Best Survival Food Kits 2024 Review

When it comes to preparing for emergencies, we can all agree that having reliable food supplies is critical for survival.

The good news is that in 2022, there are some outstanding survival food kits available that provide nutritious, long-lasting meals to keep your family nourished in a crisis.

In this roundup, we analyze the top-rated survival food kits of 2022 against key criteria like shelf life, dietary accommodations, and ease of preparation. You'll discover the ideal emergency food supply to meet your family's unique needs, regardless of budget or storage space.

Introduction to Emergency Preparedness

Emergency situations can arise suddenly, whether from natural disasters, accidents, or other unexpected events. Having an emergency food supply on hand can provide nourishment and sustain families until regular food sources become available again. Survival food kits are designed specifically for these situations.

Understanding Survival Food Kits

Survival food kits contain non-perishable food items with long shelf lives, allowing them to last for years. They are made to feed individuals or entire families during emergencies when typical food supplies are disrupted. The food is easy to prepare, requiring only the addition of water in most cases. Kits come in various sizes, with smaller kits meant for short-term needs and larger kits providing a month's supply or more.

Evaluating the Best Emergency Food Supply Kits

When selecting an emergency food kit, key factors to consider include:

Nutritional value: The food should provide complete, balanced nutrition to keep you healthy.
Shelf life: Look for kits with 5+ year shelf lives. The longer the better.
Ease of preparation: Opt for add-water meals that are quick and simple to make.
Serving size: Choose a kit that provides adequate servings for your family size and expected duration of an emergency event.
Dietary needs: If you have food allergies or preferences, select foods that fit your diet.

The Goal of This 2024 Survival Food Kit Review

This article will analyze the top-rated survival food kits in 2024 based on nutritional content, shelf life, taste, preparation method, and value. The goal is to highlight the best well-rounded options to meet a variety of emergency preparedness needs.

What is the absolute best survival food?

When preparing for an emergency, having a stockpile of non-perishable food is essential. Though there are many options to choose from, some key factors to consider are nutritional value, shelf life, and ease of preparation.

Based on expert recommendations and customer reviews, here is a look at some of the best survival food kits in 2022 that check all the boxes:

ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply

120 servings of freeze-dried meat, fruits, vegetables, grains
25 year shelf life
Just add water, no refrigeration needed
Highly-rated for taste

Mountain House Essential Bucket

84 total servings
Includes popular meals like beef stew, chicken teriyaki, eggs with bacon
30 year shelf life
Very lightweight and portable

Good To-Go Emergency Food Kit

18 individual meal pouches
Gourmet recipes like pad thai, herbed mushrooms, southwest chicken
5 year shelf life
Heats with boiling water in pouch

When selecting an emergency food supply, be sure to consider your household size, dietary needs, budget, and available storage space. Having a backstock of single ingredients like peanut butter, canned goods, cereal and nuts is also handy for stretching food supplies in disaster situations. With the right planning, you can be fully prepared with tasty, nutritious meals when you need them most.

What is the best brand of emergency food supply?

When it comes to emergency food supplies, there are a few major brands that stand out in 2024 for their quality, shelf life, and ease of preparation.

Famine Fighter

Famine Fighter offers a fortress of nutritional security with their emergency food kits. Their food is restaurant-quality with up to a 25 year shelf life. The meals are freeze-dried and very easy to prepare with just the addition of hot water. With gluten-free and vegetarian options, Famine Fighter provides healthy and tasty varieties for all dietary needs.

Roundhouse Provisions

Approved by Chuck Norris himself, Roundhouse Provisions offers nutritious emergency food buckets with a focus on high-protein options to support strength and endurance. Their food kits include breakfasts, entrées, fruits, vegetables, and drinks. With up to a 30 year shelf life, their ingredients are carefully sourced and processed for maximum freshness over time.

4Patriots

The 4-Week Survival Food Kit from 4Patriots provides more than just meals. It's a complete survival system designed to fully sustain a family of 4 adults during a major disaster. The kits come with over 104 servings of nutritious food with a 25 year shelf life. Easy to prepare meals, water filtration, first aid supplies, and survival tools make this a very comprehensive emergency kit.

