Here are some general guidelines for rotating common emergency foods:
Use within six months:
- Powdered milk (boxed)
- Dried fruit (in metal container)
- Dry, crisp crackers (in metal container)
- Potatoes
Use within one year:
- Canned condensed meat and vegetable soups
- Canned fruits, fruit juices and vegetables
- Ready-to-eat cereals and uncooked instant cereals (in metal containers)
- Jelly
- Hard candy, chocolate bars and canned nuts
May be stored indefinitely (in proper containers and conditions):
- Wheat
- Vegetable oils
- Corn
- Baking powder
- Soybeans
- Instant coffee, tea
- Vitamin C
- Cocoa
- Salt
- Noncarbonated soft drinks
- White rice
- Dry pasta
- Powdered milk (in nitrogen-packed cans)