I was just going through the contents of my Bug Out Bag this morning, as I 
tend to do every couple of months, and I noticed the food I have stored there has not been fairing too well. The PowerBars have sort of bloated up like balloons and the foil packs of tuna are questionable at best. I immediately tossed the old stuff and put in some fresh supplies but I’m wondering to myself how long this new stash will last.
Like a lot of people I keep my BOB in my car. I do this because my primary concern / projected use for a bug out bag is to help me get back to my house rather than away from it. This is for a number of reasons including my basic philosophy that I’m planning on “bugging in” in most scenarios as well as the fact that I’m on the road commuting back and forth to work quite a bit.
Since my supplies spend a lot of time in the car they also end up spending 
more time at higher temperatures than is generally recommended for most foods. Even foods intended for long-term storage don’t do as well when stored at high temperatures. I would guess that on some days when my car is parked out in the sun the temps inside probably get well above 100 degrees. Far too high for storing food reliably.
So, what to do? I really don’t have any way of controlling the temperature 
inside my car on hot days. Sure, I could try to park in the shade as often as possible but that’s still not an ideal situation.
For now I’m just going to pay closer attention to swapping out the food I have in my Bug Out Bag, which isn’t much anyway… But I’d love to hear from some others out there who have had similar issues or who perhaps store much larger amounts of food in retreat style cabins that may get a little too warm in the summer.
Anyone? Hello? Is this thing on? Can you hear me in the back??
~Butch
It seems the only thing to do is limit the extreme temperature spikes. My car has some storage nooks in and around the spare tire. These locations would get hot (the whole car will heat soak in a hot parking lot) but I would think that the temperature would be closer to ambient than inside the “greenhouse.”
MREs are designed to withstand moderately high temperatures, but only up to about 110 degree F or so. Freeze-dried food might do better at higher temps.
I keep a get home bag in my Ram. I live in FL and was having the same issue. I decided to remove the traditional food from the GHB in the truck and replaced it with Datrex 3600 calorie bars. They seem to last much longer.
My BOBs/GHBs serve the same purpose as yours. Every year after summer, I take the MREs out and put in new ones. The old ones get used for fall camping, hunting, and what not.
I’ve never had a problem with the Cliff Bars, but I think I’ll double check them. It’s not like I don’t have a couple of boxes lying around.
The oatmeal packs don’t mind the heat at all. :)
Here in Michigan, another seasonal thing I have to do, is make sure the water in the car has enough space in the container to expand when freezing.
Oatmeal packets?? Good idea–4 for $1 at DG most times. And they are on my to get list for the BOBs..we have several.
Being a woman, I have the advantage that no one thinks its weird that I carry around a huge purse. I just take it everywhere with me. It has a nice wide strap so I can sling it over my shoulder comfortably.
I have a wheeled folding shopping bag at the office that contains several jugs of water. Three gallons of water live in the trunk of my car. And I have water ready to go in another wheeled bag at home.
Three is two, two is one, one is none.
Most long term storage food such as food bars have a high sugar content. In a sealed foil container the extreme heat ferments the sugars which cause gas and thus the swelling of your power bars, trail mix etc: Most BOB’s in a car are usually get home bags and frankly food is more for comfort and less of an necessity. I recommend MRE style crackers and pouched peanut butter. This may not be a gourmet feast but it takes the pain out of the belly. As someone who has lived in the field for may years this works quite well until you get to the “Rear with the Gear”, water is the most important thing. God Bless and Keep your Powder Try
I have a tough time remembering to swap out food too. And sometimes I just don’t want to because of the wasteful expense.
I live in north Texas and from Memorial Day through Sept we have daily temps that regularly exceed 100 degrees. So every October I have to replace all of the MREs, bars and other foods kept in my BoB in the trunk. It is just the cost of living in a very hot climate. Better to be safe than sorry as you do not want to get ill from bad/expired food especially in a SHTF situation.
What about a bag in bag concept. You can have your BOB with all your gear that stays in your vehicle and another smaller bag, with your food, that you can easily take out and carry with you inside to work.
I found out the hard way as well, after the first summer in Texas, the food bars in the car emergency kit got all sticky, and the water bottles warped. Now we try to use them up and rotate them frequently. Otherwise they go to waste.
I use a 1/2 gal insulated beverage container made by coleman (found at a thrift store) to hold the more perishable “get home” foodstuffs. It has a wide top and a carry handle, stows behind a seat, or can be carried into work and placed under my desk. It can also be used to carry water if necessary. A loaded backpack and jugs of water are stored in an insulated cooler that stays in my car. For a while I was carrying the perishables in and out between office or home on extremely hot days and invariably would forget them. I still rotate the food items more frequently. The cooler also comes in handy when I stop for cold/frozen foods on the way home.
Since we have about 3 months of 99 and above outside temps, I don’t see anything edible existing in the car! Open to suggestions!
The lifeboat rations made by mainstay and Datrex will last for 5 years even when you get extreme hot and cold temperatures. I carry a couple of the 3600 calorie bars in my kit, plus they are inexpensive.
I also use these 3600 Calorie Bars. They also come in 1200 and 2400 so get some of each. We got a great price with a discount account from srmarketplace.com. They sell all kinds of emergency prep stuff and very good freeze dried food!
I live down here in Houston Tx, I measured the amibent temp inside my car the other day…a whopping 141 degrees, yes boys and girls, that hot! anyways the safest place i have found is in the trunk, protein bars still melt, but never the less still good to eat. water stay ok(meaning no warped bottles) anyways thats my two cents
Well, i´m not a prepper, but i just started to get interest in prep.
I live in Brazil, drive a lot, and often i leave food at my car.. so… =)
As a friend said above, anything with sugar usually is a problem. Try some really really dry stuff, as crackers and toasted peanuts. Let us know if it works!
Sorry for any misspelling