My Patriot Supply

For a personalized emergency food supply, My Patriot Supply offers made-to-order food vaults based on your family size and unique needs. Their high-quality ingredients can last up to 25 years in storage. With gluten-free, vegetarian, and kosher options, anyone can build their ideal emergency food kit for any situation.

What is the best food for long-term preppers?

When preparing an emergency food supply, it's important to consider nutritional value and shelf life. Soft grains like oats, rye, and quinoa are stable for about 8 years on average, but can last up to 20 years in ideal storage conditions. Hard grains like buckwheat, corn, flax, millet, wheat, and others keep even longer - from 12 years up to 30 years or more.

Here are some of the best options for long-term food storage:

White rice: Lasts up to 30 years when stored properly. High in carbs.
Whole grains: Oats, quinoa, amaranth. Softer grains but still last 8-20 years. More nutrients than white rice.
Hard wheat: Lasts decades when stored in mylar bags. Grind into flour for baking.
Beans and legumes: Nutritious and long shelf lives up to 30 years. Need to be rotated to maximize shelf life.
Freeze dried fruits and vegetables: Lightweight and compact. Last 25-30 years. Not as nutrient dense as fresh.
Canned meats: Tuna, chicken, beef. 5 year shelf life. Convenient protein source.
Nuts and seeds: Fats for energy and nutrients. Store up to 2 years.

When building an emergency food supply, it's best to have a variety of foods that provide protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. This ensures balanced nutrition to support health in a disaster situation. Prioritize shelf-stable foods with long expiration dates. Store in cool, dark places and routinely check supplies for freshness.

What are the best food to stockpile?

When building an emergency food supply, it's important to have a variety of shelf-stable foods that will provide adequate nutrition. Some of the best foods to stockpile include:

Canned meats: Canned tuna, chicken, salmon, and other meats are protein-rich and have a long shelf life. Choose meats packed in water rather than oil.
Canned beans: Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber. Kidney, black, pinto, and garbanzo beans are versatile options.
Canned vegetables: Canned veggies like carrots, peas, corn, green beans, and tomatoes maintain nutritional value and make easy additions to meals. Seek out no-salt-added or low-sodium versions.
Canned fruits: Shelf-stable fruits like pineapple, peaches, pears, and applesauce provide vitamins and minerals. They can be eaten plain or incorporated into oatmeal, yogurt, or baking.
Grains: Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, oats, and pasta cook up easily and pair well with other canned foods. Look for whole grain options when possible.
Nut butters: Nutrient-dense nut butters like peanut, almond, and sunflower seed butter are calorie-dense and full of protein. Powdered milk and eggs can also provide protein.
Water: Having an emergency supply of water is critical. Aim to stockpile at least 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and food preparation.

Focus on nutrient-dense, versatile ingredients with a long shelf life. Avoid overly processed foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats. Rotate stock every 6-12 months to ensure freshness.

Assessing the Best Survival Food Kits of 2022

When preparing for emergencies, having a reliable food supply is essential. In this review, we analyze 5 top-rated survival food kits to help you find the best option to meet your family's needs.

ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply: A Comprehensive Analysis

The ReadyWise Emergency Food Supply offers a 60-serving bucket focused on ease of preparation during disasters. The entrees only require adding water, with options like tomato basil soup, cheesy broccoli rice, and sweet and sour pork with rice. With a shelf life of 25 years, this kit provides nutritious food security when you lose power or water access. The included heating elements allow you to warm meals when traditional cooking isn't possible. If seeking a straightforward emergency food supply for short-term situations, ReadyWise presents a strong choice.

Mountain House Essential Bucket: Longevity and Taste

Trusted brand Mountain House provides a bucket kit lasting 30 days, with easy breakfasts like scrambled eggs and lunch/dinner options like beef stew. Reviews praise the great taste compared to other survival food. The smaller serving size makes it easier to avoid waste. One downside is its shorter shelf life of only 15 years. For good-tasting food that can sustain your family in the short term, Mountain House is a decent option.

