Best Emergency Food Kits of 2023

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Emergency food kits can provide an incredible sense of security.  There’s nothing that compares to the peace of mind of knowing you have food on hand for the next emergency, be it tomorrow or 25 years from now.

Emergency food kits come in handy for all sorts of everyday emergencies, and they have the potential to be life-saving during major disasters.

The problem with shopping for emergency food kits is that few people actually take the time to test and review the kit.  It’s something that most people just stick in their back closet for “just in case.” 

Emergency food reviews almost always say things like “fast shipping” or “great packaging,” but you never really get feedback on the quality of the food.

If and when an emergency happens it’s not as though they’ve got spare time (and an internet connection) to casually review their emergency food kit.  They’re living the emergency, and for better or worse, this is the emergency food kit they have.

Personally, I only feel confident storing food that I know is tasty, nutritious, and easy to prepare.  If I’m storing an emergency food kit, it’s because I’ve already cooked every single meal in that kit and I know it’s worth both the money to buy and space to store.

I’ve eaten long-term storage emergency food kits from just about every supplier on the market.  Most companies make freeze-dried emergency food kits that last 25 years or more, but a few make other unique options like survival ration bars and MREs.

I’ll walk you through the best (and worst) emergency food kits available from every supplier, as well as some of the more obscure options for your food storage.

In a hurry and don’t want to read through everything?  No worries, here’s the quick version:

My absolute favorite emergency food kits come from Nutrient Survival and Valley Food Storage.

Nutrient survival isn’t just offering bulk calories, they focus on nutrient-dense meals to fuel your body through any emergency.  They advertise that their kits are “specifically designed to exceed (by 2.5x!) the nutritional standards of the US Military for its most elite warriors, Special Operations Forces.”

I keep a can of their breakfast scramble in my pantry, and it’s my go-to breakfast for days when I’m in a rush heading out the door.  Just pour boiling water over the freeze-dried meal right in the bowl and it’s ready in minutes. 

One bowl in the morning and I’m full until dinnertime, and I’d count on it in an emergency.

All their meals are “just add boiling water” instant, no cooking skill required.  They come in single-serve pouches that can be thrown into a backpack, or no. 10 cans that are perfect for long-term storage for larger families.

They also have “cookie meal bars” that are perfect for grab-and-go, and they’re incredibly popular with my kids.

Valley Food Storage offers some of the highest quality emergency food on the market.  I’ve done blind taste tests with family and friends on their freeze-dried strawberries and theirs win every time.

Their meals do require some cooking, and on average they need to simmer for 15-20 minutes on the stove before they’re ready.  They are, however, self-contained and all you need is water, a pot, and the meal kit.

They’ve been on the market for many years, and their quality and selection remain top-notch.

Their emergency food kits come packed in resealable 4 serving mylar pouches, and they’re shipped for storage in durable food-grade buckets.

They offer pre-made long-term storage meal kits, as well as individual ingredients like freeze-dried fruit and veggies, as well as freeze-dried meat, eggs, and cheese.

If you’re interested in how the other emergency food options compare, read on and I’ll take you through all the major brands on the market.

Choosing an Emergency Food Kit

Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple “one size fits all” option when it comes to choosing the best emergency food kit for your family.  

There are a number of factors to consider, including:

• Family Size – If you’re eating alone then single-serve pouches are much more useful than no. 10 cans.
• Cooking Skills – Given basic storage food ingredients like freeze-dried meat, cheese, and vegetables, can you prepare a meal from scratch?  Even if you have the skills, will you have the equipment (dishes, etc) in an emergency?  If not, pre-made meal kits might be a better option, especially for short-term emergencies.
• Environmental Conditions – Do you live in an area with scarce water supplies and high temps?  In that case, low water options like ration bars and MREs might be a better way to get through a short-term emergency.  Or, if you live in a relatively cool and water-rich region, as I do here in Vermont, then options that require longer cook times and lots of water work well.

