Special diets and allergies
Stock what each person can safely eat. The Oklahoma extension sheet suggests canned low-sodium and low-sugar foods, juices and soups for people who need them.
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension: fact sheet
Pantry and preserving
Emergency food that keeps without power or cooking
Stock food your household already eats that needs no fridge, no cooking and no water: canned meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, peanut butter, cereal, bars and shelf-stable milk. The Red Cross suggests 3 days of it in a go-bag and 2 weeks at home.
What counts as no‑power food
Ready.gov's test is simple: canned foods, dry mixes and staples that need no refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation.
That rules out most of the freezer and anything you would normally boil. Commercially canned food is already cooked, so Ready.gov notes it can be eaten straight from the can.
Pick food your household will actually eat. Familiar food helps morale in a stressful week, and the Oklahoma State extension service points out you rarely need to buy anything unusual: the canned goods and dry staples already in the cupboard are the start of the supply.
Ready.gov's shopping list for a supply that needs no stove:
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits and vegetables
- Protein or fruit bars
- Dry cereal or granola
- Peanut butter
- Dried fruit
- Canned juices
- Non-perishable pasteurized milk
- High-energy foods
- Food for infants
- Comfort or stress foods
- A manual can opener and eating utensils
How much: 3 days and 2 weeks
The Red Cross gives two targets, one for leaving and one for staying.
| Go-bag (you leave) | Home supply (you stay) | |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 3 days, non-perishable, easy to prepare | 2 weeks, non-perishable, easy to prepare |
| Water | 1 gallon per person per day, 3 days | 1 gallon per person per day, 2 weeks |
| Water for a household of 4 | 12 gallons | 56 gallons |
| Medications | 7-day supply | 1 month before a winter storm |
| Also pack | Manual can opener, utensils | Coolers and a fridge thermometer |
Figures from the American Red Cross survival kit list and its winter storm page. The household-of-4 water lines are the same rule multiplied out.
The easiest way to build the two-week supply is the one the Oklahoma extension sheet suggests: buy a few more of the basics you already keep, each time you shop, until the shelf holds enough.
Count meals, not cans. Write down what each person eats in a day from the shelf alone, then multiply by 3 and by 14.
How long it keeps on the shelf
These are the rotation guidelines from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, for food kept somewhere cool, dry and dark.
| Use within | Foods |
|---|---|
| 6 months | Powdered milk, dried fruit, dry crisp crackers, dried potatoes |
| 1 year | Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups; canned fruits, fruit juices and vegetables; ready-to-eat and uncooked instant cereals; unopened peanut butter and jelly; hard candy and canned nuts; wheat; vegetable oils; dried beans and corn |
| Longer than 1 year | Baking powder; instant coffee, tea and cocoa; salt; noncarbonated soft drinks; white rice; bouillon products; dry pasta |
Source: Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service fact sheet T-3507, based on the Red Cross and USDA guide Food and Water in an Emergency.
Storing and rotating the supply
Rotation is what keeps the shelf useful: you eat the old stock and replace it before it passes its window.
01Store it where it lasts
- Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
- Keep boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers.
- Move opened sugar, dried fruit and nuts into screw-top jars or airtight cans to keep pests out.
- Wrap crackers and cookies in plastic bags inside a tight container.
Source: Ready.gov and Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
02Date it and rotate it
- Write the purchase date on each item with a marker.
- Put new items at the back and older ones at the front.
- Eat from the front in normal weeks and restock the back.
- Inspect food for signs of spoilage before you use it.
03Review it once a year
- Replace expired items.
- Rethink what the household needs as it changes: a new baby, a new diet, a new pet.
- Check the can opener still works.
Source: Ready.gov
Special diets, babies and pets
A generic list misses the people in your house with specific needs. Build those into the supply first.
Infants
Ready.gov recommends ready-to-feed formula. If you have to mix powder, use bottled water, or boiled water as the fallback. Add bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream. Nursing mothers may want liquid formula in case they are unable to nurse.
Ready.gov: food
Pets
Keep several days of pet food in an airtight, waterproof container, plus water, a bowl and any medicine your pet takes regularly.
Ready.gov: pets
Eating safely while the power is off
The Red Cross says to eat fresh, perishable food first, so the shelf supply lasts longer.
An unopened fridge keeps food safe for up to 4 hours, a full freezer for 48 hours and a half-full one for 24, according to the CDC. Keep both doors closed and check with an appliance thermometer: 40°F or below in the fridge.
Bacteria grow fast between 40°F and 140°F. Ready.gov says to discard perishable food that has been above 40°F for two hours or more.
If you want food warm without the stove:
- Ready.gov lists candle warmers, chafing dishes, fondue pots and a fireplace as indoor options.
- Charcoal grills and camp stoves are for outdoor use only.
- To heat food in its can, remove the label, wash and disinfect the can (1 part bleach to 10 parts water), and open it before heating.
Questions people ask
What is the best food to store for a power outage?
Food that needs no fridge, cooking or water: canned meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, peanut butter, cereal or granola, protein bars, dried fruit and shelf-stable milk. Choose what your household already eats.
How much emergency food should I keep?
The Red Cross suggests 3 days of non-perishable food for a go-bag and 2 weeks for home. Ready.gov asks for at least a several-day supply.
How long does canned food last in an emergency supply?
The Oklahoma extension service puts canned fruits, juices, vegetables and condensed soups in the use-within-a-year group. Date each can and rotate oldest first.
Can you eat canned food without heating it?
Yes. Ready.gov says commercially canned food can be eaten straight from the can. Skip any can that is swollen, dented or corroded.
How long is food safe in the fridge without power?
About 4 hours if the door stays shut. A full freezer holds about 48 hours and a half-full one about 24, per the CDC.
What should I store for my baby?
Ready-to-feed formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream, per Ready.gov, plus food for any baby who has started solids.
Read next
Sources
- Ready.gov: Food What to stock, infant formula, damaged cans, heating food without power.
- Ready.gov: Build a Kit Storage, replacing expired items, yearly review, infant and pet items.
- Ready.gov: Pets and Animals Pet food, water and medicine.
- American Red Cross: Survival Kit Supplies 3-day and 2-week targets, 7-day medication supply.
- American Red Cross: Winter Storm Safety 1-month medication supply.
- American Red Cross: Power Outage Safety Eat perishable food first.
- CDC: Keep Food Safe After a Disaster or Emergency Fridge and freezer hours, damaged cans.
- Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service: Planning Food for Summer and Winter Storm Emergencies (T-3507) Shelf-life rotation table, special diets, storage tips.