Chapter 22 · Pantry and cooking without power
Shopping summary and cost
| Group | Total | Approx. cost (supermarket, Costco or Sam's, Nov. 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Rice 20 kg, lentils and beans 10 kg, pasta 8 kg, oats 8 kg, corn flour 5 kg | 51 kg (112 lb) of grains and legumes | USD 80–115 |
| Oil 5 L, peanut butter 5 kg, nuts 3 kg, dried fruit 1.5 kg | Fats and dense energy | USD 85–120 |
| Powdered milk 3 kg, sugar and honey 5 kg, UHT milk 6 L | Dairy and sugars | USD 55–75 |
| 84 cans of protein; ~70 cans of beans, meals, vegetables, fruit and tomatoes | ~150 cans | USD 200–230 |
| 40 bars, 2 kg crackers, 0.5 kg jerky, 1 kg cereal | Ready to eat | USD 70–90 |
| Protein powder 4 kg | Protein insurance | USD 100–140 |
| Coffee, electrolytes, spices, bouillon, vitamins | Miscellaneous | USD 40–60 |
| Total without freeze-dried | ~115 kg (250 lb) of food | USD 630–830 |
| Optional freeze-dried (12–20 pouches) | Backpacks and car | USD 150–250 |
Rough prices; buying in bulk at Costco or Sam's keeps you at the low end of the range.
Dogs (2 of ~7 kg / 15 lb)
- ~150 g of kibble per dog per day: 10.5 kg over 5 weeks. One sealed 12–15 kg (26–33 lb) bag of their usual brand, plus 6 cans of wet food for week 1. Switching brands in a crisis causes diarrhea, and diarrhea uses up water (dog food).
- 0.5 L of water per dog per day.