Survive2Thrive Vegetarian Preparedness Pail: Nutritional Value Focus

Survive2Thrive offers a vegetarian-friendly kit high in nutritional value. It contains 20 gallons of food with 100 servings focused on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds. Unlike many survival kits, it requires no refrigeration and has a 20-year shelf life. If seeking to build an emergency food supply focused on supporting health during disasters, Survive2Thrive presents a compelling meat-free choice.

Augason Farms Emergency Supply Food Kit: Family-Sized Solutions

Augason Farms provides a substantial supply designed to feed a family of four for one year. It includes 307 servings across breakfast, lunch, dinner entrees, and assorted vegetables and fruits. With a 25-year shelf life, their emergency food kit allows peace of mind that your family will have sustenance regardless of the disaster. If your goal is long-term food security, Augason Farms offers a complete solution.

Costco Survival Food: Bulk Buying for Emergencies

Many preppers stock up on food at Costco for its affordability and bulk sizes. Costco sells massive buckets of staples like rice, beans, pasta, and oats for backup food. They also offer long-lasting canned or pouched ingredients. An advantage is the ability to customize based on your family's preferences. Just be aware that DIY kits require more preparation compared to pre-made options. But when building up emergency reserves, Costco lets you buy supplies inexpensively.

When selecting the best survival food kit, assess your household's unique needs in terms of dietary preferences, number of people, desired shelf life, and ease of preparation. Any of these top-rated kits can provide nutritious sustenance to keep your family safe.

Important Criteria for Choosing Survival Food Kits

Key factors to evaluate when selecting a survival food kit for your household's emergency preparedness plan.

Diversity of Food in Kits

When choosing a survival food kit, it's important to look for a wide variety of appetizing breakfasts, lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks to meet your nutritional needs in an emergency. Prioritize kits with foods you would normally eat, including comfort foods, to help morale. Consider getting a mix of freeze-dried or dehydrated meals as well as canned goods.

Flavor Considerations for Morale

If possible, try samples or read reviews of the taste of meals in any survival food kit you are considering. Taste can significantly impact morale in stressful situations, so having foods you enjoy can provide comfort. If tastes seem unappealing, look for kits where you can build your own customized mix.

Maximizing Shelf Life for Long-Term Storage

Look for emergency food kits with longer shelf lives of 20-30 years to avoid constantly having to replace expiring supplies. Ensure you have a cool, dark place to store food long-term. Consider the shelf life when calculating how many servings you need stored. Kits with shorter shelf lives may require more frequent replacement.

Accommodating Special Diets in Emergencies

If you or family members have food allergies, religious restrictions, or other special diets, carefully read the ingredients and manufacturing processes for survival food kits. Many kits now cater to common diets like gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan, or kosher. If not, look for build-your-own options.

Calculating Adequate Number of Servings

When deciding which survival food kit to purchase, consider your household size and potential length of emergency. Calculate a minimum of 3 meals per person per day. Also factor in any high-calorie needs for growing kids, elderly, pregnant/nursing, or active individuals. Consider adding extra days to account for unforeseen circumstances prolonging the situation.

Optimizing Storage of Emergency Food Supplies

Properly storing your emergency food kit is critical for preserving freshness and maximizing shelf life. Here are some tips:

Preserving Freshness in a Cool, Dry Location

Keep your emergency food supply in a basement, closet, or other temperature-regulated area. Fluctuating temperatures can cause food to spoil more quickly. Storing kits in a consistently cool, dry spot helps prevent spoilage.

Maintaining Quality with Air Tight Containers

Once opened, repackage any leftover emergency food meals in airtight plastic bags or containers. Exposure to oxygen degrades food over time. Keeping opened food sealed from air preserves quality for future use.

Implementing a FIFO System for Efficiency

Use a first-in, first-out (FIFO) inventory system when rotating your emergency food supply. This ensures you eat the oldest food first, so nothing expires or goes bad before you need it. Mark packages with purchase dates for easy tracking.

