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Preppers

Meals from shelf stable ingredients

44 replies

ThaneOfGlamis · 06/09/2026 12:04

In the spirit of the current be prepared warnings, I am thinking about meals I could make if we don't have easy access to fresh food. So nothing from the fridge or freezer, but tins, packets and long life veg such as pumpkins and onions are in. I would like to get a few items in as a bit of a buffer, but simply buying tins of beans is not going to be particularly appetising. Also needs to be food we will still eat if there are no shortages, so spam and fray bentos are off the menu!

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ThaneOfGlamis · 08/09/2026 10:24

BiddyPopthe2nd · 07/09/2026 15:15

Instant mash, with sufficient milk in the liquid mix (and sufficient liquid) a good knob of butter, and possibly a teaspoon of grainy mustard, is actually very good.

Long life shelf-stable milk is really handy (most milk sold here is like that, has about 4 months life normally so I usually have a couple of cartons in for when I cannot find proper fresh milk…I’m not in UK).

Nasi goreng - basically cold cooked rice fried up with a tin of tuna, tin of corn, garlic, onion, some mild curry powder - in normal times, we add mushrooms, peppers, frozen peas and frozen prawns but the storecupboard version is fine for something hot and tasty.

Paella type rice dish using stock, rice, saffron, onion, garlic, some tomato concentrate, tin of mussels, olives from a jar, roasted peppers from a jar….

Tinned clams with pasta, garlic, dash olive oil and squeeze of lemon.

Confit duck from a tin with potatoes roasted in the duck fat.

I can also get cassoulet in a tin here, and ratatouille in jars. And shelf-stable chorizo and other salamis. Jars of sun-dried tomatoes can add some flavour too. Jars or tins of both green and black olives. And tinned veggies like French beans, asparagus, mushrooms or the normal different varieties of beans and lentils and chickpeas. Or the Chinese style cans of veggies like water chestnuts, baby corn, bamboo shoots and bean sprouts. Don’t forget root veg like carrots, parsnips, swede, and brassicas like cabbage and Brussels sprouts which generally last a good while without refrigeration.

If you look carefully, there are lots of things you can find in a regular supermarket, or a few bits and pieces from delis that can be really useful, that may not get a lot of regular use but could be really helpful if the power was gone once you’ve used up the “likely to go off quickly” items from the fridge.

Wow, confit duck is not something I had considered. Sounds like I need a trip to France 🇫🇷.

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BiddyPopthe2nd · 08/09/2026 13:34

ThaneOfGlamis · 08/09/2026 10:24

Wow, confit duck is not something I had considered. Sounds like I need a trip to France 🇫🇷.

In fairness, the tins I had came “home” with me on my summer holidays, so are sitting in the family home in Ireland. I need to go back to the big supermarket here to restock. But it is common enough here…a Fray Bentos pie, on the other hand, is an abomination that is impossible to find, thankfully! 😅

Different forms of tinned fish and shellfish are much easier to find than tinned hotdogs or spam.

BiddyPopthe2nd · 08/09/2026 13:45

I should also have added that I have been pleasantly surprised in many delis and speciality shops (especially Asian but also French ones) back home in Ireland with what could be found on shelves that seems just like a very posh treat but is also really handy to have in the back of a cupboard. So if you look carefully where you are, you may be surprised at the variety of long-life foods that you can find - and then have a nice think about how to use them and how to add flavour (if needed) from an ordinary storecupboard.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 08/09/2026 22:17

It's always wise to consider the possibility that the gas and electricity might be cut off.

The dried Polish sausages and German at Lidl don't need chilling. You can chop them into tinned boiled potatoes mixed with the kind of mixed veg pasta sauce that comes in a jar. If necessary, you could eat that without heating it at all.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 08/09/2026 22:19

BiddyPopthe2nd · 07/09/2026 15:15

Instant mash, with sufficient milk in the liquid mix (and sufficient liquid) a good knob of butter, and possibly a teaspoon of grainy mustard, is actually very good.

Long life shelf-stable milk is really handy (most milk sold here is like that, has about 4 months life normally so I usually have a couple of cartons in for when I cannot find proper fresh milk…I’m not in UK).

Nasi goreng - basically cold cooked rice fried up with a tin of tuna, tin of corn, garlic, onion, some mild curry powder - in normal times, we add mushrooms, peppers, frozen peas and frozen prawns but the storecupboard version is fine for something hot and tasty.

Paella type rice dish using stock, rice, saffron, onion, garlic, some tomato concentrate, tin of mussels, olives from a jar, roasted peppers from a jar….

