ReadyWise 120-Serving Bucket review

What the numbers mean

ReadyWise's total of 24,360 calories across 120 servings is 203 calories each, so an adult eating 2,000 calories a day gets through about ten servings and the bucket lasts around 12 days for one person or three days for four. ReadyWise's own page says 13 days at 1,800 calories, while the listing title talks of seven days for two people; the calorie maths is the figure to trust. There are 13 recipes, from cheesy lasagne and savoury stroganoff to chicken noodle, tomato basil and tortilla soups, in 30 Metallyte pouches of four servings. ReadyWise lists the bucket at 6.6kg and 37.5 by 29.85 by 24.77, which read as centimetres. There are no breakfasts in it.

Using it in a UK emergency

ReadyWise's FAQ says each serving takes about a cup of water, so the whole bucket needs 120 cups, roughly 29 litres, on top of drinking water; our water storage guide covers it. Hot water speeds things up, and ReadyWise says many meals rehydrate with water at any temperature, so a cold meal is possible if the hob is out; see cooking without power for the hot option.

A pouch is four servings and ReadyWise gives no keeping time for an opened one, so the format suits a household rather than one person. Milk, soy and wheat are the common allergens, and the menu is carbohydrate-led, so add tinned protein, fruit and vegetables rather than relying on the bucket alone.

How it compares

ReadyWise's 60-serving bucket on our emergency food page has the same 13 recipes at 12,440 calories and 60 cups of water, about six adult-days. Its 28-serving dry bag adds breakfasts across seven recipes but holds 5,480 calories, under three adult-days, in a 10-litre bag. Scaled up, the 1,440-serving package is six of these buckets plus six breakfast buckets. The Survivor Foods macaroni cheese tin on the same page is the British-made alternative at 268 calories a serving and a 25-year life, though it needs a tin opener and should be eaten within a week of opening.

Storage, delivery and returns

The 25 years is an up-to figure that ReadyWise ties to storage as directed: a cool, dry place such as a basement at 50 to 55 degrees, a Fahrenheit range of about 10 to 13°C, away from light. Lofts and garages that run hot in summer shorten it. The pouches are ReadyWise's metallised polypropylene film, chosen, it says, for its oxygen and moisture barrier.

The UK seller is ReadyWise UK Limited, which says it ships within two business days with DPD. Returns are accepted within 30 days of receipt for unopened, unused goods with proof of purchase, and open buckets or pouches are excluded, so decide on the first pouch with that in mind.

Our verdict

Buy it if you want roughly twelve adult-days of food that sits in a cupboard for decades without a rotation habit, and you will store the 29 litres of water it needs. Skip it if you would eat tinned food anyway: rotated tins feed a household for less and need a tin opener rather than a cup of water each. Our 25-year food guide explains what the long shelf life does and does not buy you.

How many days does the ReadyWise 120-serving bucket last?

About 12 days for one adult at 2,000 calories a day, or three days for four people, from ReadyWise's total of 24,360 calories. ReadyWise's own page says 13 days at 1,800 calories a day.

How much water does the 120-serving bucket need?

ReadyWise says about 120 cups, one per serving, which is roughly 29 litres at 240ml a cup. Store that alongside the bucket, on top of drinking water.

Can you prepare ReadyWise meals with cold water?

ReadyWise's FAQ says hot water speeds up rehydration but that many of its foods can be rehydrated and eaten with water at any temperature. Expect a longer wait and a cold meal.

Does the 120-serving bucket include breakfasts?

No. It is lunch and dinner only, across 13 recipes. ReadyWise sells a separate 120-serving breakfast bucket of cereals and granola with 27,400 calories.