It is wise to be prepared as emergencies can occur at any moment. Long term food storage is not limited to the military or doomsday preppers; everyone should be prepared to take care of themselves and their families during natural disasters or national crises.
Survival food kits are important for preventing hunger and continuing your journey. Whether you are a doomsday prepper seeking to fulfill your Fallout: New Vegas dreams or simply want to be prepared for unforeseen emergencies, it is beneficial to have these kits readily available. However, choosing the right food kits can be challenging due to the vast options. Are you interested in MREs for outdoor adventures or a variety of home-cooked meals for your entire family?
As we get ready to begin our off-grid homestead, we are comparing companies that offer freeze-dried and dehydrated food options.
1. My Patriot Supply
My Patriot Supply is dedicated to assisting Americans in being prepared for emergency situations. They have considered a wide range of essential items, including coffee. Ammo cans are available for short-term emergencies. What sets them apart from other long-term food storage companies is their commitment to providing 2,000+ calories per meal. Their packaging, featuring the Ready Hour logo, has a sophisticated black and white design.
When browsing their website, you will come across the choice to purchase not just long term food storage but also additional emergency preparedness items like water filtration systems, First Aid Kits, and Heirloom Seeds.
Pros
- Military Discounts. Because My Patriot Supply is dedicated to serving Americans when you apply for a military discount you will receive a verification code to get a 10% discount on your order.
- Guaranteed 2-Day Delivery. My Patriot Supply offers guaranteed 2-Day delivery on all survival supplies.
- Sizes. They offer a variety of food storage sizes including Pouches, Cases, Kits, Buckets, Ammo Cans, and # 10 Cans thus increasing your purchasing options.
- Coffee. They didn’t forget the survival coffee as most companies have!
- Cases. You can purchase cases of meat, vegetables, creamer, sugar, etc. which include multiple resealable pouches inside a soft case therefore minimizing waste.
- No Refrigeration. #10 can bulk size requires no refrigeration after opening. Unopened they have a shelf life of 25 years. Up to 1-year shelf-life after opening.
- Shelf Life. Scrambled Eggs Case Pack. Up to 10-year shelf-life unopened. Up to 1-year shelf-life after opening.
- Shelf Life. Real Meat and Protein Pack Kit. Up to 30 year shelf-life unopened.
- Shelf Life. Veggie Case Pack Kit. Up to 25-year shelf-life unopened. Up to 1-year shelf-life after opening.
Cons
- Big Commitment. They don’t offer much in terms of getting your feet wet. For that reason, you will have to spend at least $25 on their 72-hour sample pack containing 16 servings in order to try My Patriot Supply. You can’t just buy one pouch in order to try out a flavor.
- No bug-out bag. They don’t sell an emergency kit that you can throw on your back if you have to leave in a hurry. Therefore, in case of an emergency you would need to throw one of their Buckets or Ammo Cans into your car or shopping cart.
- Preparation. You don’t prepare the dishes directly in the Mylar pouches consequently meal preparation involves more clean up. You add the meal to the boiling water and then simmer or boil your meal in your pot.
2. NuManna
In 2011, NuManna was established with a focus on manufacturing MSG and GMO-free products that are of high quality. What sets them apart from other long term food storage companies is their offering of a wide range of organic products. Their product lineup includes Grab-n-Gos, Family Packs, Defender Packs, and Combo Packs. NuManna’s packaging features a clean and simple style, with white buckets and silver Mylar pouches.
Pros
- Easy to read nutritional information. NuManna has made available the nutritional information for their products as a result the consumer can make an educated purchase.
- Packaging. Ziplocked and heat sealed packaging therefore ensuring a quality product.
- NO MSG or GMOs. NuManna produces high quality meals free of MSG and GMOs.
- Shelf Life. Their products have a shelf life 25 years.
- Heirloom Seeds. NuManna sells 14 different varieties of Heirloom Seeds so you can start your garden at any time. Their varieties include Organic Snap Peas to Organic Non GMO corn.
- Flavor Variety. Their pouches contain a good variety of entrees as a result you will have a lot of choices.