Organizational Strategies for Emergency Supplies

Keep an itemized emergency food inventory on a spreadsheet or written log. Detail purchase dates, shelf lives, expiration dates, and storage locations. Perform regular checks to maintain organization and identify upcoming expiration dates.

Preparing an Emergency Food Supply: Short Term Food Storage

Maintaining a short-term emergency food supply involves stocking up on single ingredient staples with longer shelf lives, like rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, etc. Combine with ready-to-eat options like canned tuna, fruit, and vegetables. Rotate items from regular pantry use into emergency storage as you replenish.

Additional Considerations for Survival Preparedness

Beyond having enough food supplies, creating a well-rounded emergency kit requires some additional considerations. Focusing on essentials like clean water, fuel sources, sanitation, and medical supplies can make a big difference in an emergency situation.

Survival Kit Supplies: Beyond the Food

When prepping your emergency food supply, it's important not to neglect other critical supplies you'll need to survive various disaster scenarios. Here are some of the most vital items to include in your survival kit:

Camp Stove and Fuel: A portable camp stove allows you to heat food and boil water during a power outage. Make sure to stock up on enough propane or fuel tablets.
Water Filtration/Purification Supplies: Items like water purification tablets, a pump water filter, and collapsible water containers are essential for access to clean drinking water.
First Aid Supplies: Bandages, gauze, antiseptic, pain relievers, etc. Consider taking a first aid class for training on how to treat injuries.
Sanitation and Hygiene Items: Toilet paper, feminine products, toothbrush, soap, disinfectants. Proper sanitation prevents illness.
Emergency Tools: Flashlights, batteries, multi-tool, duct tape, rope, plastic sheeting, gloves, whistle, lighter.
Warmth and Shelter: Sleeping bags, blankets, extra socks/clothing, gloves, hat, tent or emergency shelter.

Tailor your survival kit to the types of disasters most likely in your region while covering all the basics like light, water, first aid, tools, hygiene, etc. Rotate and refresh perishable supplies each year.

Creating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply

During emergencies like natural disasters, water supplies can be cut off or contaminated. Storing your own clean water is vital.

Store at least 1 gallon of water per person for 3 days minimum. Consider much more for long-term scenarios.
Use food grade plastic jugs/containers, ideally BPA-free. Glass bottles can also work.
Add water purification tablets to kill bacteria. Replace tablets every 5 years.
Store in a cool, dark place like a basement or closet. Replace every 6 months.
For extreme long-term storage, rotate water supplies every few years.

Consider setting up rainwater collection barrels if possible and learn purification methods like boiling, filtration, and distillation. Keep instructions handy for emergency water access like shutting off valves, siphoning from hot water heater, etc.

Planning for Specific Disaster Situations

Your emergency plan should factor in threats most likely for your region, from earthquakes and hurricanes to blizzards and tornadoes.

Stock up on any special supplies you'll need for those disasters, like snow shovels, chainsaws, plywood/sandbags, etc.
Learn safety protocols, evacuation routes, power shut-off procedures.
Practice family emergency drills so everyone knows the plan if disaster strikes.

No matter what threats you're preparing for, having reserves of shelf-stable food/water plus survival basics like light, communication, sanitation, medical, tools, and other critical supplies can help you safely ride out many emergency scenarios.

Conclusion: Ensuring Readiness for Emergencies

Having reliable access to nutritious foods can reduce stress in emergencies. Here are some tips to help select and store a survival food kit tailored for your household:

Recap of Essential Points for Survival Food Kits

When choosing a survival food kit for emergency preparedness, focus on:

Value - Compare nutrition, taste, and cost to find the best kit for your budget. Many kits provide 2000+ calories per day.
Shelf life - Look for freeze-dried or dehydrated foods with a 20+ year shelf life. Properly stored, they last decades.
Taste - Sample or read reviews before buying in bulk. Though bland, kits should provide needed calories.
Dietary needs - Ensure the kit meets specialized needs like diabetes, allergies, religious restrictions, etc.

Storing an adequate emergency food supply helps ensure safety for your household during disasters. Tailor your kit to provide nutrition, calories, and peace of mind when you need it most.