With the Coronavirus in full swing and making a continental dash – you may want to check on your food storages.
Quarantine, Mass Panic, Pandemic, Power Outage, Economic Decline, Looting, Lost Job, Just in Case – these are all valid reasons to begin stocking the essentials and to make sure you and your family are adequately prepared. Many foods have an amazing shelf life and will last as long as you need them. You don’t want to have to leave the comforts of your home and fight to get food for your children or yourself. It will take a little work on the front end, but there is no greater feeling than knowing you are prepared for a food shortage.
Even if things blow over, you can still use these items indefinitely. You can also get ready made meals to save time and space. They last an incredibly long time and have all the nutrients you need in one easy packet.
Related: The Self Quarantine Shopping List During a Pandemic.
Stock up on items that you may not use, but others will. Example, you may not drink coffee, but the rest of the worlds loves it – buy for trade. Keep items on stock that you can barter with. Not everyone drinks hard liquor, but they have it in their pantries to trade for items they may need.
This isn’t an attempt to get you to commit to a bunker – we’re talking isolated incidents that you cannot predict. You may need these items on a small scale such as an extended virus that’s spreading or an outage. It only takes 3 missed meals before people start knocking on your doors or you are forced to fight the public to find food for your family. Do the right thing and stock up on these items ASAP.
You can order everything on this list and have it delivered directly to your home.
18 Foods that Will Last Until the End of Days
Food Bucket
We’ll begin our list with ready-to-eat emergency food buckets because they cover all bases and provide you with all of your dietary needs. Averaging nearly 2,000 calories a day, these watertight pails are easy to stack and has a shelf life of up to 25 years. Most of these are designed for a 30-day supply for one person, so stock accordingly.
MRE
Meals-ready-to-eat are pre-packaged meals that have been used by the military for decades. They each contain 1,200 calories that can last you most of the day if need be. They now have a huge selection of various types of MREs to choose from. An MRE can last up to five years or more.
Oats
Oats are an extremely versatile food that can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you had to. You can easily buy in bulk and it won’t break the bank. Not only will it last a good 30 years, it’s also good for you and can provide quality carbohydrates that will fight off hunger and keep you going all day. Oats can also be used to make granola bars so you can take it with you if you have to mobilize.
White Rice
Uncooked white rice has been known to last upwards of 25 to 30 years. Keep in mind that minute rice will only last about 5 years. Put uncooked white rice in an air tight container and you will be able to use this food forever. If things don’t get better after 30 years of outages …well, it may be time to go out and see what food is still out there.
Honey
Honey has been known as a food item that can literally last forever. You’ve heard of scientists that have found 3,000 year old honey that is still safe to eat. They have an expiration date on the bottle, but that mainly refers to when the honey will begin crystallizing. You can still eat it by heating it up over the stove. Honey has also been known to have health benefits and has been used medicinally. Honey is made up of sugars which is difficult for bacteria to break down and affect the product.
Dried or Canned Beans
If stored correctly, beans can last upwards of 30 years and still be used for a main food source. They’re cheap and you can easily grab a few bags each paycheck. Canned beans can last years as long as you take great care in their storage. Dried beans will last much longer.
Dried Ramen Noodles
You survived by eating ramen noodles in college, now you need to stock up for your pantry just in case you need to survive on them again. Ramen noodles should be given a medal. Funny how life works, isn’t it? These will last for years and years in your food pantry. They are extremely hydrated and won’t go bad as long as you store them properly. They are so cheap you could literally stock up with one trip to the supermarket.
Powdered Milk
Lasts forever and can be found in all food aid supplies and shelters when fresh milk is unavailable. It may not taste as good as fresh milk, but you can’t worry about that – it can be used for all types of cooking and baking.
Hard Liquor
Hard liquor such as bourbon, whiskey, vodka and rum will stay drinkable forever as long as you keep it sealed and store it properly. Not only for drinking, hard liquor can be used to clean wounds and for trade. It may sound crazy, but many people stock pile hard liquor just in case they need to use it for trade for other important survival items. It makes sense when you think about it – weeks of tough times would make anyone want a few sips of mind-numbing liquor.
