42 Must Have Food Pantry Items Preppers Should Stockpile – Updated 2021

If you’re getting prepared for an emergency or disaster, I’d say food is one of the first things you should be stocking up on.

While this is a list of food items to stockpile, it’s important to keep in mind that water must also be stockpiled. Rice uses water. Dried beans uses water. You need water for hygiene, drinking, cleaning and eating purposes.

So don’t forget the water!

I always recommend at least 2 gallons of water per person, per day.

One last tip, many of these items will need to be stored properly in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. For instance, if you buy a bag of flour, transfer it to a mylar bag with an oxygen absorber.

In general, these items will be great for everyday uses, as well as emergency purposes.

Let’s get right to it then!

Here are 42 must have food items for your pantry:

1. White rice (can store brown, but it will go rancid quicker)
2. Dry/canned/boxed pasta
3. Dried beans, lentils, quinoa
4. Oil (such as olive oil)
5. Flour (white or wheat)
6. Sugar; white, brown and powdered
7. Cocoa powder
8. Protein powder
9. Raw honey
10. Raw maple syrup
11. Tomato sauce, paste, chunks, etc.
12. Canned meats; tuna, chicken, turkey, roast beef, spam, etc.
13. Canned vegetables; corn, carrots, green beans, etc.
14. Canned beans (uses less resources than dried beans, nice to have around)
15. Baking soda
16. Baking powder
17. Spices; salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.
18. Canned fruits; peaches, pears, etc.
19. Drink mixes; coffee, tea, tang, protein powder, lemonade, electrolytes, etc.
20. Powdered milk and buttermilk
21. Just add water pancake mix
22. Just add water hash browns
23. Oats
24. Popcorn
25. Cornmeal
26. Sauces such as soy, mayonnaise, mustard, teriyaki, etc.
27. Freeze dried #10 cans and meals
28. Corn starch
29. Cream of soups; cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, etc.
30. Snacks of your choosing
31. Yeast (can be stored in freezer for long term storage)
32. Bouillon cubes and/or canned stock and broth; chicken, beef, vegetable
33. Vinegar; white and apple cider
34. Coffee
35. Tea
36. Crackers
37. Peanut butter
38. Condiment packets
39. Ramen
40. Canned chili
41. Granola/protein/cereal bars
42. Bread crumbs

These are just starter ideas. The type of food you store will vary depending on what you eat. Store what you eat. If you don’t like spam, don’t store spam. If you have health concerns, keep those in mind.

Again, store what you eat.

It’ll be stressful enough in an emergency or disaster, you don’t want to have to force yourself or others to eat something you don’t even like.

Also, this list will change depending on if you have children or pets.

For newborns/young children, you’ll want to store formula and baby food.

For pets, you’ll want to store at least an extra bag of their normal food. You may also consider storing extra canned foods for them depending on their regular diet or what you think they might eat without making them sick.

Once last piece of advice; learn how to cook with your food storage. Create a menu plan and cook with your preps at least once a month to get an idea of what all can be made from your food storage.

Conquer tomorrow, by preparing today!