
Something I find mostley gets missed. Are some of the non food things like reading glasses. I went to the dollar store and picked up several pair. I have them in places that I would realy need them. Most importanr is in the first aide
Kits. You cant do first aide or read the first aide book without them. Theres a extra pair in my bugout bag with my maps.
Just a brief comment – I am in my 60s but I have never forgotten how my family (mother sister and brother) told how they had to survive WW 2. My mother was always telling us to make sure we had the basic essentials for survival. I have raised my kids to think like that also. There have been times in my life that I have had to go without electric or running water. One of the biggest things a person should know how to do is start a campfire. Ya gotta know how to do that in order to cook and make sure you have the knowledge of what you can cook over a fire and what you cant. If the time comes, we probably wont have power so learn how to do things that are independent of that.
You know I like what Barbara and Anne said they have there minds set….Yes they know what they will need but they also know it can be posined or contaminated.,. After it all settles down a bit then people will become more civilized and I think small camps are the best ways, tents and let the elderly take care of the children ask them for knowledge..I am a American Indian and I am here to tell you the elderly may not can work but there knowledge will help the little village. walking ad hiding is for the scared the animals will be sick and wild whats left, you cant EAT THEM. your deep wild roots and keep water for sure but remember were all one and thats how we will make it. Why do you think we had a tribe? it was a small governed community and the one with more sense was the Chief and it worked on down to the one that just was the watchers the young called braves.. we had to learn but dont count on living off the land if a fall out hits from a nuke you will see skin hanging on bones and I think you all get the point, what it will do to all the other living things. so know like Barbara, and Anne your faith and help is what will get you through i know they knew they had to have water etc. there not ignorant I could tell. but as one said whos gonna kill thats not carrying anything even a Indian did not kill what it didn’t need, watch out for the different cultures of people that will turn on you until they get some sense. some hate the USA even tho there here,
is sort of like people not believing in the Christ child and puts up a Christmas tree..dont make since does it?
be mind prepared. it will be a fall out people that will kill us because the earth will never be completely flooded again.
Look towered the heavens and where the eagles land.
we are all one but people have put tags on us. You will be deceive fr sure but keep your faith and remember what you know and can do there is a greater and higher power that will be there for us no matter what we go through….sorry I typed this super fast I hope someone sees what I am tiring to say.
Love and patience will be the only way. don’t make your children fearful to live in this would let them be children. Adulthood comes so very fast for them. time will let you know when to teach them.
So good Taylor, I heed your words. Our worst nightmare may arrive tomorrow, or perhaps some weather event may surprise us. With our elders and our children we can survive what is coming. We are the ones who will keep us alive. Those tossing profanities, and put downs have no control over us but we will accept them if they can change. Something they cannot and won’t understand. Which is okay, we wouldn’t want it any other way. Don’t mess with the elders or the children it’s the law. Constitution isn’t broken, its dented and misread but it’s our Constitution and we not only defend it, we abide by it.
Vaseline balls are great fuel for starting a fire. Soak some cotton balls in vaseline, and store them in a plastic bag or plastic container. Just one will start a fire very well.
If you don’t have match or lighter, you can use a 9-volt battery and a bit of fluff from a steel-wool pad. Tear off a bit of steel wool, touch it to both prongs of the battery, and it will ignite.
Dry laundry soap such as Tide makes an excellent and inexpensive all-purpose cleaner. I say inexpensive, because it’s so concentrated that you can make a large amount of soapy water from just a little bit of soap. You can use it for dishes, cleaning stains off your carpet (during the good times, not during a crisis), or just about anything else you can think of.
Borax is a good way to kill mold if you get caught in a disaster involving water. It has no bad odor, and lasts longer than chlorine bleach. Chlorine crystals destroy the mold cell, but then the chlorine degrades quickly, and is no longer effective. Borax can be mixed with water in a spray bottle and sprayed on moldy walls. After awhile, you will see some crystals form in the bottle. The borax crystals kill the mold cells. After it dries on the wall, you don’t see it, but if it gets wet again, it reactivates and works to kill mold once more.
Is there a way to extend shelf life for motrin pills & any other meds.
I read an article on the military doing research on the shelf life on antibiotics, otc medications, and prescriptions medications. The have concluded that MANY medications last years beyond their expiration date. However, there are some expired medications that are dangerous to take. Unfortuently I can remember exactly which one it was, I want to say medications for your heart and circulation are the dangerous ones. I suggest everyone research this matter.
Yes several items here are HEALTHY and worth stocking
like RAW coconut oil. There is a huge difference about
SALT, the only one’s to stock up on are HIMALAYAN PINK
SALT, or, CELTIC SEA SALT because these two contain 80
valuable natural minerals. “Sodium chloride” used in so
many unhealthy commercial products, restaurants and at the
restaurant table are worthless and dead do nothing salt.
I disagree that grains will last 8 years, they can easily get smelly and rancid that long. I believe
1 or 2 years is safer.
