Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, right as El Niño's stormy season starts to ramp up across the southern U.S. You're already planning a big grocery trip. With a few smart additions, that same trip can stock your pantry for the holidays and for a winter storm.
Here's how to plan a Thanksgiving pantry that does double duty, plus how to keep your holiday meal on track if the power goes out.
Why the Holidays Are a Smart Time to Stock Up
- Stores run sales on baking supplies, canned vegetables, broth, and pantry staples in November.
- You're already making a list, so adding a few emergency items takes no extra trips.
- Storm season peaks next. NOAA expects the strongest El Niño impacts in the U.S. from December through February. A stocked pantry in late November puts you ahead of it.
The Double-Duty Pantry List
These items work for holiday cooking and as emergency food:
Canned and jarred
- Canned vegetables: green beans, corn, sweet potatoes, pumpkin
- Canned broth and stock
- Canned cranberry sauce
- Canned proteins: chicken, tuna, beans
- Canned fruit
Dry goods 6. Rice, pasta, and boxed stuffing 7. Instant mashed potatoes 8. Oats 9. Flour, sugar, and baking mix 10. Crackers
Shelf-stable extras 11. Shelf-stable milk or evaporated milk 12. Peanut butter and nuts 13. Coffee, tea, and cocoa 14. Cooking oil, salt, and spices
Buy one extra of each staple you use for the holiday, and that extra goes straight into your emergency supply. Our emergency food stockpile guide shows how to build up to two weeks.
Plan a Holiday Meal That Survives an Outage
A big storm on a holiday is stressful. A backup plan makes it manageable:
- Choose sides that need little or no cooking, like cranberry sauce, salads, rolls, and pies baked the day before.
- Cook ahead. Make casseroles and desserts a day early, so a storm on the day doesn't cancel the whole meal.
- Have a safe backup cooking method. A gas or charcoal grill works for cooking a turkey breast or sides, but only outdoors, at least several feet from the house, and never in a garage or carport. Never use a grill or camp stove indoors, even for a few minutes, because it can fill the house with carbon monoxide. If the power goes out mid-cook, you can finish a partly cooked dish on the grill outdoors, but don't partially cook food and finish it later. That can let bacteria grow.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed during an outage. A full freezer stays cold for about 48 hours if you leave it shut.
- Use a power station for small appliances. A unit like the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Power Station can run a slow cooker, an electric kettle, or lights for a while. Check the appliance's wattage first.
Turkey Food Safety
The USDA's guidelines keep your holiday safe whether or not the power cooperates:
- Thaw your turkey in the fridge, allowing about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds. Never thaw it on the counter.
- Cook it to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, wing, and breast.
- Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.
- Eat leftovers within 3 to 4 days, or freeze them.
If the power goes out with a fridge full of leftovers, follow the rule from our guide to keeping food cold when the power goes out: perishables that sit above 40°F for more than 2 hours should be thrown out.
Don't Forget Water
A holiday meal uses more water than you think: cooking, washing dishes, and extra people flushing and washing up. If a storm is in the forecast around the holiday, fill a few extra containers and keep a case of bottled water on hand, so a boil water notice or outage doesn't derail the day.
Hosting During Storm Season
If you're hosting family from out of town during a stormy stretch:
- Check the forecast a few days ahead and be ready to shift plans.
- Stock extra water for more people.
- Have extra blankets, flashlights, and phone chargers for guests.
- Keep a first aid kit and any guests' medications easy to find.
- Make a backup plan for travel if roads ice over. Our guide to winterizing your car helps.
Add a Long-Term Backup
If you want a deep reserve beyond your regular pantry, a pre-packed food supply like the ReadyWise 120-Serving Emergency Food Bucket sits in a closet for years. All of our pantry and food storage picks are in our Emergency Supplies Essentials list.
Make Gratitude Part of the Plan
The holidays are also a great time to check on people who might need help this winter: older neighbors, family members who live alone, or anyone with medical needs. Swap phone numbers, offer to check on them during storms, and share what you've learned. Being prepared is easier when you do it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pantry items should I stock for winter?
Canned vegetables, proteins, broth, and fruit; rice, pasta, oats, and crackers; shelf-stable milk; peanut butter; and coffee or tea. Many of these work for holiday cooking too.
How long can Thanksgiving leftovers stay out?
Refrigerate them within 2 hours of cooking, and eat them within 3 to 4 days or freeze them.
What if the power goes out on Thanksgiving?
Keep the fridge and freezer closed, serve the dishes you made ahead, cook on a grill outdoors only, and use a power station for small appliances if you have one.
How long does it take to thaw a turkey?
In the fridge, allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey.