When evaluating individual emergency food kits, be sure to look at:

• Preparation – Is the meal instant, as in just adding boiling water and waiting?  Or, does it require cook time with pots and pans?  Or, is it no “cooking” required, as is the case for MREs and ration bars?
• Calories – Many emergency food kits are short on calories, averaging 800-1,200 calories a day.  Sure you can survive on that for a short time, but you’re preparing so you don’t have to, right?  Reputable companies offer 1,800 to 2,500 calories per day in their kits.
• Nutrition – Our bodies need more than just calories, and even kits that guarantee 2,000 calories per day often fall short in terms of protein and nutrients.  It’s easy to bulk out a kit with oatmeal, white rice, and sugary drinks, but kits that actually offer nutrition are a much better option.
• Package Size – Single serve packs are usually more expensive, but they’re much more practical for small family sizes and will save money by reducing waste in the long run.  Large families, on the other hand, are much better off with bulk packaging.
• Flavor – Everyone’s tastes are different, and you can’t please everyone.  Most emergency food kits include comfort foods designed to please a wide variety of tastes.  Some kits are for more adventurous palates and include a wider variety as well as ethnic dishes to keep things interesting.
• Selection – Planning for a short-term emergency, it’s fine if the kit only includes 2-3 types of food.  For longer-term emergencies, measured in weeks or months, you’ll want more options.  
• Cost – Some emergency food kits cost quite a bit more than others, but often you get what you pay for.  The more expensive kits tend to have more nutrition (protein, etc), and more calories.  That’s not always true though, and there are a few good economy options as well.

If you’re worried about the price of freeze-dried emergency food kits and you plan on packing in a good bit of food, you can always invest in a home freeze dryer.  A home unit costs about half as much as a one-year emergency food kit, and they’ll preserve literally hundreds of pounds of food a year for decades. 

Not a bad investment, especially if you have a garden and you’re growing your own produce. 

Best Emergency Food Kits

Everyone’s needs are slightly different, and in truth, the best emergency food kits are those that your family is capable of preparing, and then also enjoys eating in an emergency.

That’ll depend not only on your tastes, but your cooking skills, nutritional needs, and family size.  

Budget, of course, is also a consideration, as some of these emergency food kits are a lot more affordable than others.

I’ve tried food from each and every emergency food company, and these emergency food kit suppliers consistently produce the highest quality food for a reasonable price.

As I mentioned above, my favorite all-around suppliers are Nutrient Survival and Valley Food Storage, as their kits are high quality and taste great.  

If you’re on a tight budget, My Patriot Supply is the best option, as they offer high-quality economy kits.  

Nutrient Survival

One of the newest emergency food companies on the market, and Nutrient Survival focused on quality right from the start.

I really love their premise, promoting nutrition to not only survive but thrive through an emergency.

Not only is it nutrient-dense, but it’s also incredibly delicious.  Yes, you can technically survive on gruel and hardtack, but you’re preparing so you don’t have to.

Unlike most emergency food kits that require extensive cooking, these are “just add water.”  No pots or pans needed, just pour the food into your bowl and top with boiling water.  Wait 5 minutes and enjoy.

What I especially love is their single-serve options.  While bulk no. 10 cans are great to have in your basement, especially if you have a large family, they’re not a great option for grab and go (and they’re impractical for small families).

These are a part of my family’s regular diet, and we’ll whip them out when we just have a few quick minutes and don’t have time to prepare a meal.  They’re good enough to enjoy in everyday life, not just emergencies.

Pros

• Tastes Great – We eat these on busy weekdays and they’re incredibly popular with the whole family.
• Nutrient-Dense – High protein and full of extra nutrients like omega fatty acids to provide complete nutrition.
• Single Serve or Bulk Packaging Options – Good options no matter your family size.
• Just Add Water – Quick and easy to prepare, no cooking equipment required. 
• Portable—Not only do they have just-add-water single-serve options, but they also offer nutrient-dense meal bars with no prep needed for your food storage.  
• Good Price – Not the least expensive emergency food kit, but by far the best value in “just add water” emergency food.  If you want to spend less, you’ll be sacrificing nutritional value and you’ll need to be willing to cook the food in a pot on the stove for 15-20 minutes.

Cons

• Price – These are a great deal, and as I said above, the best value in “just add water” emergency food.  That said, they’re not “bargain-basement cheap.”  If you’re on an extremely tight budget, skip down to My Patriot Supply and be prepared to spend time cooking (and doing dishes).
• Limited Selection – Since they’re still a new company they don’t have as many types of meals as others on the market.  That said, they still have more than a dozen different options, and all of them are fabulous.  

