What exactly are we referring to when we mention “survival food”?
Do we have enough survival food to last us during a 3 day blizzard?
What about a power outage lasting for a month?
Imagine a scenario where a calamity forces us to evacuate our houses and retreat into the wilderness.
Different types of survival foods will be required for each of these situations.
Short-Term Disaster Survival Foods
The following are the prevalent forms of disasters that we encounter. They encompass scenarios such as being stuck at home during blizzards, preventing us from going out for grocery shopping. They also encompass momentary electricity blackouts.
There is no need for a large stock of survival food in such situations, as you can rely on your regular food supply (especially if the power grid stops functioning, in which case you should quickly consume any frozen items).
However, there are certain items that are essential.
- WATER: During blizzards, hurricanes, and other disaster situations, it is common for the water to go off. Have at least 1-2 gallons per person, per day. This includes water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene.
- Canned food: Including canned meat, beans, fish, fruit, vegetables
- Crackers
- Oatmeal
- Cereal
- Powdered milk
- Peanut butter or powdered peanut butter
- Jams and jellies (preferably in plastic containers and not glass)
- Crackers
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Granola bars
- Red lentils
- Couscous
- Dried fruits/fruit leather
What Isn’t On This Survival Foods List:
Dry beans, pasta, and rice, which are commonly regarded as essential survival foods, are notable for their absence from this list. The rationale behind this omission is their prolonged cooking duration. Despite pre-soaking dry beans, they still require approximately an hour to cook. While rice and pasta fare slightly better in terms of cooking time, they, too, demand a considerable amount of time for preparation.
In the event of an emergency, it is highly unlikely that you will have access to electricity for cooking. Attempting to cook dry beans in such circumstances will deplete your fuel supply rapidly.
In addition, it is not always safe to cook with fire following an emergency. Gas leaks, for instance, are frequently observed during earthquakes. Therefore, if you suspect a gas leak, it is advised to refrain from igniting any fire.
Keep to foods that do not require cooking.
When it comes to immediate emergencies, choosing no-cook foods is the most secure option. Canned foods are particularly advantageous since they are resilient to flooding and other types of damage.
Opt for instant mashed potatoes, which can be quickly prepared with cold water if needed, and crackers for your carbohydrate intake. Additionally, red lentils are included in the list since they can also be cooked rapidly after being soaked beforehand.
Long-Term Disaster Survival Food
Although we hope that these situations will never arise, it is important to be ready for them in case they do. In the event of an EMP attack or nuclear catastrophe, we may need to stay confined in our homes (bug in) for an extended period of more than a month.
During these circumstances, our need for survival food will undergo significant alterations. You are required to select foods that:
- Provide you with optimal nutrition.
- Can be cooked/prepared with very little fuel and water.
- Won’t be damaged easily (for example, nothing in glass jars).
- Are compact so can be stored easily.
- Have minimal packaging so your location doesn’t get littered with trash.
- Don’t all taste the same so you come down with food fatigue.
List of Long-Term Survival Foods:
Freeze-drying is the process used for many of the foods mentioned on this list. Properly packaged, these foods can remain edible for over 25 years, while also preserving their nutrients and enjoyable taste.
Although specialty survival foods may come with a higher price tag, they offer great convenience.
- WATER: Again, water is your most important survival item!
- Canned Foods: These are great for both short-term and long-term disasters. Just don’t rely solely on canned goods as they are usually loaded with sodium and sugar (plus most taste like crap).
- Freeze Dried Fruit: Freeze drying is one of the best ways to preserve fruit for the long term, and without taking up much space. Invest in freeze-dried fruits as you will really need the antioxidants in fruit to keep you healthy… Not to mention the fiber you will need to keep your bowels moving!
- Freeze Dried Veggies: Freeze dried veggies taste a lot better than canned veggies, and they take up a lot less space. Just add water to rehydrate them, or snack on them. You will need them for the minerals and vitamins that they provide.
- Seaweed: Seaweed isn’t exactly the tastiest food, but it is one of the most nutritious foods you will find and is very compact when dried. It is also naturally salty so you can use it to flavor foods.
- Olive Oil, Vegetable Oil and Lard: Oils and fat are the most caloric-dense foods you will find. They will provide you with energy, flavor food, and also prevent food from sticking to your cooking pots and pans.
- Honey: Honey can last virtually forever, is a great natural immunity booster, and has anti-bacterial properties. For long-term survival, it beats sugar for flavoring food.
- Powdered Milk: Look for powdered milk in cans as it will last longer without having to vacuum seal.
- Instant Meals: Don’t bother with the instant meals you find in supermarkets. They usually take up too much space with empty packaging and are nutritionally incomplete. Further, they aren’t meant to be stored for a long time. This is your survival we are talking about, so spend a bit more on emergency food from a reputable brand.
- Freeze Dried Meat: This takes up much less space than canned meat.
- Dried Meat: When stored properly, dried meat can last for over a year.
- Dried fruits and vegetables: These can last for upwards of 5 years when stored properly.
- Beans, lentils and rice: These are cheap and have very long shelf lives. Just remember that they take forever to cook, so you’ll need an off-grid stove plus lots of fuel.
- Canned tuna in oil: This is a great source of protein and Omega 3. Plus, you can turn a tuna can into a survival candle or stove!
- Ramen Noodles: You will want some carbs, and these are great because they cook quickly.
- Instant Mashed Potatoes: Also because you will want some carbs and no cooking is required.
- Protein bars and granola bars
- Pickles/Preserves: Learn how to make your own lacto-fermented pickles here. Just remember to store the jars in a way that is safe for disasters like earthquakes.
Storing Long-Term Survival Foods
Having an indefinite shelf life doesn’t guarantee a food’s survival during a disaster. For instance, even though a bag of sugar won’t spoil, it would be rendered unusable if it comes into contact with floodwater. The same applies to all boxed foods.
To ensure the longevity of your stockpile, it is recommended to package survival foods, excluding cans, in vacuum-sealed mylar bags before placing them in buckets. To learn more about commonly made mistakes in food stockpiling, refer to this article.
Bug Out Survival Food
In case of certain disaster scenarios, we may need to evacuate our homes and retreat into the wilderness. It is imperative to avoid carrying heavy food cans in your Bug Out bag!
The significance of caloric density cannot be overstated in this situation. Given the limited space in your bag, it is vital to restrict the amount of food you pack. However, prioritizing water is even more critical as you can survive without food for a month but only endure 3 days without water.
Please bring:
- Survival water + water collection device + water filter
- Survival food bars or other nutrient-dense foods
That’s everything necessary for food in your Bug Out Bag!
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