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When it comes to emergency preparedness, having a survival food kit on hand is one of the smartest decisions you can make. Natural disasters, power outages, and other unforeseen emergencies can leave you without access to fresh food or grocery stores for extended periods.
Survival food kits provide peace of mind, knowing you have a reliable supply of food that can last for years without spoiling. Whether you’re preparing for extreme weather-related disasters, long-term food shortages, or simply want a backup plan for your family, these kits offer essential nutrition when you need it most.
Survival food kits come with various options like freeze-dried meals and non-perishable foods, often with shelf lives that can extend 25-30 years. However, it’s essential to consider the serving sizes and the nutritional needs of your household.
Many kits feature realistic, portion-controlled servings designed to keep you nourished without waste, avoiding the “American super-sized” portions that are often more than you need.
Additionally, having access to clean water, a way to heat food, and the proper storage conditions will make a significant difference in using these kits effectively.
Best Survival Food Kits
From storing food at home and in your vehicles to keeping some at your bug-out location, let’s explore the best survival food kits on the market and why they’re a must-have for emergency preparedness.
1. Mountain House Emergency Food Kit
Mountain House has long been a trusted name in the freeze-dried food world, known for its excellent survival food options that can last up to 30 years. Their emergency food kits come in various sizes, from 3-day supplies to larger packages meant to last weeks.
These kits offer a good balance between flavor and nutrition, with meals like pasta alfredo, hearty soups, and breakfast skillets that are easy to prepare with just hot water.
Mountain House products are designed for quick preparation during an emergency, requiring minimal cooking and providing calorically dense comfort food to keep you going in tough situations.
For those facing dietary restrictions, Mountain House also offers gluten-free and allergen-free options, making it one of the best survival food kits for diverse households.
2. Augason Farms Emergency Food Storage Kit
Augason Farms is another well-known brand in the survival food market, offering long-term food storage solutions with a shelf life of up to 25 years. Their kits contain freeze-dried meals, including breakfast options, soups, and protein-rich entrees.
One of the biggest advantages of Augason Farms is its use of high-quality ingredients that maintain nutritional value, even after years in storage.
In an emergency, it’s critical to have enough food to last an extended period. Augason Farms provides larger serving sizes that cater to families or large groups, making it a great option if you’re preparing for multiple people.
For those who want peace of mind, these kits are compact, easy to store in dark places, and provide meals that don’t require much water or preparation.
3. Ready Hour Emergency Food Supply
Ready Hour is a popular choice for those preparing for extreme outdoor adventures or emergency survival situations. With a 25-year shelf life, their emergency food supplies are built for long-term storage.
Ready Hour kits include a wide variety of meals, from breakfast to dinner, ensuring essential nutrients are covered even in a survival situation.
For those looking for the best option for their bug-out location, these kits come with long shelf lives, making them ideal for storage in small spaces or vehicles.
In addition, the kits are designed to work well with camp stoves or other basic heat sources, providing flexibility in how and where you prepare your meals.
Why You Need Survival Food Kits
Survival food kits aren’t just for doomsday preppers or those heading into the wilderness. They serve as essential items for any household or vehicle, offering an emergency food supply during unexpected events like natural disasters, power outages, or food shortages.
Stocking up on long-term food storage can give you peace of mind, knowing that even in the most challenging situations, you won’t run out of nutritious meals.
Realistic Serving Sizes
When choosing a survival food kit, it’s important to consider serving sizes. Unlike many prepackaged foods found at grocery stores, survival kits are designed to provide realistic portions that meet daily caloric and nutritional needs without going overboard. This balance ensures you’ll have enough food to last the intended period without wasting space or resources.
For instance, freeze-dried meals from Mountain House or Augason Farms often come in portion-controlled servings that may not seem large by “super-sized” standards but are more than enough to keep you energized.
These servings take into account that in a survival situation, calories are precious, and you’ll need foods that are calorically dense and easy to store.
Multiple Locations
Survival food kits are a good idea for more than just your home pantry. It’s smart to keep a supply of food in your bug-out location, as well as in your vehicles.
In case of sudden evacuations, road emergencies, or extreme weather conditions, having food on hand in these locations ensures you’re not left vulnerable.
Having a first aid kit, water supply, and emergency food kits in your car can be a lifesaver in case you’re stranded for long periods.
Water Supply
Most survival food kits, especially freeze-dried meals, require hot water to prepare. It’s important to factor in how much water you’ll need, not just for drinking but also for rehydrating meals.
