Emergency Food Supplies Put to the Test Our Unbiased Review Reveals the Best Options

Introduction

The world is ever-changing and uncertain. Therefore, having emergency food supplies is essential for the wellbeing of your family. Natural disasters, global conflicts, and extreme weather events are on the rise, so having long-term storage food is now more important than ever. With the numerous emergency food supply companies available, it can be difficult to pick the best.

To assist in this process, we tested eight brands and their emergency food supplies. We evaluated each company based on taste, nutrition, convenience, portability, price, and customer feedback. This review provides an overview of what these companies offer, so you can make an informed choice when buying emergency food supplies. Knowing your options is key when it comes to keeping your family prepared.

Types of Emergency Food Supplies

Stocking up for emergencies? You've got choices! From freeze-dried to long-term food kits, there's a variety of emergency food options. It can be hard to choose which is best for you.

Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each type. Plus, we'll give you a comprehensive review of the top options.

Freeze-dried

When seeking an emergency food supply that'll last longest, freeze-dried is the go-to. Sublimation is the process used to make freeze-dried foods. It involves freezing, vacuum-sealing, then heating to remove moisture. This preserves nutrients and flavor of many foods – fruits, veggies, proteins, grains.

Freeze-dried foods need minimal preparation and can be reconstituted with water. So they're great for backpacking or emergencies.

Brands offer complete meals in cans or buckets or you can buy bulk freeze-dried ingredients for homemade meals like soups and stews. But it's expensive compared to other emergency food storage options like canned or dehydrated. And it can reduce the original flavor over time if not sealed properly.

Freeze dry is a good choice if you're looking for a food supply that will last a decade or more without risk of spoilage or compromised nutritional value!

Canned

Canned foods are great for emergencies. They're non-perishable, nutritious and high in calories. Plus, they're usually easy to transport. Bulk suppliers and disaster relief organizations often use canned fruits and vegetables for emergency food.

When buying canned goods for an emergency stash, visit regular grocery stores. They have the widest selection. Choose food that you can tolerate for long periods of time. For example:

• Tuna, sardines, salmon, chicken, and ham
• Evaporated or condensed milk
• Applesauce, canned peaches, pineapple chunks, and mandarin oranges
• Green beans, corn, peas, and tomatoes
• Kidney beans, black beans, and refried beans
• Chili soups and vegetable soups
• Ready-to-eat meals like macaroni and cheese.

Dehydrated

Dehydrated and freeze-dried food have one thing in common: both processes reduce moisture content. This leads to a product that can last years if stored properly. Dehydrated food is dried with heated air. Freeze-dried food is frozen then exposed to low temperatures. Flavor and nutrition remain intact. Dishes are tastier with fewer ingredients than canned or MREs. Most dehydrated field meals need boiling water for preparation. Invest in a camping stove. Dehydrated options are lightweight and compact. Plus, they have longer shelf lives than most emergency foods.

Common dehydrated options to consider for your stockpile:

• Dehydrated Meals: Prepackaged meal kits that require boiling water.
• Instant Meals: Ready in minutes with cold water.
• Noodles/Grains: Ramen noodles or dehydrated brown rice for soups/casseroles.
• Vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, onions (rehydrate with warm water).
• Fruits: Dried apples, peaches, cranberries (freeze-dried or dehydrated) for snacks/desserts.

Ready-made meals

Ready-made meals are a must-have for any emergency food supply. They're freeze-dried, shelf-stable, and come in individual packages. This makes them quick and easy for when other options aren't available.

There are many brands to choose from. Mountain House, Wise Company, Augason Farms, and Legacy Premium Food Storage are just a few.

These meals are lightweight and take up little space. Perfect for storing in your home or car in case of an evacuation. Most last five years, so you know you'll have something to eat if necessary.

When picking a meal, consider:

• Taste
• Price
• Nutrition
• Packaging

That way, you can find the best option for you and your family's needs.

Taste Test

Finding the right emergency food supply can be overwhelming. You must make sure the food will provide you energy and nutrition when necessary. It's also vital to check the taste. That's why we decided to conduct a taste test. We'll put the various choices to the test and decide which is the tastiest option.

