Emergency Food Storage Checklist: What Every Household Needs (PDF)

How to Use This Checklist

Work through each category systematically. For each item:

1. Calculate quantity based on your household size (multiply per-person amounts by number of people)
2. Check what you already have
3. Note what needs to be purchased
4. Verify storage conditions are correct

Target: 14 days minimum, 28 days recommended

Quantity formula: Per-person amount × number of people × (14 or 28 days ÷ base days shown)

Category 1: Grains and Starches

Caloric backbone of your stockpile. Long shelf life, easy to prepare.

Per person, per 14 days:

• Pasta (white or whole grain): 2 kg — shelf life 3+ years
• Rice (white): 2 kg — shelf life 10+ years (sealed)
• Oats (rolled): 1.5 kg — shelf life 1–2 years (sealed container)
• Crispbread / Rye crackers: 500g — shelf life 1+ year, no cooking needed
• Flour: 500g — for thickening soups, basic baking if you have a stove
• Muesli / Granola: 500g — no-cook breakfast option

Storage note: Transfer oats and flour to sealed hard containers. Add a bay leaf to repel insects.

Category 2: Proteins

Essential for energy, muscle function, and satiety. Choose a mix of legumes and animal proteins.

Per person, per 14 days:

• Canned legumes (400g cans): 8 cans — lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, white beans
• Dried lentils: 500g — versatile, high protein, cook faster than other legumes
• Canned fish (150g cans): 6 cans — tuna, sardines, mackerel
• Canned meat (400g cans): 4 cans — chicken, corned beef, or mixed
• Peanut butter or almond butter: 500g — 600 kcal/100g; no cooking needed
• Mixed nuts: 400g — high calorie density; ready to eat

Category 3: Fats

Critical for calorie density and satiety. Often overlooked in emergency stockpiles.

Per person, per 14 days:

• Cooking oil (olive, sunflower, or rapeseed): 500ml — shelf life 1–2 years; critical for calorie density in cooked meals
• Ghee (clarified butter): 250g — shelf life 1–3 years without refrigeration; richer flavor than oil
• Coconut oil: 250g — shelf life 2+ years; works well in cooking without refrigeration

Category 4: Vegetables and Fruit

Micronutrients, fiber, and variety. Do not skip this category.

Per person, per 14 days:

• Canned vegetables (400g cans): 6 cans — tomatoes, corn, peas, mixed vegetables
• Canned tomatoes (crushed or whole): 4 cans — base for soups and stews
• Dried fruit: 400g — raisins, apricots, dates; ready to eat, rich in sugar and micronutrients
• Dried mushrooms: 100g — rehydrate with water; high in minerals
• Tomato paste (tube): 2 tubes — concentrated flavor, small volume

Category 5: Beverages and Stimulants

Water is covered separately. These items maintain morale and provide energy.

Per person, per 14 days:

• Coffee (instant or vacuum-packed ground): 150g — morale is real in a crisis
• Tea (assorted bags): 50 bags
• Powdered milk: 400g — for coffee, cooking, children
• Electrolyte powder or rehydration salts: 1 pack — important if illness causes dehydration

Category 6: Condiments and Flavor

A bland emergency diet causes "appetite fatigue" — people stop eating even when hungry. Flavor matters.

Per person, per 14 days:

• Salt: 250g
• Mixed spices (cumin, paprika, oregano, garlic powder): 1 small set
• Soy sauce or Maggi sauce (bottle): 1 — adds depth to any grain or legume dish
• Honey: 250g — sweetener, antiseptic for minor wounds, morale item
• Chocolate or candy: 200g — high calorie, morale boost

Category 7: Special Dietary Needs

Check applicable boxes for your household:

Infants:

• Formula (if bottle-feeding): 2-week supply
• Baby food pouches or jars: 2-week supply

Young children (under 6):

• Favorite foods from their normal diet (familiarity reduces stress)
• Soft canned foods (not all legumes may be suitable for small children)

Elderly or people with dietary restrictions:

• Low-sodium options if required
• Allergy-safe alternatives (check all canned goods for allergens)
• Any required nutritional supplements

Pets:

• Dog/cat food: 2-week supply (dry food stores better than wet)
• Pet water: add to your water calculation (0.5–1 L/day per medium dog)

Category 8: Cooking Equipment

Without this, your food supply is useless.

• Manual can opener: 2 (one always fails when needed)
• Camp stove (gas): 1 with at least 10 gas canisters (400g size)
• Large pot (5L+): 1 — for boiling, cooking pasta, soups
• Small pot (1–2L): 1 — for smaller portions, heating individual meals
• Spoon and spatula for cooking
• Eating utensils and plates for all household members
• Washing-up bowl and biodegradable soap
• Dish towels (extra quantity — hot water for sterilizing not always available)

Storage Conditions Checklist

• Temperature below 20°C (68°F) — cool basement, pantry, or interior room
• Away from direct sunlight
• Away from moisture and flooding risk
• Away from pest access (hard sealed containers for dry goods)
• Away from chemicals, paint, fuel
• Organized with oldest items at front (FIFO rotation)

Rotation Schedule

• All items labeled with purchase date and "use by" date
• Quarterly audit scheduled in calendar
• Items approaching expiration identified and moved to regular kitchen use
• Stockpile replenished after any use

Quick Inventory: Current Status

Take 15 minutes to audit what you already have:

Category	Target (2 people, 14 days)	Currently Have	To Buy
Pasta	4 kg	___ kg	___ kg
Rice	4 kg	___ kg	___ kg
Canned legumes	16 cans	___ cans	___ cans
Canned protein	20 cans	___ cans	___ cans
Nut butter	1 kg	___ g	___ g
Oil/fats	1L	___ L	___ L
Canned vegetables	12 cans	___ cans	___ cans
Manual can opener	2	___	___
Camp stove + canisters	1 stove + 10 cans	___	___

Complete this inventory, then shop the difference. Most households are closer to a complete stockpile than they think — it just needs to be consolidated and organized.