Survival Guide [2/8]: Food Stockpiling - How-To Guide

Posted on: 2024-11-22

Let’s continue with our 8-chapter survival guide. After water, it’s time to focus on managing food in a crisis situation.

Stockpiling food is an ancient instinct we’ve largely lost over time. Our ancestors used the attic for its original purpose (storing grain), and preservation methods were quite limited. Over time, we moved from salting food to electric refrigerators (with a few steps in between), and the shelf life of food became regulated. This introduced legal limits for preservation: the now well-known Best Before Dates (DDM) and Use By Dates (DLUO).

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Why Store Food?

My grandmother used to say, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” We often look back on the past with nostalgia. But let’s not romanticize it—life was hard, and our grandparents managed a pantry out of necessity, without overthinking it. When they could, they produced part of their food, either in the garden or the chicken coop. Fresh products were far less varied, and meals were dictated by the seasons.

Today, most people have no more than three days’ worth of food at home. You could say that food stockpiling is nearly non-existent, and supply chains operate on a just-in-time basis. This is especially true for households without children.

Without being overly pessimistic or alarmist, there are real-life situations—some of which many have experienced—that should make you consider the importance of having a stockpile of food for at least ten days or even longer (1–3 months).

Some Reasons:

  • Weather: On December 26, 1999, Storm Lothar caused €20 billion in damages, leaving thousands of households without electricity and water for several days (up to 10 days along the Charente coast). Access to supermarkets was often very difficult, and it only took a few hours for basic food supplies to run out.
  • Social Movements: A refinery strike lasting a few days can quickly impact supermarket shelves. Like all of us, supermarkets typically have a maximum stock of three days.
  • Life Events: Sudden loss of income or a job? Your food stockpile can help you stay afloat while waiting for a better situation.
NRG-5 emergency ration - 20 years
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NRG-5 emergency ration - 20 years

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Quand stocker des aliments ?

There’s no perfect time to start building your stockpile. It’s an ongoing process for one simple reason: a pantry should be rotated regularly. Fortunately, there are solutions that eliminate the worry of expiration dates. Some brands, like Fuel Your Preparation, offer canned food with a shelf life of 25 years! With such products, you can focus on simplicity—no need for stock rotation, easy preparation, and all you need is water to rehydrate them.

If you’re starting from scratch, you have two options:

  1. Building a complete stockpile for a set period:
    In this case, it’s recommended to test the products before purchasing in bulk. Once you know what you like, you can build your stock based on your preferences. Alternatively, you can opt for complete packs with varied menus, organized by shelf life and number of days. This is the easiest solution.

  2. Building your stock gradually:
    Sometimes, your budget doesn’t allow for a significant upfront investment. Don’t worry—you can build your pantry step by step by purchasing individual cans and following a plan you’ve established beforehand.

Whatever approach you choose, don’t wait until it’s too late to start. It’s simple: everyone can go at their own pace and create their own stockpile !

What to Stock ?

If you’re planning a food supply based solely on stock, without supplementing with a garden or livestock, you’ll need to store meat, vegetables, and starches, as well as dairy products, sugar, condiments, oils, and flours (wheat, whole grain, and spelt).

You can organize your stock based on your preferences, product type (freeze-dried or sterilized meals), the number of portions and calorie content, or the shelf life. The product's packaging shape can also be a factor—cylindrical cans are not stored the same way as pouches.

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    It’s hard to provide a one-size-fits-all solution, but here are some tips for creating an ideal stockpile:

    • Varied Foods in Different Containers: Use canned goods as "base stock" and freeze-dried pouches for mobility and rotation. Freeze-dried and sterilized meals come in a wide variety of recipes, and large cans are perfect for families or groups (sometimes holding more than 20 portions per can).
    • Starches, Grains, Pasta, and Rice: Long-term storage of such foods requires a very strict process. They must be kept free of oxygen and light. Storing them in opaque vacuum-sealed Mylar bags is highly recommended.
    • Compact Rations: These are essential in a long-term stockpile. Compact rations like NRG-5 have an unbeatable weight-to-nutritional value ratio and take up minimal space. Plus, they’re quite tasty—a great breakfast alternative.
    • Self-Heating Rations: Ideal for those without electricity or a heating system (such as a portable stove).

    The range of available options is vast, but remember: stock what you eat and eat what you stock. Be mindful that certain foods, like dairy products and flours, can be tricky to store. Opt for guaranteed solutions, such as the spelt here or the butter there.

    Tips

    • High-Quality Honey: It’s imperishable and lasts forever!
    • Best Before (BB) and Use By Dates (UBD): Many BB dates and most UBDs are only legally mandated and don’t necessarily indicate when the product becomes inedible. As long as the packaging is undamaged, you can often consume products months after the BB or UBD date. However, their organoleptic and nutritional qualities might not be guaranteed: less flavor, fewer vitamins, or a different texture

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    1-month survival pack - Meals, compact rations, water filter - 15-year shelf life

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    How to Build a Food Stockpile?

    Once you know what to stock, you need to think about how to organize your storage space. It’s recommended to store your supplies in a dry, ventilated area, protected from light and heat. Be mindful of rodents and other "predators" (like teenagers). Ideally, choose a room in your home that stays between 20–22°C and is protected from freezing in winter.

    To minimize risk, avoid direct contact with the floor. Do not keep damaged cans or pouches—consume them quickly instead. Regularly check your stock. You can create a chart to list all the food items and their expiration dates. Ensure that all your products are accessible, and prioritize consuming those with the closest best-before dates.

    Conclusion

    One can plan and prepare for all situations without being paranoid. Looking back, we can see that our ancestors had the habit of anticipating. For them, it was simply common sense. And most importantly, build your stock with products you enjoy eating!

    Matthieu Fontaine

    Other Chapters of the Survival Guide

    Read Other Chapters

    [1/8] Water 
    [2/8] Food
    [3/8] Cold
    [4/8] First Aid
    [5/8] Communication
    [6/8] Transportation
    [7/8] Electricity
    [8/8] Important Documents

    A Word About Lyophilise & Co 🌶

    Based in Lorient, Lyophilise & Co is the go-to reference for freeze-dried meals and high-quality outdoor gear. Whether you're a hiker, skipper, trail runner, bushcraft enthusiast, or bivouac lover, we offer a wide range of technical products tailored to all your adventures. With over 2,000 items available, we support your expeditions in France and abroad.

    If you have any questions, our experts are here to help and will gladly assist you:

    ☎ +33 (0)2 97 87 23 73
    ✉ team[at]lyophilise.com

    We also have a showroom open Monday to Friday:

    📍 6 bis rue du Sous-Marin Vénus, 56100 Lorient, France

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