The 10 Best Emergency Food Supply Kits of 2023, Tested by Experts

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Emergency preparedness isn’t a sexy topic. But, it is a necessary one. That’s especially true if you live anywhere earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, locust swarms—just about any emergency really—are a real threat. One look at a map of the U.S. reveals that that's the majority of the country, and probably where you live too.

There are, of course, typical items that most of us have on hand for such emergencies. Most well-prepared households keep at least flashlights, extra batteries, matches, candles, and other essentials at the ready. But, what about food? Canned chili, tuna fish, and trail mix are good in a pinch, but those are only going to last so long. Plus, there are way better options available these days, especially in the event of an extended emergency.

To make sure you and your family (and maybe even your favorite neighbors) stay well-fed if the unthinkable should happen, we’ve rounded up the best emergency food supply kits of 2023—all compared, tested, and reviewed by our in-house experts. There are even vegetarian, vegan, and legit gluten-free options, so there's quite literally something for everyone. Bon appetit!

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124-Serving Ultimate Preparedness Pack

ReadyWise has a history of great food supply kits for survival, backpacking, and emergencies. The brand’s Ultimate Preparedness Pack is its flagship product with 124 servings and a solid mix of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. The included drinks and desserts are a welcome addition that sets it apart from other family-sized kits. Everything from pasta alfredo to apple cinnamon cereal to vanilla pudding is in a single, ready-to-go pail. Some can even be eaten as-is with zero preparation required.

Freeze-dried "emergency" food isn't known for being the best tasting. But we found the meals in this kit—especially the Creamy Pasta & Vegetable and Savory Stroganoff—to be surprisingly good. Both are better than many of the alternatives we've tried.

Our only real quibble is that instructions for some meals are unclear or non-existent, which required a bit of trial-and-error on our part to prepare. It's also worth noting that 32 of the claimed servings are beverage servings, so you may want to buy two of these for a family of four. There are more affordable options, but this one is still priced right at less than $100.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 2,400 Amazon reviews, 91% recommend the the ReadyWise 124-Serving Ultimate Preparedness Pack with at least a 4-star rating.

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Lunch and Dinner Variety Pail

For less than $100 (closer to $75 on sale), Augason Farms’ aptly named Lunch and Dinner Variety Pail offers a good mix of—wait for it—lunches and dinners. The 92-serving kit will keep one individual fed for a long while or a family of four sustained for about a week. There's a good mix of savory soup and pasta dishes here, plus "bonus" servings of chocolate pudding.

In our opinion, the taste was average. We liked just about everything—the mac and cheese and fettucine alfredo were both good comfort food. But, our testers found everything to be fairly bland, requiring at least salt to add some punch.

As with many emergency food kits, the servings are not individually wrapped (i.e., a dozen or more servings in one large bag). That means having to prepare large batches at once and planning a way to store leftovers. Unlike some other emergency food supplies, every meal in this bucket requires boiling water, a constant supply of heat for cooking, and a minimum of 15 minutes of stirring. That's no problem with access to working appliances, but may be unrealistic in a true survival situation.

Still, for a large pail with more than 20,000 calories worth of food—all of which comes from food and not drink servings—it’s our pick for the best value emergency food supply kit.

What do buyers say? Out of more than 10,000 Amazon reviews, 92% recommend the the Augason Farms Lunch and Dinner Variety Pail with at least a 4-star rating.

Just in Case 3-Day Emergency Food Supply

A three-day supply of food is enough for most emergencies (more on that below). With 18 total servings all packaged in two-serving pouches, Mountain House’s Just in Case kit provides just enough food—three breakfasts, lunches, and dinners—to feed two people for 72 hours. We’ve bought Mountain House backpacker meals for our camping trips for years, largely due to the brand’s surprisingly tasty dehydrated meals. This emergency supply kit is no different. Our testers found each meal in this kit to be flavorful and filling with a good texture.

Calorie-for-calorie, it’s pricier than most other comparable food kits at more than five dollars per serving. But, if you don't mind splashing out on more premium grub (and, honestly, aren't you and your SO worth it?), we think it’s worth it based on the quality alone.

If we have one minor complaint, it’s that this kit lacks a carry case or pail. So, you’ll need to provide your own backpack or waterproof pail to get this one ready for your emergency "bug-out" kit.

What do buyers say? "This is the best product of its type out there. It tastes the best! We use it for remote camping and our primary emergency supply," said one Cabela's reviewer.

Long-Term Gluten-Free Food Storage

Celiac sufferers have it rough. So, it's no surprise that, until recently, finding gluten-free emergency food kits was almost impossible. Legacy Premium’s Long-Term Gluten-Free emergency food supply pail is our favorite option. Every meal is guaranteed gluten-free, making this a perfect choice for families with celiac sensitivities.

The food is also vegetarian, soy-free, non-GMO, and surprisingly good—not just good for gluten-free food, but actually good. The 60-serving kit includes hearty, filling options like creamy potato soup, cheese and broccoli bake, and enchilada with rice and beans. Most prepare easily using only hot water and a little stirring.

