7 Long-Term Survival Foods

As someone who’s spent years researching and testing various survival foods, I’m excited to share my insights on seven essential long-term survival foods that should be in every prepper’s pantry. Here are these options, including some of the best survival food kits available on the market.

1. Mountain House Classic Bucket

Mountain House has earned its reputation as a leader in long-term survival food. Their Classic Bucket is a comprehensive kit that offers an impressive variety of freeze-dried meals with a 30-year shelf life.

This bucket contains 29 servings of hearty, easy-to-prepare meals that only need hot water to reconstitute.

The Mountain House Classic Bucket stands out because of its diverse menu options. You’ll find crowd-pleasers like Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Teriyaki, and Pasta Primavera.

These meals are filling and taste great, which can significantly boost morale in survival situations.

I’ve personally tried these meals during camping trips, and I can attest to their quality and flavor.

The bucket’s compact design makes it easy to store and transport, making it an excellent choice for both home storage and bug-out bags. To maximize the longevity of your Mountain House meals, store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

This simple step can help confirm your food stays fresh and ready for when you need it most.

One aspect I particularly appreciate about the Mountain House Classic Bucket is its ease of preparation. In a high-stress survival situation, the last thing you want is to struggle with complicated cooking instructions.

With these meals, you simply add hot water, wait a few minutes, and you have a hot, nutritious meal ready to eat.

2. Augason Farms 30-Day Emergency Food Storage Supply

For those seeking a more comprehensive long-term food solution, the Augason Farms 30-Day Emergency Food Storage Supply is an excellent choice. This kit provides an impressive 307 servings of various foods, including breakfast items, lunch and dinner entrees, and drink mixes.

With a 20 to 25-year shelf life, this kit is designed to sustain one person for a full month or a family for a shorter period.

What sets the Augason Farms kit apart is its focus on providing balanced nutrition. The meals are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, ensuring that you’re not just surviving but maintaining your health during challenging times.

This aspect is crucial for long-term survival scenarios where nutritional deficiencies could become a serious concern.

The variety of foods in this kit helps combat food fatigue, which can be a real issue during extended emergencies. From hearty soups and stews to pasta dishes and breakfast options, the Augason Farms kit offers enough variety to keep meals interesting over an extended period.

I’ve found the packaging of the Augason Farms kit to be particularly well-designed for long-term storage. The food comes in durable, resealable pouches that are then stored in a sturdy bucket.

This double-layer protection helps confirm the food stays safe from moisture, pests, and other potential contaminants.

3. Wise Company Emergency Food Supply

The Wise Company Emergency Food Supply is another top contender in the long-term survival food category. This kit offers 60 servings of assorted freeze-dried and dehydrated meals with a 25-year shelf life.

What sets Wise Company apart is their commitment to creating meals that cater to various dietary needs, including options for people with gluten sensitivities or vegetarian preferences.

I’m particularly impressed by the packaging of Wise Company’s meals. Each pouch is resealable, allowing you to prepare only what you need and save the rest for later.

This feature is invaluable in situations where you need to ration your food supply carefully.

It also helps prevent waste, which is crucial when resources are limited.

The Wise Company kit includes a variety of entrees such as Creamy Pasta and Vegetable Rotini, Cheesy Lasagna, and Teriyaki and Rice. These meals are designed for long-term storage and for ease of preparation.

Like the Mountain House options, these meals typically only need hot water to prepare.

One aspect of the Wise Company kit that I appreciate is their attention to calorie content. In a survival situation, you need foods that provide enough energy to keep you going.

Many of their meals are calorie-dense, helping to confirm you’re getting enough energy even when portions might be limited.

4. Legacy Premium Food Storage

For those who prioritize taste and variety in their long-term food storage, Legacy Premium Food Storage offers an impressive selection. Their meals boast a 25-year shelf life and are known for their superior flavor compared to many other emergency food options.

The company offers both person meals and comprehensive kits, allowing you to customize your food storage to your specific needs and preferences.

What stands out about Legacy Premium is their commitment to using high-quality ingredients and avoiding artificial preservatives and MSG. This focus on quality ingredients translates to better-tasting meals, which can make a significant difference in morale during extended survival situations.

Legacy Premium offers a wide range of meal options, from breakfast foods like pancakes and oatmeal to hearty dinners like chili and pasta alfredo. They also offer side dishes and drink mixes to round out your meal options.

