These Emergency Food Kits Can Give You Serious Peace of Mind in Case of a Disaster

If you find yourself dwelling on natural disasters and other emergencies that may cut off food and water supplies or cause shortages, the best way to quell your anxiety is to be prepared. And for many people who've spent the past two years in the throes of a pandemic, you may understand the reality of how quickly supply chain issues can translate to real-life difficulties acquiring essential goods all too well.

Most experts agree that a 3-day food supply is likely sufficient for most emergency situations, but it's generally a good idea to have at least a 2-week supply available for every member of your household. While gathering staples like canned goods, pasta, and peanut butter may keep you safe for some time, the shelf life of those products isn't indefinite, meaning you'll have to remember to replace your stash every few years.

That's why buying emergency food kits makes sense. Luckily, there are established companies out there with tons of experience creating complete, nourishing meals—including dessert and snacks—that taste better than you might expect. Some are geared toward sustenance for camping and extreme outdoor adventures, but work just as well for disaster preparedness, whereas others are meant to meet nutritional needs for the long term. Read on for our top recommendations, plus advice on essentials to consider before you shop.

The Best Emergency Food Kits

What to Consider

The first question to address is how much food you should have on hand. The answer varies depending on the number of people your stash is for and the amount of storage space you’re willing to dedicate to emergency food rations. Start with taking stock of everyone in your family or group (pets included) and their recommended daily caloric intake. You may want to talk to your doctor or pediatrician prior to buying emergency food rations to get advice on the nutritional requirements you'll need to meet to maintain each individual's overall health.

Once you have that basic information, finding the kit that’s best for you boils down to individual tastes, along with dietary restrictions and preferences. Emergency kits generally include calorically-dense comfort food—things like mac and cheese, hearty soups and casseroles, and chili. Some kits also include breakfast—typically cereal or granola—along with snacks, drinks, and dessert. Most companies offer sides as part of their product lines, so you can purchase things like fruits and veggies separately to add to main meals. There are also emergency ration bars and packs of survival tabs—small, nutritionally-dense food replacements that require no preparation—that you may wish to include in your stash.

All of the options covered below require water for proper preparation, so it's a good idea to pick up several emergency survival water pouches to complement your stash of meals, or you can follow the CDC's steps for making and storing your own water supply. The shelf life of emergency kits varies; many brands promise up to 20 or even 30 years, though some last 10 years or less. How food is packaged is the main determinant for shelf life, along with preservatives added. In terms of storage, kits are best kept in dry, dark places, at temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

How We Chose

Every emergency food kit we write about below has an average customer rating of four stars or more, and they all come from top brands, including ReadyWise, Mountain House, and Augason Farms, in addition to some smaller producers that offer high-quality boxes for specials diets. Our selection includes options across multiple price points, including ones that are budget-friendly, plus we feature kits that come in a range of sizes.