Best Tasting Survival Food Options

No one wants bland or unappealing food, even in an emergency. We can all agree that taste matters when selecting the best survival food options.

The good news is that you don't have to compromise on flavor or quality just because you're preparing for uncertain times ahead. There are many tasty and nutritious solutions for building an emergency food supply that will satisfy your palette.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore a variety of delicious survival food kits, freeze-dried meals, dehydrated foods, organic offerings, special dietary selections, ready-to-eat choices, and more. You'll discover the leaders in great-tasting emergency cuisine, from brands focused specifically on comfort flavors to those pushing the boundaries of gourmet flavor. Let's uncover the tastiest survival food options to meet your needs no matter the situation.

Introduction to Best Tasting Survival Food

Emergency food preparation is crucial for disaster readiness. However, many shelf-stable foods compromise severely on taste. Finding options that balance nutrition, long shelf-life, and great flavor can be challenging. This article explores some of the tastiest survival food products available.

Understanding the Essentials of Best Tasting Survival Food

When selecting emergency food, key factors beyond taste include:

Shelf-life of at least 5 years
High calorie density
Nutrient diversity
Lightweight and compact

Enjoyable flavors make stressful situations more bearable. However, survival food must first meet critical storage and nutrition needs.

Freeze-dried and dehydrated options often best achieve both great taste and practicality. They are lightweight, compact, nutrient-dense, and retain flavor well after processing.

The Role of Taste Test in Emergency Food Supply Selection

Consumer feedback and taste tests greatly inform survival food buying decisions. Storage life means little if products are too unpalatable to consume when needed most.

Reddit discussions and online reviews provide real user perspectives on flavor. However, personal preferences differ. Conducting one's own taste tests of various options can prove insightful.

Overall, integrating consumer feedback helps determine which great-tasting products may suit your preferences. Taste remains subjective - but critical for emergency food consumption.

What is the absolute best survival food?

When building an emergency food supply, it's important to have tasty, nutritious options that provide enough calories and nutrients to sustain you through a crisis. Here are some of the best tasting survival foods to consider stocking up on:

Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Fruits and Vegetables

Freeze-dried fruits and vegetables retain most of their flavor and 97% of their nutrients while being lightweight and compact. Some great tasting, nutritious picks include:

Strawberries: Sweet, juicy berries that are great for snacking or adding to oatmeal.
Apples: Retain their crisp, sweet flavor. Rehydrate for apple pie fillings.
Broccoli and cauliflower: Roast these over the campfire for a tasty side.
Carrots: Sweet and tasty. Good source of vitamin A.

Granola, Nuts, Seeds

High calorie, nutrient-dense foods like granola, nuts and seeds make satisfying, energizing trail snacks. Go for unsalted nuts to better control sodium content. Some favorites include:

Granola: Look for hearty oats and nuts with a touch of sweetness from fruit and honey.
Almonds: Loaded with protein, healthy fats, vitamin E, magnesium and fiber.
Sunflower seeds: Great source of vitamin E, magnesium, selenium.

Freeze-Dried or Canned Meats

Freeze-dried meats like chicken, beef or turkey retain their flavor and texture better than canned options. Canned meats work too, just watch out for high sodium contents.

No matter what you choose, be sure to stock up on delicious, nutritious survival foods that will energize and nourish you through any disaster scenario. Check expiration dates and replenish as needed.

What is the best food to eat to survive?

When it comes to survival food, taste often takes a backseat to practicality and shelf life. However, just because you're preparing for an emergency doesn't mean you have to settle for bland or unappetizing options. There are plenty of great-tasting survival foods to choose from.

Tasty Natural and Organic Options

Focus on stocking up on nutritious foods that don't require refrigeration and will last a decent amount of time in storage. Some good options include:

Nuts and trail mixes: High in protein and healthy fats. Go for unsalted when possible.
Dried fruits: Offer a sweet treat packed with nutrients. Prioritize variety.
Beef and turkey jerky: Shelf-stable meat can pack 15g of protein per ounce. Seek low-sodium.
Canned beans, vegetables, fruits: Nutritious and affordable. Choose items lower in sodium.
Whole grains: Brown rice, oats, quinoa, etc. Provide excellent nutrients and fiber.