Make sure to store an adequate supply of water alongside your food kits, especially in locations where access to clean water might be limited.
Choosing the Right Survival Food Kit
When selecting the best survival food kits, there are several factors to consider, including the types of food, expiration dates, and ideal storage conditions.
Understanding these elements ensures you make the best choice for your emergency preparedness, whether storing food for the long term, adding to your car’s emergency supplies, or stocking up for potential food shortages.
Freeze-Dried Foods and Long-Term Storage
One of the most common types of food found in emergency food kits is freeze-dried meals. These meals undergo a freeze-drying process that locks in essential nutrients while providing a lightweight, shelf-stable product.
Freeze-dried foods are an excellent choice for long-term storage, as they typically come with a 25- to 30-year shelf life. This makes them one of the best options for those seeking reliable, non-perishable emergency food supplies.
Proper storage is key to maximizing the shelf life of freeze-dried foods. To ensure they last the full 30 years, these products should be stored in cool, dark places with ideal storage conditions. This helps prevent exposure to moisture and heat, which could degrade the food over time.
Emergency Food Kits for Your Car
For your vehicle, it’s important to include a compact yet effective emergency food supply kit. The best car emergency kits typically include a 3-day food supply of freeze-dried or non-perishable foods, which can sustain you in case of being stranded or encountering an unexpected situation.
These kits are designed to fit in small spaces and can offer peace of mind while traveling. Adding basic survival meals or even military-grade rations, such as Russian MREs, is a good idea for those preparing for extended periods in remote areas.
Taste Test and Nutritional Value
While survival food is designed to be calorically dense and long-lasting, taste and nutritional value are equally important. Many brands, like Mountain House and Augason Farms, have positive reviews for offering some of the best-tasting freeze-dried meals available.
These meals not only provide essential nutrients but also come in a variety of flavors that cater to different dietary restrictions, including options for those with celiac disease. Taste tests from real people confirm that while these meals aren’t gourmet, they offer good-to-go sustenance during emergencies.
Value and Servings
Survival food kits vary in price, but when assessing good value, look for kits that offer enough food to meet the nutritional needs of your household. Kits designed by former Navy SEALs, such as those recommended by Cade Courtley, often include nutrient-dense meals that are both filling and efficient.
The flagship product of many brands focuses on providing large servings of foods that are packed with essential nutrition to sustain you over an extended period.
It’s also essential to calculate how much food you need based on your family size. For larger families, consider kits with more servings or add supplemental items like peanut butter, which stores well and provides a high caloric value.
Reading the average customer rating and reviews can help identify the best emergency food supply kits for your needs, especially when looking for long-term options or food for small spaces.
Final Thoughts on the Best Survival Food Kits
Survival food kits provide a crucial safety net during emergencies, whether you’re preparing for natural disasters, power outages, or extended periods without access to grocery stores.
Kits from trusted brands like Mountain House, Augason Farms, and Ready Hour offer long shelf lives, realistic serving sizes, and essential nutrition to keep you and your family well-prepared.
These kits are not just for doomsday scenarios—they are practical solutions for ensuring food security in unpredictable times.
Remember, it’s not just about having food but also making sure you have enough water and tools like camp stoves to prepare your meals. Keeping survival food kits in multiple locations—your home, vehicle, and bug-out location—ensures that you’re always prepared, no matter where you are when disaster strikes.
FAQs about the Best Survival Food Kits
How long do survival food kits last?
Most survival food kits, particularly freeze-dried options from brands like Mountain House and Augason Farms, have a shelf life of 25 to 30 years if stored properly in cool, dark places.
What are the best survival food kits for a large family?
For large families, look for kits that offer larger serving sizes and bulk options, such as Augason Farms’ emergency food storage kits. These kits can feed multiple people for an extended period.
Do survival food kits require special storage conditions?
Yes, it’s best to store these kits in dark places at room temperature or cooler. Avoid areas with extreme heat or humidity to maintain the shelf life of those products.
What should I add to my survival food kit?
In addition to food, make sure to include water supplies, a camp stove or other heat source, and a first aid kit to handle any emergencies. Items like peanut butter, which has a long shelf life and is nutritionally dense, are also great additions.
Can I use survival food kits for camping or outdoor adventures?
Yes! Many of these kits, especially freeze-dried meals from brands like Mountain House, are designed for outdoor use, making them perfect for camping trips or extreme outdoor adventures. They are lightweight, easy to prepare with hot water, and packed with essential nutrients.