This variety confirms that you can maintain a semblance of normal eating habits even in extraordinary circumstances.

I’ve found that the Legacy Premium meals tend to have larger serving sizes compared to some other brands. This can be particularly useful in high-stress situations where caloric needs may be increased. The meals are also designed to be easy to prepare, typically requiring only hot water and a short waiting period.

5. Nutrient-Dense Superfoods: Chia Seeds

While pre-packaged meal kits form the backbone of many long-term food storage plans, it’s also wise to include nutrient-dense superfoods that can supplement your diet. Chia seeds are an excellent addition to any survival food stash.

These tiny seeds are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein, and various minerals.

Chia seeds have an impressive shelf life of 2 to 4 years when stored properly, and they don’t need any special preparation. They can be added to water to create a filling gel, sprinkled on other foods, or used to thicken soups and stews.

Their versatility and nutritional profile make them an invaluable resource for long-term survival situations.

One of the most impressive aspects of chia seeds is their ability to absorb water. When added to liquid, they can absorb up to 10 times their weight, forming a gel-like substance.

This property makes them incredibly filling, which can be crucial when food supplies are limited. The gel can also be used as an egg substitute in baking, adding to their versatility.

Chia seeds are also a finish protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. This makes them an excellent supplement to your protein intake, especially if animal protein sources are scarce.

Their high fiber content can help maintain digestive health, which is particularly important in situations where diet and lifestyle changes may cause digestive issues.

To store chia seeds for long-term use, keep them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Adding an oxygen absorber to the container can help extend their shelf life even further.

I recommend rotating your chia seed supply every couple of years to confirm you’re always using the freshest seeds possible.

6. Honey: Nature’s Long-Lasting Sweetener

No long-term food storage plan is finish without considering sweeteners, and honey is the ultimate survival food in this category. Properly stored honey can last indefinitely, making it one of the few foods that never spoil.

Beyond its longevity, honey offers many benefits for survival situations.

It’s a quick source of energy and can help make less palatable survival foods more appealing. In survival situations where morale can be as important as nutrition, having a way to add sweetness to your meals can be a real psychological boost.

When storing honey for long-term use, opt for raw, unprocessed varieties in glass jars to confirm the longest shelf life possible. Avoid plastic containers, as they can degrade over time and potentially contaminate the honey.

Store your honey in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

One of the unique properties of honey is its ability to crystallize over time. This is a natural process and doesn’t mean the honey has gone bad.

To return crystallized honey to its liquid state, simply place the jar in warm water until the crystals dissolve.

Honey can be used in a variety of ways in survival situations. It can be added to hot beverages for a quick energy boost, used as a spread on bread or crackers, or used in cooking and baking.

Its antimicrobial properties also make it a valuable addition to your emergency medical kit.

7. Dried Beans: Versatile Protein Source

Rounding out our list of long-term survival foods are dried beans. These humble legumes are a prepper’s dream, offering a shelf life of up to 30 years when stored properly.

Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

What makes dried beans particularly valuable for long-term survival is their versatility. They can be used in a wide variety of dishes, from soups and stews to salads and even ground into flour for baking.

Different bean varieties offer different nutritional profiles and flavors, so it’s wise to store a selection to confirm dietary variety.

When storing dried beans, keep them in airtight containers in a cool, dry place. Adding oxygen absorbers to the containers can further extend their shelf life.

Remember that older beans may take longer to cook, so factor this into your meal planning and fuel considerations in a survival situation.

Beans are nutritious and incredibly filling. This makes them an excellent choice for survival situations where you need to make your food supplies last as long as possible.

They’re also relatively inexpensive, allowing you to build up a substantial supply without breaking the bank.

One of the challenges with dried beans is their cooking time. In a survival situation where fuel may be limited, this could be a concern.

To address this, consider storing some pre-cooked, canned beans as well.

While they don’t have the same long shelf life as dried beans, they can be a valuable addition to your food storage for situations where quick meal preparation is necessary.

To maximize the nutritional benefits of beans, consider sprouting them before cooking. Sprouting increases the bioavailability of nutrients and can make the beans easier to digest.

This process does need some extra time and effort, but it can be a valuable skill to learn for long-term survival situations.

Building a Robust Long-Term Food Storage Plan

Creating a comprehensive long-term food storage plan involves a combination of pre-packaged meal kits and person long-lasting food items. By incorporating a variety of options, you can confirm that you’re meeting your nutritional needs and maintaining a sense of normalcy through food during challenging times.

