What expires in your emergency kit (and when to check it)
Building a kit takes an afternoon. Keeping it usable takes ten minutes twice a year. Here's what actually goes out of date, what the official guidance says about replacing it, and a routine that doesn't depend on remembering.
Ready.gov's advice for a finished kit fits in four lines: keep canned food cool and dry, keep boxed food in sealed containers, replace expired items, and rethink your needs every year. The third one is where most kits fail. Nobody opens the bin in the closet until the day they need it.
What goes out of date
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Water you filled yourself | Replace every 6 months (CDC). Label each container with the date you filled it. |
| Store-bought bottled water | Go by the date printed on the bottle (CDC). |
| Canned and boxed food | Printed dates. Throw out cans that are swollen, dented or corroded, even if the food looks fine (Ready.gov). |
| Prescription and over-the-counter medicine | Printed expiry dates. Also check that the kit still matches what each person takes now. |
| Infant formula and baby food | Printed dates, and whether the child still needs them at all. |
| Batteries | Printed dates; test the flashlight and radio while you're there. |
| First aid supplies | Dated items such as ointments and wipes. |
| Pet food | Printed dates. |
| Bleach for water treatment | CDC suggests keeping unscented household bleach with 5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite; check the label and the date on the bottle. |
Some things don't expire but still go stale: copies of documents, phone chargers that no longer fit your phone, clothes that no longer fit your kids, and cash.
A routine that works: twice a year
Pick two dates you already remember, like the clock changes in spring and fall, and do the same check each time:
- Pull everything with a date. Water, food, medicine, formula, batteries.
- Eat or use what expires before the next check. Move it to the kitchen and replace it in the kit. That's the FEFO method: first expired, first out.
- Refill home-stored water if it's 6 months old.
- Re-read the list against your household. New baby, new medication, new pet, someone moved out. Ready.gov asks for this once a year.
- Write down the earliest date left in the kit. That's your real next check date.
Don't forget the other kits
Ready.gov suggests supplies at home, at work and in the car, since you don't know where you'll be. Three kits means three sets of dates. The work kit should cover at least 24 hours of sheltering in place. A bug-out bag has the same problem: it sits packed and forgotten.
The bottom line
Your kit is only as good as its oldest item. Check it twice a year, eat what's about to expire, refill water every six months, and update the list when your household changes. For the method that keeps dates in front of you, see how to track food expiration dates.
Sources
- Ready.gov: Build a Kit (maintaining your kit, kit locations)
- CDC: Creating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply
- Ready.gov: Food
FAQ
How often should I replace water in my emergency kit?+
CDC recommends replacing water you stored yourself every 6 months. For store-bought bottled water, follow the expiration date on the bottle.
How often should I check my emergency kit?+
A good routine is twice a year. Ready.gov advises replacing expired items as needed and rethinking your needs every year as your family changes.
Is it safe to eat from a dented can in my kit?+
Ready.gov says not to eat from cans that are swollen, dented or corroded, even if the food looks safe.
Should I keep more than one emergency kit?+
Ready.gov suggests kits for home, work and the car, because you don't know where you'll be when an emergency happens.