When the single 72 hour kits are on sale around $20, I jump on it. We are getting THREE days worth of calories for around $7 a day, a little over $2 per meal. Even if not using these for strictly emergency, they are budget friendly(ish) for any time.
Ok, so yeh I pretty much stock these for emergency use. What this is is providing calories, aka "energy". Do not assume that it will fill your belly or make your taste buds sing. Just know that it is well packaged for long term storage (10 years, not 25, more on that in a moment). In emergencies, we need more calories than we think. This is not the time to diet. With emergency food, the calories will be there, but the "bulk" wont be, so just try to ration it out. You may (or may not) still be hungry, but know that your body will at least have been nourished, and your body and brain has "energy" to work from, and function.
Take a look at the product pictures to see all what is in it, and all what you can expect in terms of calories and assortment. Don't cry that it isnt enough food even though it clearly says it has 2667 calories per day. 8000 calories per pail. If it isnt enough for you, then adjust accordingly. Get more variety, or simply tuck this away for super desperate times.
BEST PLAN is to have a plan. If you want to use these and have decided that you want to round it out with other foods, then go for it. Buy and tuck away accordingly. Think you will want a lot more food, then maybe double up for those three days. Plan to use 2 of these buckets instead of one (though you best like banana chips,haha). And for the love your braincells, please understand that you need water. You need water before food. So buy some water. Maybe add in some brothy soups or just broth, or foods packed in water. Anything to get hydrated even in unconventional ways. Got enough water to boil pasta? Well dont dump that water, save it for another item to be boiled (or to make coffee, tea with--gross but it is just carb water at that point).
Good sized thin pails. Easy open. It is compact, it contains dense calories, and it is meant to be used as emergency food. You will survive on 2500+ cals per day. Might not be what you would normally eat, not be the bulk and texture you normally go for.. but none of this should be a surprise. It is all listed.
I knew looking at it that it is food of nearly all the same texture, and some of the calories are taken up by banana chips (high calorie, tasty, but not much bulk--1520 calories are from banana chips alone, which is about 507 calories per day. Lots of calories but not "satiating" in terms of volume). I knew I would be adding this into a wide assortment of supplies to choose from. I can add food to this to make it more interesting, or use it as intended: provide me a few days of food.
I like keeping a bucket in my car along with water and other food items (all well packed so not to attract critters), and a hot pot. Good for sudden road side emergencies, bad weather, or having to stay at the office, of if the word stops functioning due to EMP and I have to hike home. I'll have this, some snacks, water, and some food items that I can just open up and eat. I dont know.. options. All bases covered.
"Emergency food" isnt my first approach to having a food supply, but it is nice way to round things out. Also, knowing that it is well packaged, if I dont get to these any time soon, I will be set later on down the road. Again, options. So I have my snack bars, meal replacement drinks, bottles of water, tins of various food that can be eaten hot or cold, wide variety of everything, vitamins, electrolyte drinks, some comfort food, and a variety of "emergency" food. Stuff I can just tuck away and not worry about, not have to think about rotating through. Added insurance. Being proactive, being prepared, *gasp*.. being a prepper.
That being said, a lot of emergency food is designated as having a 10 or 25 year "shelf life". The best by date is indicative of QUALITY only, and has nothing to do with safety. This is true of nearly all food. Only time it is beneficial to adhere to a best by date is if the product is acidic and packed in an aluminum can, or if can is dented. All else? All good for YEARS beyond the date. Especially if stored in a reasonably stable temp environment (in house, or in basement for example). Just ate some sardines from 2014.. all good. Working through my 2016s now.
While I dont plan to use this anytime soon (I have bought these before, used them, liked them enough to pick up a couple on occasion, as well as many many many other Augason Farms products), I dont need it to have 25 years stamped on it. But they really should omit that from the product listing. (ie "up to 25 years).
Even so, I am still going with 5 stars. I have several of these now, and have purchased them as gifts.
| Number of Pieces | 42 |
|---|---|
| Allergen Information | Soy, Milk, Tree Nuts, Wheat |
| Unit Count | 32.97 Ounce |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 10.16 x 8.19 x 5.31 inches |
| Package Weight | 2.2 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 11 x 11 x 8.5 inches |
| Brand Name | Augason Farms |
| Warranty Description | Manufacturer |
| Model Name | 5-32200 |
| Material | plastic |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Manufacturer | Augason Farms |
| Part Number | 5-32200 |
| Included Components | Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal^Banana Chips^Creamy Chicken Rice^Creamy Potato Soup^Hearty Vegetable Chicken Soup |
