As the old saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry; especially when it comes to food and shelter. You see, nobody expects trouble to strike and they certainly do not expect any life-threatening event to occur that might jeopardize their life and the lives of everyone they love. But considering how fragile our current geopolitical climate is, it certainly couldn’t hurt to invest in a few safety measures if you have the time and resources. Not just that but disaster can strike at any minute if you live in an area that’s prone to natural disasters. Now, a good way to prepare without doing anything overzealous is to invest in some emergency food if you haven’t already.

For the most part, emergency food is easy to come by and guaranteed to keep you alive and relatively healthy for a very long time provided that you took the time to properly prepare in good time. The choice of suppliers seems to expand on a regular basis, you see, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that all the emergency food the market has to offer is up to par. A good way to ensure that you’re getting the right quality is to educate yourself on what’s out there and carefully consider your options. To help you through, we put together a list of the ten best emergency foods money can buy right now.

Best Emergency Foods – Reviews

10MRE Star Ready to Eat Complete Meals

Whether you’re facing a hurricane, earthquakes, or even the zombie apocalypse, the MRE Star Ready to Eat Complete Meals will keep you going. Each of the four meals come with flameless heaters that let you quickly heat up the food without stoves or flames. This MRE meal contains lentils stew with potatoes and is flavored in ham which gives it its unique taste. Each of the packs can be used daily and can be consumed along with other meals for a complete and wholesome meal. It is also packed and sealed to ensure that the meal lasts for years without expiring which is perfect for emergency situations.

9DAILY Russian Army FOOD RATION PACK

This extended and fully packed food ration pack comes with multiple entrees along with survival equipment and a short guide. With at least six different dishes, this bundle comes with beef and chicken meals that are delicious and provide enough energy to last an entire day. The meals can be eaten straight out of the box and don’t need to be cooked or heated and are perfect for emergency situations such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and other emergency situations that might impede your access to fresh food.

8NorthWest Fork Gluten-Free 30-Day Emergency Food Supply

One of the biggest features of the NorthWest Fork Gluten-Free 30 Day Emergency Food Supply is that the pouches are made from thicker material and are resealable which helps keep food fresh for longer. All the ingredients used in this food kit are all-natural, gluten-free, and 100% vegan which makes it perfect for everyone. The emergency food kit has a shelf life of 10 years which makes it ideal for all types of natural and man-made disasters including hurricanes, earthquakes, and more.

7Sustain Supply Co. Premium Emergency Survival Kit

With the Sustain Supply Co. Premium Emergency Survival Kit, you get enough nutrition and water for 2 adults for a total of 72 hours. It is ideal for most emergency situations including hurricanes and earthquakes and includes food, water, and survival equipment. Some of the equipment included are filtration straws, LED lanterns, flashlights, first aid kits, bowls and utensils, portable stoves, and whistles. Not just that but the kit also has a fire starting kit which makes creating a fire quick and easy and is perfect for outdoor adventures.

6Emergency Zone Urban Survival 72-Hour Bug Out Bag Survival Kit

Designed to offer food, water, and first aid for up to 72 hours, the Emergency Zone Urban Survival 72-Hour Bug Out Bag Survival Kit is perfect for any natural or man-made emergency situation. The kit comes in a sturdy, durable, and discreet black backpack that is fitted with a number of pockets and storage compartments to safely keep maps, tools, food, and water together. At the same time, the kit has a shelf life of up to 5 years which makes it ideal for any survival plans and ensures that you never lose the taste and freshness.

5Wise Company Emergency Food Supply

The Wise Company Emergency Food Supply is made for all types of emergencies including earthquakes, hurricanes, landslides, and more. There are a total of 60 servings of beef and chicken in this kit, all of which are packaged in 4-portion pouches and made to last for over 15 years. The extended shelf life reduces waste and the easy to carry pouches make it convenient to take on hikes, camping trips, and use during emergencies. The kit also comes with 20 servings of white long grain rice and takes just 15 minutes to prepare using water.

4Augason Farms 30-Day Emergency Food Storage Supply

When you choose the Augason Farms 30-Day, you get superior quality food that not only tastes great but also lasts for up to 20 years. The kit includes various types of meals including cheesy broccoli and creamy chicken rice, macaroni and cheese, chicken and potato soup, and oatmeal. With a total of 307 servings and 35 food pouches, this kit is made for people facing any kind of natural or man-made disaster. To prepare the food pouches, all you need is some water and takes just under 10 minutes to prepare.

3SOS Food Labs Inc S.O.S Rations

Energy bars are a great way to get through the day and the SOS Food Labs Inc S.O.S Rations deliver the most flavorful and power-packed experience in the category. The pack contains 9 pre-rationed, ready to eat protein bars that contain 3,600 Kcal per bar which is more than enough to keep you going. Combined with a delicious cinnamon flavor, these energy bars will not only give you the energy you need but will also have you enjoying it. The specially created formula ensures that your mouth is not left dry and thirsty for water. We should also point out that it has a shelf life of up to 5 years and is perfectly designed for emergency situations like earthquakes, hurricanes, and more.

2Wise Company Wise Food Emergency Survival Backpack Kit

A good way to always stay prepared is to get yourself a Wise Company Wise Food Emergency Survival Backpack Kit and place it somewhere around the house that’s easy to reach. You see, this kit contains survival food, water, and equipment. The kit also contains gourmet food including 32 servings of delicious soups, cereals, pasta, milk, and water as well as a convenient hygiene kit that comes with dust masks, bandages, and more. You will also find a portable stove and 24 fuel tablets in the kit, a package that can help you quickly cook or warm food when needed. Furthermore, the kit also comes with waterproof matches and a stainless steel cup for boiling water.