The key to successful long-term food storage is regular rotation and familiarization with your supplies. Don’t wait for an emergency to taste test your survival foods – incorporate them into your regular meal planning to confirm you’re comfortable with their preparation and taste.

When building your food storage, consider the following factors:

1. Nutritional Balance: Ensure your food storage includes a mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, as well as essential vitamins and minerals.
2. Calorie Content: In survival situations, you may need more calories than usual.

Make sure your food storage provides adequate energy.

3. Dietary Restrictions: If you or your family members have specific dietary needs or allergies, confirm your food storage accommodates these.
4. Storage Conditions: Different foods have different storage requirements.

Ensure you can provide the proper storage conditions for each item in your stockpile.

5. Water Requirements: Many long-term storage foods need water for preparation.

Ensure you have an adequate water supply or water purification method.

6. Cooking Methods: Consider how you’ll prepare your food in an emergency.

Include foods that can be eaten without cooking, as well as those that need minimal preparation.

7. Comfort Foods: While nutrition is paramount, don’t underestimate the psychological benefit of familiar, comforting foods in stressful situations.

Your food storage is a living system. Regularly check expiration dates, rotate your stock, and adjust your supplies based on changing needs or preferences.

With careful planning and maintenance, your long-term food storage can provide security and peace of mind in uncertain times.

People Also Asked

What is the longest lasting survival food?

Honey is considered one of the longest-lasting survival foods. When stored properly, honey can last indefinitely because of its low moisture content and high acidity, which prevent bacterial growth.

How long do freeze-dried foods last?

Freeze-dried foods typically have a shelf life of 25-30 years when stored properly in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Some manufacturers claim even longer shelf lives for certain products.

Are MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) good for long-term storage?

While MREs are designed for short-term use in military operations, they can be stored for long periods. Most MREs have a shelf life of about 5 years when stored at 75°F or less.

However, they’re generally not recommended as a primary long-term storage food because of their shorter shelf life compared to freeze-dried options.

How much food should I store for emergency preparedness?

The general recommendation is to store at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food for short-term emergencies. For long-term preparedness, many experts suggest storing enough food to last 3-6 months or even up to a year, depending on your specific circumstances and concerns.

Can canned foods be used for long-term storage?

Yes, many canned foods can be used for long-term storage. Most commercially canned foods have a shelf life of 2-5 years from the date of manufacture.

Some canned foods, particularly those high in acid like tomatoes, may have shorter shelf lives.

What’s the best way to store rice for long-term survival?

For long-term storage, white rice should be stored in airtight containers with oxygen absorbers in a cool, dry place. When stored properly, white rice can last 25-30 years.

Brown rice, because of its higher oil content, has a shorter shelf life of about 6-12 months.

Are protein bars good for long-term survival food storage?

While protein bars can be a convenient source of nutrition, they typically don’t have the long shelf life required for true long-term storage. Most protein bars have a shelf life of 6-12 months.

They can be included in a short-term emergency kit but aren’t ideal for long-term storage.

How often should I rotate my survival food supply?

It’s generally recommended to rotate your survival food supply annually. This involves checking expiration dates, consuming or donating foods nearing expiration, and replacing them with fresh supplies.

Some long-term storage foods with 25+ year shelf lives may not need frequent rotation.

Can I store seeds as part of my long-term food storage?

Yes, seeds can be an excellent addition to long-term food storage. Many seeds, when stored properly in airtight containers in a cool, dry place, can last 5-10 years or more.

They provide the added benefit of being able to grow your own food if necessary.

What’s the difference between freeze-dried and dehydrated foods for long-term storage?

Freeze-dried foods typically have a longer shelf life (25-30 years) compared to dehydrated foods (15-20 years). Freeze-dried foods also keep more of their original flavor, texture, and nutritional value.

However, dehydrated foods are often less expensive and take up less storage space.

Key Takeaways

1. Long-term survival food storage should include a mix of pre-packaged meal kits and person long-lasting food items.
2. Mountain House, Augason Farms, Wise Company, and Legacy Premium offer excellent options for freeze-dried meal kits with long shelf lives.
3. Nutrient-dense superfoods like chia seeds can supplement your long-term food storage and provide essential nutrients.
4. Honey is nature’s longest-lasting sweetener and offers many benefits beyond just flavoring.
5. Dried beans are a versatile and long-lasting protein source that should be included in any comprehensive food storage plan.