Spice up your stockpile with salt-free seasonings and condiments like honey, maple syrup, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and hot sauce.

Tasty Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Foods

Meal replacement options like freeze-dried and dehydrated foods bridge the gap between practicality and flavor. Top picks include:

Augason Farms Breakfast Blend: Oatmeal, milk, blueberries, and maple flavor.
Mountain House Beef Stroganoff: Savory, comforting classic.
AlpineAire Foods Pad Thai: An Asian-inspired favorite.
Wise Company Cheesy Lasagna: Who says survival food has to be boring?

Vary your stock to keep tastebuds happy. Adding some delicious freeze-dried or dehydrated items can make a huge difference.

Key Takeaways

The best emergency food supplies strike the optimal balance between practical considerations like shelf life while also offering appetizing flavors. With some planning, you can build a stockpile that covers all your bases - including great taste! Prioritize variety whenever possible.

What is the best non-perishable food for emergency?

When building an emergency food supply, it's important to have nutritious and tasty non-perishable foods on hand. Some great options include:

Canned goods like chili, soup, vegetables, and beans. Opt for low-sodium versions when possible.
Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, oats, and pasta. These have a long shelf life and provide fiber.
Nut butters like peanut and almond butter. These are calorically dense.
Dried fruits and nuts make an easy snack. Prioritize unsalted nuts.
Comfort foods like granola bars, crackers, and trail mix can lift spirits.
Spices and condiments like mustard, ketchup, salt, and pepper allow you to season foods.
Don't forget rehydration drinks, vitamins, medications, and pet food.

When stocking up, focus on nutrient-dense foods that align with your tastes and dietary needs. Aim for a variety of flavors, textures, and nutrition. Store items properly to maximize shelf life. By planning ahead with non-perishable essentials, you'll be set when an emergency strikes.

What food do preppers stock up on?

Preppers tend to stock up on shelf-stable foods that are nutritious, tasty, and easy to store for emergencies. Some top options include:

Canned goods: Fruits, vegetables, beans, meat, fish, soup - these are nutritious and last 2-5 years when stored properly. Consider low-sodium and pop-top cans.
Staples: Rice, pasta, oats, flour, sugar, oil, spices. These provide carbs and nutrients. Look for whole grains when possible.
Freeze-dried or dehydrated foods: Fruits, veggies, dairy, meat and full meals. They're lightweight and last up to 25 years. Just add hot water.
Snacks: Granola, protein bars, nuts, dried fruit. These boost energy and provide quick nutrition. Prioritize high protein, vitamin-rich options.
Powdered milk, eggs, butter: Reconstitute with water when fresh dairy is unavailable.
Water and water flavorings: Stock up on bottled water and powdered drink mixes. Stay hydrated.

Focus on nutrient density, not just calories. Include some comfort foods but emphasize nutrition. Store foods properly to maximize shelf life. Rotate stock as you use it. With the right stash, you can eat well no matter the emergency.

Best Survival Food Kits 2023: A Taste-Driven Guide

As preppers stock up on emergency supplies, taste often takes a backseat to shelf life and nutrition. However, the top survival food brands understand that flavor still matters when crisis strikes. This guide explores highly rated options focused on delivering comfort, variety, and satisfaction - proving that preparedness doesn't have to mean bland beans and rice every night.

Mountain House Survival Food: A Leader in Taste

With decades perfecting their freeze-dried meals and snacks, Mountain House continues to lead emergency food kits in taste and texture. They offer a wide selection of dishes, from savory classics like beef stew and chicken teriyaki to sweet treats like apple crisp and banana nut bread. Their pouches reliably reconstitute into satisfying meals, with many online reviews praising Mountain House's dedication to quality and flavor. Their food kits also cater to various needs and situations, from individual pouches to 72-hour buckets to bulk canisters lasting 25+ years. Those seeking the best-tasting survival food will be hard-pressed to find better options than Mountain House.

