Best Emergency Foods to Stock at Home: 25 Long-Lasting Foods for Your 72-Hour Kit

A good emergency food supply isn't about exotic survival rations. Both the UK government's Be Ready campaign and FEMA's Ready.gov recommend ordinary, non-perishable food that doesn't need refrigeration or cooking — and that your household actually likes to eat.

Below are 25 of the best long-lasting foods for a 72-hour kit, grouped by type, with what makes each one useful and how long it typically keeps.

How we chose these foods

Every food on this list meets most of these criteria:

• Shelf-stable at room temperature for many months or years
• Ready to eat or needs very little preparation
• Nutrient-dense — good protein, energy or vitamins for its size
• Affordable and easy to find in any supermarket
• Easy to rotate into normal meals before it expires

About shelf lives: the ranges below are typical guides for unopened products. Always follow the date printed on the pack. As a general rule, the US Department of Agriculture says high-acid canned foods such as tomatoes and fruit keep best for 12–18 months, and low-acid canned foods such as meat and vegetables for 2–5 years.

Canned tuna, sardines and legumes

Canned protein is the backbone of any emergency supply: it's already cooked, safe to eat straight from the tin, and lasts for years.

1. Canned tuna

High in protein, low in fat and endlessly versatile. Choose tuna in spring water or olive oil, and ring-pull tins if you can. Typical shelf life: 2–5 years.

2. Sardines

One of the most nutritious foods you can store: protein, omega-3 fats, and calcium from the soft edible bones. Typical shelf life: 2–5 years.

3. Canned salmon or mackerel

Rich, filling and a good source of omega-3s. Mackerel in tomato sauce makes a meal on its own with crackers. Typical shelf life: 2–5 years.

4. Canned chicken or other meat

Canned chicken, corned beef or ham add variety and work cold in wraps or on crackers. Typical shelf life: 2–5 years.

5. Canned beans and chickpeas

Kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas and baked beans provide protein and fibre and can be eaten cold. Rinse to reduce salt. Typical shelf life: 2–5 years.

6. Canned lentils

Ready-cooked lentils are a quick plant-based protein for salads or stews. Typical shelf life: 2–5 years.

Rice, pasta and dried foods

Dry staples are cheap and keep a long time, but most need water and heat. Store them for longer disruptions, and make sure you also have no-cook food for the first 72 hours.

7. White rice

Inexpensive, filling and one of the longest-lasting staples when kept dry and sealed. Brown rice spoils sooner because of its natural oils. Typical shelf life: 1–2+ years (white).

8. Dried pasta

Cooks in around 10 minutes with a small camping stove. Pair with jarred sauce or canned tomatoes. Typical shelf life: 1–2 years.

9. Couscous or instant noodles

Couscous only needs boiling water poured over it and a few minutes' rest — far less fuel than rice or pasta. Typical shelf life: about 1 year.

10. Rolled oats

Oats can be soaked overnight in shelf-stable milk or water and eaten cold — no cooking needed. Typical shelf life: about 1–2 years.

11. Crackers, oatcakes and crispbreads

Your emergency "bread." Pair with peanut butter, canned fish or cheese spread. Keep them in an airtight tub once opened. Typical shelf life: 6–12 months.

12. Breakfast cereal or granola

A familiar, quick breakfast with shelf-stable milk — especially helpful for children. Typical shelf life: 6–12 months.

Nuts, dried fruits and protein bars

Energy-dense snacks deliver a lot of calories in very little space, which matters when you're storing for a whole household.

13. Peanut butter and nut butters

Protein, healthy fats and energy, with no preparation. Ready.gov lists peanut butter as a recommended emergency food. Typical shelf life: 6–12 months unopened.

14. Mixed nuts

Almonds, cashews and walnuts offer protein and calories. Choose unsalted to avoid extra thirst. Typical shelf life: 6–12 months.

15. Dried fruit

Raisins, apricots, dates and figs add natural sugar, fibre and a little sweetness. Typical shelf life: 6–12 months.

16. Protein or cereal bars

Portable, portioned and liked by most people. Check the date — bars generally have shorter shelf lives than tins. Typical shelf life: 6–12 months.

17. Beef jerky or other dried meat

Lightweight protein that needs no preparation. It can be salty, so balance with water. Typical shelf life: up to about 1 year unopened.