1Mountain House Essential Bucket

The Mountain House Essential Bucket is a favorite when it comes to emergency food as it contains a large amount of long-lasting, tasty food. Preparing the food takes just 10 minutes and requires a small amount of water only which makes it mess-free and easy to share anywhere. The bucket offers a total of 32 servings, which is more than enough for an entire family for more than a few days. At the same time, this bucket emergency food will retain its taste and stay good for up to 30 years which makes it perfect during hurricanes, earthquakes, and other emergencies. Overall, this is without a doubt, some of the best emergency food the market has to offer at this point in time.

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Emergency Food Buying Guide

Not many people realize this but there are plenty of options in regards to emergency food, especially when it comes to buying survival kits. Considering how relatively affordable emergency food can be, you should consider such a purchase to be an investment in your own future. You don’t really hope or even expect something bad to happen, of course, but you should definitely be prepared if an emergency situation transpires and you find yourself strapped for food. Depending on your choice for emergency food, you might find it rather difficult to figure out which type of product would best suit your needs. In that regard, you should first educate yourself on what the market has to offer before you commit to a purchase of any kind.

Types Of Emergency Food

Determining what type of emergency food to get depends largely on the type of emergency you are most likely to face. In this respect, you need to consider whether you want canned goods, dehydrated food, ramen-type options, or survival kits. With that out of the way, you need to look into the food quality, the taste, the ingredients, and the ease of preparation. Once you consider all that, you get a better understanding of what to get for you and your family.

  • Canned Goods – There are plenty of canned options out there to choose from and their contents are fairly rich in nutrients. You will find that the market has quite a lot to offer in regards to canned foods, be they beans, veggies, fruits, and even meat-based dishes. For the most part, canned goods can last you quite a number of years if properly stored, especially the beans and peas. Not just that but these cans are usually quite affordable and easy to come by.
  • Dehydrated Food – This usually consists of fruits and vegetables, although you can also find some meat options if you go looking. Due to the fact that these goods are dehydrated, you will need to add water to the mix before consumption, which also means that you will need to have a suitable supply of water on hand at the time you eat them. With this type of food, you get all the minerals and fiber of the fruits and vegetables you eat, without losing any of the nutritional content at any time.
  • Instant Ramen – Although it will not sustain a healthy adult for too long, instant ramen provides a good way of staying alive in an emergency situation. One thing to mention about ramen is that it’s very affordable and easy to store, which means that you can buy it in large quantities and simply store it away with no care for its storage needs. We should also point out that ramen can be prepared in a jiffy by anyone with minimal resources required, just a pot of warm water to be more precise.
  • Survival Kits – A survival kit can help you in the first 72 hours of any disaster and not just in regards to eating. It is common for these kits to feature not just go-bags that contain enough nutrition and water to keep you alive for up to three days but also water filtration straws, first aid kits, wipes, blankets, portable stoves, bowls, utensils, and even smaller accessories like knives and whistles. As such, a survival kit should definitely be part of any survivor’s arsenal for a variety of practical reasons.

Quality

One should always consider the quality of any survival food they are purchasing, not just the taste. You should expect survival food to retain its capacity to stay fresh for up to twenty years or more, and you should not settle for anything that doesn’t have a shelf life of at least fifteen years. A good way to ensure that you’re getting the right quality is to either ask for servings that you can taste or to check out customer reviews for a better insight. Not just that but high-quality emergency food should also maintain its nutritional value for a couple of decades if it’s properly stored.

Gluten-free Emergency Food

Although there aren’t many of those who seek out gluten-free emergency food, there is indeed a market for them. Because some people require gluten-free food, their emergency food options must absolutely be gluten-free as well. Now, it should be said that this particular type of food costs a bit more but then again, it is a small price to pay in an emergency situation. Bear in mind that most emergency foods have an ingredient list which you should definitely read if you are allergic to any ingredients, not just gluten.

Consider The Brand

It also needs to be said that when it comes to emergency foods, some manufacturers are definitely better than others. This is reflected in the variety of foods they produce and also in the quality of their products across a fairly wide spectrum. You should be prepared to spend quite a lot of money on a decent emergency food pack or kit, especially if it’s made by a reputable brand. This is because world-renowned brands tend to take quality control very seriously while also employing nothing but the very best ingredients.

Coffee & Sweets

While survival food should be a priority when preparing for an emergency situation, you should also consider getting some coffee and sweets as well. In the spur of the moment, people often buy a variety of food items, with little regard to their other dietary needs. So, if you can spare the resources, you should definitely invest in some quality coffee to raise your spirits should you ever find yourself in an emergency situation. Sweets tend to have roughly the same effect, not to mention the high-calorie count of most chocolates and candy out there.

Conclusion

All things considered, the decision on what emergency food to get usually comes down to personal choice, especially in this day and age. At the same time, emergency food should also reflect the dietary needs of yourself and your family along with any pets you might have. As we said, you should look into tasting samples of whatever food you plan on buying or at least take the time to read up online reviews for a better understanding of what these products can offer. In the end, however, the choice of emergency food depends on the food’s availability and whether it comes in packages that can be easily stored.