Add organic chlorella and spirulina tablets to what
you rely on, these are healthy nutrients and also help us
keep our body detoxing impurities. Also add organic seaweeds like kelp powder, nori sheets, and wakame or kombu. Wakame and Kombu can be added to soups and stews. These all add valuable iodine and minerals to our
meals.
ADD top quality essential oils to your emergency
supplies (like Young Living- brand) these quality concentrated oils are essential for healing and more Such as: lavender, peppermint, sage, oregano, eucalyptus, and many of the blends like thieves. namaste’, prepared girl
Thanks for the list. How about a Quick On the Run list to get at your local Grocery Store…
Rick
Try koolaid, instant oatmeal/cream of wheat, gelatin, cocoa powder, instant grits, powdered milk. They all just need water and a way to heat.
Hi I have really enyojed reading all the usefull information I also think it is not a bad idea to be prepared. But I also see there are people out there that don’t hesitate to tell someone to go and hang them selves or not consider the feelings of the elderly I love older people. Frank have you ever thought that you will get old to , and scared , one thing I know is we are all heading the same way nobody gets to stay young and live for ever so Frank try to be nicer to people darling, it dose not hurt. People are very sensitive , lonely and scared . Words are the most powerful things to be uttered we should all think before we speak . As for the end of the world on 21:12:12 it might and it might not happen but no harm in being prepaird, no need to call people idiots. We can all make fun of each other and hurt each others feelings , we are all very good at that but we can not control nature and mother earth , she has a mind of her own, and I think it’s time for her to scare the crap out of all of us then maybe people will respect each other again. Frank I hope you don’t die a horribl death but maybe that you learnt a lesson .Knowthat everyone deserves to live , the young , old , our beautyful little animals, WE ARE ALL ONE GOD BLESS ALL OF US
This may sound foolish to some, but if you have kids and adults alike you should have some decks of cards (yes, more then one, I would suggest at least three decks) and some board games, also learn to play Cribbage and have a cribbage board or two. For the kids, have some coloring books and crayons. Survival is hard work, but hard work needs relaxing and mental stimulation. Use your imagination.
Don’t forget boric acid – it’s a cheap white powder you can get at the hardware and it kills cockroaches. It will keep the food storeroom roach free.
After reading the list and comments posted I was wondering if anyone has thought of aquaponics as a dual food source if you we’re able to stay in place. Also not a bad idea to start ahead and utilize now.
I’m a combat veteran @50yrs old. I’ve seen Lebanon, Dessert Storm and other things of mans inhumanity to humanity. I’ve (earned) the Army achievement medal for extraordinary service, the Battle E for excellence in battle and an occational bad dream from seeing friends die. I grew up in the mountains and live in the city. I know survival! Substance (food @water) , shelter and a way to defend it. If you don’t have those three things nothing else really matters. If you don’t have a gun, buy one, You’re Gonna Need It!
I found many of the preparedness related postings interesting, thank you for your efforts.
There are so many possible situations, so it can be difficult to feel prepared at all. What I’ve done is prepare a backpack that is light enough for me to carry but that has food, water, fire and shelter tools and essentials along with “three days” rations. I don’t yet have the skill to really thrive (or survive very long even) if I have to leave my home, but I do know I don’t want to go down not having at least tried as long as I can.
Now I’m focusing on putting aside extra food, water and supplies that any number of situations could make hard to come by, I think I only saw one post mention something that comes to my mind almost immediately, sprouting seeds. What if its dead of winter and the stores are all empty for whatever reason of produce?
It is disturbing to consider having to ‘protect’ stored goods, so I haven’t done much planning in that area yet, though when I was learning about outdoor survival a bit, I thought, wouldn’t it be great to know how to use a bow and arrows for hunting? Wouldn’t have a prayer to replace or repair a gun, but making a simple bow is doable. I’m saving money now to take some classes and perhaps join a club so that it can be an activity I enjoy in non-emergency times. And now I consider perhaps that would be a defensive weapon if I found I could bring myself to use it. As I write that last line, I imagine all the responses from people who already know about themselves; that they could kill another person, I haven’t had to face that in my life, so I just can’t be sure.
This post is of no particular use to others, but I appreciate the forum to take the time to put my own thoughts around preparedness in order.
I saw on someone’s list a can of cayenne pepper. Anyone know why?
Also, lots of candles and oil for oil lamps.. And a few lamps
Cayenne is very good for stopping bleeding. Internally in a capsule it will stiop internal bleeding and even excessive bruising.
A good seasoning to vary flavor in food, also. From a 71 1/2 year old that just finished getting my wonters wood and building a cabin for one of my grandsons.
Has anybody mentioned stocking up on boards and nails to fortify your home (board up the windows) if you decide to stay in place? It would be easy for those that didn’t prepare to storm the garage in search of food and shelter. Keep your battery powered tools charged and make sure you have more than one hammer.Instead of keeping your BOB in plain view or bins of items in the garage, pantry, or spare room, put them in the attic where it would be harder for an intruder to get to before you could blast them with your shotgun.
this website is very helpful thank you