18. Dark chocolate

A genuine morale booster. Ready.gov even recommends including comfort and stress foods in your supply. Typical shelf life: about 1–2 years.

Ready-to-eat meals

19. Canned soup

A complete warm or cold meal in one tin. Choose lower-salt varieties where possible. Typical shelf life: 1–5 years depending on ingredients.

20. Canned chilli, stew or curry

Hearty, protein-rich meals that can be eaten cold if needed. Typical shelf life: 2–5 years.

21. Pre-cooked rice or grain pouches

Pre-cooked pouches only need brief heating on a stove, saving time, water and fuel compared with dry rice. Typical shelf life: about 9–12 months.

22. Self-heating or ready meals

Shelf-stable ready meals, including self-heating packs used by campers, give you a hot meal without power. They cost more, so a few are enough. Typical shelf life: varies by brand — check the pack.

Foods that require little or no cooking

23. Canned vegetables

Sweetcorn, peas, carrots and green beans are already cooked and safe to eat straight from the tin. Typical shelf life: 2–5 years.

24. Canned fruit in juice

Peaches, pears and pineapple provide vitamins and liquid. Choose fruit in juice rather than syrup. Typical shelf life: 12–18 months.

25. UHT or shelf-stable milk

UHT dairy or plant milk works with cereal, oats and tea. Ready.gov lists non-perishable pasteurised milk on its suggested food list. Typical shelf life: several months — check the carton.

How to choose food according to dietary requirements

Ready.gov reminds households to "remember any special dietary needs" when building a supply. Plan for them from the start rather than adding them later.

• Food allergies: read every label, store safe foods separately and label them clearly. Nut-free households can swap nut butters for sunflower or seed butters.
• Gluten-free: rely on rice, rice cakes, gluten-free oats and crackers, canned fish, meat and beans. Check labels on soups and ready meals.
• Vegetarian and vegan: canned beans, lentils and chickpeas, nut butters, nuts, seeds and plant-based UHT milk cover protein needs well.
• Infants: the UK government recommends ready-to-feed formula, because you may not be able to boil water to make up powder safely. Store baby food pouches and familiar snacks for toddlers.
• Older adults: choose soft, easy-to-open foods — ring-pull tins and pouches — and soups that are easy to eat.
• Medical diets (such as diabetes or kidney conditions): ask your doctor, nurse or dietitian which foods suit you, and keep their advice with your kit.
• Pets: store their usual food in an airtight, waterproof container, plus extra water.

Quick tips for a better food supply

• Avoid very salty foods where possible — FoodSafety.gov notes they increase your need for drinking water.
• Pack a manual can opener, even if most tins have ring pulls.
• Never eat from cans that are swollen, badly dented or corroded.
• Store water alongside food — see the UK and US recommendations.
• Rotate your stock so nothing goes to waste. Our complete guide to storing emergency food explains the FIFO method.

Track your 25 foods with SupplyTrack AI

Twenty-five different foods means twenty-five different expiry dates. SupplyTrack AI records each product and batch, sorts them by what expires first, and reminds you before anything goes out of date — with a simple 72-hour checklist to show what's still missing. Start your free inventory.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best food to store for emergencies?

Canned fish, meat and beans are the most useful: ready to eat, protein-rich and long-lasting. Add crackers, nut butter, dried fruit, nuts and bars for energy.

What emergency food lasts the longest?

Low-acid canned foods such as meat, fish and vegetables typically keep best for 2–5 years, and dry white rice stored sealed and dry also lasts a long time. Always follow the date on the pack.

What food doesn't need cooking in an emergency?

Canned fish, meat, beans, vegetables, fruit and soup, plus crackers, nut butter, nuts, dried fruit, cereal, protein bars and UHT milk.

Should I buy freeze-dried survival food?

It's optional. US food-safety guidance says special emergency food isn't necessary — ordinary shelf-stable groceries your family already eats work well and are easier to rotate.

Sources

• FEMA, Food, Ready.gov
• UK Government, Be ready for emergencies
• USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Shelf-Stable Food Safety
• Food Safety in a Disaster or Emergency, FoodSafety.gov

Shelf lives are typical guides only. Always follow the dates on product packaging and advice from health professionals about special diets.