Within the recent months, you may have experienced quarantines because of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. If you planned ahead and had a stockpile of food and other supplies, good for you.

But what if you weren’t able to stock up on food before SHTF?

Read on to learn which items you can buy to start a last-minute food supply, especially if you’re worried about having to go under quarantine during a pandemic. (h/t to BackdoorSurvival.com)

What is a quarantine?

Healthcare workers and public health officials enforce quarantines to limit the spread of contagious diseases like COVID-19. Under quarantine, people exposed to a particular disease are separated from those who haven’t.

Quarantines can be formal, with health officials removing individuals from the general population and keeping them in a special or guarded location. Meanwhile, informal quarantines or self-quarantines are done at home to avoid potentially spreading the disease to others.

If lockdown orders are announced in your area, you might have trouble stocking up on pantry essentials. Both big stores and small grocery stores might be out of stock on some items, especially if there are a lot of people who also need additional supplies for their stockpile.

Listed below are items you should buy for your quarantine food stockpile. These items are often available and shelf-stable.

Try to stock up on different versatile items so you can cook a variety of meals even if you’re not an experienced cook. If you are too sick to leave your home or are under stay-at-home orders, you can have these items delivered to your home instead.

Meat, vegetables and starches

While it’s important to follow a balanced diet, under quarantine you may have to rely on some salty or heavily processed foods. It might not be the best option, but it’s better than starving.

Before SHTF, think about how you can combine meat, vegetables and starches in your pantry. Conserve meat products by purchasing beans, which have a high protein content. You can also add a little of both to boost the protein levels of a meal.

When buying supplies, focus on getting a good balance of meat, veggies and starches or grains so you don’t have to worry about not having enough food while under quarantine.

Baking mix 

You might need baking mix if you want to cut the prep time for baked goods or don’t have enough experience to bake things from scratch.

Canned beef

Canned meat and meat products will last for several years in your stockpile. Canned meat is a good source of protein, especially grass-fed canned meats.

Canned shredded beef or ground beef can be used for different dishes, like soups, stews, and other savory meals. Additionally, canned meat products can be used for sandwiches or other quick meals like salads.

Canned chicken or turkey

Canned chicken or turkey is a good alternative if you want a low-calorie source of protein. Used canned poultry to make salads or chicken noodle soup.

Flour and baking supplies

Use flour and baking supplies like baking soda, honey, sugar and vanilla extract to bake bread and other baked goods at home.

Grits

Grits are very high in calories and can be used as a base for many savory meals. Cold grits can also be used to make patties that you can fry.

Masa harina

Masa harina is a staple ingredient used in a lot of Mexican recipes. It’s an instantly-binding corn flour used to make the dough, also called masa or masa dough, for gorditas, pupusas, tamales and tortillas.

Masa harina is simple to use and is available in yellow, white and blue varieties. It’s also called corn dough or masa flour because it is made of corn. Masa harina is gluten-free.

Pancake mixes

When buying pancake mixes, look for larger bags and boxes. If you don’t have these at your local store, opt for small packets.

Rolled oats

Use rolled oats to make hot cereal or add them to baked bread for extra nutrition and flavor.

Rolled oats can also be used to make cookies or muffins. In a pinch, you can use rolled oats as a filler for meatloaf or meatballs.

Tomato paste

You’ll need tomato paste to make the base for pasta, sauces and various soups. Tomato paste also takes up less space in your pantry compared to conventional canned pasta sauces.

Canned and dried fruit

According to the United States Drug Administration (USDA), an average adult needs two servings of fruit per day. If you don’t have fresh fruits at home, you can serve dried or canned fruit instead.

Apple sauce

Serve apple sauce on its own or pair it with pancakes, grit cakes, or hot cereals. If you’re watching your sugar intake, buy unsweetened apple sauce.

Canned fruit

If you can’t find canned fruit, opt for fruit cups instead. However, fruit cups are more expensive compared to canned fruit.

Like fresh fruit, canned fruit is a good source of dietary fiber.

Dried Fruit

Dried fruits are a great alternative if you want to save space in your storage area. Buy dried fruit in bulk like dried cranberries and raisins and serve them with hot and cold cereals.

Dried fruit can also be added to bread or pancakes.

Cooking oils, spices and yeast

Butter can be frozen for up to a year.

Spices can be expensive, so try to look for deals while shopping. Stock up on basic spices like chili powder, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt, seasoning salt and taco seasoning so you can give even the simplest meal a boost of flavor.

Use soy sauce to add flavor to beef stews and soups. Get bread yeast so you can also make yeast bread.

Coffee, tea and other items

Stock up on coffee and tea so you can get an energy boost while in quarantine.

Here are other foods that you should stock up on:

• Bulk rice
• Dried soup mixes
• Electrolytes and vitamins
• Herring, tuna and other canned fish

Luxury items and treats

You will also need luxury items like alcoholic drinks for the adults and treats like candy and chocolates to help comfort the children stuck at home.

Should you stock up on frozen foods?

Frozen foods will last longer during quarantine, but they’re not advisable unless you have a chest freezer at home because they will take up space in your fridge. Frozen vegetables and meats can allow you to buy larger packages and save money.

Make the most of your freezer space and buy foods that are low on the packaging and are full of calories or nutrition for the amount of space they take up. Note that if the power goes out while you’re under quarantine, you should consume frozen foods first.

If you need to build a last-minute food supply for a quarantine, stock up on items like canned fruits and veggies, canned meat and baking supplies so you can still serve nutritious meals to your family.

Sources:

BackdoorSurvival.com

VerywellHealth.com

BePreparedForIt.com

ShelfCooking.com

TheSpruceEats.com 1

TheSpruceEats.com 2