Best Canned Breads (& Mixes) With Insanely Long Shelf Lives

By SS Contributor | Updated: 04/21/2023

B&M Canned BreadToday I have something really important to share…

A complete guide to buying and storing canned bread for emergencies.

Because having easy-to-make bread in your survival pantry is smart.

Canned bread will quickly raise everyone’s spirits in times of chaos.

And while Man cannot live on bread alone, that doesn’t mean you have to…

Table Of Contents

↓(click to skip ahead)↓

» 4 Canned Bread Myths

» Best Canned Breads

» What Is Canned Bread?

» Best Ways To Prepare It?

» Why Buy Bread In A Can

» How Long Can It Last?

» Can You Make Your Own?

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4 Surprising Canned Bread Myths

O.K. let’s put on our critical thinking caps and bust through some myths…

Myth 1: Canned Bread Never Goes Bad

Oh, how I wish this one were true, partner.

But the sad fact is:

No matter how well you can your bread, it’s not gonna last forever.

Canned bread does have a shelf life.

It might last longer than your regular loaf, but it’s not gonna be good for eternity.

So, don’t forget to rotate your stock and keep an eye on those expiration dates.

Myth 2: Canned Bread Tastes Like Freshly Baked

Now, don’t get me wrong, canned bread can be a lifesaver.

Especially if your facing an emergency.

But let’s be honest, it ain’t gonna taste like Grandma’s homemade sourdough.

You might need to slather on some peanut butter or jam to make it more palatable.

But hey, in a survival situation, taste ain’t the top priority.

Myth 3: Canned Bread is Super Easy to Make at Home

While it’s true that you can bake bread at home and can it, it’s not as simple.

There’s a whole process to ensure it stays safe to eat.

You gotta pay attention to canning methods, pressure levels, and more.

So, if you’re thinking about DIY canned bread, do your research first.

Myth 4: Canned Bread is Only for Doomsday Preppers

Now, this one’s a hoot.

Canned bread ain’t just for the preppers with bunkers deeper than a Texas oil well.

It can be handy for campers, hikers, and anyone who might find themselves in a pinch.

Best Canned Bread & Mixes On The Market

Here’s a rundown of our favorite deals:

1.
B&M Brown Bread, Original Flavor

This old staple is the original canned bread.

It offers all of the benefits for long-term food storage that we mentioned above.

As a recap, it is easy to store, has a long shelf life, and is ready to eat out of the can.

It also offers a delicious treat to those with a taste for molasses.

A note for stocking up: these cans are heavy. As such, it might make more sense to buy in bulk to save on shipping.

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↓ M&M Brown Bread In A Can

2.
B&M Brown Bread, Raisin

B&M’s Raisin Bread is just like the original, but even sweeter.

If you like raisins, it’s a real treat.

The raisins also add some essential nutrients, like magnesium iron, and Vitamin B-6.

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↓ Survival Review’s B&M Brown Bread With Raisin

3.
Honey Wheat Bread & Roll Mix Can

My Patriot Supply is a go-to for preppers, for good reason.

Their products are consistently high-quality and reasonably priced. Their Honey Wheat Bread Mix is no exception.

This whole-grain mix only needs water, oil, and yeast to make a tasty dough.

The mix is sold in #10 cans and is perfect for long-term storage.

It has a 10-year shelf life before opening and 1-year shelf life after opening.

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4.
Augason Farms Honey White Bread, Roll Mix

Augason Farms is another prepper favorite, and they earn that title as well.

They stock a full range of emergency and long-term storage food items.

Among them is this stellar bread mix.

The mix makes a standard white bread. It is versatile and can be used in many different recipes.

It also comes in durable #10 cans and can have a shelf life of 10+ years sealed.

One of the highlights of this mix is the price, which is one of the best deals out there.

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5.
Bob's Red Mill Bread Mix, 10 Grain With Yeast Packet

Bob’s Red Mill is a more commercial product and is available in many stores.

It also has a following in the prepper community for its quality and value.

Their bread mix comes in a variety of flavors.

We included the shelf-stable 10-grain mix here, but there is a wide variety to choose from.

They come in 1.18 kg packets that include instant yeast, so all you need to add is oil and warm water.

The directions call for a bread machine, but you can use basically any heat source. One packet makes approximately one 1.5 lb loaf.

This constitutes around 13 servings of bread.

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6.
The Prepared Pantry Country Farm White Bread Mix

The Prepared Pantry is a family-run all-American store in Rigby, Idaho.

We include their bread mix for quality and nutritional value.

Their White Bread Mix makes a tender, all-natural loaf that is rich in taste and nutrients.

This is because it is made with milk. In fact, each loaf is made with the equivalent of ¾ cup of fresh milk.

Preparation calls for water and butter, but you can easily forgo the butter or substitute it for oil.

The Prepared Pantry also has a wide variety of over 100 bread mixes to choose from.

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What Exactly Is Canned Bread? | Types (Loaf vs. Mix)

Well…it’s NOT bread you buy from the deli section of your grocery store.

But the differences go beyond the can.

In fact, the original bread for New England bread is based on is older than the cans themselves.

It was originally called Boston Brown Bread.

There are recipes that date back to the 17th century.

The traditional bread recipe calls for cornmeal mixed with rye flour, wheat flour, and molasses.

