This is a sample list for a family of three. Your family needs may differ quite a bit, due to your meal preference, dietary or other special needs. However, if you use this list as a base, you won’t go hungry. It also allows for “guest” meals. This is a realistic pantry supply to last a year comfortably. Remember the biggest mistake of pantry-building though, rotate your supplies, using the oldest first, replenishing as you use, in order to keep relatively fresh foodstocks. If you have a family of 4, increase the amount by 25%, a family of 6, by 50%, and so on.

The majority of items on this list are available from modern grocery stores but you’ll probably find it easier to find some of the larger volumes and unprocessed foodstuffs from bulk dealers (membership clubs) and online dealers.  When dealing with these, however, be sure to calculate shipping & handling and insist on knowing the packing date of food you are ordering.  Some unscupulous vendors are not above selling products with a substantial chunk of their shelf life behind them.

Finally, for those with more modest goals, you may want to start by chopping this list DOWN and starting  by building up a 3 month larder.  Eiether goals can be easily achieved by buying 50% more than you need on each supply run until you slowly (and inconspicously, if that is a factor in your area) build up your stock.

Grains

  • 300 pounds of hard wheat or in combination with 150 pounds of wheat and 150 pounds of flour.
  • 50 pounds of dry corn to grind for cornmeal
  • 50 pounds of soft wheat
  • 50 pounds white rice
  • 50 pounds brown rice
  • 50 pounds oatmeal
  • 25 pounds of masa harina demaize (corn flour for tortillas and tamales)

Legumes

  • 50 pounds of pinto beans
  • 50 pounds of combined other beans, such as navy, kidney, etc.
  • 20 pounds of split peas
  • 20 pounds lentils

Dairy

  • 18 #10 cans dry milk or in combination with boxes of store-bought dry milk
  • 2 #10 cans cheese powder
  • 5 #10 cans dehydrated eggs
  • 3 #10 cans butter or margarine

Sugar

  • 50 pounds white granulated sugar
  • 10 pounds brown sugar
  • 10 pounds powdered sugar

Shortening/Oil

  • 10 3# cans shortening
  • 5 48 fl. oz. bottles vegetable oil
  • 2 16 fl. oz. bottles olive oil

Salt

  • 10 pounds of iodized table salt (used in pickling & meat preservation as well in table useage)

Vegetables

  • 104 pints of green beans
  • 104 pints of sweet corn
  • 104 pints of carrots
  • 104 quarts tomatos
  • 104 pints of tomato sauce
  • 104 half-pints of tomato paste
  • 104 quarts of potatos and/or 22 pounds instant potatos
  • 26 quarts of squash or pumpkin
  • 26 pints of beets
  • 2 #10 cans of dehydrated sweet corn
  • 4 #10 cans of dehydrated peas
  • 1 #10 can of dehydrated onions
  • 2 #10 cans of dehydrated broccoli

Fruit

  • 52 pints of peaches
  • 52 pints apple sauce
  • 52 pints fruit cocktail
  • 52 quarts apples (includes pies, etc.)
  • 52 pints pears
  • 104 pints misc. fruits
  • 1 #10 can raisins
  • 1 #10 can dehydrated strawberries
  • 2 #10 cans dehydrated apple slices
  • 2 #10 cans dehydrated banana slices

Pasta

  • 15 pounds spaghetti
  • 6 pounds assorted noodles
  • 6 pounds lasagna

Meat

  • 52 pints lean beef/venison roast
  • 52 pints chicken/turkey
  • 52 pints ham/fish/misc.
  • 52 cans tuna
  • 52 cans Spam
  • 52 pints home canned hamburger for tacos, casseroles, etc)
  • 1 #10 can ea. TVP (textured veg-etable protein), bacon, chicken)

Miscellaneous

  • Vitamins (General mult-vitamins, Senior/Women’s Supplements, Maternity/Children Supplements, each as needed)
  • 1 pound baking soda
  • 3 pounds baking powder
  • 1 pound dry yeast
  • Miscellaneous pices usually used (Garlic, Oregon and various spicy peppers can be a godsend)
  • 25 dozen canning jar lids, wide mouth and regular
  • Coffee, tea, powdered drink mixes
  • Grain mill to grind grains
  • Amish or other “cooking with basics” cookbook
  • 1 gallon inexpensive syrup
  • Treats (candies, etc)

This article only addresses foodstuff, but we’ll be putting out a companion guides for hygiene, education, reference, pets, cleaning and first aid as well. In the meantime, your suggestions, recommendation and tips are always welcome.

Additional Research: