A grouped list of ready-to-eat foods that need no stove or fridge, with notes on protein, calories, salt and what works for kids and pets.
- Choose foods you can eat straight from the package.
- Mix protein, carbohydrates and fruit or vegetables for balance.
- Watch salt, keep water on hand and pack familiar foods for kids and pets.
When the power is out, you may not want to light a camp stove, or you may not be able to, especially during a storm, in an apartment or when fuel is short. The best outage meals are ones you can open and eat. This guide groups no-cook foods by what they do for you, so you can build a balanced stash.
Check labels and expiry dates, and remember that food from a fridge or freezer follows its own rules, covered in fridge and freezer food safety.
Protein foods
Protein keeps you full and helps you get through a stressful few days.
- Canned tuna, salmon, sardines and chicken (pull-tab cans save you a can opener).
- Canned or pouched beans, which can be eaten cold.
- Nut and seed butters, and nuts and seeds themselves.
- Jerky and other dried meat.
- Shelf-stable cheese spreads and individually sealed cheese snacks, used according to the label.
- Protein bars, if your household likes them.
Energy and carbohydrates
These provide calories. A general planning figure is around 2,000 calories per adult per day, but needs vary, so adjust for your family.
- Crackers, crispbread, rice cakes and tortillas.
- Ready-to-eat cereal and granola, with shelf-stable milk or plant milk.
- Granola and cereal bars.
- Dried fruit, trail mix and fruit leather.
- Peanut butter sandwiches on shelf-stable bread.
Fruit, vegetables and variety
- Canned fruit in juice, applesauce cups and fruit pouches.
- Canned vegetables, which can be eaten as they are, perhaps with oil and salt.
- Shelf-stable juice boxes.
- Pickles, olives and jarred roasted vegetables for flavour.
- Shelf-stable hummus or bean dips in sealed packs.
Ready meals
Some canned meals can be eaten cold, though they taste better warm. Canned stews, chili, pasta and soup are fine to eat cold if needed, provided the can is intact. If you can heat them safely outdoors, great, and our cooking without power guide shows how. Never use a camp stove, grill or gas heater indoors.
Watch the salt, and drink water
Many shelf-stable foods, such as canned soups, jerky and crackers, are high in sodium. That is fine for a few days for most people, but it makes you thirstier. If someone in your household has high blood pressure, kidney disease or another condition affecting salt intake, ask a health professional about suitable choices. Plan your water supply alongside your food, using how much water to store.
Kids and pets
Children often refuse unfamiliar food when they are scared. Pack things they already like: crackers, fruit pouches, cereal, nut-free snacks if needed and a few treats. Check for allergies and choking hazards by age. For babies, use the separate guide on food and supplies for babies and toddlers.
Pets also need no-cook options: sealed pet food in pouches or cans, with a spoon and a can lid, and plenty of water. See pets in a power outage.
Putting a no-cook day together
It helps to picture a full day of eating before you buy. A simple example: cereal with shelf-stable milk and dried fruit for breakfast, peanut butter on crackers with an apple or fruit cup for lunch, canned beans or tuna with tortillas and canned vegetables for dinner, and nuts, bars or fruit pouches in between. Add a hot drink if you can safely heat water outdoors. Count the calories on the labels, compare them with your household's needs, and fill any gaps.
Also think about serving. Without running water, washing up is harder, so keep paper plates, disposable cutlery, wet wipes and a few garbage bags with your food. Single-use items are not elegant, but they cut down on the water you need for cleaning and reduce the risk of stomach upsets from poorly washed dishes.
Practical tips
- Keep a manual can opener and a few utensils, bowls and napkins in the same place.
- Eat perishable food from the fridge first, then the freezer, then shelf-stable items.
- Keep foods in sealed containers to protect against pests.
- Choose single-serve packs where you can, so leftovers do not spoil.
You can compare ready-made options in the emergency food kit guide or browse the food hub.
Quick answers
Can I eat canned food cold?
Yes, commercially canned food is cooked in the can, so it can be eaten cold if the can is intact and the contents look and smell normal.
What is the best protein for no cooking?
Canned fish, chicken and beans, nut butters, jerky and similar ready-to-eat items are common choices.