The mixture was poured into a coffee pot.

And then steamed until it rose.

This made a very dense sweet brown bread.

The first canned bread was made by B&M in the 1920s.

A Maine cannery now known for its baked beans.

Their recipe is still made with molasses and cornmeal.

It also includes whole wheat flour, baking soda, and salt.

Today, there are two varieties: plain and with raisins.

Another shelf-stable bread option is using a mix.

A bread mix is a powder of various dried ingredients that comes in a can.

Most mixes have flour, powdered milk, powdered eggs, yeast, and various conditioners.

To make bread from them, all you need is hot water, instant yeast, and vegetable oil.

There are many bread mixes that can be prepared in a similar way.

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Best Ways To Prepare It

B&M bread comes ready to eat.

Some people like it better toasted; others prefer it plain.

In New England, there are two ways to serve it.

  1. One is like toast, with butter, cream cheese, or jam.
  2. The other is with some Boston baked beans and sliced hot dogs.

In YOUR house, you can serve it any way you’d like.

Most mixes have instructions on the packet.

And most are an excellent addition to a wide variety of recipes.

7 Reasons To Purchase Bread In A Can

First off, it’s a great food to include in any stash or pantry.

There are a few solid reasons to stock up on some, including:

1. Good Source Of Several Nutrients

It often contains molasses, which is a great source of:

  1. Essential for blood production and health.
  2. Helps with nerve and muscle function, heart health, cell health, and nutrient absorption.
  3. Needed for muscle and nerve function, blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, and protein, bone, and DNA production.
  4. Aids metabolism, blood clotting, and the formation of bones. Also helps prevent immune inflammation.

It also contains a fair amount of calcium, which we need for strong bones and communication between the brain and nerves.

Mixes, meanwhile, also have nutritional benefits.

Some have valuable vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, and potassium. Some also have protein.

2. Good Caloric Value For Your Money

B&M lists 8 servings at 130 calories each.

This comes out to 1040 calories.

This translates to a pretty dense caloric load for relatively little money.

They also provide a significant amount of calories for the money.

For instance:

The Augason Farms Honey White Bread, Scone, and Roll Mix contains 5,880 calories (distributed among 49 servings) for just $7.62 (at the time this article was published).

3. Easy To Store

Both the cans and mixes are easy to store.

The standard size is the 6 Oz can.

So they’re easily stackable and storable.

The mixes usually come in larger, industrial-sized No. 10 cans.

These are also easily stackable and storable.

If space is an issue, larger cans can be opened and separated into smaller sealable cans.

All these cans require is a space with no excess heat, humidity, or salt exposure, which describes most long-term storage.

4. Long Shelf Life

For long-term storage, it is essential for an item to have a long shelf life.

As we will discuss later in this article, both cans and mixes have long shelf lives.

5. Versatility

A good long-term storage staple should be versatile.

You can prepare it in a variety of ways and can serve as a good source of tasty calories in a number of different situations.

Mixes are even more versatile.

You can make many different things from most mixes besides bread and rolls.

Mixes can also be used to make pizza, pan-fried scones, and other recipes.

6. Easy To Prepare

It’s considered ready-made food.

This makes it perfect for situations where other ingredients, tools, or appliances may not be available.

You can slice and eat it straight from the can.

Mixes also have very little prep.

  • Put the mix in a large bowl
  • Add liquids
  • Stir | Blend
  • Pour Into A Pan
  • Put Pan In Oven

That’s it…

The only ingredients needed are warm water and oil.

And the only tools needed are a large bowl, whisk, baking pan, and oven.

7. Morale Booster

When serious emergencies happen, people may crave familiar things.

Bread is a familiar food that can be comforting in times of uncertainty.

Having a quick, easy way to make bread can be helpful to boost morale.

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How Long Can It Last? When Will It Go Bad?

It only has an “official” shelf life of two years.

However, the actual shelf life of the product is far longer.

B&M bread can regularly last for 10 years or more, so long as there are no serious issues with the can.

Mixes have a much longer shelf life.

When properly sealed they can last for ten years or more.

Certain brands designed for long-term storage may last up to 15 or 20 years.

Can You Make Your Own?

It may seem like a simple process to make your own.

There are recipes out there that tell you that you can.

However, the unfortunate truth is…you shouldn’t.

These recipes cannot be made safely at home.

While you can cook bread in pint jars, it must be eaten quickly.

They are not shelf-stable.

There is a specific reason for this:

Canning your own bread can cause Botulinum to develop.

↓ What Is Botulism?

Botulinum is a common bacteria that can lead to severe food poisoning (or botulism).

All botulinum needs to grow is food, a non-acidic environment, moisture, and temperatures between 40-130 degrees F.

If there are botulism spores in the air during the canning process, those spores may get in.

Typically it’s produced under laboratory-tested conditions.

These conditions ensure there are no botulinum spores.

It is not possible to replicate these conditions at home.

That is why, we do not suggest making canned bread at home.

Instead, it’s best to leave it to commercial manufacturing.

Final Thoughts

If you’re into building a DIY survival pantry, then you should add some canned bread or mixes.

They give you the supplies you need to make delicious bread, biscuits, or cornbread even during a crisis.

Because there’s nothing that brings a family a bit of comfort than some fresh warm bread.

Lana Alder

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