Tinned clams with pasta, garlic, dash olive oil and squeeze of lemon.

Confit duck from a tin with potatoes roasted in the duck fat.

I can also get cassoulet in a tin here, and ratatouille in jars. And shelf-stable chorizo and other salamis. Jars of sun-dried tomatoes can add some flavour too. Jars or tins of both green and black olives. And tinned veggies like French beans, asparagus, mushrooms or the normal different varieties of beans and lentils and chickpeas. Or the Chinese style cans of veggies like water chestnuts, baby corn, bamboo shoots and bean sprouts. Don’t forget root veg like carrots, parsnips, swede, and brassicas like cabbage and Brussels sprouts which generally last a good while without refrigeration.

If you look carefully, there are lots of things you can find in a regular supermarket, or a few bits and pieces from delis that can be really useful, that may not get a lot of regular use but could be really helpful if the power was gone once you’ve used up the “likely to go off quickly” items from the fridge.

cassoulet in a tin

Envious.

AuroraArorua · 09/09/2026 14:40

Powdered cheddar cheese is great to mix in different sauces (long life milk), mash or pasta.

Tomato soup in tins, you can cook the pasta/couscous etc in the soup and not waste water.

Ready to use chicken or beef stock for soups.

ThaneOfGlamis · 09/09/2026 21:47

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 08/09/2026 22:17

It's always wise to consider the possibility that the gas and electricity might be cut off.

The dried Polish sausages and German at Lidl don't need chilling. You can chop them into tinned boiled potatoes mixed with the kind of mixed veg pasta sauce that comes in a jar. If necessary, you could eat that without heating it at all.

That sounds nice. I would use the camping stove if necessary, but it's all perfectly edible in normal times too.

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ThaneOfGlamis · 09/09/2026 21:51

AuroraArorua · 09/09/2026 14:40

Powdered cheddar cheese is great to mix in different sauces (long life milk), mash or pasta.

Tomato soup in tins, you can cook the pasta/couscous etc in the soup and not waste water.

Ready to use chicken or beef stock for soups.

Not heard of powdered cheese before! Will have to investigate.

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Flannelfeet · 09/09/2026 21:59

Why have i missed this? The government said we have to stock pile dried goods? How come?

What about toilet roll? 🤭.

Surely this isn't really true?.

GalaDinner · 09/09/2026 22:06

BiddyPopthe2nd · 08/09/2026 13:34

In fairness, the tins I had came “home” with me on my summer holidays, so are sitting in the family home in Ireland. I need to go back to the big supermarket here to restock. But it is common enough here…a Fray Bentos pie, on the other hand, is an abomination that is impossible to find, thankfully! 😅

Different forms of tinned fish and shellfish are much easier to find than tinned hotdogs or spam.

One should perhaps not eshew the humble Fray Bentos pie too readily. A commenter in the Telegraph recently pointed out that burying them would provide a suitable decoy for Russian mine detectors, whilst allowing the locals to shuffle off to 'Spoons.

SmallTreeDeepRoots · 09/09/2026 22:07

We often eat a bean chilli (tin of kidney beans in chilli sauce, tin of mixed pulses, tin of toms, garlic (puree) and onion if you have it. Serve with rice or jacket spud or flatbread. Slosh of red wine if you are feeling fancy, handful of frozen peppers if it’s not the end times, but fine without.

Cous cous. Make up with hot water and stock cube, mix in tinned sweetcorn, any chopped veg knocking about. Serve with slices of corned beef.

Pack of mixed grains, tin of tuna, lemon juice, herbs (mint or coriander are good), chopped spring onion if you have it to hand, cashew nuts - tabbouleh!

Kedgeree. Rice cooked in stock cube with tsp or 2 or turmeric. If you are using microwave style rice just make up stock cube with less hot water and stir into rice until warm and absorbed. Serve with tinned fish on top.

I really like the tinned mackerel/pilchards in sauce. They used to be just tomato sauces, but there are all sorts now. DH rates the katsu sauce one - serve with rice and any vegetation you can rustle up. Quick, versatile and shelf stable - and we eat them anyway.

ThaneOfGlamis · 10/09/2026 18:59

Flannelfeet · 09/09/2026 21:59

Why have i missed this? The government said we have to stock pile dried goods? How come?

What about toilet roll? 🤭.

Surely this isn't really true?.

It's been in the news as in multiple newspapers and the BBC. The advice is to have a few days of food in case of supply disruption and weather events. In no way have I, or they, mentioned stockpiling toilet roll. But if you want to do that go right ahead.

