No one will ever know when emergencies will happen.
You should always be prepared for unexpected disasters.
Being prepared. To have some good survival food recipes will come in handy when you have to cook with limited resources.
A bug out bag is important for your preparation and should be included in your emergency preparedness plan. Pack a few basic, easy to carry, pantry ingredients and memorize some of your favorite survival food recipes. Well prepared food will bring you some relief from the stress in a survival situation.
How to Prepare for an Emergency
Emergency Survival food recipes should be part of your emergency plan. However, you must have a solid survival plan in place first. If this is new to you, below are the steps you can follow to prepare for an emergency.
- Make a Plan
If you new to prepping, here are some helpful hints.
Your plan should include communications plans in case some of your family members are out on school, mall, etc.,
Each family member should memorize the location of a pre-determined spot where the family can meet. An alternative location is also a good idea if there is no way to get to the first location or if it becomes unusable. This comes in very handy when your family members are scattered and cannot communicate with each other during a disaster situation.
Make sure that everyone knows or memorizes important cell phone numbers including each other’s numbers and emergency contacts.
If your family members are taking medications, make sure to include it in your kit and that you know the instructions for these medications and prescriptions.
Share the emergency plan with every family member. And practice the emergency plan each 6 months, at least annually.
2. Create an Emergency Kit
As part of you emergency plan, it is important to have an emergency kit.
It should be portable and provide resources for at least a week. Your kit should include necessary supplies such as food, water, flashlight, first aid, whistle, matches, radio, and batteries.
If you’re taking any medications, put them in your kit as well.
Your food supply should include foods that won’t require refrigeration such as canned, box, or bottled goods, breads, biscuits, crackers, protein or fruit bars, instant noodles, instant hot cereals, instant puddings, dry cereals, canned juices, instant beverages. Prepared a collection of survival food recipes that can work with the food elements in your emergency food supply.
Include infant food if you have infants in your family. Pet foods should be taken into consideration as well.
Remember to have a can opener and disposable eating utensils.
Make sure to have your emergency kit prepared before disaster happens. If you have to pack them while there is an emergency happening, you might panic and forget some of the necessary things you need to bring.
3, Stay Alert and Informed
Pack a radio with you just in case you can’t use your phone or lose it.
Walkie-Talkies are economical means to keep constant contact with your family and friends.
Stay alert of your immediate surrounding and be informed on the news happening in the community and the world, so you can make the right decision planning for the next step.
Tips For Cooking while There is an Emergency
It may not be easy to execute a survival food recipe during an emergency especially if you got stuck outdoors. The only way you can cook outdoors is through a basic propane or a charcoal grill or burner.
It might still be hard to cook while you’re indoors especially if you ran out of fuel for your gas stove.
These are the tips you should keep in mind if you’re planning to execute the survival food recipes during an emergency.
- Canned and dried foods really come in handy during an emergency.
- Focus on foods that don’t require refrigeration.
- Rotate your stocks to keep the food supplies fresh.
- Water is very important, not only for drinking but also for daily necessities and for rehydrating foods that are dry.
- Memorize easy survival food recipes you can cook for emergency foods.
Emergency Survival Food Recipes
- Pantry Recipes (When Pantry Ingridents are still Available)
Pantry survival food recipes rely heavily on dry and canned ingredients which can be usually found in the pantry. They are shelf stable and can be kept at room temperature. You can include freezer items only if you have access to your refrigerator or freezer.
The following survival food recipes are called pantry recipes. The ingredients commonly include: pastas, grained, canned goods, oils, vinegars, flour, sugar, vegetables, meat, cheese, butter, onions, spices, herbs, ginger, jalapenos, garlic, beans, etc
Spam Fried Rice
A food that no one can resist. Spam fried rice is best for solo and large servings especially if you’re eating with your family during emergencies.
It is easy to prepare so it is ideal for survival food recipes and needs at least 20-40 minutes to cook.
Ingredients: white rice, water, olive oil, diced spam diced onion, minced garlic, minced ginger, frozen or canned peas, diced carrots, soy sauce, eggs, chopped scallions, and sriracha.
Procedures:
- Put 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan and add rice and stir once. Let it boil. Cover and cook on low heat for 20 minutes.
- Remove the rice and let cool.
- In a large deep skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat.
- Add the diced spam to the skillet and stir until it’s brown for about 5 minutes.
- Once the spam is brown, add the ½ cup diced onions and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add 2 teaspoons minced garlic and 1 teaspoon minced ginger and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add ¾ cup peas and carrots and stir for 5 minutes.
- Add the rice and sprinkle 1 ½ tablespoons of soy sauce to the skillet and cook for another 3 minutes while stirring.
- Set aside the rice mixture to the side of the pan and crack 2 large eggs. Add another 1 ½ tablespoons of soy sauce, stir along with the eggs until cooked. Combine them with the rice mixture and stir.
