Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
Judi Kingry & Lauren Devine400+ lab-tested canning recipes. The definitive food preservation reference.
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The Paranoid Way
Emergency Food Supply
71 items in 12 sections. One A4 page, printable.
Buy the checklist pack, $9- Three litres per person per dayDrinking and basic cooking. Double it in heat or for anyone nursing or ill.
- Three days minimum, two weeks betterThree days is the official floor. Mains water outages regularly outlast it.
- Separate supply for washingDoes not need to be potable. Stored apart so it is never drunk down by accident.
- Food grade storage containersOpaque and sealed. Daylight grows algae in a clear canister within weeks.
- Purification tablets or dropsFor refilling from a source you do not control.
- Water filterHandles what chemical treatment does not: sediment, protozoa and taste.
- White riceCalorie-dense, long shelf life (up to 30 years if properly sealed), easy to prepare.
- Pasta (dried)Compact, versatile, 2-3 year shelf life. Pairs with canned sauces and proteins.
- Oats (rolled or steel-cut)Breakfast staple. Good shelf life, nutritious, no cooking required if soaked.
- Flour (all-purpose)For baking bread, thickening soups. Shorter shelf life than whole grains: rotate every 6-12 months.
- Cornmeal or polentaVersatile base for many meals. Stores well sealed.
- Crackers (vacuum-sealed)Ready to eat, pairs with canned goods. Shorter shelf life: rotate every 6 months.
- Canned tuna and salmonHigh protein, long shelf life, ready to eat. Stock a variety.
- Canned beans (black, kidney, pinto)Protein and fiber. Ready to eat cold if necessary.
- Dried lentilsCompact, nutritious, cook faster than dried beans. Extremely long shelf life.
- Peanut butterDense calories, protein, and fat. Shelf-stable for 1-2 years.
- Canned meat (Spam, corned beef)Not gourmet. Extremely calorie-dense, shelf-stable for years, requires no preparation.
- Jerky (beef, turkey)High protein, lightweight, ready to eat. Shorter shelf life: rotate every 6-12 months.
- Canned vegetables (corn, peas, green beans, carrots)Vitamins and fiber. Ready to eat. Stock a variety to prevent menu fatigue.
- Canned fruit (peaches, pears, pineapple)Morale food. Sugar content provides quick energy.
- Canned tomatoes (diced, sauce, paste)Base for countless meals. Diced, crushed, paste, and sauce all serve different purposes.
- Dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cranberries)Concentrated calories and vitamins. Compact storage.
- Dehydrated vegetablesLightweight, long shelf life, rehydrate in soups and stews.
- Freeze-dried fruitLightweight, retains most nutrients, 25+ year shelf life when sealed.
- Cooking oil (vegetable, olive, or coconut)Essential for cooking and calorie density. Coconut oil has the longest shelf life.
- ShorteningLong shelf life, useful for baking and frying.
- Ghee (clarified butter)Shelf-stable butter substitute. Does not require refrigeration.
- Canned or tinned butterShelf stable for years and one of the few fats that survives without refrigeration.
- SaltPreservation, flavor, and an essential mineral. Stock more than you think.
- Sugarundefined
- Honeyundefined
- Pepper, garlic powder, onion powderBasic seasoning prevents menu fatigue. Small investment, big impact.
- Bouillon cubes or powderInstant soup base. Adds flavor to rice, pasta, and beans.
- Soy sauceFlavor enhancer with a long shelf life.
- Vinegar (white and apple cider)Cooking, cleaning, preservation. Extremely versatile.
- Hot sauceMorale. Never underestimate the psychological value of flavor.
- Energy bars and granola barsNo preparation, portable, calorie-dense. Rotate every 12 months.
- Canned soups and stewsComplete meals in a can. Heat if you can, eat cold if you must.
- MREs (Meals Ready to Eat)Military-standard complete meals with heaters. Expensive but comprehensive.
- Freeze-dried mealsJust add hot water. Lightweight, long shelf life, decent variety.
- Cereal (sealed or vacuum-packed)Quick calories, no cooking. Eat dry or with powdered milk.
- Hardtack or dry biscuitsKeeps for years, needs nothing, and is what actually gets handed out in emergencies.
- Canned fish in oilProtein and fat in one tin, edible cold, and the oil is a calorie source in itself.
- Dark chocolate, 70%+undefined
- Biscuits or oatcakes, sealedundefined
- Coffee and teaMorale and routine. Instant coffee stores well. Tea bags are compact.
- Long-life milk (UHT)Months unopened without a fridge. The one dairy that survives a blackout.
- Cordial or fruit syrupOne bottle makes a lot of water drinkable when the water tastes of the tank. Keeps for years unopened and takes almost no room.
- Electrolyte sachets or oral rehydration saltsFor illness and for heat, when plain water is not enough and is not staying down. Pharmacy grade, not a sports drink.
- Baking sodaLeavening, cleaning, deodorizing, fire suppression. Multi-purpose.
- Baking powderFor baking bread and biscuits without yeast.
- Yeast (vacuum-sealed)For bread making. Stores well frozen or vacuum-sealed.
- CornstarchThickener for soups, sauces, and gravies.
- Seed vaultundefined
- Sprouting seeds, alfalfa and mung beanundefined
- Vegetable bed or allotmentundefined
- Garden toolsundefined
- A root cellar or cold storeundefined
- Herbs on a windowsill or balconyundefined
- Edible plant field guideundefined
- Edible fungus field guideundefined
- Foraging bagundefined
- Dried wild mushrooms and herbsundefined
- Chickens or small livestockundefined
- Fruit treesundefined
- Animal feed reserveundefined
- Pet food and waterundefined
- Preserving jars, lids and a canning potundefined
- Home canned or pickled vegetablesundefined
- Rendered fat or lardundefined
- Beekeeping basicsundefined
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