Costco gives you great options to stock up your pantry for the next few weeks, but what about the next decade?
While the warehouse retailer is known for its famous Readywise 150 Serving Emergency Food Bucket (aka the Doomsday Bucket), it has many other options to ensure your home is well-stocked in a serious emergency.
Take advantage of these deals and Costco shopping hacks if you want to be prepared for any type of emergency when you need long-term options.
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Del Monte Canned Corn
Price: $12.99
Check out the Del Monte Canned Corn to add veggies to your stash with 12 15.25-ounce cans.
Canned vegetables can be a great source of nutrients and have a decent shelf life, although you may want to rotate cans out and replace them as they approach the expiration date.
Kirkland Signature Chicken Breast
Price: $14.99
It can be a good idea to try store brands like Kirkland Signature to help you save money as you prepare your prep pantry.
Grab a 6-pack of Kirkland Signature Chicken Breast, which comes in 12.5-ounce cans, making it a good shelf-stable meat option.
S&W Organic Black Beans
Price: $9.99
Black beans are a great source of protein, potassium, and iron, which can be important when you need to access nutrients in your prep pantry in an emergency.
You can get eight 15-ounce cans of S&W Organic Black Beans to eat on their own or mix in with other ingredients for a healthy meal.
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Kirkland Signature Wild Flower Honey
Price: $14.99
You may be surprised that honey has a long shelf life and can be stable on your prep pantry shelf for years.
Grab a five-pound bottle of Kirkland Signature Wild Flower Honey as a source of sweetness for meals or even medicinal purposes while you’re working through your prep stash.
Garofalo Organic Spaghetti Noodles
Price: $15.99
Pasta can be a filling option from your pantry. You can mix it up with different ingredients, like canned meat or a jar of pasta sauce, for a hearty meal.
Garofalo Organic Spaghetti Noodles come in an 8-pack to help you add some noodles to your prep pantry menu.
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Mountain House Freeze Dried Rice & Chicken
Price: $149.99
The Mountain House Freeze Dried Rice & Chicken may be a little pricey, but it provides 54 servings, so you’ll have a good meal when you need it.
Be aware that some meal prep options are online only for Costco, but the retailer’s minimum is $75 for free shipping on most items, so you may be able to save some cash when you order.
Campbell's Simply Chicken Noodle Soup
Price: $15.99
Soup can be filling and doesn’t need much water to prepare, so you can have a warm meal without much work.
Check out Campbell's Simply Chicken Noodle Soup, which comes in a pack of eight 18.6-ounce cans.
Nutristore Freeze Dried Fruit
Price: $179.99
Freeze-dried options can be great additions to your prep pantry due to their long shelf-stability, so you don’t have to worry about them going bad.
The Nutristore Freeze Dried Fruit comes in a variety pack with six different freeze-dried fruit options, including strawberries, mangos, peaches, bananas, and apples.
Royal Basmati Rice
Price: $24.99
Rice can be a great shelf staple in your prep pantry. It’s easy to make and a great way to include grains in your diet as an ingredient for meals.
Pick up a 20-pound bag of Royal Basmati Rice so you have plenty to work with when you need to take advantage of your prep stash.
Get a protection plan on all your appliances
Did you know if your air conditioner stops working, your homeowner’s insurance won’t cover it? Same with plumbing, electrical issues, appliances, and more.
Whether or not you’re a new homeowner, a home warranty from Choice Home Warranty could pick up the slack where insurance falls short and protect you against surprise expenses. If a covered system in your home breaks, you can call their hotline 24/7 to get it repaired.
For a limited time, you can get your first month free with a Single Payment home warranty plan.
Kirkland Signature Bottled Water
Price: $439.99
Bottled water is a vital part of any prep pantry, and Costco can help you stock up.
The prep version of Kirkland Signature Bottled Water comes as a 48-case pallet of water with 40 bottles in each case.
Be aware that while Costco has a generous return policy on most items, the pallet of bottled water can’t be returned.
Chef's Banquet Instant Non-Fat Dry Milk
Price: $129.99
Most milk isn’t shelf-stable, but there are options if you want to add some dairy to your prep pantry.
The Chef's Banquet Instant Non-Fat Dry Milk includes 300 servings of milk with a shelf life of 20 years and doesn’t need to be refrigerated in case of a power loss.
Quaker Instant Oatmeal
Price: $13.99
Oats are a good source of fiber, easy to prepare, and have a long shelf life, making them a great addition to your prep plans.
Quaker Instant Oatmeal comes in a 52-count variety pack with flavors like apples and cinnamon, maple and brown sugar, and cinnamon and spice, so you’ll have some choices.
Kirkland Signature Albacore Solid White Tuna
Price: $18.99
Canned meats are a good source of protein, so stock up if you need some extra nutrients.
Grab an 8-pack of Kirkland Signature Albacore Solid White Tuna to add to your pantry shelves. It’s a great way to prepare extra protein on its own or as an ingredient for meals.
Bottom line
If you find ways to save money on groceries, you can set up a long-term prep pantry within your budget.
Some items have a long shelf life but still have an expiration date, so cycle them out and put new ones in so you won’t have to toss food that may have spoiled by the time you need it.
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FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
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- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
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