- Remove from heat and top with 2 tablespoons chopped scallions and 1 tablespoon sriracha.
Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta
If spam fried rice is not for you, then this survival food recipe might be the one! After all, who can resist cheeseburgers, right?
You can add additional toppings for your cheeseburgers. Prepare it the way you like so you can fully enjoy your meal.
Panicking during an emergency is strongly prohibited, so sit back and relax while you enjoy your skillet cheeseburger pasta meal while thinking of your next move.
Ingredients: yellow onion, olive oil, lean ground beef, all-purpose flour, tomato sauce, beef broth, uncooked pasta shells, shredded sharp cheddar, hot dog relish, and sliced green onions
Procedure:
- Dice 1 yellow onion and slice 2 green onions.
- In a large deep skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, diced onions ½ lb. ground beef and sauté in medium heat until the ground beef has turned brown.
- Add 2 tablespoon of flour and stir again for one minute. Do not let the flour burn.
- Add 8 oz. tomato can sauce, 2 cups of beef broth, and ½ uncooked pasta shells to the skillet and stir the ingredients until the flour is dissolved off the bottom of the skillet.
- Bring to a boil in medium-high heat and cover with a lid. Then, stir for a minute and turn the heat to medium low. Let it simmer until the pasta becomes tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes and remove from heat.
- Lastly, add the 4 oz. shredded sharp cheddar, stir until melted. Put 2 tablespoon hot dog relish and stir. Top with 2 green sliced onions and you’re done!
Garlic Noodles with Beef and Broccoli
If you’re a fan of noodles and prefer to eat them more during emergencies, this emergency survival food recipe is the best for you.
Ingredients: oyster sauce, butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, toasted sesame oil, ground beef, garlic, frozen broccoli florets, spaghetti, green onions, and crushed red pepper flake
Procedure:
- In a bowl, melt 2 tablespoon of butter and add 4 tablespoons of oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Mix and set aside. This serves as the sauce.
- Let a large pot of water boil and add 8 oz. of spaghetti until tender. Drain the water using a colander.
- Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat and add ½ lb. ground beef. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Mince the 4 cloves of garlic and add it to the skillet once the ground beef has turned brown. Cook again for an additional 2 minutes.
- Once the garlic has softened, add the frozen broccoli florets and sauté over medium heat.
- Add the pasta and the sauce to the skillet and stir again.
- Lastly, slice 4 green onions as the topping along with the crushed red pepper flakes.
Black Beans and Rice
If you prefer white rice than fried rice, then keep this emergency survival food recipe in mind, You can cook it during emergencies.
Practice so you can cook it effortlessly.
Ingredients: olive oil, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, ground cumin, uncooked rice, chicken broth, drained and rinsed black beans, lime juice, and finely chopped parsley or coriander
Procedure:
- In a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion and sauté. Add 5 minced cloves of garlic and sauté again. Add 1 ½ teaspoons of ground cumin and rice, mix and sauté.
- Bring 4 cups of chicken broth into a boil along with 2 14-ounce cans of black beans. Let simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with tablespoons of olive oil, 3-4 tablespoons of lime juice, cilantro.
Tuna Roll-Ups
Don’t have the appetite to eat noodles, rice meals and burgers? This emergency food recipe can be eaten with either bread or crackers! It is easy to prepare.
Ingredients: round bread, drained white tuna, drained and chopped roasted red peppers, grated parmesan cheese, chopped green olives, mustards, and mayonnaise
Procedure:
- For the filling, combine 1 can of solid pack drained white tuna, ½ cup of mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons of chopped green olives, 2 tablespoons of mustard, and ½ cup grated parmesan cheese in a bowl.
- In a 15-inch round bread, spread the filling and roll up the bread. Cut the roll into pieces and serve.
Poor Man’s Burrito Bowls
This is a great survival food recipe. Burrito bowls are often filled with fancy ingredients and dressings. Of course, during emergencies, these fancy ingredients turn into basic ingredients which is why it is called poor man’s burrito bowls.
Although this version of burrito bowls is simple and basic, it will still make you full!
Ingredients: uncooked long grain white rice, salt, black beans, ground cumin, garlic powder, jar salsa, shredded cheese, green onions, and jalapeno.
Procedure:
- In a medium sauce pot, add 2 cups of uncooked long grain white rice, ½ teaspoon salt, and 3 cups of water. Cover in high heat and let boil. Let it simmer over low heat once it fully boils and turn the heat off after 15 minutes. Let sit.
- For the beans, add 2 15 oz. can of undrained black beans, ½ teaspoon of ground cumin, and ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder in a small sauce pot. Stir over medium heat.
- Slice a bunch of green onions and jalapeno.
- In a bowl, add one cup of cooked rice and ½ cup of black beans, 1/3 cup of salsa, and ¼ cup of shredded cheese. Put the green onions and jalapenos on top and serve.
