Non-Perishable Food Stockpile List: 50 Best Foods to Store
The best non-perishable foods for emergency stockpiling are calorie-dense, shelf-stable, nutritious, and practical to prepare without power. This list covers all 50 essential foods across every category: grains, proteins, fats, fruits, vegetables, drinks, and comfort foods: with shelf life, approximate calorie counts, and notes on storage requirements. Print this list, work through it section by section, and you'll build a comprehensive emergency food supply without gaps.
Grains & Starches
| # | Food | Shelf Life (sealed) | Cal/lb (approx) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White rice | 25–30 years (mylar) | 1,650 | Foundation of any stockpile; buy in 25-lb+ bags |
| 2 | Rolled oats | 25 years (mylar) | 1,700 | Quick cooking; breakfast and baking versatility |
| 3 | All-purpose flour | 25 years (mylar) | 1,650 | Bread, pancakes, thickening; store with desiccant |
| 4 | Cornmeal | 5 years sealed | 1,600 | Polenta, cornbread, porridge; good caloric variety |
| 5 | Pasta (dried) | 2–5 years; 25 years in mylar | 1,675 | Fast cooking; minimal fuel use; buy variety of shapes |
| 6 | Instant mashed potatoes | 2–7 years sealed | 1,500 | Comfort food; no cooking needed with hot water |
| 7 | Quinoa | 3–5 years sealed | 1,500 | Complete protein (all 9 amino acids); more nutritious than rice |
| 8 | Crackers | 6–9 months; buy in rotation | 1,900 | Ready-to-eat with no preparation; rotate frequently |
| 9 | Hardtack / pilot bread | 2–5 years | 1,650 | Traditional emergency ration; Sailor Boy brand widely available |
| 10 | Instant rice / quick-cook grains | 2 years sealed | 1,600 | Less fuel to cook than regular rice; good for fuel conservation |
Proteins
| # | Food | Shelf Life | Protein/serving | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Canned tuna (in water) | 5 years | 25g | Best value protein; buy skipjack for lower mercury |
| 12 | Canned salmon | 5 years | 22g | Higher omega-3 than tuna; good variety |
| 13 | Canned chicken | 5 years | 22g | Most versatile canned meat; works in any dish |
| 14 | Canned sardines | 5 years | 20g | Highest omega-3; calcium from soft bones; long shelf life |
| 15 | Pinto beans (dried) | 25 years (mylar) | 15g | Cheapest protein; essential stockpile staple |
| 16 | Black beans (dried) | 25 years (mylar) | 15g | High antioxidants; pairs with rice for complete protein |
| 17 | Lentils (dried) | 25 years (mylar) | 18g | Fastest-cooking legume; no soaking required |
| 18 | Peanut butter | 2 years sealed | 7g + 190 cal | High calorie AND protein; comfort food; rotate annually |
| 19 | Canned beans (variety) | 5 years | 7–15g | Ready-to-eat backup; no fuel needed |
| 20 | Freeze-dried meat (chicken, beef) | 25 years | 20–25g | Premium storage protein; expensive but convenient |
| 21 | Spam / canned ham | 5 years | 10g | Calorie-dense ready-to-eat protein; morale food |
| 22 | Jerky / dried meat | 1–2 years sealed | 15g | Ready-to-eat; rotate more frequently than other items |
Fats & Oils
| # | Food | Shelf Life | Cal/tbsp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Vegetable / canola oil | 2 years sealed | 120 | Most calorie-dense food per pound; essential for cooking |
| 24 | Coconut oil | 2+ years; more stable than vegetable oil | 120 | Higher heat stability; antimicrobial properties; solid at room temp |
| 25 | Shortening (Crisco) | 2 years sealed | 110 | Baking staple; solid fat for pastry and flatbreads |
| 26 | Ghee (clarified butter) | 12 months sealed; 3+ months once opened | 130 | More shelf-stable than regular butter; rich flavour for morale |
| 27 | Olive oil (extra virgin) | 18–24 months | 120 | Store in dark; good fats and flavour; use within 18 months |
Fruits & Vegetables
| # | Food | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Canned tomatoes (whole/diced/paste) | 5 years | Base for sauces, soups, stews; buy 3 varieties |
| 29 | Canned corn | 5 years | Comfort vegetable; high caloric density for a vegetable |
| 30 | Canned green beans | 5 years | Low sodium options available; easy side dish |
| 31 | Canned peas | 5 years | Adds vegetable variety and colour to meals |
| 32 | Canned carrots | 5 years | Vitamin A source; works in soups and stews |
| 33 | Freeze-dried vegetables (mixed) | 25 years | Best long-term vegetable option; Mountain House / Augason mixed veg |
| 34 | Canned fruit (peaches, pears, mandarin) | 5 years | Morale booster; vitamins C and A |
| 35 | Raisins / dried fruit | 1–2 years sealed | Portable snack; concentrated calories and iron |
| 36 | Dried apple slices | 1 year sealed | Vitamin C; snack variety; rotate with use |
| 37 | Tomato sauce (jarred) | 2 years sealed | Instant pasta sauce; rotate every 1–2 years |
Dairy Alternatives
| # | Food | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Powdered whole milk | 25 years (sealed, mylar) | Reconstitutes for drinking, baking, and cooking |