Valley Food Storage

Although their emergency food kits are not “just add water,” Valley Food Storage makes some of the highest quality kits available.

This type of kit is actually a lot more common than the “instant” kit that is ready in 5 minutes. 

Most require you to empty the pouch into a pot with a measured amount of boiling water.  The food then simmers and absorption cooks until it’s reached the perfect texture (no straining required).

It does mean dishes, namely cooking pots, but it also means you get a lot more selection. 

In a short-term emergency, instant food options are perfect. 

For a longer-term emergency, you’re going to need to figure out a way to cook anyway, and the extra variety offered by these kits is well worth the effort. 

While other companies often specialize in 72 hour or 2-week kits, most of Valley Food Storage’s customers are buying the longer-term emergency food kits with either 3 months, 6 months, or a full year’s worth of emergency food.

They have the quality and variety to keep you satisfied over the long haul.

Valley Food Storage also sells more than just emergency meal kits.  They also sell ingredients like freeze-dried fruit and veggies, as well as freeze-dried meat, eggs, and cheese. 

This means you can combine them with your other long-term food storage items like pasta, flour, rice, and beans to add even more variety to your diet over the long haul.

Pros

• Impeccable Quality – In blind taste tests with similar items, my friends and family can always pick out the Valley food storage items.
• Great Selection – They offer both prepared meals that are ready to cook, as well as single ingredients (fruit, cheese, meat, veg) for those that want to cook from scratch.
• Durable Bucket Packaging – The emergency food comes packed in 4 serving mylar pouches which are then packed into durable food-grade plastic storage buckets for easy transport and storage.

Cons

• Expensive – While these are some of the highest quality emergency food kits out there, they are comparatively expensive.  They are much less expensive than MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) or Camping meals like Mountain House, but they’re much more expensive than the budget options like My Patriot Supply.
• Cook Time (and Equipment) – These are not “instant” food, and they’re best for the longer-term emergency where you’ll be able to work out access to dependable cooking facilities (like in a shelter-at-home situation).
• No Single-Serve Options – The smallest package is 4 servings, and though they are resealable, it’s not ideal for single people.

My Patriot Supply

If you’re on a tight budget, My Patriot Supply is by far the best option in low-cost emergency food kits.

I’ve tried every single one of their meals, and while they’re not exactly grandma’s home cooking, they’re all MUCH better than most of the convenience foods you’ll find in the center aisles of the grocery store (ie. Chef Boyardee, microwave dinners, etc).

Don’t believe me?  You can read my full Patriot Food Supply review and see pictures and taste evaluations of every one of their recipes if you’re curious.

They also guarantee that every single one of their kits contains more than 2,000 calories per day, with ample protein to keep you going.

There are a number of companies that advertise low-cost emergency food, and it’s unfortunately become a race to the bottom where most are sacrificing quality, flavor, and nutrition.  They’re creating “cheap calories,” and many are failing even at that as calorie counts on some of the “discount” emergency meal kits are as low as 600 calories per day.

Even if you’re on a budget, you should still choose a kit that’s going to actually contain enough calories (and nutrition) to provide meaningful and satisfying meals during an emergency. 

My Patriot Supply is by far the best option in the low-cost category.

If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive emergency food kit that covers all the bases, I’d recommend their Ultimate Solar Powered Cooking and Emergency Kit.  It not only contains emergency food but everything you need to cook it, as well as a high-grade water filtration system and solar charger for your devices.

You should always start by checking their “deal of the day” page.  It features a different product each day, and they’re usually half off. 

Pros

• Low Cost – An excellent value, while still providing tasty food and more than 2,000 calories per day.
• Durable Packaging – Everything is shipped in 4 serving mylar pouches packed inside durable storage totes.
• Good Selection of Comfort Foods – While they don’t have exotic options like Thai curry on their menu, they do have a great selection of American comfort food meals that will keep even the pickiest eaters satisfied.
• One-Stop Shopping – They also sell all manner of other emergency preparedness items, such as:
  • Cooking Gear and Survival Tools
  • Stoves, Fuel, and Lighters
  • Power Generation and Lighting
  • Water Filtration
  • First Aid and Medical Kits
  • Survival Books

Cons

• No Single-Serve – Everything’s packed in resealable 4 serving mylar pouches, which is fine for groups of 2+ people but not ideal for individuals.
• Cook Time – The food requires 15-20 minutes of simmering on the stove in a pot, rather than being “just add how water” instant.