Freeze-dried

Freeze-dried food is a great choice for emergency supplies. Through sublimation, molecules are frozen and put in a vacuum. This removes 98% of the moisture, reducing the weight. It also protects from water damage and increases shelf life. Plus, freeze-drying locks in flavor and Vitamin C.

We tested four brands: Augason Farms, Wise, Mountain House and Legacy Premium. We chose these based on store availability, budget, packaging sizes, meals, calories and nutrition labels.

We tested each with blindfold taste tests and assessing appearance. All were great, but some stood out with meal preparation and cooking performance.

Canned

Canned foods offer convenience and durability for emergency preparedness. No refrigeration is needed, and they can be stored in any cupboard or pantry. There is a wide variety of choices, like vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, soups and more.

To find the best canned food products for emergency preparedness, we conducted a taste test. We tried popular brands without knowing what they were. Sweet corn, chili beans, tuna steak and green beans were all sampled. We judged factors like flavor, texture and experience.

Different ingredients had different results. The canned chicken was flavorful but dry. The tuna steak with garden vegetables had a fresh flavor. Some thought the sweet corn tasted “expired”, but others noted it had a good crunch. The chili beans had the best result. They had a smooth consistency and rich flavors, but not too hot.

Our taste test showed that canned emergency supplies can be just as good as any other prepared food product. Consider your individual tastes when stocking up. Check for cans labeled “no salt added” or with reduced sodium.

Dehydrated

Dehydrated meals are a popular choice for emergency food supplies. They're quick and easy to prepare. Some are highly processed, yet there are plenty of tasty and nutritious options. To help you choose, we conducted a taste test of various brands.

We tried six dehydrated meal products. We judged them on six criteria: taste, texture, ingredients/nutrition, ease of preparation, and overall satisfaction. We had a mix of natural freeze-dried and processed meals.

The results were surprisingly positive. Natural freeze-dried products had the highest scores, such as Mountain House Chicken Stew (4/5 stars), Wise Company Beef Stew (4/5 stars) and Earth's Maranatha Dark Chocolate Coconut Bites (4/5 stars). When rehydrated, their texture was like fresh food. The flavors were acceptable.

Processed products were easy to prepare, but they weren't as good in terms of flavor or texture. Mealnow Beef Stroganoff got the lowest score (1/5 stars). It tasted artificial and overly salty, like canned dog food!

Ready-made meals

Ready-made meals are super convenient! There's a huge variety to choose from. Freeze-dried, dehydrated and fully cooked options are available. We tested 20+ flavors from popular brands. We rated the products based on flavor, texture, ingredients, nutrition, convenience, packaging, and preferences. We even tried some sides and treats!

Favorites included:

• Mountain House Freeze Dried Cheese Tortellini (texture & flavor)
• Backpacker's Pantry Mexican Rice & Beans (flavor without extra spices)
• AlpineAire Chocolate Brownie mix (rich chocolaty flavor)
• Mountain House Chicken Fajita Bowl (Mexican flavors – spicy & tangy!)

Honorable mentions: Readywise Southwest Style Chipotle Black Bean Soup Bowl (comfort food after a long hike) and Alaskan Gourmet Meal Packets (light & tasty vegetarian options).

Nutritional Value

Emergency food supplies: many prioritize convenience and price. Yet, in emergency and disaster times, nutrition matters! This is why we tested many emergency food supplies to determine which are most nutritious.

Freeze-dried

Freeze-dried food, “astronaut food” for short, is great for long-term storage and camping trips. It has more vitamins, minerals, and enzymes than other prepared food. Freeze-drying removes the water from it in one step, instead of slowly. This causes very little damage to the nutrients and makes it last longer.

Freeze-dried meals are more nutritious than canned or powdered ones. They rehydrate quickly with hot water and look just like the original. So, when selecting emergency food, think of freeze-dried meals. They are more nutritious and flavorful than cans or powder.

Canned

Canned food is great for emergency supplies. It's shelf-stable and doesn't need special prepping. It may not have the same nutrition as fresh or frozen food, though. Canned vegetables have 40-50% less vitamin C than fresh. Canned meats have more protein and iron than fresh.