Ready Hour by My Patriot Supply: Comfort Foods for Crisis

Ready Hour emergency meal kits from My Patriot Supply focus on delivering familiar, comforting flavors to restore morale in troubled times. Their American-style dishes like cheesy lasagna, hearty chili mac, and creamy potato soup evoke home and simpler days. Additionally, Ready Hour meals contain wholesome ingredients like vegetables, beans, grains, and fruit - avoiding heavily processed or artificial additives. Reviews confirm their great taste and thoughtful meal combinations that provide variety and balanced nutrition. For long-term food storage or short-term disasters, Ready Hour's food kits tick all the boxes for taste, health, and shelf life.

Best Tasting Freeze-Dried Emergency Food: The Flavor Frontier

Freeze-dried foods retain more flavor and nutrients compared to other preservation methods. When water is removed, the food's structure stays intact on a cellular level. Rehydrating freeze-dried foods brings back the original texture and taste. This makes freeze-dried an ideal choice for tasty emergency food.

Popular brands like Backpacker's Pantry, AlpineAire, and Mountain House offer freeze-dried meals spanning global cuisines. From pad thai to jambalaya, the variety available today is far beyond basic camping fare.

When choosing freeze-dried emergency food, prioritize taste and nutrition. Seek out dishes with complex seasonings, quality ingredients, and recipes developed by chefs. Favor companies transparent about sourcing and preparation methods. Consider your needs like calorie count, prep time, dietary preferences, and shelf life.

With the right brand and meal, freeze-dried food can be a flavorful asset to your emergency supply. Keep reading for recommendations on delicious options to stow away.

Backpacker's Pantry Pad Thai: A Culinary Adventure in Survival

Backpacker's Pantry Pad Thai packs the sweet, sour, and spicy flavors of Thailand into a convenient freeze-dried meal. Rice noodles, tofu, cabbage, carrots, and peanuts are seasoned with a tamari-lime sauce for a balanced and tasty blend.

As a vegetarian dish under 500 calories, Pad Thai makes a hearty but healthy post-disaster meal. It is also vegan and gluten-free. The rice noodles rehydrate well for a satisfying texture. Flavors stay bright and fresh thanks to high-quality ingredients and Backpacker’s Pantry’s careful freeze-drying process.

Pad Thai requires only boiling water for preparation, making it a simple hot meal during an emergency. Its lightweight pouch stores easily for years, ready to pack in your bug out bag, pantry, or emergency kit. Overall, Backpacker's Pantry Pad Thai hits the sweet spot for convenience, nutrition, and bold Thai flavor.

Peak Refuel Homestyle Chicken and Rice: A Comforting Choice

Peak Refuel’s Homestyle Chicken and Rice provides the soul-warming flavors of a home-cooked meal in survival form. Seasoned chicken and rice deliver a classic comfort food taste rehydrated with hot water. Potatoes, carrots, peas, and parsley add hearty substance and natural sweetness.

At 640 calories per serving, this substantial dish makes a filling and nutrient-dense emergency meal. It contains 42g of protein plus fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The freeze-dried chicken retains a shred-able texture similar to canned chicken. From quality sourcing to high-tech processing, Peak Refuel maximizes nutrition as well as taste.

For those seeking familiar flavors in uncertain times, Homestyle Chicken and Rice is a smart choice. Its nostalgic flavor profile provides the kind of satisfying meal you crave when disasters hit. Stash it away for reliable comfort food in emergencies.

Dehydrated Delights: Best Tasting Dehydrated Survival Foods

Dehydrated foods are an excellent option for survival situations when fresh foods may be unavailable. The dehydration process removes moisture, allowing the food to be stored for extended periods without refrigeration. Many dehydrated survival foods also have a long shelf life of over 25 years when stored properly.