- Defender Packs. These packs not only include include easy-to-fix meals but they also add Organic Grains and “Super Foods”.
- Guarantee. They offer a 60 day no risk money back guarantee therefore you have the freedom to give them a try.
Cons
- No Free Samples . As a result you will need to spend $20 on their Sample Pack of four (4) of NuManna’s most popular meals to give them a try.
- Preparation. You don’t prepare the dishes directly in the Mylar pouches consequently increasing meal prep time and clean up. You add the meal to the boiling water and then simmer or boil your meal.
- Pictures. Except for the Sample Pack are no pictures on their website of the actual contents of the pouches or prepared meals thus you can’t see if they look appealing or not.
3. Thrive Life
Unlike other long term food storage companies, Thrive Life places more emphasis on the ingredients rather than the prepared meals. With their wide range of options, you can purchase meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy, cereals, and grains to either follow their recipes or create your own.
Pros
- Freeze Dried Pork Products. Most long term food storage companies don’t offer freeze dried pork, but with Thrive Life you can buy ham dices, pulled pork, and sausage crumbles in #10 cans. This is important because during times of crisis protein sources are often scarce.
- Vegetables. Thrive Life offers the largest variety of freeze dried vegetables that’s sold in #10 cans. Asparagus, Broccoli, Kale, Red Bell Peppers, Zucchini and more. You can consume Thrive Life vegetables meanwhile waiting for your own garden to grow.
- Shelf Life. Their #10 cans have a shelf life of 25 years before opening which certainly is important during periods of drought.
- Recipes. Thrive Life provides recipes for you using their ingredients which can help the beginner chef.
Cons
- No easy stacking. Their #10 cans cannot be easily stacked, consequently can take up a lot of storage space. But, they do offer a solution by selling a variety of shelving options.
- No Bulk Purchase Option. They have a subscription service or you can add large amounts to your cart as a result shopping for bulk supplies can become tedious.
- No Bug Out Bag or Emergency First Aid options. Thrive Life does not cater to preppers or emergency preparedness. They focus on simplicity in the kitchen and wasting less food and time by eliminating having to go to the grocery store so often.
4. Augason Farms
Started by Phil Augason in 1972, Augason Farms now distributes its products in various locations, including Walmart, Associated Foods, WinCo, Sam’s Club, Costco, and others. Their initial offering, Morning Moo’s Milk, remains their best-selling instant milk. Their main emphasis lies in manufacturing food supplies for long-term storage purposes during emergencies.
Pros
- Free Shipping. They offer free shipping on many of the 6 month and 1 Year Food Supply Kits.
- Meal Extenders. Long grain white rice, quick rolled oats and pinto beans are sold in four gallon pails. You can add these to your meals thus extending your 30 day food supply to 90 days.
- Accessibility. Augason Farms products are sold in many places therefore making them accessible to the consumer. You will find them sold in Walmart, Associated Foods, WinCo, Sam’s Club and Costco, just to name a few.
- Square Pails. They sell square pails which are much easier to stack and don’t waste as much storage space as round pails do.
- Bundles. They offer #10 Can and Pail Bundles which makes your shopping experience a whole lot easier.
- Recipes . Augason Farms provides recipes on all of their #10 Can labels thus giving you meal options. They also frequently post recipes on their social media accounts for you to access.
- Shelf Life. For most products the shelf life is up to 30-years. For Baking Mixes and Eggs shelf life is 5-10 years on unopened cans.
- Variety of Sizes. They offer Emergency Supplies from 72-hours to 1-Year Kits so you have a lot of options.
- Drink and Soup Mixes. Sold in #10 Cans they carry a variety of drink and soup mixes such as Orange and Apple Delight Drink Mix, Hearty Vegetable Soup Mix, and Southwest Chili Soup Mix.
- Prepper Supplies. You can add to your order different helpful survival supplies such as First Aid Kits, Hand Wheat Grinder, Fire Starter Kit, and Emergency Candles thus completing your prepper goals.
