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 non-perishable food 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. Work through it section by section to build a complete non-perishable food for emergency supply - covering all the non-perishable foods for survival your family needs in a grid-down or disaster scenario.
Non-Perishable Food Items for an Emergency Kit
Every food on this page falls into one of two prep categories, and that distinction matters more than shelf life or calories when you're actually living through an outage: can you eat it right now with zero power and zero water to spare, or does it need something first? Each table below includes a Prep column marking exactly that.
Ready-to-Eat Foods That Need No Cooking
These require no water, no heat source, and no cooking equipment: open and eat. Prioritize these for the first 24–48 hours of any emergency, when you may not yet have a safe way to cook: canned tuna, salmon, chicken, and sardines; canned beans, corn, green beans, peas, carrots, tomatoes, and fruit; peanut butter; Spam/canned ham; jerky; crackers; hardtack; honey; and evaporated milk. Marked No-cook in the tables below.
Foods That Require Water or Heating
These stretch your calories and dollars further per pound of storage, but need either boiling water, a soak, or a heat source to become a meal: rice, oats, pasta, quinoa, dried beans and lentils, instant mashed potatoes, powdered milk and eggs, freeze-dried meals, and hot drink mixes. Marked Add water or Cook in the tables below. Pair these with your stored water supply and a manual or off-grid way to heat water: see our Off-Grid Cooking Stoves guide.
Grains & Starches
| # | Food | Prep | Shelf Life (sealed) | Cal/lb (approx) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White rice | Cook (boil) | 25–30 years (mylar) | 1,650 | Foundation of any stockpile; buy in 25-lb+ bags |
| 2 | Rolled oats | Add hot water | 25 years (mylar) | 1,700 | Quick cooking; breakfast and baking versatility |
| 3 | All-purpose flour | Cook (bake) | 25 years (mylar) | 1,650 | Bread, pancakes, thickening; store with desiccant |
| 4 | Cornmeal | Cook | 5 years sealed | 1,600 | Polenta, cornbread, porridge; good caloric variety |
| 5 | Pasta (dried) | Cook (boil) | 2–5 years; 25 years in mylar | 1,675 | Fast cooking; minimal fuel use; buy variety of shapes |
| 6 | Instant mashed potatoes | Add hot water | 2–7 years sealed | 1,500 | Comfort food; no cooking needed with hot water |
| 7 | Quinoa | Cook (boil) | 3–5 years sealed | 1,500 | Complete protein (all 9 amino acids); more nutritious than rice |
| 8 | Crackers | No-cook | 6–9 months; buy in rotation | 1,900 | Ready-to-eat with no preparation; rotate frequently |
| 9 | Hardtack / pilot bread | No-cook | 2–5 years | 1,650 | Traditional emergency ration; Sailor Boy brand widely available |
| 10 | Instant rice / quick-cook grains | Add hot water | 2 years sealed | 1,600 | Less fuel to cook than regular rice; good for fuel conservation |
Proteins
| # | Food | Prep | Shelf Life | Protein/serving | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Canned tuna (in water) | No-cook | 5 years | 25g | Best value protein; buy skipjack for lower mercury |
| 12 | Canned salmon | No-cook | 5 years | 22g | Higher omega-3 than tuna; good variety |
| 13 | Canned chicken | No-cook | 5 years | 22g | Most versatile canned meat; works in any dish |
| 14 | Canned sardines | No-cook | 5 years | 20g | Highest omega-3; calcium from soft bones; long shelf life |
| 15 | Pinto beans (dried) | Cook (soak + boil) | 25 years (mylar) | 15g | Cheapest protein; essential stockpile staple |
| 16 | Black beans (dried) | Cook (soak + boil) | 25 years (mylar) | 15g | High antioxidants; pairs with rice for complete protein |
| 17 | Lentils (dried) | Cook (boil, no soak) | 25 years (mylar) | 18g | Fastest-cooking legume; no soaking required |
| 18 | Peanut butter | No-cook | 2 years sealed | 7g + 190 cal | High calorie AND protein; comfort food; rotate annually |
| 19 | Canned beans (variety) | No-cook | 5 years | 7–15g | Ready-to-eat backup; no fuel needed |
| 20 | Freeze-dried meat (chicken, beef) | Add hot water | 25 years | 20–25g | Premium storage protein; expensive but convenient |
| 21 | Spam / canned ham | No-cook | 5 years | 10g | Calorie-dense ready-to-eat protein; morale food |