Some key advantages of keeping dehydrated foods in your emergency supply include:

Lightweight and compact - Easy to transport and store
Nutrient retention - Most vitamins and nutrients remain intact
Taste - Properly rehydrated foods can taste nearly as good as fresh
Cost effective - Inexpensive way to build up food reserves
Long shelf life - Stays edible for decades when stored correctly

When shopping for dehydrated survival foods, taste should be a top consideration alongside nutrition and shelf life. Here are two great-tasting options to try.

Alpine Aire Forever Young Mac & Cheese: Kid-Approved Taste

Alpine Aire's Forever Young Mac & Cheese is a fan favorite thanks to its mild cheddar cheese flavor and creamy texture when prepared. It's made with elbow macaroni and a blend of cheese powders like cheddar, Parmesan, and Romano.

This mac and cheese is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of growing kids ages 4-13. It provides 13g of protein and 25 essential vitamins and minerals per serving. The mild flavor appeals to young palates but also makes a satisfying comfort food for adults.

To prepare, simply add hot water and stir. In just 10-12 minutes, you'll have a hot bowl of mac and cheese ready to eat. The taste and texture impressively mimic a stovetop preparation. It's easy to see why this affordable meal is so popular with families looking to stock up on tasty survival food.

Augason Farms Dehydrated Potato Slices: Versatile and Tasty

Augason Farms offers dehydrated potato slices that rehydrate into fluffy, tender potatoes perfect for any survival recipe. They have a natural potato flavor and hold up well to cooking methods like frying, boiling, baking, or roasting over a campfire.

Since they aren't pre-seasoned, the potato slices take on the flavors of whatever spices, oil, or sauces you add during cooking. Try dicing them small and frying with onions and peppers for a survival hash. Or rehydrate larger slices and roast with oil, salt, and pepper for homemade survival fries.

At an affordable price point and with multiple cooking applications, Augason Farms' dehydrated potato slices are a versatile and tasty addition to any emergency food supply.

Natural Survival Food: Best Organic Emergency Food Supply

Organic and plant-based survival foods offer nutritious options for preppers seeking healthy emergency food supplies. These foods often have long shelf lives while avoiding artificial ingredients. Let's explore some tasty organic choices.

Nutrient Survival Southwestern Medley Singles: Organic and Flavorful

The Nutrient Survival Southwestern Medley provides an organic, vegetarian-friendly survival food option. It contains black beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, onions, brown rice, and seasonings. With 360 calories per pouch, it offers a balanced meal full of fiber, protein, and nutrients.

Reviewers on survivalist forums like Reddit praise the Southwestern Medley's taste. The spices and ingredients create a bold, Tex-Mex-style flavor. The meal is not overly salty compared to other prepackaged options. One prepper described it as "fresh, delicious, and filling."

As an organic product, the Southwestern Medley avoids GMOs and unhealthy preservatives. It provides quality nutrition from whole food sources. This makes it a smart choice for those concerned about artificial additives.

Mountain House Granola with Milk & Blueberries: A Natural Start to the Day

Mountain House's Granola with Milk and Blueberries offers a fast, healthy breakfast. It contains rolled oats, milk powder, brown sugar, and freeze-dried blueberries. With a mild sweetness and 350 calories per pouch, it makes for a satisfying morning meal.

Reviewers describe Mountain House's granola as having a pleasant, natural taste. The oats have a hearty texture without being overly crunchy or mushy when rehydrated. The blueberries add just the right amount of sweetness. One happy customer said it was "like eating homemade granola and fruit."

As a natural product made from quality ingredients, Mountain House's granola is ideal for preppers seeking healthy, convenient foods. It delivers energizing whole grains, calcium from the milk powder, and antioxidants from the blueberries. So for those looking to start the day right in an emergency, it's a tasty choice.

Special Dietary Considerations: Vegetarian-Friendly and Allergen-Free Kits

As many preppers follow special diets for health or ethical reasons, it's important to find survival food options that cater to specific needs. Vegetarian-friendly and allergen-free kits allow those with dietary restrictions to still be fully prepared.

