What Foods to Stockpile First
Start with cheap, calorie-dense staples that store for decades. The first foods to buy for a food store, and the order to build it.
When you're building a food store, buy in the right order: the cheap, long-lasting calories first, then the things that make them palatable. Here's a sensible progression.
Tier 1: the decades-long staples (buy first)
These are cheap, filling, and store for 25 to 30 years sealed properly. They're the foundation:
- White rice and wheat berries (grind for flour)
- Dried beans and lentils
- Rolled oats and pasta
- Salt and sugar (which keep almost indefinitely)
Tier 2: variety and fats (buy next)
Staples alone are monotonous and short on fat. Add:
- Cooking oil (rotate it, it doesn't store for decades)
- Canned goods, powdered milk, honey
- Spices, coffee and dried fruit for morale
Tier 3: comfort and skills
Once the basics are deep, add the things that make cooking from storage enjoyable, and learn to use them (bread from wheat, fermenting for fresh vegetables).
Calories per dollar first, variety second. In an emergency, calories matter most, and rice and beans deliver them cheapest and longest. Buy the foundation first, then make it pleasant.
How much, and how to store it
Plan quantities with our per-person-per-year guide, and store the Tier 1 staples in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers inside food-grade buckets. Rotate Tier 2 and 3 items on a cycle.
The verdict
Stockpile the cheap, calorie-dense, decades-storing staples first, rice, beans, wheat, oats, pasta, salt and sugar, then layer in fats, canned goods and flavour so the food is actually good to eat. Store the staples in mylar and buckets, and rotate the shorter-life extras.
Buy the cheap, calorie-dense, decades-storing staples first, white rice, beans, wheat, oats, pasta, salt and sugar, then add fats, canned goods, powdered milk and flavourings so the food is pleasant to eat. Store the staples in mylar with absorbers inside buckets, and rotate the shorter-life extras.
Frequently asked questions
What foods should I stockpile first?
Cheap, calorie-dense staples that store for decades: white rice, dried beans, wheat berries, rolled oats and pasta, plus salt and sugar. They give the most calories per dollar and the longest shelf life.
How much food should I start with?
A common first goal is a few weeks to a month of staples per person, then build toward longer targets. Start with what you actually eat so it rotates into normal meals rather than sitting unused.
What is the cheapest food to stockpile?
Bulk rice, beans and oats are among the cheapest calories available and store for decades sealed in mylar with oxygen absorbers. Build the calorie base with these, then add variety, fats and vitamins.
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