Skillet Pineapple BBQ Chicken
This emergency survival food recipe might be a little harder to prepare, but the taste and satisfaction is worth the effort.
Ingredients: cooking oil, boneless skinless chicken thighs, salt and pepper, pineapple slices in juice, barbeque sauce, jalapeno, and green onions
Procedure:
- In a large skillet, heat it with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Season the chicken thighs with salt and black pepper.
- Once the oil is hot, add the 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs and continue cooking until golden brown. Remove and place on a plate.
- Drain the juice from a 20 oz. canned pineapple slices and reserve the juices.
- With the same skillet you cooked the chicken, add ½ cup of reserved pineapple juice and stir to dissolve over low heat. Make sure the browned chicken bits are dissolved in the bottom of the skillet. Add ½ cup of barbeque sauce until a thick paste has been formed.
- Add the cooked chicken thighs in the skillet again and the pineapple slices.
- Turn on the oven and set the broiler on high. Transfer to the oven and let broil for 5 minutes.
- Add the sliced jalapeno and green onions over top.
2, Survival Food Recipes (When you have no access to Pantry Ingredients)
Lack Pantry ingredients supplies? If you only have limited ingredients to cook, there is no need to fret because here are some survival food recipes suitable when pantry ingredients are not available.
Hardtack (Survival Bread)
This is a time tested survival food recipe. It was orignated from the American Civil War. The name derives from “hard as tacks”. However, with some modification, it can evolve into a nutritional supplement bar.
Ingredients: crackers, flour, salt, and water
Procedure:
- Combine 3 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, and one cup of water in a bowl.
- Mix until dough is formed and scoop onto a countertop. Knead until mixed.
- Roll the dough until it forms a rectangular shape and cut into square shapes.
- Poke the square shaped dough to form little holes that are similar to crackers.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and bake each side for 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container afterwards.
Beans and Rice
This is economical survival food recipe is easy to store and easy to cook.
Ingredients: beans and rice, salt and pepper, and water
Procedure:
- Rinse the beans. Let it sit overnight.
- Simmer the beans and let cook until slightly crunchy and tender for about 2 hours.
- Add rice and cook again for 20 minutes. Use salt and pepper to taste.
Sausage Gravy
This survival food recipe is versatile. It can be added to bread, rice or pasta. Or just consume it by itself.
Ingredients: sausage, flour, salt and black pepper, milk, and water
Procedure:
- Pan fry one pound of sausage.
- Add ¼ cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper to the sausage until brown while stirring.
- Add ¼ cup of water and continue stirring until it becomes a thin paste. Pour 1 cup of milk and continue stirring. If the paste is too thick, continue adding water and stop once it turns thin.
Light Spam Sandwich
An all time favorite Survival Food Recipe.
Ingredients: spam, lettuce, bread or crackers, and tomatoes
Procedure:
- Open the spam packaging and slice with the preferred thickness.
- Cook in a pan.
- Prepare either bread or crackers and layer on the spam. Add tomatoes and lettuce for a better taste.
What to Use for Cooking During Emergencies
No electricity? No gas for the stove? You still have other option to cook your survival food recipes.
If you’re stuck indoors, you can cook on a stove, chafing dish, warming candles, and fondue pot.
However, if you’re outdoors, the options you have are charcoal or propane grill, propane burner, or propane camping stove. You should have enough stock of charcoal if you’re cooking on a charcoal grill.
Safety Tips During an Emergency
Calamities and disasters have been happening frequently.
Prepare and implement an emergency plan is of the utmost importance.
As part of the plan, try to know some emergency survival food recipes by heart.
Take note of the safety tips below.
o Do not panic
Panicking will only cloud your brain. It is unlikely that you will come up with the better strategy if you’re panicking. Remain calm will help you think more clearly and will help you gather effective ideas.
Remember that panicking will only worsen your situation and will not help you.
o Stay away from dangerous areas
It is important to plan an escape route so you can evacuate quickly in the city you live in.
In Conclusion
These are the emergency survival food recipes you should try to memorize by heart before an emergency or disaster happens.
It will be hard to survive any emergency situation if you don’t have the necessary supplies, such as food and water. It is also hard to survive if you have supplies but don’t know what to do with it.
Build up your pantry stock gradually every time you go to the grocery store.
Some ingredients in the survival food recipes are meant to be cooked. These emergency food recipes give you some delicious and effective options.
When you are stuck indoors, you may have a lot of stock. That is when the Emergency pantry survival food recipes are great.
If your emergency food supply is limited, then you must know at least 2 survival food recipes especially if there is no outside aid.
In order to survive, it is important for your stomach to stay full. Always bring water to stay hydrated.
Remember to rotate your food stock so the food supply you have stays fresh.
Stick to your emergency preparedness plan. Have you emergency kits ready to go and memorize a few survival food recipes for your survival.
