How preppers choose food to stockpile

Preppers have criteria that they follow when they stockpile food for emergencies. These foods don't have to be gourmet, but they need to be safe to store for long periods, can be eaten with minimal effort, and provide adequate nutrition. Long-term food storage is essential to prepping, and this survival guide gives you everything you need to know, from food safety to essential items.

Shelf life

You can only survive as long as your food can in an emergency. By stocking foods with long and indefinite shelf life, your only problem will be finding enough room to keep them.

Another tip to maximizing your food's shelf life is understanding that the predetermined expiration date is more of a guideline for most foods. For example, man foods like cereal can be eaten up to 8 months after the "best if used by" date (they just won't be peak quality).

Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats age differently. While carbs will remain mostly stable, proteins and fats can break down and spoil. With time, you'll learn to look for the right signs of food spoilage and know when your food is safe.

Calories

When stocking your pantry, look for foods with the most calories per serving. Calorically-dense foods are key for survival since they provide the most bang for your buck in terms of energy. Foods like sugar and protein bars are lightweight and easy to store, yet pack a punch with a burst of energy.

You'll also save space in your pantry and be able to fit more meals into your stockpile if you choose calorically dense foods.

Types of survival foods

Before disaster strikes, you'll want to have three main types of survival foods in your emergency pantry. They're great options for long-term food storage when preserved properly in ideal conditions.

Pantry foods

Pantry foods refer to the base ingredients for all your recipes and other dried foods with a stable shelf life. If you have your pantry foods stocked, you'll be able to make a wide variety of tasty and nutritious meals. Things like beans, honey, and rice are stable pantry food items and can last very long.