Emergency food storage that your household will actually eat

The best emergency food is food you already like, that needs no fridge and little or no cooking.

Reviewed October 2026

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How much to keep

Keep at least several days of non-perishable food for everyone in the house, and two weeks if you have space. A simple way to plan is three meals per person per day. Two people for two weeks is 84 meals. The supply calculator works this out for your household.

What to buy

Choose foods that keep without refrigeration, need little water to prepare, and can be eaten cold if you lose power and can't cook.

• Ready-to-eat protein: canned tuna, chicken, salmon and beans, peanut butter and other nut butters
• Canned fruit and vegetables: packed in juice or water rather than syrup where possible
• Grains and snacks: crackers, granola and cereal bars, dry cereal, rice cakes
• Shelf-stable drinks: boxed or canned milk, juice boxes, powdered drink mixes
• Comfort food: a few things your family looks forward to. It helps more than it sounds, especially with children.
• Special diets: infant formula, baby food, and anything needed for allergies or medical diets
• Pet food: enough for the same number of days as your household supply

Freeze-dried meals last for years and are light to carry, which makes them useful for go bags. They do need water to prepare, so count that water in your supply.

Store it well

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to keep out pests and moisture.
• Avoid storing food near heat sources, which shortens shelf life.

Rotate so nothing goes to waste

Write the purchase month on each item with a marker and put new items at the back. Once or twice a year, move food that is close to its date into your everyday pantry and replace it. Pick a date that is easy to remember, such as the start of hurricane season on June 1.

Cooking without power

Use a camp stove, grill or other fuel-burning cooker outdoors only, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents. Never use one inside a home, garage, tent or camper, because carbon monoxide builds up quickly and can kill. Never use a gas oven or stovetop to heat your home.

Food in the fridge and freezer

When the power goes out, eat food from the refrigerator first, then the freezer, and only then your stored supply. Keep the doors closed as much as possible. Our power outage guide explains how long each stays safe and what to throw away.