I want to build a simple emergency food supply. What are the best non-perishable items to include?

Named in 18% of answers

Carbohydrates (energy and filling foods)

• Rice (white rice stores longer than many whole grains)
• Pasta
• Oats or instant oatmeal packets
• Crackers
• Cereal or granola
• Tortillas with long shelf life
• Instant potatoes
• Shelf-stable bread productsIllinois Extension+1

Fruits and vegetables

• Canned vegetables (corn, green beans, carrots, peas)
• Canned fruit (peaches, pears, fruit cups)
• Applesauce cups or pouches
• Dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cranberries)
• Freeze-dried fruits and vegetablesHealthline

Ready-to-eat meals

• Canned soups and stews
• Canned chili
• Shelf-stable meal pouches
• Instant noodle cups (preferably paired with protein)
• MRE-style meals if you want compact optionsFood Safety and Inspection Service

Fats and calorie boosters

• Peanut butter
• Nuts
• Olive oil or other cooking oils
• Trail mix
• Seeds
• Shelf-stable cheese products (where appropriate)

Drinks and cooking helpers

• Bottled water (store separately from food)
• Powdered milk
• Shelf-stable milk cartons
• Electrolyte drink mixes
• Coffee, tea, cocoa
• Salt, pepper, spices, bouillon cubesFCS UGA

A simple starter supply (for 1 person, about 1 week)

• 2 large jars peanut butter
• 6–8 cans of beans
• 6–10 cans of meat/fish
• 2–5 pounds rice or pasta
• 1 container oats
• 10–14 granola/protein bars
• 6–10 cans of vegetables and fruit
• 4–6 soups or ready meals
• Nuts/trail mix
• Crackers
• Shelf-stable milk or powdered milk
• Multivitamin (optional)

Don’t forget the non-food items

• Manual can opener
• Paper plates, utensils, napkins
• Food-safe storage bins
• A marker to label purchase dates
• Any special foods for infants, pets, allergies, or medical dietsAsk USDA

Storage tips

• Store food somewhere cool, dry, and dark.
• Rotate items: eat older supplies and replace them.
• Avoid buying foods your household won’t eat.
• Keep some “no-cook” foods in case power or water is disrupted.FoodSafety.gov

For a basic first setup, I’d prioritize: water + peanut butter + canned beans + canned meat/fish + rice/oats + canned fruit/vegetables + crackers + bars. That gives you calories, protein, and variety without spending much.

USDA specifically lists dried fruit, canned produce, shelf-stable meat/fish, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, granola bars, crackers, dry milk, and juice as suitable emergency foods.Ask USDA

A very simple 3-day starter kit

For one adult, I'd start with roughly:

• 6–9 cans/pouches of protein or complete meals
• 3–6 cans of fruit/vegetables
• 1 jar peanut butter
• 1 box crackers
• 1 container oatmeal or cereal
• 6–9 granola/protein bars
• 1 bag nuts/trail mix
• 1 bag dried fruit
• 1–2 boxes shelf-stable milk or equivalent
• A few favorite snacks
• At least 3 gallons of water
• Manual can opener

Choose foods you already like and normally eat; Ready.gov specifically recommends doing this rather than buying a bunch of unfamiliar "emergency food."Deja Vu

One important detail: prioritize foods that require little/no water or cooking. During an outage, you may have neither electricity nor safe running water. Also avoid relying heavily on very salty foods because they increase your need for drinking water.FoodSafety.gov

Store everything somewhere cool, dry, and accessible, and rotate items into your normal meals so they don't sit forgotten until their quality deteriorates. USDA also recommends keeping a manual can opener with the supply.fsis.usda.gov

If you tell me how many people you're stocking for (and whether you want 3 days, 1 week, or 1 month), I can turn this into a specific shopping list with quantities.

Would you like help with:

• Estimating how many days of food you should aim to store?
• Tips on proper storage and rotating expiration dates?
• Putting together a water storage plan to go with your food?

