An emergency food supply is a store of food that keeps for years and is ready to eat with nothing more than boiling water. No electricity, no fridge, no cooking. We have made freeze-dried meals in Tromsø since 1989 for the Armed Forces and for people who live their lives outdoors. It is the same food, packed for the day it is needed at home. Here we explain how much to store, what to put in it, and how long it lasts.

What is an emergency food supply?

An emergency food supply is the food set aside to keep a household fed when normal supply is cut — a power outage, a storm, or a longer disruption. The qualities that matter are a long shelf life, simple preparation without electricity, and compact storage. Freeze-dried meals fit all three, which is why they sit at the core of a practical supply.

How much food to store: the seven-day rule.

Many countries set a short minimum, often three days, or a 72-hour kit. Norway now advises more. In 2024 the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) raised its recommendation for household self-reliance from three days to seven. Our Preparedness Packs are built to match: the Small pack covers dinner for a family of four for a week, and the Big pack covers both breakfast and dinner.

What to put in an emergency food supply.

A week’s supply is more than meals, but food and water are the core. A practical list for a household:

• Water — around 20 litres per person
• Long-life main meals — for example freeze-dried dinners, three per person per day, ready with only boiling water
• Crispbread or crackers — a couple of packs per person
• Spreads with a long shelf life
• Dried fruit, nuts, and chocolate for energy
• A heat source that works without mains power — an approved indoor stove, gas or paraffin
• Hygiene items — wipes, hand sanitiser, bin bags, and any nappies or sanitary products
• Some cash in small denominations, and more than one payment card

The reason freeze-dried meals work so well here is that they replace several of these worries at once: a full, hot main meal with a multi-year shelf life, no cooking, and very little space used.

How long does an emergency food supply last?

Our meals carry a five-year guaranteed quality from production, and the date is printed on each pouch. As long as a pouch is unopened and feels hard, it can stay good well past that date. If in doubt, look, smell, and taste a little before eating the whole meal. Because the date is printed on every pouch, a supply is easy to keep current. Eat the oldest, replace with new.

Why freeze-dried meals for emergencies.

Freeze-dried meals need only boiling water and a few minutes. No fridge, no electricity, no cleanup. They are light and compact, so a full week stores on a single shelf. And it is the same food we make for trips, expeditions, and the military, so a supply at home is food worth eating. For more on the method itself, see freeze-dried food; for the military and arctic side, see arctic field rations.

Choose Packs.

Both packages contain the same meals. The difference is what they cover.

Fill the storage once, and the food is ready when it is needed.

Frequently asked questions.

How much emergency food should I store?
Norway’s DSB advises being able to manage for at least seven days. For food, that is roughly three meals per person per day, plus around 20 litres of water per person.

How long does emergency food last?
Our meals have a five-year guaranteed quality, with the date printed on each pouch. Sealed and hard, a pouch can stay good beyond the date; check by sight, smell, and taste if unsure.

Does emergency food need cooking or electricity?
No. Freeze-dried meals need only boiling water, straight in the pouch, with a stove that works without electricity. That is what makes them suited in a power outage.

What should an emergency food supply include?
Water, long-life meals, crispbread, long-life spreads, energy snacks, a non-electric heat source, hygiene items, and some cash. Freeze-dried meals cover the hot-meal part with years of shelf life and no cooking.

Related articles.

• Freeze-dired food: what it is and how long it lasts
• Arctic Field Ration: what it is and how we make it