Emergency Essentials

For experienced home cooks that are just looking to supplement their regular food storage with freeze-dried versions of perishable ingredients, I’d suggest Emergency Essentials.

They specialize in emergency food kits for home cooks looking to prepare for the long emergency, where they’ll need to shelter in place for months or weeks at a time.

They have the largest variety of freeze-dried ingredients, and they carry options that you just can’t get at any other provider.

Cooking and Baking Essentials such as butter powder, powdered whole eggs, and dry milk powder can be combined with your own shelf-stable pantry staples like flour and sugar for home baking. 

(If you don’t know how to pack flour and sugar for long-term storage, you can also buy pre-packed no. 10 cans of those too.)

Freeze Dried Vegetables make for quick just add water soup, casseroles, or simple side dishes that are shelf-stable for 25+ years and ready to go at a moment’s notice.  

Ingredient Kits are perfect for people who know how to cook, and they bundle all the shelf-stable freeze-dried emergency food you’d need to create all manner of meals. 

For example, their Essential Omlet Kit has everything you need to make a killer breakfast, including freeze-dried eggs, potatoes, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes.  Make an omelet, or re-hash them into any of your favorite recipes.

They also carry emergency food from other suppliers, which are better options in case of short-term emergencies where you might not have cooking facilities.  These include meals from My Patriot Supply and MREs (Meals Ready to Eat).

Beyond that, they also supply high-quality emergency supplies to help you prepare beyond just emergency food.

Pros

• Bulk Ingredients – Great for stocking a prepared pantry, provided you’re an experienced home cook and plan on having cooking facilities in an emergency.
• High Quality – All their ingredients are high quality.
• Great Price – If you’re prepared to cook your own meals, buying ingredients can save quite a bit as opposed to prepared emergency meal kits.

Cons

• Cooking Skills – This option only works if you already know how to cook meals from scratch at home.
• Specialized Ingredients – It takes some practice to rehydrate freeze-dried food, and you can’t always use it in exactly the same way you would fresh ingredients.  I’d suggest practicing cooking for your food stores before an emergency, as pantry ingredients are not as foolproof as prepared meal emergency food kits.

Other Emergency Food Options

The companies listed above are the best in my opinion, in terms of providing good value, nutrition and flavor.  There are other manufacturers in the “survival food” space, and they all do indeed provide calories, but these are by far the best in my opinion.

At this point, I do not recommend:

• 4Patriots (different from My Patriot Supply)
• Wise Food Storage (Readywise)
• Numanna
• Augason Farms

I’ll have detailed reviews of each of these companies written shortly.  If you’d like to know why I don’t recommend them, check back soon.

Beyond freeze-dried long-term storage emergency food, there are also a few other options to fuel your body through an emergency.

Freeze Dried Camping Meals

Made by companies like Mountain House, Backpacker’s Pantry, and Peak Refuel.  They’re lightweight, single-serve, just add water, and designed to be extremely portable.

They’re also extremely expensive. 

Mountain House used to have exceptional quality in a pre-2020 world, but they’ve reformulated recently and their portions are smaller, protein levels lower and prices higher. 

Backpacker’s Pantry is consistently the lowest-rated of the three companies, and I personally don’t like their food.  It’s just not to my taste, but everyone’s different.

Peak Refuel is by far the best option in this space.  Though they’re comparable in price to mountain house and backpacker’s pantry, they offer much better flavor and nutrition.  All of their meals are high protein, and they offer really unique meal options.

If you do choose to supplement your emergency food storage with more expensive single-serve freeze-dried backpacking meals, I’d recommend choosing meals from Peak Refuel.

(Since they’re usually purchased by campers and backpackers, you can find these online at places like REI and Cabellas, which will often still have stock when the emergency food kits are out of stock elsewhere.)

MREs

Meals Ready to Eat or MREs are ready-to-eat meals that don’t need to be rehydrated like freeze-dried food.  They’re hermetically sealed in specialized pouches in a process that’s similar to canning meat and vegetables (but without the can).