| 22 | Jerky / dried meat | No-cook | 1–2 years sealed | 15g | Ready-to-eat; rotate more frequently than other items |
Fats & Oils
| # | Food | Prep | Shelf Life | Cal/tbsp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | Vegetable / canola oil | No-cook (additive) | 2 years sealed | 120 | Most calorie-dense food per pound; essential for cooking |
| 24 | Coconut oil | No-cook (additive) | 2+ years; more stable than vegetable oil | 120 | Higher heat stability; antimicrobial properties; solid at room temp |
| 25 | Shortening (Crisco) | Needs heat (baking) | 2 years sealed | 110 | Baking staple; solid fat for pastry and flatbreads |
| 26 | Ghee (clarified butter) | No-cook (additive) | 12 months sealed; 3+ months once opened | 130 | More shelf-stable than regular butter; rich flavour for morale |
| 27 | Olive oil (extra virgin) | No-cook (additive) | 18–24 months | 120 | Store in dark; good fats and flavour; use within 18 months |
Fruits & Vegetables
| # | Food | Prep | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | Canned tomatoes (whole/diced/paste) | No-cook (or cook into sauce) | 5 years | Base for sauces, soups, stews; buy 3 varieties |
| 29 | Canned corn | No-cook | 5 years | Comfort vegetable; high caloric density for a vegetable |
| 30 | Canned green beans | No-cook | 5 years | Low sodium options available; easy side dish |
| 31 | Canned peas | No-cook | 5 years | Adds vegetable variety and colour to meals |
| 32 | Canned carrots | No-cook | 5 years | Vitamin A source; works in soups and stews |
| 33 | Freeze-dried vegetables (mixed) | Add hot water | 25 years | Best long-term vegetable option; Mountain House / Augason mixed veg |
| 34 | Canned fruit (peaches, pears, mandarin) | No-cook | 5 years | Morale booster; vitamins C and A |
| 35 | Raisins / dried fruit | No-cook | 1–2 years sealed | Portable snack; concentrated calories and iron |
| 36 | Dried apple slices | No-cook | 1 year sealed | Vitamin C; snack variety; rotate with use |
| 37 | Tomato sauce (jarred) | No-cook (or heat) | 2 years sealed | Instant pasta sauce; rotate every 1–2 years |
Dairy Alternatives
| # | Food | Prep | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | Powdered whole milk | Add water | 25 years (sealed, mylar) | Reconstitutes for drinking, baking, and cooking |
| 39 | Evaporated milk (canned) | No-cook | 2–5 years | Richer than powdered; works for coffee, soups, sauces |
| 40 | Powdered eggs | Add water + heat | 5–10 years sealed | Scrambled eggs, baking, omelettes without refrigeration |
| 41 | Velveeta / shelf-stable cheese | Needs heat (melt) | 12–18 months | Comfort food; melts for sauces; morale value |
Drinks & Beverages
| # | Food | Prep | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Instant coffee | Add hot or cold water | 2–20 years sealed | Morale critical; caffeine withdrawal is a real issue in stress |
| 43 | Tea bags | Add hot water | 2–3 years sealed | Lower caffeine option; herbal varieties for sleep/calm |
| 44 | Hot chocolate mix | Add hot water | 2–3 years sealed | Calories + morale; especially important for children |
| 45 | Electrolyte powder (Liquid IV, DripDrop) | Add water (any temp) | 2 years | Critical for rehydration during illness, heat, or heavy activity |
| 46 | Vitamin C drink mix | Add water (any temp) | 2 years | Compensates for reduced fresh fruit intake; immune support |
Comfort Foods & Condiments
| # | Food | Prep | Shelf Life | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Honey | No-cook | Indefinite if sealed | Sweetener, throat soother, energy source; true indefinite shelf life |
| 48 | Salt | No-cook (additive) | Indefinite | Food preservation, flavouring; also useful for wound cleaning |
| 49 | Spice kit (garlic powder, cumin, chilli flakes, Italian seasoning) | No-cook (additive) | 2–4 years | Transforms bland rice and bean meals into actual food; morale critical |
| 50 | Bouillon cubes / Better Than Bouillon | Add hot water | 2 years | Instant flavour for grains and soups; lightweight, compact |
Non-Perishable Food for Go Bag Packing
A pantry stockpile and a bug out bag's food supply have different constraints. At home, weight and volume barely matter; in a bag you carry on your back, every ounce and cubic inch counts. The full 72-Hour Emergency Kit guide covers the complete kit, but food-specifically, go bag packing changes the calculus in three ways.