Read the nutrition labels when selecting canned food. Check for added salt or sugar. Pick cans with low sodium; dehydration can be an issue in emergencies if there's no water.

Dehydrated

Dehydrated food rocks! It's long-lasting, with tiny packaging. Nutritional value is crammed in, and it's versatile – reconstituted with various liquids, depending on the dish. Plus, there are lots of seasoned dehydrated meals available. Yum!

Dehydrated vegetables, fruits and grains are good sources of vitamins and minerals that last a long time. And you can even sprout seeds to get fresh greens, no matter where you are!

Ready-made meals

Ready-made meals are a go-to choice when it comes to quick food supplies. But, the nutrition level and shelf life vary. Check sodium and sugar levels for an indication of the product's nutrition and storage duration. Also, look at the fiber content for healthy digestion and other benefits.

Choose meals that are already cooked to save time. Ready-to-eat meals can be heated up quickly, but may not have all the nutrition of fresh or frozen options that require more cooking.

Always check the expiration date on the packaging before you buy. This way you can make sure you're getting a product with a longer shelf life.

Cost Comparison

Emergency food supplies? Need to buy them? Cost is key! Different products give different qualities and amounts. So, costs can vary greatly. Let's look at the various cost options. That way, you can pick the best one when stocking up on emergency food.

Freeze-dried

Freeze-dried food is an ideal choice of emergency food supplies. It's lightweight and highly portable. Plus, it has a long shelf life and generally tastes good uncooked. Many brands and types are available.

Before buying, consider individual needs. Environmentally conscious consumers should be aware of packaging. Frozen or freeze-dried food requires more packaging compared to traditional canned items. It may remove too much natural flavor for some people.

Compare prices based on weight and per meal costings. Freeze dried meals cost around $4–6 per serving. Dehydrated meals are closer to $2–3 per serving. Don't forget to factor in shipping costs if buying online.

Canned

Canned goods are a great budget-friendly option for emergency food supplies. Fruits, veggies, soups, and beans are pre-cooked and easy to eat or heat. Plus, they come in many varieties, making it easy to keep things varied in hard times.

But, you may need extra tools, like a can opener, and they may have more salt and preservatives than other types of emergency food. Also, if exposed to extreme temps, they must be eaten right away or swapped out regularly. If you store them right, cans can be part of any emergency food supply plan.

When choosing what to add to your stockpile, think about cans' taste, variety, and affordability compared to things like freeze-dried meals or MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat).

Dehydrated

Dehydrated food is great for emergency supplies. It's light, can stay on the shelf a long time, and is easy to prepare. You'll need a Dutch oven, camp stove, pots and pans to cook it.

Prices can be from $0.50 to $3 per serving. Compare prices between brands and suppliers before you buy a big supply of dehydrated food!

Ready-made meals

Ready-made meals are super convenient for a full day's worth of nutrition. They often save money compared to buying separate ingredients. Many companies provide veggie and diet options – even meal kits! It's important to compare prices, as they can vary greatly. Packaging affects cost too. Some come in individual containers, while others come in larger tubs or pouches that feed 4-12.

Research before investing in an emergency food supply. Compare brands' prices, shelf life, nutrition facts, portion sizes, portability and flavors. Ready-made meals can last from 1 month to 25 years!

Conclusion

When it comes to buying emergency food supplies, there are many choices. Mountain House, Augason Farms and Wise Company are some of the highest rated companies.

Consider serving size, total stored servings and budget when picking an option. Balance is key for making the best purchase for your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What emergency food supplies are available?

Answer 1: There is a wide range of emergency food supplies available, including freeze-dried and dehydrated food, canned and jarred food, MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), and emergency food bars.

Question 2: What emergency food supplies have been tested?

Answer 2: We have tested a variety of emergency food supplies, including freeze-dried and dehydrated food, canned and jarred food, MREs (Meals Ready to Eat), and emergency food bars.

Question 3: What are the best options for emergency food supplies?

Answer 3: We have found that freeze-dried and dehydrated food, canned and jarred food, and emergency food bars are the best options for emergency food supplies.