Emergency food list

This guide is for anyone who wants a few days of food at home in case of a power cut, a storm or anything that makes cooking or shopping hard for a while. It's cupboard-first: you don't need a special emergency pack, and you can build it up a little at a time from your normal shopping.

The short answer

Official advice is to keep some food you can eat without cooking, enough for at least 3 days. Pick foods your household already likes, and mix them across:

• tins you can eat cold, such as beans, soup, fish, fruit and vegetables
• dry food, such as crackers, oatcakes, cereal, dried fruit and nuts
• jars and spreads, such as peanut butter, jam and honey
• long-life drinks, such as UHT milk, long-life juice and cartons of plant milk
• snacks, such as cereal bars, biscuits and chocolate

Add a manual tin opener, and water to drink. The planner above works out how many meals to plan for and gives you a list to print.

Build it step by step

1. Look in your cupboard first. Some of what you need may already be there.
2. Work out how many meals. Use the food planner: it multiplies people by days by the meals a day you choose.
3. Fill the gaps over a few shops. Add a tin or a packet each time, rather than buying it all at once.
4. Add a manual tin opener if your tins need one.
5. Store water too. Work out how much with the water calculator.
6. Keep it together, somewhere cool and dry that everyone at home knows about.

Choosing food your household will eat

The food is only useful if people will eat it. Choose things you already buy and like. That also makes it easy to use up and replace before it goes out of date.

Babies, allergies, special diets and pets

Babies. Keep ready-made formula and baby food, as your baby usually eats. Ready-made formula doesn't need boiled water. See the NHS for feeding advice.

Allergies. Check every label for allergens, and keep any allergy medicines with your kit.

Vegetarian, vegan and other diets. The same types of food work: pick tins, dry food and spreads that fit your diet.

Health conditions. If someone at home has a condition that affects what they can eat, such as diabetes or swallowing difficulties, ask their GP, dietitian or pharmacist what to keep.

Pets. Keep pet food for the same number of days as the rest of the household, and any medicines they need.

Using it up and replacing it

• Check best-before dates now and then.
• Eat the oldest food first and replace it with new.
• Put new items at the back, so older ones get used first.

Do you need an emergency food pack?

No. Official advice is about keeping food you can eat without cooking, not about any particular product. Food from your normal cupboard does the job, and you'll use it up rather than leave it unused.

When to get help

• If you're worried about someone's health, call NHS 111. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999.
• For questions about a special diet or a medical condition, ask your GP, dietitian or pharmacist.
• If food has been in a fridge or freezer during a power cut, check the Food Standards Agency's advice before eating it.

This guide doesn't give calorie or portion figures, because we don't have official ones to use. It's a guide based on official advice, not a meal plan.

FAQs

What food should I keep at home for an emergency?

Food you can eat without cooking: tins you can eat cold, dry food, jars and spreads, long-life drinks and snacks your household likes.

How many days of food should I plan for?

Official advice is at least 3 days. You can build up to that over a few shops.

What food can I store without a fridge?

Tins, dry food such as crackers and cereal, jars and spreads, and long-life drinks like UHT milk.

How do I build an emergency food cupboard gradually?

Add one or two items each time you shop, starting with things your household already eats.

How many calories should I plan for?

We don't give calorie figures, because we don't have official ones to use. If someone has particular dietary needs, ask their GP or a dietitian.

Where should I keep emergency food at home?

Somewhere cool and dry, together in one place that everyone at home knows about.