| 39 | Evaporated milk (canned) | 2–5 years | Richer than powdered; works for coffee, soups, sauces |
| 40 | Powdered eggs | 5–10 years sealed | Scrambled eggs, baking, omelettes without refrigeration |
| 41 | Velveeta / shelf-stable cheese | 12–18 months | Comfort food; melts for sauces; morale value |
Drinks & Beverages
| # | Food | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Instant coffee | 2–20 years sealed | Morale critical; caffeine withdrawal is a real issue in stress |
| 43 | Tea bags | 2–3 years sealed | Lower caffeine option; herbal varieties for sleep/calm |
| 44 | Hot chocolate mix | 2–3 years sealed | Calories + morale; especially important for children |
| 45 | Electrolyte powder (Liquid IV, DripDrop) | 2 years | Critical for rehydration during illness, heat, or heavy activity |
| 46 | Vitamin C drink mix | 2 years | Compensates for reduced fresh fruit intake; immune support |
Comfort Foods & Condiments
| # | Food | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Honey | Indefinite if sealed | Sweetener, throat soother, energy source; true indefinite shelf life |
| 48 | Salt | Indefinite | Food preservation, flavouring; also useful for wound cleaning |
| 49 | Spice kit (garlic powder, cumin, chilli flakes, Italian seasoning) | 2–4 years | Transforms bland rice and bean meals into actual food; morale critical |
| 50 | Bouillon cubes / Better Than Bouillon | 2 years | Instant flavour for grains and soups; lightweight, compact |
Top Product Recommendations
Augason Farms Powdered Whole Milk (4.4 lb Can)
Powdered whole milk is one of the most overlooked emergency food staples: it reconstitutes for drinking, adds nutrition to porridge, enables baking, and makes hot drinks palatable. Augason Farms powdered milk has a 25-year shelf life in the sealed can, high protein and calcium content, and makes 44+ cups of milk per can. One of the cheapest ways to add dairy nutrition to a long-term food supply.
- 25-year shelf life; sealed can
- Makes 44+ cups of milk per 4.4 lb can
- Full nutrition: protein, calcium, vitamin D
Hoosier Hill Farm Powdered Whole Eggs (2 lb)
Powdered eggs are one of the hardest gaps to fill in a long-term food supply: and Hoosier Hill Farm makes the best-tasting powdered egg product consistently available on Amazon. Real whole eggs freeze-dried to powder; reconstitutes for scrambled eggs, omelettes, baking, and sauces. 5–10 year shelf life. Two pounds provides approximately 68 egg equivalents: months of egg-based meals for one household.
- ~68 eggs equivalent per 2 lb bag
- 5–10 year shelf life; best-tasting powdered egg available
- Works for scrambled eggs, baking, omelettes
Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier (30-Count)
Electrolyte replenishment is critical in any emergency: illness, heat, heavy physical activity, and stress all increase electrolyte loss. Liquid I.V. uses Cellular Transport Technology to deliver hydration 2× faster than water alone. 30 sticks provide a month of daily electrolyte support, and in an emergency dehydration scenario, this product is more valuable than almost anything else in your kit. Shelf life: 2 years. Store one box per household member.
- 30-day supply; 2× hydration of water alone
- Critical for illness, heat, and active emergency scenarios
- 2-year shelf life; lightweight
Non-Perishable Food FAQ
What are the most calorie-dense non-perishable foods?
In order of calories per pound: cooking oil (~3,500 cal/lb), peanut butter (~2,500 cal/lb), nuts (~2,600 cal/lb), rolled oats (~1,700 cal/lb), white rice (~1,650 cal/lb), pasta (~1,675 cal/lb), dried beans (~1,600 cal/lb), flour (~1,650 cal/lb). Building your stockpile around oils, nuts, and peanut butter as calorie boosters alongside bulk grains and beans gives you the most calories per dollar and per pound of storage weight.
What non-perishable foods have the longest shelf life?
Indefinite shelf life (stored correctly): honey, salt, pure white sugar, white rice (in mylar), distilled white vinegar, hard liquor (sealed). 25–30 years: white rice, oats, beans, wheat berries, powdered milk (in sealed mylar). 10–25 years: freeze-dried foods in sealed cans. 5 years: most commercially canned goods, dried pasta, crackers in sealed containers.
Should I stock foods my family doesn't normally eat?
Generally no: only stock foods your household will actually eat. If no one in your family eats lentils normally, stocking 20 lbs of lentils is a mistake: they won't cook them correctly, won't enjoy them, and will likely waste them. The exception: if the food is extremely calorie-efficient and easy to prepare (rice, basic beans), it's worth stocking even if unfamiliar, as hunger changes preferences. Buy small quantities of unfamiliar foods first, cook with them a few times, then decide if they belong in your long-term stockpile.