Stockpiling as Crisis Preparedness – A big part of prepping is stockpiling. This includes not just food but also essential supplies like hygiene products, medicine, and batteries.
Food
I recommend canned food because it’s inexpensive and can last up to 15 years depending on the contents. The “best before” date is just a guideline—food often stays edible much longer. Industry usually prints a maximum of 2–3 years for legal reasons.
I avoid panic-buying. Instead, I think carefully about what I really need before building a stockpile. Here are some affordable supermarket foods that are excellent for long-term storage:
- Canned kidney beans (around 10 years)
- Canned corn (around 5 years)
- Sauerkraut in jars (around 15 years, rich in Vitamin B)
- Rice (around 2 years)
- Canned fruits (around 10 years)
- Instant coffee (almost unlimited shelf life)
- Salt and sugar (unlimited shelf life)
- Honey (unlimited shelf life)
If I want to store larger amounts more compactly, I also consider dried goods like beans and lentils, which can be kept in bulk for long periods.
In addition to regular foods, there’s a wide selection of survival rations that can last 7–20 years. Examples include wheat bars and pumpernickel bread in cans.
Examples of long-lasting survival food:
- Wheat bars (7+ years)
- MSI BW survival rations (10+ years)
- NRG-M emergency food (10+ years)
- Military-style hardtack biscuits (2–3 years)
- Canned pumpernickel bread (15–20 years)
- F-100 milk bars
Because it’s so versatile, I also keep baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in my storage.
Water
Even more important than food is water. I keep water reserves and also make sure I have purification and filtration options. Emergency drinking water can be stored in bags (like Bundeswehr rations or Seven Oceans water packs) or in food-grade barrels. Stored water in barrels must be rotated regularly.
When a crisis is clearly coming, I immediately fill the bathtub and large containers while the water is still running. Even if the power goes out, water pressure lasts a little while.
Useful emergency water containers include:
- Collapsible jerry cans
- Water bladders
- Drinking bags
Household Brita filters are also useful. With a small stock of filters, I can always purify water through activated carbon. One cartridge filters about 100 liters. I personally recommend the large Brita Flow table filter with 8.2 L total capacity.
Hygiene & Medical Supplies
Besides food and water, I stock hygiene products and basic medicine. Hygiene reduces the risk of skin and mouth infections. My basic medical kit includes:
- Ibuprofen (pain relief, well tolerated)
- Activated charcoal tablets (poisoning, diarrhea)
- Tannacomp (stomach infections, diarrhea)
- Voltaren (anti-inflammatory)
- Broad-spectrum antibiotic (prescription only, effectiveness drops after expiry)
- Disinfectant spray for wounds
While medicines come with expiration dates, many remain effective even 15 years later. Exceptions include insulin, some antibiotics, and nitroglycerin-based heart medication.