What should I squirrel away in a winter emergency food box?

[Wandathewindfairy]

I live in a fairly rural location. If it snows, which is rare as we are v close to the sea, we are quite stuck halfway up a hill. There are no motorways nearby so I suppose if it is really bad there would be a chance of stuff being delivered to the local shops anyway.

We only moved here a year or so ago, but now I understand my husbands obsession with stocking up for the winter. (I had thought he might be a secret doomsday prepper)

So what would you put Your emergency stocks box. I have got so far as a bottle of wine, some washing up liquid and some uht milk and now my brain has gone to mush.

Marking place for ideas.

Costco do some meals that are long life so don't need to be kept in the fridge or freezer but are in bags - you can heat them up in the oven to do them properly (empty out of bags into dish etc) but in an emergency you could put the bag into boiling water and heat it through I'm sure.

I liked their pork steaks in cider sauce but they also do a reasonable lamb shanks and I'm sure a couple of other things - we usually get a box of one of them at the start of the winter just so we have something easy, tasty, meaty and reasonable (not a fan of fray bentos pies although I suspect dh wouldn't complain!) but usually just to save the need to go to the shop rather than because we are really really snowed in! Also means that if electricity is cut, and the freezer or fridge loses its power, they don't spoil, I do use the freezer and batch cook but obviously that's no good once the power has gone!

On a separate issue, I'd also make sure that I had decent carbon monoxide alarms and fire alarms if I was going to be burning stuff inside (including camping stoves, indoor bbqs, candles for light etc) - every year you hear horrible tales of people who have died because they haven't realised in these situations that if they make the room/house they are in completely draft free and warm, then they have made the conditions right for carbon monoxide poisoning - even though it's cold, it's vitally important that there is a draft or two that can get in! They can be in use all year around - but just make sure that you test them regularly particularly just before the winter sets in and that you have spare batteries for them. Your local fire brigade will often come and put in any extra fire alarms you need and if you have any gas things then whoever checks your gas for you will probably be able to sell you a carbon monoxide alarm - or I've had good ones from costco very reasonably, places like homebase and b&q do them too.

I am not sure if I have a Costco anywhere near I am sure there is not one within an hour anyway.

Though meals in bags founds good and it reminds me of something I saw on an American fb page where they bagged the wherewithall for loads of different slow cooker meals and put them in the freezer.

You might have a Booker or a cash & carry or other similar place near you.

They are not cheap but you can get tinned food that self heats evaq8.co.uk/Self-Heating-Food.html

Oh and you need more than one bottle of wine

Fgs. Mumsnet