We’ve already covered how important food is for survival. You need to keep plenty of it on hand so that you have enough to fuel your body in the worst possible conditions. Since you’ll be stocking up on food items, you need to ensure that they will last for a long period of time. There’s nothing worse than having to replenish your stock every six months or so. The ten items listed here will all stay good for quite some time – decades, in many cases – as long as you keep them stored in the proper manner. For most of them, that involves keeping them cool and dry.
1) Twinkies
It sounds weird to have a processed food (a junk food, at that) on this list. However, Twinkies have quite a long shelf life. Back in 2012, a high school science teacher conducted an experiment where he ate a 30-year-old Twinkie. Not only was the snack cake fine, if a little stale, but it proved that the preservatives in it are designed to last.
2) Powdered Eggs
Although powdered eggs do not quite compare to the real thing – it’s always a good idea for a survivalist to have plenty of live chickens – they do have a long shelf life. You can purchase either canned powdered eggs or whole powdered eggs. Both will stay good for up to seven years.
3) Honey
Did you know that honey never goes bad? It has an indefinite shelf life. Over time, it may crystallize and harden slightly, but melting it down makes it liquid again. This natural sweetener is a must-have for this reason alone.
4) Instant Beverages
There are plenty of powdered, instant beverage options to choose from. They include things like coffee, tea, and even hot chocolate. If they are stored in airtight containers, all will last for around ten years, if not longer.
5) Salt and Sugar
These are more pantry staples than they are food. What matters here is that they will stay good indefinitely as long as they are kept cool and dry.
6) Powdered Milk
Powdered milk, like the other powdered beverages on this list, will remain shelf stable for over 20 years. Just make sure to keep it in an airtight container with a moisture collecting packet to keep it in good condition.
7) Pemmican
Pemmican is a Native American food that consists of dried meat that has been mixed with fat and berries. While you can purchase it at the store these days – or you can make it yourself – no matter what, it has an average shelf life of over 30 years.
8) Baking Soda
If you plan on making bread, muffins, and cake, you’ll need a good supply of baking soda. Since it will last indefinitely as long as its kept cool and try, feel free to stock up on it.
9) MREs
The initials in MRE stand for Meals Ready to Eat. They are a military staple and are filled with enough essential vitamins and minerals to keep you going for up to 72 hours. Plus, they contain their own heating elements, which helps if you don’t have any way of cooking. It’s always a good idea to keep a case of MREs on hand.
10) Bouillon Cubes
While you could store things like canned broth, which has a longer shelf life than the boxed stuff, you should keep bouillon cubes on hand instead. Not only do they take up less room, but it’s easier to use just a portion of them if need be. Plus, they’ll stay good for up to ten years.