In the event of a catastrophe, it is possible to experience extended periods without electricity. It is advisable to store non-perishable items such as canned goods, dry mixes, and essential foods that do not rely on refrigeration, cooking, water, or specific preparation methods. Don’t forget to include a manual can opener and eating utensils in your supplies.
Suggested Emergency Food Supplies
When assembling your emergency food supplies, take into account the following considerations:
- Store at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food.
- Choose foods your family will eat.
- Remember any special dietary needs.
When choosing emergency food supplies, we recommend considering the following items, which you might already possess.
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener
- Protein or fruit bars
- Dry cereal or granola
- Peanut butter
- Dried fruit
- Canned juices
- Non-perishable pasteurized milk
- High-energy foods
- Food for infants
- Comfort/stress foods
Food Safety and Sanitation
Food stored in refrigerators and freezers can become dangerous without electricity or a cold source, as bacteria in food thrive at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Consuming such foods can lead to severe illness. If thawed food remains “refrigerator cold,” it is typically safe to eat. If it still contains ice crystals, it can be refrozen. It is important to remember the saying, “When uncertain, discard it.”
Do:
- Keep food in covered containers.
- Keep cooking and eating utensils clean.
- Throw away any food that has come into contact with contaminated flood water.
- Throw away any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more.
- Throw away any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture.
- Use ready-to-feed formula. If you must mix infant formula use bottled water or boiled water as a last resort.
Don’t:
- Eat foods from cans that are swollen, dented or corroded, even though the product may look safe to eat.
- Eat any food that looks or smells abnormal, even if the can looks normal.
- Let garbage accumulate inside, both for fire and sanitation reasons.
Cooking
In times of emergency, one can utilize various cooking sources such as candle warmers, chafing dishes, fondue pots, or a fireplace. It’s important to note that charcoal grills and camp stoves should only be used for outdoor purposes. Additionally, commercially canned food can be consumed directly from the can without the need for heating.
To warm up food stored in a can:
- Remove the label.
- Thoroughly wash and disinfect the can. (Use a diluted solution of one part bleach to 10 parts water.)
- Open the can before heating.
Managing Food without Power
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
- The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it is unopened.
- Refrigerated or frozen foods should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below for proper food storage.
- Use a refrigerator thermometer to check temperature.
- Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was out for no more than four hours.
- Discard any perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers that have been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours or more.
The utilization of dry ice:
- Know where you can get dry ice prior to a power outage.
- Twenty-five pounds of dry ice will keep a 10 cubic foot freezer below freezing for three to four days.
- If you use dry ice to keep your food cold, make sure it does not come in direct contact with the food.
- Use care when handling dry ice. Wear dry, heavy gloves to avoid injury.
Best Survival Food Kits
Best Overall – ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply, Freeze-Dried Entree Variety
ReadyWise, a leading brand in survival food kits, provides a gluten-free alternative and a breakfast-exclusive variation of this kit that comprises a variety of foods such as granola, pasta alfredo, and vanilla pudding. The kit includes a total of 124 servings; however, you have the flexibility to select from different quantities ranging from 52 to 298 servings, based on your requirements and the size of your family. Each meal, which is freeze-dried and individually packaged, consists of multiple servings. Additionally, the kit comes with an instruction card that provides guidance on preparing all the different meal options included.
Best Budget – Augason Farms Lunch & Dinner Emergency Food Supply
Due to the large quantity of food included, many survival food kits tend to be expensive; however, Augason Farms offers a cost-effective option. This kit stands out from others on the list as it provides a wider range of choices, including 11 diverse meal types along with dessert. In total, there are 92 generous servings available, enabling you to customize your meal distribution according to your requirements. The kit also features conveniently packaged white pouches for each serving, displaying nutritional details, ingredients, and instructions.
Best 3-Day Food Supply – Mountain House 3-Day Emergency Food Supply
It is highly recommended by most experts to have a three-day survival food kit available for potential evacuation situations, and the kit from Mountain House perfectly fulfills that requirement. Compared to other options on the list, this kit is smaller in size but contains 18 servings, which equates to nine meals, making it ideal for a single individual. Each day, you can expect to consume approximately 1,700 calories. One significant advantage of these meals is that they can be prepared with room-temperature water, which becomes crucial when faced with a power outage and lack of resources to boil water. Additionally, this kit also boasts one of the lengthiest shelf lives compared to other available options.
Best for Families – Wise Company 1 Month Emergency Food Supply
By providing a variety of freeze-dried meals and conveniently packaging them in four-serving Mylar pouches, the Wise Company 1 Month Emergency Food Supply effortlessly caters to the needs of your family during disasters. With a total of 240 servings, this supply can sustain two adults and four children or four adults for an entire month. The assortment includes breakfast options such as Apple Cinnamon Cereal and Strawberry Granola Crunch, as well as heartier dinners like Loaded Baked Potato Casserole and Savory Stroganoff. This careful packaging ensures reduced waste and maximum freshness for an extended period.
The package consists of a stackable bucket and has a 25-year shelf life. It can provide a month’s worth of food for either four adults or two adults and four children.