Next Mile Meals: Keto-Friendly Survival Cuisine

Next Mile Meals offers a variety of keto-friendly dishes like Southwestern Medley Singles, designed to keep carbohydrate counts low while still delivering bold, satisfying flavors. Their meals are freeze-dried to lock in nutrients and taste. With options like Thai curry, stroganoff, and chicken fajita skillets, Next Mile Meals proves that sticking to keto doesn't mean sacrificing variety or flavor, even when prepping for disasters.

Stowaway Gourmet: Gourmet Flavors in Emergency Situations

For the prepper who refuses to compromise on quality cuisine, even in an emergency, Stowaway Gourmet offers gourmet meals featuring prime cuts of meat and global flavors. Their freeze-dried meals like Mongolian beef and chicken cacciatore transport the palate while providing nourishment when you need it most. Stowaway Gourmet allows preppers to enjoy restaurant-quality dishes without needing refrigeration or freezing. So when calamity strikes, you can feast on lemon herb cod or sweet and sour pork without skimping on taste or nutrition.

Ready-to-Eat Options: MREs and Prepackaged Food

When disaster strikes, having ready-to-eat meals on hand can make all the difference. MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) and other prepackaged options offer convenience when time is of the essence. Let's explore some tasty choices for your emergency food supply.

4 Patriots MREs: A Balance of Taste and Convenience

4 Patriots offers a variety of MRE options, each containing between 1200-1400 calories to fuel your body in an emergency. Their meals come in lightweight packaging and require no refrigeration, making them an easy addition to any emergency kit. Flavors like chicken fajita and chili mac are tasty while also providing nutrition. Reviews indicate their food is fresher than standard issue MREs with more care put into making them palatable. For those seeking reliable sustenance that doesn't compromise too much on flavor, 4 Patriots balances taste and convenience.

SOS Food Labs 3600 Calorie Emergency Food Bar: Energy on the Go

For a highly portable emergency food option, SOS Food Labs' 3600 calorie food bars pack a tasty punch. Mostly containing nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, these bars provide much-needed energy from natural ingredients. Their compact size makes them easy to stash in bags and kits for on-the-go disasters. Reviews praise their flavor with tasty choices like cranberry and coconut. Just one bar contains enough calories to fuel an adult's energy needs for a day, making them a reliable backup food source rich in nutrients from whole foods.

Key Takeaways on Best Tasting Emergency Foods

Emergency food doesn't have to taste bland or boring. When choosing survival food, prioritize taste along with nutrition, ease of preparation, and shelf life. Here are some of the tastiest options to consider:

Freeze-Dried Foods

Freeze-dried foods retain 98% of their nutritional value. Since the water is removed, they are lightweight and will keep for decades. Some great-tasting freeze-dried options include:

- **Mountain House** - Known for making some of the best tasting survival food. Their beef stroganoff, chicken teriyaki, and granola with milk and blueberries are excellent.

Augason Farms - Their dehydrated potato slices are tasty and versatile. Rehydrate and fry them up or use in soups and stews.
Nutristore - Their southwestern medley with rice, beans, corn, peppers, and seasonings satisfies cravings for bold Tex-Mex flavors.

Dehydrated Foods

Dehydrating food removes the moisture, preventing spoilage. Tasty dehydrated survival foods include:

Harmony House - Their dehydrated fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and mangoes make healthy, sweet trail snacks.
Wise Company - Their gluten-free emergency food kits include apple cinnamon oatmeal, creamy potato soup, and other comforting flavors.

Natural and Organic Foods

For those wanting additive-free emergency rations, natural food brands like:

Survival Cave - Offer organic nut and fruit bars packed with nutrients and antioxidants.
Emergency Essentials - Have a 30-day vegetarian emergency food kit with black bean and rice burritos, lentil stew, and more.

Prioritizing taste ensures you’ll actually enjoy and consume the #SurvivalFood when an emergency hits. Conduct taste tests to find flavors you love so you can confidently rely on your food supply.