Emergency food staples and add-ons, by cost per 2,000 calories

Single #10 cans, pouch case packs and add-on bundles: rice, flour, oats, beans, soups, powdered milk, freeze-dried meat and fruit. They aren't complete meal plans, so we rank them here, separately from the kits, using the same formula.

• 67 staples and add-ons from 1 brand
• $4.48 cheapest per 2,000 kcal (Granulated White Sugar #10 Can)
• $14.70 median per 2,000 kcal

How to read this list

• 12 of these cost less per calorie than the cheapest complete kit, ReadyWise 1 Year Emergency Food Supply at $9.42. Most of those are basic staples like sugar, rice, flour and oats.
• Freeze-dried meat and fruit are at the bottom because they're low in calories for their price. People usually buy them for protein and variety, not calories.
• Calories are only one measure. They don't cover protein, vitamins, taste or how much water and cooking an item needs. See the methodology.

Prices are the single-unit list price on each brand's store, checked November 10, 2026. Multi-packs are usually the same price per unit. Calories are each product page's stated total.