They come with a heat pack that’s activated with a small amount of water, around 1 ounce (30 ml, or 2 Tablespoons).  That water causes a chemical reaction in the heat pack, and then you press the heat pack to the food pouch for about 5-10 minutes until it’s heated.

The water doesn’t even have to be potable because it doesn’t actually come into contact with the food.

Inside the MRE, you’ll find a complete meal with an entree (usually a pasta dish, chili, or similar comfort food item).  There are also side dishes like crackers, jam, drink mixes, and treats like pop tarts or candy.  

All of it is sealed for storage, and they’re usually rated to store for 3 to 5 years.

MREs don’t store as long as freeze-dried food because they’re already hydrated, and though the food is “sterilized” as it’s packed to kill bacteria, that doesn’t destroy the natural enzymes in the food.  After several years, the food in an MRE begins to degrade (just like canned food stored for several years).

They’re good for short-term emergencies where you might not have access to any cooking facilities, and where potable water is in short supply.

Over the long term, they’re expensive and your food options are limited.  Civilian MREs usually come in crates with around 5-6 different types of meals.

MREs can be hard to find, but there are a few suppliers that keep them in stock consistently:

• The Ready Store
• Emergency Essentials
• Survival Frog
• Amazon

Survival Rations

For really short-term emergencies, survival rations are a good stop-gap measure.  They’re food bars specifically designed for lifeboats and other emergency survival situations.

They’re a great thing to keep in the car or your backpack “just in case.”

Survival ration bars are formulated to provide nutrition without making you thirsty, and most are certified by the coast guard for emergency situations.

They’re basically nutrient-fortified long-term storage shortbread cookies, so they’re pretty tasty (though monotonous, so don’t expect to survive on them long).

Survival ration bars are available from:

• Survival Frog
• Uncharted Supply Co.
• Emergency Essentials
• Amazon

Beyond Emergency Food Kits

Food isn’t the only thing that’s good to have on hand for an emergency.  Depending on the type of emergency, these things might also come in handy:

Water Filtration & Storage – Canning water at home is an inexpensive way to ensure a supply of potable water, provided you have access to canning jars which is questionable these days.  It works well for us since we don’t have earthquakes and just about every conceivable emergencies involve us sheltering at home.

For a longer-term emergency, you’ll need some sort of water filtration system.  We use a Berkey Filter, which is really top-of-the-line in terms of home water filtration.

(2024 Water Filter Update: Berkey is having supply chain problems, and they’re not readily available.  Occasionally, they’re available through Pleasant Hill Grain and a few other suppliers, but not dependably.  Consider an Alexapure Filter as an alternative, as they’re similar, and much more readily available these days.)

Many people also opt for storing water in bulk water storage containers and sterilizing with chlorine tablets, which works too.

Sanitation – We have a composting toilet setup for emergencies, and there are plenty of plans/ideas in The Humanure Handbook, which discusses all the practical necessities of dealing with human waste in emergencies.  If you’re looking for a simple solution though, Nature’s Head makes some of the best self-contained composting toilets available.

For washing clothes, we use a small pedal-powered washing machine that’s incredibly efficient.  My 6-year-old daughter absolutely loves it, and actually begs to wash her own clothes with it.  Simple to set up and use, you can see my full review here.

First Aid – Hopefully, you already have a well-stocked first aid kit at home, one that contains more than just a few bandaids.  If not, now’s a great time to start. 

Having everything you need at home to treat simple injuries can be incredibly valuable, especially with emergency room availability (and costs) being what they are these days.

My Medic has some great options, pre-packed for just about any scenario, from a small everyday carry kit, to a car emergency kit, all the way up to a long-term backwoods medical backpack.

Car Preparedness – The worst time for an emergency to happen is likely when you’re away from home (and your supplies).  Keeping a good car emergency kit will help cover you when you’re away from home.

Uncharted Supply Co has some really great pre-packed kits, both in backpack form and in a yeti hard case that’s great for keeping in your trunk.

Security – I imagine you’d be better off with one of these in your back closet, regardless of the emergency scenario.  (One of these, and maybe two or three of these, wouldn’t hurt either…)

Preparedness Resources

Looking for more resources to boost your resilience in uncertain times?

• Survival Gardening: Our Real Life Dry Run
• Choosing a Survival Seed Bank
• How to Freeze Dry Food at Home