Anyone who's read Linsey’s great article on freezer emergencies will already have a great head start on saving your food, should the worst happen. But what about another solution altogether, for emergencies, that doesn't involve your freezer? A solution for those of us who just aren’t all that, well, organized and together? The answer lies in a big bucket at Costco.

This is not a bucket in the KFC sense of the word. No, this is a 23lb monster called “Emergency Food Supply," and it contains 275 servings in one container. And even better, it’s got a 20 year shelf life and is good for vegetarians, too.

Emergency Food Supply close

Here’s the menu:

  • 30 Servings - Potato Ba-kon
  • 25 Servings - Corn Chowder
  • 25 Servings - Ala King
  • 25 Servings - Cacciatore
  • 25 Servings - Western Stew
  • 45 Servings - Whey Milk
  • 25 Servings - Blueberry Pancakes
  • 25 Servings - Barley Vegetable
  • Total Weight: 23 lbs.0

And the write up:

Basic preparation will impact the probability of your family’s survival in an emergency. Delicious and Easy to Prepare. Each bucket contains 275 servings of Pre-mixed and Pre-seasoned 100 % Vegetarian and Vitamin Fortified food for you and your family. With a 20-year long shelf life, this kit is perfect for the preparation of natural disasters such as hurricane, tornado, earthquakes or even a camping/hunting trip.

Now, while this certainly isn’t as tasy and nutritious as Linsey’s option (this is mainly soup, stew and pancakes), it does have several benefits of its own.

1: No freezer or fridge space required. Just a cool, dry storage area, like a pantry or basement.

2: It’s easy to prepare all of the food. Just add boiling water.

3: No microwave’s or appliances need. Use a campfire if you want to.

4: Fortified with all the vitamins and minerals you need.

By my calculations, 275 servings would keep a family of four sustained for almost a month. Not a pleasant month, that’s for sure. But for just $79.99 inc. shipping (around 30 cents per serving) , it’s a small price to pay as insurance against the worst happening.

Want something just as easy, but a little more gourmet?
For the same price, Costco offers the "7-day gourmet instant meal kit" and this is a collection of freeze-dried food for just one person. That's 4 times more expensive than the basic kit, and probably only twice as tasty, but still worth checking out. The shelf life is less, only 3-5 years, but it's just as easy to prepare. Simply add boiling water and serve. And for those of you counting calories, you get a whopping 2000 per day.

7-day gourmet instant meal kit

These foods are all natural and retain over 98% of the nutritional content, 100% of the fiber, and have an extendable shelf life. AlpineAire foods are the lightest, tastiest, and easiest to prepare food for any occasion, whether it be camping, backpacking, hunting, and long-term food storage.

Included in the 7-Day Gourmet Instant Meal Kit is enough great tasting food to last an adult seven days with an average caloric intake of over 2000 calories. The 7-Day Gourmet Instant Meal Kit is the perfect solution for any circumstance that might leave you with an unreliable food source. The 7-Day Gourmet Instant Meal Kit has a shelf life of up to 5 years and is 100% no cook options although some will require boiling water for best results.

  • For sample meal plan Click Here
  • Enough nutrition for 1 adult for 7 days
  • Shelf life: up to 3-5 years from purchase
  • Contains: 7 entrees, 7 lunches, 7 breakfasts, 7 desserts
  • Just add boiling water, seal, & eat in storage pouch
  • All natural: No added artificial flavors, preservatives, colors or MSG
  • Ideally suited for backpacking, camping, fishing, emergencies, etc.
  • Pouches designed for preparation & consumption
  • Net weight: 7.25 lbs.

So there you have it. Two options, one price. One for basic survival and another a higher class of basic survival. Either way, you'll at least have a back-up plan for anything from a flood, a tornado or a really cheap camping trip. Stay safe folks.