Cons
- Cooking stove required. Unlike many of the other long term food storage options with Augason Farms you will need to add ingredients to boiling water, reduce heat and continue cooking for 15-18 minutes thereby increasing meal preparation time and clean up.
- Lack of meat. A lot of people report that the meal options that contain beef or chicken don’t contain enough of it so you might be a bit disappointed in those meals.
- No Samples. Augason Farms doesn’t offer any free samples so you are going to have to fork out a bit of money to give them a try. You can buy their 72-hour 1 Person Emergency Food Pail for $30 in order to get a taste of their products.
- Bucket lid opener. AKA “bung wrench” is not included with your pail. Augason Farms suggests that you store at least one bung wrench next to your food storage pails so they can be quickly opened in an emergency.
- Pouches. Their pouches are not resealable thus increasing the possibility for waste if the food isn’t used all at one time.
What to consider when buying a survival food kit
Many survival food kits and emergency supplies will be done in a very similar manner, but there are some outliers with their own nuances that are available for sale and worth mentioning. Are they your typical freeze-dried food or is it a ready–to-eat bag of goodies? How are these specific foods prepared? How long are these foods intended to last? These are some important tid bits to know, so here are a few ways survival food kits can differentiate themselves.
Types of survival food kits
MRE
The quick and convenient Meal Ready-to-Eat (MRE) is a personal favorite, especially for its military-style characteristics. These ready-to-eat meals require little to no preparation and can be easily opened and consumed. The abbreviation itself emphasizes the significance of each word, denoting a complete, multi-course meal packed in an airtight bag. Typically, MREs include drink mixes, a couple of side dishes, and a dessert, while the main course is typically not freeze-dried. Designed for use by servicemembers during battlefield operations and long journeys, these meals can be eaten either cold or hot by utilizing a water-activated heater bag.
Compared to simpler types of survival food kits, these are less common and their higher price of nearly $200 for a set of twelve surplus MREs reflects that. Additionally, their preservation methods make them more vulnerable to conditions than a typical bag of freeze-dried goods. To extend their relatively brief shelf life, it is advisable to store them in a dry and cool place, ideally below 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Freeze-dried
Most survival food kits are made using this method, although not all. This is because it is the simplest and most trustworthy way to store a large amount of food, while still ensuring it is easy to prepare and retains its flavor and nutrients. By dehydrating the food, moisture and the microorganisms it attracts are prevented from spoiling it.
Fruits, among other foods, can be consumed in their natural state, and water can be used to restore the moisture of almost all freeze-dried foods. When it comes to hot foods, they simply require soaking in boiling water for approximately nine to 10 minutes until they are ready to be eaten, and the consistency of the meats and noodles afterwards is similar to homemade versions of these meals.
Long-term emergency supply
These emergency food supplies are specifically designed to sustain a household for months or even years. They are packaged in large buckets, multiple buckets, or even entire boxes. However, it’s important to note that these supplies are not suitable for camp meals or for individuals looking for a quick, lazy dinner solution. Rather, they are intended for serious preppers who prefer to store them for future food shortages or global crises. The containers can hold thousands of servings and tens of thousands of calories, depending on the duration they are meant to last.
As anticipated, these kits are typically the priciest and most difficult to store. Anticipate spending a few hundred dollars for monthly supplies, while supplies for a year can cost several thousand dollars. Ensure you reserve a suitable location for storing all this food, preferably in a cool and dry area to extend its shelf life.
Key features of survival food kits
Calorie count
Survival foods are available in various calorie options to cater to different needs and preferences. Some freeze-dried foods suitable for relaxed camping and hiking adventures may have less than 600 calories per package, approximately 300 calories per serving. This amount is sufficient for an afternoon of leisurely walking or being idle at home, but may not be adequate for more physically demanding tasks.
Military MREs and premium survival foods are designed for active individuals who require a significant increase in energy, which is why they contain over a thousand calories. The calorie content of most MREs ranges from 1,200 to 1,300, with certain specialized energy bars exceeding that. The choice between these options depends on your lifestyle and nutritional objectives. When considering items to take on challenging expeditions, it is advisable to opt for the more calorie-dense options.
