How Much Food Storage
Do I Need?

You know you need more food storage but you still have that worrisome question: What do I need and how much food is enough?

The following chart will help you determine how much you will need.

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Suggested Amounts of Basic Storage Foods

The amounts in the chart below are for one person for one year. If you don't want to do the math for the number of people in your family, use our Food Storage Calculator.

Item	Per Year Amount	Links to More Information
Grains	400 lbs.	Storing Grains
Wheat	175 lbs.
Flour	20 lbs.
Cornmeal	30 lbs.
Rolled Oats	50 lbs.
Enriched White Rice	80 lbs.
Pearled Barley	5 lbs.
Pasta	40 lbs.
Legumes	60 lbs.	Storing Legumes
Dry Beans	45 lbs.
Dry Lima Beans	2 lbs.
Dry Soy Beans	2 lbs.
Dry Split Peas	2 lbs.
Dry Lentils	2 lbs.
Dry Soup Mix	7 lbs.
Fats and Oils	10 quarts	Storing Fats & Oils
Cooking Oil	5 quarts
Shortening	2 quarts
Mayonnaise/Salad Dressing	1 quart
Peanut Butter	1 quart
Milk Group	16 lbs (or equivalent in canned milk)	Storing Powdered Milk
Nonfat Dry Milk	14 lbs.
Evaporated Milk	12/12 oz. cans
Sugars	60 lbs.	Storing Sugars
Granulated Sugar	40 lbs.
Brown Sugar	3 lbs.
Molasses	1 lbs.
Honey	3 lbs.
Corn Syrup	3 lbs.
Jams or Preserves	5 lbs.
Powdered Fruit Drink	5 lbs.
Flavored Gelatin	1 lbs.
Miscellaneous
Salt	8 lbs.
Dry Yeast	1/2 lbs.
Baking Soda	1 lbs.
Baking Powder	1 lbs.
Water	14 gallons*	How to Store Water
* Obviously, this would provide drinking and cooking water for only a few days - less than a week. Much more water needs to be stored, if possible. Fruits and vegetables in any form would enhance the nutritional value of this diet.

Bare-Bones Basics

Bare-bones basics have two strong appeals when you look at them strictly from a preparedness perspective: (1) these foods will sustain life if they're all you have to eat, and (2) they have a long shelf life, so if you aren't willing or able to work them into your regular diet, you can still store them for a future time of need and they'll wait for you without constant care.

A supply of bare-bones basic foods is a good place to start your home food storage program, but be sure to add some variety too.