The Best Emergency Food Storage Supplies

Long-term food storage has had a bad rep as something only survivalists holed up in shacks do. But that reputation is changing as people realize that having food stored for emergencies is just good common sense.

It doesn't have to be a disaster, though a storm that will keep you from getting to the grocery store is definitely a good reason to stock up. However, economic distress is also a concern of preppers and survivalists. A job loss or being underemployed is stressful enough without not being able to put food on the table. Having back-up food storage can help make a tough time easier.

There are canned foods that will last from a few months to a couple of years or more. But along with a good canned food supply, there are other items you can start storing that will last from 5 to 30 years. Along with the food, there are supplies that will help the food keep as long as possible which are detailed below.

Food-safe buckets are a great way to protect food storage from water, insects and mice. That's not nice to think about, but a lot of people keep their food in basements or other underground rooms. You can purchase them in many sizes but 5 and 6-gallon buckets are common.

Depending on the supplier, you may have to purchase lids separately. Many lids can't be used twice but are good to use for things you know you're going to store for several years. Gamma lids can be reused and are easier to open. They're good to use once you've taken off the other lids or to use with food you're using now such as rice or wheat.

Mylar bags can be used as an extra layer of protection in the storage buckets or as separate storage. They require heat to seal which is explained in the videos below. If you're using the hot iron method, then you'll want to be sure to include oxygen absorbers as oxygen is one of the things that will add to the deterioration of your food storage. You can also use oxygen absorbers in glass canning jars when storing food such as dry beans.

If you want a head start on food storage, you might consider a ready-made food storage kit or a meal kit. Below is a set with buckets, mylar bags, oxygen absorbers and a hand sealer as well as 2 kits with meals ready to go otherwise known as MRE (Meals Ready to Eat).

There are some extras that make food storage easier. A rubber mallet helps seal the lids to the buckets. A bung wrench will help take off the sealed lids, and the Food Saver system or something similar is one way of sealing mylar bags. Canning jars are excellent to have on hand to store smaller supplies of food.