In the included flip-top bucket, Legacy promises that it’ll keep for up to 25 years under ideal storage conditions, although we can't make any promises. On the downside, it’s the second priciest on this list—with a per-serving price of nearly $4—which isn’t surprising given the higher cost of gluten-free foods. Although, the extra-large serving sizes are generous (1.5-2 cups each) compared to those found in almost any other emergency food kit.

What do buyers say? "Great product, shipped quick and not a complaint at all," said one Amazon reviewer.

Survive2Thrive Organic Emergency Food Kit

Finding a decent emergency food kit that's organic is just as hard as finding one that's gluten-free. The options are limited. EnerHealth Botanicals' aptly named Survive2Thrive Organic Emergency Food Kit is the best (and one of the only) we've found.

The brand takes a different approach than almost every other ready-to-eat meal kit we've tested. It packs large, vacuum-sealed bags of basic, shelf-stable ingredients like rolled oats, garbanzo beans, and powdered milk into a single, reusable pail. The foods are raw and require traditional cooking and preparation methods, so they’re not as convenient as the dehydrated food options mentioned here. But, they are vegan, non-GMO, and Certified USDA Organic so you are getting purer and purportedly healthier ingredients. Plus, they provide more flexibility with how you prepare your meals.

On the downside, there are no individual-sized serving bags included, so you’ll need to plan a way to store the ingredients once each bag has been opened. Still, if you're looking to eat as clean as possible, even after a world-ending The Last of Us-style societal downfall, this is your man.

What do buyers say? "This is the best long term food preparation bucket on the market. Period," said one Amazon reviewer.

5-Day Emergency Food Kit

As with Mountain House, we've been long-time fans of Good To-Go for its awesome dehydrated backpacker meals. Its 5-Day Emergency Food Kit is no exception. This kit combines some of the brand's best-tasting breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals into one ready-to-go kit that's perfect for a go-bag.

That includes oatmeal for breakfast, and a mix of hearty pasta- and bean-centric entrees for lunch and dinner. Our testers found every one to be better tasting than any other comparable freeze-dried meals or emergency food kits. Each serving is made with premium ingredients, and all are vegan and gluten-free, so this kit is perfect for any family, with or without food sensitivities. We also love that every serving is individually packaged, making for easy measuring and longer shelf life.

On the downside, with fresher, higher-quality ingredients, this kit has the shortest shelf-life of any we tested: Only 4-5 years. It's also one of the priciest, with a per-serving cost of more than $7.60. That might not be so bad for 1-2 people, but the can quickly balloon for larger families.

What do buyers say? "I enjoy tasty, high-quality food ... I wasn’t expecting much from a meal in a pouch. I was absolutely delighted to be wrong. These meals are excellent, especially when compared to other backpacking meals currently on the market," said one Amazon reviewer.

Freeze Dried Fruit Bucket

Sometimes a comprehensive emergency meal kit with breakfasts, lunches, dinners, desserts, and drinks is too much. Valley Food Storage offers a good variety of niche kits (fruits, vegetables, meats, and more) all sold individually, so you can easily mix and match to build your perfect emergency food stash.

Its Freeze Dried Fruit Bucket, for example, packs nearly 100 servings of freeze-dried fruits, including bananas, apples, berries, and pineapples, into a single, water-resistant, five-gallon bucket. The company picks its non-GMO fruit at peak ripeness and minimally processes everything so it tastes great without a ton of preservatives and unnecessary additives.

We found the fruit to be rich and flavorful enough to take backpacking or keep on hand for legit emergency situations. The fruit isn’t packaged in individual serving-sized bags, so you'll need a way to store them once opened. But the bags are resealable to keep them fresher longer.

Our only gripe is that you can't choose which fruits you want, as the selection is based on what's fresh and in-season.

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Ultimate MREs

The U.S. military's OG MREs (meals ready to eat) were the inspiration for today's emergency food supply kits, and they’ve had a loyal following for decades. Originally designed as easy-to-prepare, all-in-one kits, each individual packet includes a complete, multi-course meal. That means an entrée (a protein or vegetarian base), bread, a beverage mix, a snack or spread, chewing gum, a spoon, and a nutritional insert all wrapped in a waterproof, go-anywhere bag.

An included chemical heater packet inside each MRE allows for “cooking” the meal without an external heat source. That makes them more versatile and reliable than any other emergency food kit on this list, as they can be prepped almost anywhere, anytime.

The most obvious downside, however, is that they look and taste like military food, which is to say not that great. They’re palatable, but nothing to blog about. At more than $15 per pack, they’re also crazy expensive.

Still, if you’re looking for hardcore prepper food that's dead-simple to "cook" in even the most serious emergencies, it doesn't get any easier than these.

What do buyers say? "I hadn't touched an MRE in about 15 years. Glad to see they still make them just as edible, reliable, and tasty as they used to," said one Amazon reviewer.

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Emergency Survival Food Storage Kit

We get it: There's a lot of reasons to ditch soy. And if you're concerned about avoiding it, even after the Apocalypse, NuManna's Emergency Survival Food Storage Kit is perfect. It's free of soy and MSG, plus it's sourced using only non-GMO ingredients, so you can be assured you're eating as clean as possibly.