Pure Maple Syrup
Pure, delicious, mouth-watering maple syrup can last indefinitely if you store in a freezer. While you may not always have freezer space for syrup, it is still a great food item to add to your shopping list.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a great source of protein and does not need to be refrigerated. You can spread it on break, eat straight from the container or put it in protein shakes. Peanut butter can usually last a good 5 years if you store it properly. The protein is good for fighting hunger and a little bit goes a long way. If things get really bad and your peanut butter expires – you can still eat it, it just won’t taste as good. You can’t always worry about taste when you’re stocking up for the apocalypse.
Energy Bars
Make them yourself or buy in bulk at the store – have some on hand. They can provide a huge boost of protein, carbohydrates and calories. Energy bars can last a long time if you store them properly – even beyond the expiration date. Stock up on energy bars and protein bars and have them delivered right to your door.
Dehydrated Meat
Used by hunters for countless years, dehydrated meat is a great survival food because it is easy to make and is a great source of protein and energy. If you don’t feel like
Baking Soda
A few uses for baking soda include; baking, washing counter tops, making your own toothpaste, removing stains and a multitude of other things. Extremely cheap and primed for buying in bulk and storing.
Vanilla Extract
Another food item that can is versatile and will last for years. Multiple uses and easy to obtain.
Canned Foods
You should have a healthy amount of various canned food items already in your food pantry. I would suggest taking a notebook and taking stock of what you have and how you can improve. You don’t want to get in there and realize you have nothing of substance. Get a variety of foods and stash them back. Periodically check the dates and if we don’t have a pandemic or mass quarantine anytime soon – rotate them out and use them. Be sure to replace what you use though.
Coffee
A great pick-me-up, coffee is a mainstay in most households. Not only does it give you that extra boost, but it also has many health benefits. Plus, it lasts a long time and you can easily stock up on it. Don’t like coffee? Most everyone else does and this is another item you could potentially trade should there be a state-wide emergency.
Hot Sauce
While hot sauce may not be a necessity, it can be used to spice up any dull meal. Let’s be honest, you’re not exactly wanting to eat bland food for weeks on end. A small amount goes a long way and can last up to five years easily. Throw a few bottles in your food pantry and call it a day.
Tips to Prepare for a Pandemic Such as Coronavirus
Keep Cash on Hand
Banks could be shut down during a mass panic. You may not have access to much needed funds on short notice. Keep plenty of cash on hand in small denominations in case you have to hit the road. A debit card may not work for weeks and you will eventually need to make purchases.
Buy Items to Trade (Even if You Don’t Use Them)
Items such as coffee, whiskey and bullets are perfect for trade. Even if you don’t use them, it would be wise to stock up because other people will want them. These are inexpensive items you can buy with each paycheck to be ready.
Bug-Out Bag Ready to Go
There’s a chance your hometown will no longer be safe if there is a pandemic such as the Coronavirus or another event causing mass hysteria. You can be the best stocked home on the block, but that doesn’t matter if everyone else knows that and comes for what you have. There could also be an evacuation and you will want to bring your supplies with you.
You will want to stock a bag with essentials such as: water filters, water, fire starters, knife, first-aid kit and protein/energy bars. Always bring more than you need in case you can help others.
Keep Gas Tanks Full
It only takes one report of a virus in your area for everyone to rush to the gas stations and cause a shortage. The moment you hear of something in your area – fill up the gas tanks.
Food storage isn’t just for preppers anymore, it only takes a few days for panic to set in and the stores to be cleaned out. At least put back a little each trip to the grocery store.
Just as it is recommended to have a six months’ worth of living expenses in your savings account, you should have at least three weeks’ worth of food, toilet paper and supplies in your food pantry. It doesn’t take much to throw off supply of these crucial items. The media can post an alarming video and the stores will be wiped clean of certain food items and it may take days to replenish.
Don’t get left in the dust unprepared wondering how you will get enough food to feed your family. Many states are running out of toilet paper and hand sanitizer during the early stages of the Coronavirus pandemic. Two things every household needs.
Jerome is an avid outdoorsman who moonlights as an attorney when he’s not creating the world’s greatest online content.