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ThaneOfGlamis · 10/09/2026 19:01

GalaDinner · 09/09/2026 22:06

One should perhaps not eshew the humble Fray Bentos pie too readily. A commenter in the Telegraph recently pointed out that burying them would provide a suitable decoy for Russian mine detectors, whilst allowing the locals to shuffle off to 'Spoons.

😂

I have never actually eaten one, but can't imagine there would ever be a good enough reason to start.

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Gingernaut · 10/09/2026 19:04

Holland & Barratt soy protein - sold dry, in lumps or 'mince' style and in plain flavour and 'meaty' with flavourings added. TVP in other words

Add hot water and it rehydrates

Use instead of meat or beans

ThaneOfGlamis · 10/09/2026 19:09

SmallTreeDeepRoots · 09/09/2026 22:07

We often eat a bean chilli (tin of kidney beans in chilli sauce, tin of mixed pulses, tin of toms, garlic (puree) and onion if you have it. Serve with rice or jacket spud or flatbread. Slosh of red wine if you are feeling fancy, handful of frozen peppers if it’s not the end times, but fine without.

Cous cous. Make up with hot water and stock cube, mix in tinned sweetcorn, any chopped veg knocking about. Serve with slices of corned beef.

Pack of mixed grains, tin of tuna, lemon juice, herbs (mint or coriander are good), chopped spring onion if you have it to hand, cashew nuts - tabbouleh!

Kedgeree. Rice cooked in stock cube with tsp or 2 or turmeric. If you are using microwave style rice just make up stock cube with less hot water and stir into rice until warm and absorbed. Serve with tinned fish on top.

I really like the tinned mackerel/pilchards in sauce. They used to be just tomato sauces, but there are all sorts now. DH rates the katsu sauce one - serve with rice and any vegetation you can rustle up. Quick, versatile and shelf stable - and we eat them anyway.

Some tasty ideas here. I do think tinned fish is a lot nicer than tinned meat.

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Flannelfeet · 10/09/2026 19:15

ThaneOfGlamis · 10/09/2026 18:59

It's been in the news as in multiple newspapers and the BBC. The advice is to have a few days of food in case of supply disruption and weather events. In no way have I, or they, mentioned stockpiling toilet roll. But if you want to do that go right ahead.

Even in Scotland?
I read the papers and watch the news but obviously completely missed that. I do have enough extras here anyway if needed, kinda got in the way of having a few extra tins and such since covid.

Il pass on the toilet roll stockpile...for now. Definitely going to end up in a google hole about this...

WyrdHag · 10/09/2026 22:54

My cupboard meals:

Tinned ratatouille with pasta

Steak chilli - tinned steak in gravy, black beans, tinned chopped tomatoes, cumin, chilli, onion and garlic powder

Steak stew - tinned steak in gravy, drained tin/jar of baby carrots and peas, drained tin of new potatoes, whatever herbs/seasonings you fancy - honestly I would have turned my nose up had friends not made it when we were camping...it's lovely, especially with homemade thickly buttered bread and a cold cider!

Corned beef hash

Fish cakes made from instant mash, tinned tuna and sweetcorn and Cajun seasoning. Could also use salmon and whatever herbs/spices you wanted (Thai?)

Good quality hot dogs with cheesy instant mash (Idahoan) and Heinz BBQ beans

I've got tinned chicken curries, Swedish meatballs, ravioli, spaghetti hoops and mini sausages that are meals in themselves more or less.

Tinned new potatoes also make great patatas bravas with the seasoning mix you can get in TK Maxx/Homesense.

pinkishtongue · 10/09/2026 22:59

Jars of roasted peppers/artichokes etc to add to pasta dishes? Tinned potatoes for air frying. Variety of beans for a bean chilli.

ThaneOfGlamis · Yesterday 09:38

Flannelfeet · 10/09/2026 19:15

Even in Scotland?
I read the papers and watch the news but obviously completely missed that. I do have enough extras here anyway if needed, kinda got in the way of having a few extra tins and such since covid.

Il pass on the toilet roll stockpile...for now. Definitely going to end up in a google hole about this...

Not sure about news in Scotland as I don't live there. But I remember when storm Arwen hit a few years ago, thousands in Scotland and North England were without power for days. It is that sort of thing that having some shelf stable meals would help with. There is an increased chance of storms this year with the el niño, but could equally be totally normal. Hence why I only want ideas that would allow us to eat well whatever happens 😋.

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