The Pros and Cons of Emergency Food Buckets

Here’s why emergency food buckets are useful.

Please understand that emergency food buckets, while vital, should not be the entirety of your food storage or your everyday diet. They are only part of the picture of a perfect pantry.

That being said, here’s why every prepper should have some emergency food buckets stashed away:

1. A lot of calories can be condensed into a very small amount of space.
2.  If you have the capability to boil water during an emergency, a filling meal can be yours.
3.  They add variety and speed to an emergency food supply.
4.  Calorie for calorie, they’re lightweight and easily portable in the event of a bug-out scenario.
5.  They’re professionally packaged to have a 25-year shelf life, so you can get them, stick them in the back of your closet, and forget about them until you need them. It’s difficult to find any other food sources that will last this long.

You can use emergency food not only as is, for a hot, satisfying meal, but you can also combine it with other pantry items or leftovers to extend them far enough to feed a group. Don’t hesitate to get creative!

(Check out our free QUICKSTART Guide to home canning to learn more about keeping an adequate supply of food stocked away.)

The cons of emergency food buckets

Now, the downside. When you’re going long-term, some compromises must be made.

• Emergency food buckets contain processed food.
• Emergency food buckets are more expensive than purchasing things in bulk from the grocery store. (However, stuff from the grocery store won’t last 25 years.)

If you’re looking for ready-made meals, none of them are going to be completely without additives. This is impossible because they’re made to last for 25 years.  As well, they take up minimal space,  cook up quickly and efficiently, and taste reasonably good.

I won’t sugar coat it. Growing your own fresh food every year and preserving it is a wonderful way to go, but it’s not possible for everyone in every situation. It takes time, space, good weather, and all sorts of good luck. You’re going to want a backup, even if this is your primary plan.

Ways to use emergency food buckets and still be healthy

If you look at the pros and cons and believe that emergency food buckets are something you want to add to your stockpile, here are some ways to maintain higher health standards.

• Look for products that are non-GMO and don’t contain MSG or HFCS. (Check out Legacy Foods, the brand I stock.)
• Look for buckets that help you maintain your current diet. For example, these buckets are guaranteed to be gluten-free. Go here to learn more about stocking up for a low-carb diet.
• Save money by ordering in quantity. Consider splitting a larger purchase with another family so that you both get a great deal.
• Add other nutrients to your basic buckets. Consider stocking a variety of long-term freeze-dried foods, such as fruits and vegetables, meats, cheese powder, peanut butter powder, eggs, and milk.
• Be sure to have a way to cook your emergency food (I have this little stove) and extra fuel for it.

Other emergency food bucket tips

There are many other brands of emergency food. Some are more expensive and some are less so. Flavors vary, as does quality. Mountain House, Augason Farms, ReadyWise, and 4Patriots are all brands to consider.

If you are surviving solely on emergency food buckets, you may want to stock some additions to keep yourself not just fed but as healthy as possible. Some people find themselves constipated from this type of food, so a gentle laxative may be in order. And if I were only eating freeze-dried food, regardless of the variety, I’d want to be sure to have a high-quality multivitamin to keep myself well-nourished.

Emergency food buckets should be stored in a cool dark place with low humidity for the longest possible shelf-life. This means that attics (too hot in the summer) and basements, if they’re damp, may not be the best choice for storage. When I had a finished dry basement, I felt that it was the ultimate storage spot for my buckets. Without those options, I line the back of a deep closet with them and hang clothes in front to obscure them from view.

Obviously, that’s pretty easy now, but might not be in a long-term emergency. When counting on your food bucket, consider the environment in which it has been stored. And try not to stress – just do the best that you can. You’re still going to be far, far ahead of the game by having this supply.

What about you?

Do you stock some emergency food buckets for your long-term supplies? Why or why not? What is your favorite brand? Let’s talk buckets in the comments.

About Daisy

Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging, adventure-seeking, globe-trotting blogger. She is the founder and publisher of three websites.  1) The Organic Prepper, which is about current events, preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty; 2)  The Frugalite, a website with thrifty tips and solutions to help people get a handle on their personal finances without feeling deprived; and 3) PreppersDailyNews.com, an aggregate site where you can find links to all the most important news for those who wish to be prepared. Her work is widely republished across alternative media and she has appeared in many interviews.

Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceandSurvival.com. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Gab, MeWe, Parler, Instagram, and Twitter.