15 Emergency Essentials You Don’t Want to Be Without

Food

Any emergency kit requires a supply of food that can be stored without refrigeration and eaten without cooking or preparation.

Many ordinary canned heat-and-serve foods, such as baked beans, pasta, and stews, also double as emergency rations. They can safely be eaten cold, although they won’t taste as good. Store at least one manually operated can opener with the food supply – and keep an eye on expiration dates.

Other inexpensive food possibilities include crackers and no-refrigeration sandwich fillings such as peanut butter, honey, and single-serving jams and jellies; canned fruit or fruit cups; pudding cups; trail mix; raisins and other dried fruits; fruit leather; granola or energy bars; summer sausages; and meat jerky.