Top Ten Best Canned Foods To Stockpile In Your Survival Pantry And Why You Should Start Now

Canned food is, and will continue to be, one of the best options when it comes to long-term food preservation. Food in cans is readily available, inexpensive, long-lasting, and simple to store. All you have to do is choose the best for your family at home by considering their dietary needs and stock up on things they'll eat. Canned food, if stored properly, can last for years, and often can be eaten without having to cook it.

Adding a few extra cans to your every grocery store purchase is one of the simplest methods to start a food storage plan.

What to buy and whyPhoto byRichelleg

The Top 10 Foods to Keep in Cans

When you have limited space for storage or a limited budget to prep on, stocking foods that are both nutrient dense and high in calories can be tricky with so many options. Below you'll find a general, overall list. Again, make sure you only stock up on things you'll actually eat.

SPAM

You either love or you hate SPAM. It should come as no surprise that it made the list because it has long been a mainstay in food storage, and like it or not, it's an excellent option to have on hand. You can eat it as is, fry it up for a sandwich, or add it to your favorite recipe. You can even use it as bait for fish or small game when hunting fresh protein.

Conventional SPAM boasts great macros: 13% protein by weight, 28% fat, and 2% carbohydrates. It also has an easy-to-open pop-top cover and 1080 calories per can. Because of their rectangular design, they stack perfectly.

SPAMPhoto byRichelleg

Sardines

I know what you're thinking, eww. But sardines are an amazing source of things you'll need in a small package, and they're a complete protein. The high calcium content of sardines is beneficial to heart and bone health. Vitamin B12, which supports the health of the blood and nerve system, and selenium, an antioxidant trace mineral that may help lower inflammation and elevate mood, are packed in sardines.

Baked Beans

We keep the large 28-ounce can of baked beans—containing 900 calories—always in our pantry. By weight, they contain 1% fat, 5% protein, and an astounding 23% carbohydrates (all that extra sugar). You should have dry beans and rice stored in your survival pantry already, but these baked beans will provide an energy and morale boost beyond boring beans.

Know your best choices!Photo byRichelleg

Tuna in Oil

Although I really like tuna in water, calorie content always wins in an emergency. Vital calories are added by the oil. A small 5-ounce can has 160 calories even after the vegetable oil has been emptied from the list of calories. Small cans stack easily.

Corn

Corn is also delicious with a variety of dishes. It's a simple way to put a vegetable on the table. My fifteen-ounce cans each contain 210 calories, which is rather reasonable for a vegetable. It's good as a side dish because it offers a lot of potassium and fiber.

Green Beans

Green beans have long been a mainstay in canned goods. While homesteaders might prefer to grow and can their own, it's quick and simple to acquire them from your neighborhood grocery.

Each of the 15-ounce cans has 88 calories and only a little amount of carbohydrates (no fat and very little protein). But it's beneficial to incorporate it into your emergency meals because it contains calcium, potassium, iron, and fiber.

Stock what you'll eat!Photo byRichelleg

Chili

One of those comforting meals that also works well in an emergency is chili. A 19-ounce can of the brand I like and stock contains 540 calories. Even if the macros aren't so great for a can of meat, I still make a meal out of it. It is composed of 12% carbohydrates, 3% fat, and 5% protein by weight.

Roast Beast

(Yes, I know it says beast.) A fantastic entrée for an emergency. My favorite offers 400 calories in a standard 15-ounce can, with 4% protein by weight, 4% fat, and 7% carbohydrates. That protein is hard to beat!

Stew of Beef

Much more adaptable than the above-mentioned canned roast beef. Adding additional components to the stew allows you to use the same basic ingredients for different dinners.

This choice, which typically has 385 calories per can, is more macro-focused. It has 3% fat, nil carbohydrates, and 24% protein by weight (70g per can!). It's quite basic—just meat in a can of beef broth—and a fantastic addition to last-minute meals. It's very useful to have around if you keep any kind of hardtack (a type of survival bread) on hand.

Don't forget fruit for an added boost!Photo byRichelleg

Chicken

Depending on the brand and taste, each can usually has 240 calories, and it has a minimum 4-year shelf life (more on that below). It is a fantastic source of protein because it has an impressive 18% protein by weight, 2% fat, and 0% carbohydrates. You can use it to make all sorts of meals, including chicken nuggets!

How to Keep Food in Cans

Canned food should be kept out of direct sunlight and heat sources in a cool, dry location. Food in cans shouldn't be kept in moist or humid spaces like a garage or basement since this can cause the cans to rust or break.

FIFO Arrangement

It's also a good idea to rotate and organize your canned foods so that the oldest ones are utilized first. The easiest way to ensure that the shelf life of your canned food is as long as possible is to use the technique known as FIFO (First In, First Out). A FIFO can rolling rack is one intriguing solution. One of those slipped effortlessly into a dead area I had on my pantry floor, and I use it to hold the staple canned foods we use most frequently.

Again, Purchase Foods You Like in Cans

Don't make the mistake of stocking up on fad emergency foods that no one will eat.

Which Foods in Cans Keep the Longest?

Foods like tomatoes, grapes, and pickled vegetables that are canned and have a high acid content usually have a lower shelf life of 12 to 18 months. Meats, fish, poultry, and most vegetables are examples of low-acid canned goods that, with careful storage, can survive for up to five years.

Stock up now!Photo byRichelleg

Is It Possible to Live on Canned Food?

While canned food can sustain oneself for a while, it is not the best option for a long-term diet. Fresh foods have essential nutrients that canned foods may not have, and canned meals are frequently rich in sodium. Consuming a diet high in canned foods might result in insufficiencies of vital vitamins and minerals, including calcium and vitamin C. A diet heavy in salt can also cause high blood pressure and other health problems.

A balanced diet that consists of various fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains is advised. Although they might be a quick and simple method to add diversity to your diet, canned foods shouldn't be your primary source of nutrients. If you must rely on canned food for an extended period of time, make an effort to purchase a range of varieties and alternate them to obtain a diversity of nutrients. To enhance your diet, you can also include lean protein, fresh produce, and fruits.

Food to Keep in Reserve for Emergencies

Having non-perishable, easily prepared, and long-lasting food on hand is crucial when preparing food for emergencies.

It's also crucial to remember that, in order to keep these things fresh, you should rotate them frequently and store them in a cold, dry location. additionally to verify the expiration date and get rid of any outdated goods.

Don't forget a healthy stock of home canned goods too!Photo byRichelleg

Attributions:

Centers, J., & Prepared. (2023, August 23). Food list: How to build your survival pantry with long-lasting food from the supermarket. The Prepared. https://theprepared.com/homestead/guides/supermarket-food-list/

Morgan, K. K. (2024, June 13). Are There Health Benefits to Eating Sardines? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-sardines