Preservation method
Consider the process through which this food is preserved and its ability to remain fresh over time. Is it solely dehydrated, or does it undergo the more intricate and effective freeze-drying method? Perhaps the food is submerged in a high-sodium sauce and sealed within a vacuum-packed bag. Most of these methods extend the shelf life of the food, although some are more effective than others.
Freeze-drying involves lowering the temperature of food and then removing the ice to eliminate moisture without harming the food. This method allows for easier rehydration compared to dehydrating, which relies on heat to evaporate the moisture. Inexpensive foods like instant ramen often contain sodium and artificial preservatives, which can have negative effects on cardiovascular health if consumed excessively. Although MREs are usually moist, they are packaged in air-tight, vacuum-sealed bags. However, their shelf life is still not as long as freeze-drying and requires ideal conditions to prevent spoilage.
Preparation method
What is the process of preparing this food to eat? For most items on this list and their associated products, the only requirement is to boil water and rehydrate them for approximately 10 minutes. Certain breakfast items like granola only need a small amount of cold water to be mixed with powdered milk before they are ready to be consumed. Fruits can be eaten as they are or rehydrated in water, if desired.
MREs are designed to be adaptable for any occasion, allowing them to be consumed either hot or cold. By using heater bags, you can warm up main dishes and certain sides in just a few minutes until they become scalding hot. The overarching idea is that nearly everything can be prepared swiftly and effortlessly, with the sole requirement of having access to water.
Survival food kits pricing
Survival food kits and emergency supplies are typically priced between $100 and $150 for a Home Depot bucket-sized container containing twelve pouches of freeze-dried goods. On their website, Mountain House offers a competitive price of around $117. MREs, which are more rare and intricate, cost over $180 for the same number of pouches, but they provide more calories and variety. For those on a tight budget, our most cost-effective option, the Maruchan pack, is priced at only $26. Depending on your needs, weekend-long or week-long supplies can range from $60 to $80, while kits designed for months or even years can easily cost thousands of dollars.
Tips and tricks
After doing something for many decades, you acquire some helpful advice and techniques regarding choosing and utilizing the appropriate product. This applies to us and our knowledge about survival and emergency food kits. To assist you in filling any knowledge gaps, we have compiled a collection of what we have learned throughout our journey.
- Feeling lazy or on a time crunch? Military MREs can be eaten both hot and cold. No need for the heater if you don’t want to use it. They just taste a little better warm.
- The individual food packets of these kits can be stored in more places than just some basement, especially the freeze-dried and MRE-style grab-and-go types. Pack some in your car or in a camper.
- You’re rarely limited to the specific items on this list if you need more or less food. Companies may offer the same food but in a variety of sizes from two-day supplies to years-long.
FAQs about survival food kits
If you have questions, Task & Purpose can provide answers.
Q: What food should I stockpile for survival?
The best approach is to prepare for the worst and have a well-stocked supply of food that meets your nutritional needs. Prioritize essential items that provide carbohydrates, vitamins, and proteins, and consider high-variety packs that contain freeze-dried rice, meats, vegetables, and fruits, ensuring a prolonged shelf life.
Q: How do you store survival food?
Some companies claim that their freeze-dried foods are portable and suitable for various settings like cars, offices, and campers, ensuring convenience whenever necessary. It is generally recommended to store these foods in a dry and cool place, maintaining a temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
Q: What foods have the longest shelf life?
When it comes to preservation, freeze-drying surpasses other methods by a significant margin. The majority of survival food kits available in large quantities will be freeze-dried, enabling them to remain usable for up to three decades. In contrast, MREs have shelf lives of only a few years, depending on the conditions.
Q: Are survival food kits worth it?
A: Spending between $100 and $200 can provide you with food suitable for different situations, such as emergencies or outdoor activities. This food maintains its freshness for several years, making it worth the investment. It’s always wise to have a supply of food on hand, as you never know when it may come in handy.
