There are a number of factors you must consider when filling up your prepper pantry. This includes the kinds of food and their shelf-life. Canned foods are popular among preppers because they offer different flavors, stock easily, and usually last a long time.
Your pantry is supposed to be filled with food that will stay edible for a long time since no one knows when something disastrous happens and how long before things go back to normal. Your knowledge of growing plants and crops will certainly come in handy but it will take a while before you harvest the fruits of your labor. Canned foods and other survival foods will keep you fed in the meantime.
There are points to ponder when it comes to stockpiling canned foods. The most important is their shelf-life. Choose the ones with the farthest expiration dates when you’re out purchasing supplies to stockpile. Now, these figures can be misleading but they can be used as a guide by preppers.
Canned Meat
Spam
Let’s start off with one of the most popular canned foods ever. Spam by Hormel is a staple in Hawaii and is popular in Asia. This iconic brand from the United States deserves a space (lots of them) in your prepper pantry for two main reasons. Spam has a long shelf-life as it lasts as long as five years. It also tastes great.
Spam comes in a variety of flavors including the Tocino version, pictured above. It’s advisable to stockpile all the flavors so your taste buds won’t get tired of eating the same thing over and over.
Aside from its taste, Spam comes with lots of fat, protein, and sodium, which are great to have when you’re working doubly hard trying to survive. It can also be eaten straight out of the can so you don’t have to waste time and resources building a fire for cooking. Since it’s also considered a premium food, it may fetch a fair price when you have to barter or trade for other supplies or services.
Beef Stew
Canned beef stew or beef soup lasts from 3 to 5 years if you store them properly. They’re great to have during the apocalypse since they sort of resembles a complete meal. It usually comes with meat, potatoes, and carrots.
These canned foods are pre-cooked so you can eat them from the can even if they’re cold. Like Spam, canned beef stew is packed with fat and protein that will give you the necessary energy to fight off zombies or something like that.
Canned Ham
Canned ham is similar to Spam. It can be eaten from the can since it’s fully cooked. It also offers a tasty flavor. These canned foods do not require refrigeration so they can stay in your pantry for a long time, 3.5 to 4 years to be exact.
Canned ham can be eaten in a variety of ways so you won’t get bored of it. Add it to soups to make them meatier and tastier. Slice them up to make sandwiches using bread you baked from your supply of flour. Canned ham can also make your pasta more appealing to the taste buds.
Vienna Sausage
Vienna sausage is another favorite among preppers. They have a 5-year shelf-life so you can enjoy their meaty goodness long after an economic collapse and the breakdown of society. Vienna sausages are also healthier than most canned foods since they use fewer preservatives.
Canned Fish
Canned Tuna
The best thing about canned tuna is its versatility. You can eat it as is or add it to other dishes such as soups and stews. It can also be used as a sandwich spread. You can also add tuna and its oil to cooked pasta for a hearty meal. Pour it over a bed of greens you harvested from your garden and you have a nice refreshing salad rich in different nutrients including omega-3. As for its shelf-life, canned tuna lasts for 3 years though it can still be eaten after that if stored properly.
Canned Sardines
Canned sardines are pretty cheap so you should consider adding them to your stockpile of survival foods. They are packed in different ways such as in tomato sauce, olive oil, and in mustard so you get a variety of flavors.
Alternate these canned foods with your canned meat so you won’t tire of one kind. Canned sardines provide sodium and vitamin B12 while the one with a tomato sauce base has lycopene. Best of all, canned sardines have a shelf-life of up to 5 years.
Canned Alaskan Wild Salmon
Alaskan wild salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein. The former keeps your brain and heart healthy while the latter provides energy for your daunting tasks. Like the other canned foods in this list, Alaskan wild salmon can be eaten straight out of the can. It also lasts for 3 to 5 years.
Other Canned Foods
Canned Crab Meat
The quality of canned crab meat will decrease in 3 to 5 years. These canned foods can still be eaten after that as long as they were stored properly and spoilage hasn’t set in.
Not everyone would think of stocking up on canned crab meat. This will make it a rare find, hence, will be valuable as a trading chip.
Diced Tomatoes
Diced tomatoes don’t fare as well as the other canned foods mentioned here in terms of shelf-life. It typically lasts up to 2 years before the quality goes down. However, it may still be edible after that. You’ll know if the diced tomatoes are no longer safe to eat if the smell is bad or if you see some mold.
Canned Corn
You can grow corn in your homestead though this may be a bit laborious. While waiting for your harvest season, you can still enjoy some canned corn. Another one of the versatile canned foods, corn can be eaten as is or added to soups, salads, and chili. Canned corn is also relatively cheap so you can stockpile a lot.
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