This all-in-one kit includes 144 one-cup servings, all individually packaged. That makes both rationing and storage a whole lot easier than most other emergency food supply kits we tested this year. Like many others, NuManna guarantees a shelf life of up to 25 years, provided you store everything away from heat and humidity.

Our testers enjoyed the good mix and good taste of food from this kit, with bold hearty favorites like sweet habanero chili with pineapple and cheesy potato soup. Everything tasted great right out of the package without the need for extra salt or spices. Plus, at less than $2 per serving, it's hard to beat the price.

What do buyers say? "Best survival food period," said one Amazon reviewer.

3-Day Emergency Meal Kit For 2 People

Backpacker’s Pantry has been around for more than 70 years and a favorite of ours for at least the last 20. We’ve tried almost every last thing in the company’s catalog, and it’s always high-quality, nutrient-dense, and, most importantly, delicious. Incidentally, it’s all sustainably sourced, too. That’s true of its à la carte backpacker meals, and we found it’s just as true of its emergency food supply kits.

Its 3-Day Emergency Meal Kit for 2 People packs enough grub and nutrition for two people to ride out most emergencies for 72 hours. The 18 included meals—six breakfast servings and 12 lunch/dinner entrees—satisfied our test panel with a good variety of meat and vegetarian options. We found every serving to be filling and better tasting than almost any other emergency food supply kit we tried this year. The Blueberry Walnut Oats and Pad Thai Chicken were especially popular with our testers. One noted that his girlfriend even liked the Chicken Fettucine Alfredo better than the recipe the two typically cook at home

The vote was unanimous among our panel, who loved every meal in this kit. Our only minor complaint is the price. At around $110, it prices out at over $6 per serving. But this is a premium kit, and if only the best will do for you and yours, even during an emergency, we highly recommend it. It’s also available as a vegetarian-friendly kit.

How Much of an Emergency Food Supply Do You Need?

Experts agree that three days' worth of supplies, including food, is enough for most people to weather most unexpected emergencies. After that, the worst of any disaster will likely have passed. Still, it’s not a bad idea to prepare for at least two weeks without electricity, water, and access to roads. Ideally, a family of four needs 12 meals each day to keep going. So, if you're able, it’s wise to keep at least 168 total meals in your cabinets at all times.

What Type of Emergency Food Supply Should I Buy?

If our list is any indication, emergency food supply kits are available in various sizes, flavors, and dietary needs. A comprehensive family-sized kit with a good mix of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners might be all you need. But, consider any special restrictions like gluten allergies, vegetarian or vegan preferences, or whether buying an organic kit is important to you. These specialty options are usually more expensive, but can you really put a price on a decent meal when disaster strikes?

What to Look for in an Emergency Food Supply Kit

Start with any dietary restrictions

Finding the right emergency food supply kit largely comes down to personal taste (literally). Start with your family's dietary restrictions, allergies, or sensitivities, as this will provide a good jumping off point. If you know you'll need to account for one gluten-free eater and one vegan eater, for example, you can plan accordingly.

Look for calorie-rich foods

Calorie-dense foods packed with nutrients should be your focus. Thankfully, most manufacturers know this. They include breakfast foods like cereal and granola and lunch/dinner entrees that center around cheese, beans, and pasta in their emergency food supply kits. You may also want to consider supplementing your entrees with dehydrated or freeze-dried fruits and vegetables that can be eaten separately or added to your main meals to jazz things up. High-calories protein bars and survival tabs or another great source of nutrients and require zero preparation, so they can be eaten anytime, anywhere.

Pack enough water

Even the best emergency food supply kits require water (boiled or not) to be added to properly cook, so be sure to have an adequate water supply in your emergency stash.

Pay attention to shelf life

Most dehydrated and freeze-dried foods are designed to last at least 5 years, while some are good for 20 years or more. The key is storing them properly in a dark, dry place with a reasonably constant temperature of 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Where to Store Your Emergency Food Supply Kit

Like all foodstuffs, the best place to store emergency food kits is in a clean, dry place. Most kits are designed to last for decades (seriously) but will spoil prematurely in hot or humid conditions. A basement or temperature-controlled pantry is ideal. Keep in mind the potential for other threats like water damage, insects, rodents, and the like. So keeping your stash well-protected in a durable plastic bucket or storage tote is wise.

The best option is to split your emergency food supply among two different locations—half in the basement, half in the kitchen, for example. Stashing at least 72 hours' worth of food in an easy-to-grab backpack or “go bag” is a good idea too, in case you need to leave your house in a hurry.

How We Tested the Best Emergency Food Supply Kits

Over the last few years, we tested more than three dozen emergency food kits at home in a decidedly non-emergency situation (COVID doesn’t count). We evaluated everything from taste and ingredient quality to ease of preparation and per-serving cost. The list above represents our honest picks for the best emergency food supply kits to shop for home preparedness, emergencies, and other unexpected survival situations in 2023.

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