Lightweight Portions and Packaging
- Prioritize calories-per-ounce, not calories-per-dollar: freeze-dried meal pouches (400+ cal, 3–4 oz) and dense energy bars beat canned goods (150–300 cal per heavy 12–15 oz can) for a bag you're carrying, even though canned food is cheaper per calorie at home.
- Favor no-cook or add-water-only items: you may not have a stable place to cook. Jerky, peanut butter packets, freeze-dried fruit, protein bars, and single-serve nut butter pouches need nothing but your hands; freeze-dried meals need only hot or cold water.
- Repackage into single-day portions: divide a multi-day supply into labeled zip-top bags (one per day) so you're not opening a full box mid-trip and exposing the rest to moisture or pests.
- Skip glass jars, #10 cans, and anything requiring refrigeration after opening: all common in home stockpiles but impractical to carry.
- Rotate go bag food on a shorter cycle than pantry food: heat cycling in a car trunk or attic-stored bag degrades food faster than climate-controlled pantry storage; check go bag food every 6 months rather than annually.
Non-Perishable Food Storage
Buying the right foods only pays off if you store and rotate them correctly. In short: keep everything cool, dark, and dry; store in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers or food-grade buckets for long-term bulk grains and beans; label every container with the date stored; and use a first-in-first-out system so nothing silently expires in the back of a closet. For the full storage and rotation system: including a printable inventory tracker: see our Non-Perishable Food Storage: Rotation and Inventory Guide. If you're building toward a larger supply rather than a single kit, our 3-Month Food Stockpile guide turns this list into a room-by-room shopping and storage plan.
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 is non-perishable food?
Non-perishable food is any food that stays safe to eat for months or years without refrigeration, thanks to low moisture content, preservation (canning, drying, freeze-drying), or airtight sealed packaging. Common categories include canned goods, dried grains and legumes, freeze-dried meals, powdered dairy and eggs, and shelf-stable condiments like honey and salt. It's the foundation of any emergency food stockpile because it doesn't depend on a working refrigerator or freezer.
What non-perishable food should I pack in a go bag versus store at home?
For a go bag, prioritize weight and no-cook convenience: freeze-dried meal pouches, energy bars, jerky, peanut butter packets, and freeze-dried fruit pack the most calories per ounce and need little or no water/heat. At home, canned goods and bulk rice/beans in mylar are cheaper per calorie and don't need to be carried, so weight stops mattering. See the Go Bag Packing section above for the full breakdown, and check go bag food every 6 months since heat cycling in a car or bag degrades it faster than pantry storage.
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.
What are the best non-perishable foods for emergency stockpiling?
The best non-perishable food for emergency use combines calorie density, long shelf life, and ease of preparation without power. Top picks: white rice (25-year shelf life in mylar, 1,650 cal/lb), dried beans (25 years, complete protein when paired with rice), peanut butter (2+ years, 2,500 cal/lb), canned proteins like tuna and chicken (5 years, ready to eat), and cooking oil (2+ years, 3,500 cal/lb). For a non-perishable foods for survival stockpile built from scratch, start with rice and beans in bulk, add peanut butter and cooking oil, then fill in with canned proteins and freeze-dried variety for rotation and morale.