Which "Ready To Eat" Meals Have The Longest Shelf Life?

[oldsmoboat]

I am not interested in rotating stock. I want to pack it and forget about it till needed. Be it 1 year or 15 years.
TIA

[intheknow]

beef jerky? canned beans?

[puropuro]

I'm guessing something like the Freeze dried Mountain House food in #10 cans.
Just add water.

[Prenub]

I bought some Mountain House cans and they are 25 yrs shelf-life. The thing with Mountain house is that it requires water and you might not have enough of it in a survival situation. Incase of lack of water, i also bought some canned food that's recommended lifeshelf is 3 years but they actually last longer. These also have water in the food so that means less water to store. I heard that some regular canned food like spam can have shelf life of up to 50 years +.. They dont recommend it and it might taste funny but you wont get sick from it.

[mstlaurent]

Interesting info on the actual shelf life of canned goods (among other things):

http://www.grandpappy.info/hshelff.htm

A large portion of my long-term food storage is canned goods.

[Prenub]

Heres an article regarding studies on cans dated 40 years ago. As long as the seal is tight and unopened, its still edible.

http://www.grandpappy.info/hshelff.htm

I have two types of MRE food. One thats lightweight to carry like mountain house and another thats heavy with water (canned beans, corn, meat, etc..) for storing in the house. It never hurts to have more.

[Got Stuff?]

I am not interested in rotating stock. I want to pack it and forget about it till needed. Be it 1 year or 15 years.
TIA

I personally have had stored civi mre's for up to 10 years....so far and they are still good. Using a few cases of them up now actually. Not so much luck with .mil mre's. though I'm sure some people have.

[jyo]

Interesting info on this thread---I live in earthquake country (southern Kalifornia) and like to keep a stash of canned goods stored in a cool dry place---I buy when items are on sale and rotate stock trying to eat the oldest items within three years while keeping enough on hand for at least two weeks or more survival time until aid arrives. I am not planning on long term survival with this stuff, just get thru the immediate emergency. I also lay in a similar amout of canned dog food as well---they gotta eat too and provide a early warning system for intruders. Interesting that properly stored canned goods are still ok to eat after 30 or more years. I mark the lid of the canned goods with the year purchased to help keep track.