Carbohydrates and filling staples

• Rice (especially instant rice if you may lack cooking fuel)
• Pasta
• Oats and oatmeal packets
• Crackers
• Granola bars
• Ready-to-eat cereal
• Tortillas or shelf-stable flatbreads
• Dried beans and lentils (longer storage but require water and cooking)University of Minnesota Extension+1

Fruits and vegetables

• Canned fruit (preferably packed in juice)
• Canned vegetables
• Applesauce cups
• Dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots)
• Fruit cups
• Vegetable juice or shelf-stable juice boxesAsk USDA

Ready-to-eat meals

• Canned soups and stews
• Canned chili
• Pasta meals in cans or pouches
• Shelf-stable meal kits
• Freeze-dried meals (especially useful if you have a way to heat water)University of Minnesota Extension

Fats and flavor boosters

• Cooking oil (small bottles)
• Peanut butter
• Honey
• Salt and seasonings
• Bouillon cubes
• Instant coffee, tea, cocoa
• Hot sauce or condiments in packetsAlabama Department of Public Health

A simple starter shopping list for 1 person (about 3–7 days)

• 6–12 cans of beans, meat, soup, or vegetables
• 1 jar peanut butter
• 1 box crackers
• 1 container oats
• 1 bag rice or pasta
• 6–10 granola/protein bars
• 1–2 bags nuts or trail mix
• 4–6 cans or cups of fruit
• Powdered or shelf-stable milk
• Electrolyte drink packets
• Manual can openerAlabama Department of Public Health

Don’t forget

• Water: Food is only useful if you can drink and prepare it. A common emergency guideline is about 1 gallon of water per person per day for drinking and basic needs.Alabama Department of Public Health
• Manual can opener
• Disposable utensils/plates
• Pet food or infant supplies if needed
• Any allergy-friendly or medically necessary foods
• A rotation system: use items before they expire and replace them.readyalabama.gov

A practical approach is to buy normal groceries you already eat, then gradually set aside extras rather than buying a large emergency kit all at once.fcs.uga.edu

Golden Rules for Your Supply

• Check the Water Requirement: Ensure you have enough stored water ($1$ gallon per person, per day) if your choices require boiling or rehydration (like instant rice or oatmeal).
• Rotate Your Stock: Eat what you store and store what you eat. Use a First-In, First-Out method so items don't expire in the back of your pantry.
• Don't Forget a Can Opener: Keep a reliable manual can opener with your emergency stash—it sounds obvious, but it's easily forgotten!

If you'd like, tell me:

• How many people you are feeding
• How many days of supply you want to build (e.g., 3-day vs. 2-week)
• Any dietary restrictions (gluten-free, vegan, allergies)

I can help you create a customized shopping list and portion calculator.

If you want the simplest possible shopping list

For one adult for 3 days, I'd start with something like:

• 4–6 cans of protein/beans
• 4–6 cans of vegetables and fruit
• 3–4 cans of soup/chili
• 1 jar peanut butter
• 1 box crackers
• 6–9 granola/protein bars
• 1 bag nuts or trail mix
• 1 bag dried fruit
• 1 box cereal
• 1–2 containers shelf-stable milk
• A few comfort foods
• Manual can opener

The manual can opener is easy to overlook; Ready.gov specifically recommends having one.Deja Vu+1

Water is even more important than food. Plan on roughly 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation, with at least several days' supply.Deja Vu

One final tip: don't build the supply entirely around rice, beans, pasta, or other foods that require significant water and cooking. In a power outage, the best emergency foods are those you can open and eat immediately. FoodSafety.gov likewise recommends foods requiring little or no cooking, water, or refrigeration.foodsafety.gov

If you'd like, I can also make you a $50, $100, or $200 emergency-food shopping list for one person or a family, using ordinary grocery-store foods.

For a true emergency, I'd favor ready-to-eat canned foods, nut butter, crackers, bars, dried fruit, and canned meats over foods that require lots of water or cooking. Florida emergency-preparedness guidance similarly recommends compact foods requiring little or no preparation.Duval County Health+1

A very simple 3-day kit for one adult

You could start with roughly:

• 3 gallons water
• 3–6 cans beans/chili
• 3–6 cans tuna/chicken
• 3 cans vegetables
• 3 cans fruit
• 1 jar peanut butter
• 1 box crackers
• 6–9 granola/protein bars
• 1 bag trail mix/nuts
• 1 bag dried fruit
• 1 box oatmeal or cereal
• 1 package shelf-stable milk
• Manual can opener

Storage tip: Keep canned and other shelf-stable foods somewhere cool and dry, not in a hot garage or next to a stove. USDA notes that temperatures above 100°F can significantly harm canned goods.Food Safety and Inspection Service+1

If you tell me how many people you're preparing for and whether you're aiming for 3 days, 1 week, or 1 month, I can turn this into a specific shopping list with quantities.

If you'd like, let me know:

• How many people you are feeding
• How many days of supply you want to target (e.g., 3-day vs. 2-week)
• Whether you have cooking capabilities (like a camp stove) or need completely "ready-to-eat" foods

I can help you estimate quantities or draft a precise shopping list.