Chickpeas (tinned)
ASDA Chickpeas in Water 400g
Tinned chickpeas are ready to eat cold. Check the cupboard before you add another tin.
Ready to eat from the tin
£0.41 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Ad: links marked (Ad) are affiliate links. If you buy through one, OrCore Prep gets a small commission from the shop, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, OrCore Prep earns from qualifying purchases. It does not change what is recommended: items and quantities are worked out from your household. Prices shown are our typical UK estimates, not shop prices.
Affordable food, water, lighting, warmth and basic kit, cheapest checked price first. Each card links out to a retailer. OrCore Prep does not take payment or store an order. A price is shown only where this app already checked one (Asda pages, and one maker price, 1 Nov 2026). Every other card says Check retailer price. This is not a full catalogue. Nothing here is medical, and nothing is a weapon.
Don't buy what you already own. Look in the cupboard, the drawer and the airing cupboard first. A second torch, or another tin of food, does not help if you already have one. Create a free household and log what you have on Stock, and this page will mark it.
Only links marked (Ad) are affiliate links. If you buy through one of those, OrCore Prep gets a small commission from the shop, at no extra cost to you. Links without (Ad) are ordinary links and OrCore Prep does not earn a commission from them.
Food
Buy food that keeps in a cupboard: tins, dried food, jars and UHT. This is not frozen food. A freezer is not your store for a power cut. Keep the door shut. Food Standards Agency: food safety in a power cut says a full freezer should stay frozen for up to 48 hours (about 24 hours if it is half full) and a fridge for up to 4 hours. After that, follow that page. The cards below are food you can still eat when the freezer is off.
Green lentils (tinned)
ASDA Green Lentils in Water 390g
Tinned lentils are ready to eat. A cheap cupboard staple, not a frozen one.
£0.45 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Cream crackers
ASDA Classic Cream Crackers 300g
Crackers keep without a fridge. Wheat: skip them if anyone is avoiding gluten.
Wheat
Allergens in our catalogue: gluten. Check the label.
£0.49 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Baking powder
BAKE by ASDA Baking Powder 170g
Baking powder for the flatbreads. Some brands contain wheat: check the label.
Some baking powders contain wheat - check label
£0.77 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Plain flour 1.5 kg
BAKE by ASDA Plain Flour 1.5kg
Plain flour for flatbread. If you cook it on a camping stove, use the stove outdoors only.
Flatbread on the stove or Dutch oven
Allergens in our catalogue: gluten. Check the label.
£0.78 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Table salt
ASDA Table Salt 750g
One tub of salt lasts a long time. Don't buy another if you already have one.
£0.82 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Porridge oats 1 kg
Just Essentials Porridge Oats 1kg
Porridge oats keep for a long time and can be soaked in UHT oat drink with no cooking.
Soak in oat drink to eat without cooking
Allergens in our catalogue: gluten. Check the label.
£0.85 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Peanut butter
ASDA Classic Smooth Peanut Butter 340g
Peanut butter is long-life. Don't buy it if anyone in the household has a peanut allergy.
Peanuts, palm oil, cane sugar, salt
Allergens in our catalogue: peanuts. Check the label.
£0.97 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Mini raisin boxes
ASDA Mini Raisin Snack Boxes 10 x 14g
Small raisin boxes for children. There is a choking warning for small children on the pack.
For children; choking warning for small children
£1.10 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
White rice 1 kg
ASDA Easy Cook Long Grain White Rice 1kg
Rice needs cooking. On a camping stove, cook outdoors only. It keeps in a cupboard, not a freezer.
Needs cooking
£1.25 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Pasta 1 kg
ASDA Fusilli 1kg
Pasta needs cooking, outdoors if the heat is a camping stove. Don't rely on a freezer meal instead.
Needs cooking; showed unavailable when checked
Allergens in our catalogue: gluten. Check the label.
£1.29 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Baked beans (4 x 410 g)
ASDA Baked Beans 4 x 410g
Tinned beans keep in a cupboard with no fridge or freezer. Eat the tins you already have before you buy more.
Labelled vegetarian; plant-only ingredients - check tin
£1.51 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Oat drink 1 L (UHT)
Plant Based by ASDA Oat Drink 1L (UHT)
UHT oat drink keeps in the cupboard, unlike fresh milk. Check the label for oats.
Oats - check label
Allergens in our catalogue: gluten. Check the label.
£1.55 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Fruit pots
ASDA Fruit Medley Pots 4 x 113g
For children, and they keep in the cupboard. Don't buy a stack if the ones you have are still in date.
For children
£1.60 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Raisins 500 g
ASDA Seedless Raisins 500g
Dried fruit keeps without a freezer. Use an open bag before buying another.
£1.80 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Tuna (4 x 145 g)
ASDA Tuna Chunks in Spring Water 4 x 145g
Optional tinned fish for people who eat fish. Leave it out of a shared cupboard if anyone has a fish allergy.
Optional add-on for fish eaters; showed out of stock when checked
Allergens in our catalogue: fish. Check the label.
£2.49 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Chopped tomatoes (tinned)
Chopped tomatoes (tins)
Tinned tomatoes. We have a search link only, not a checked price.
Check retailer price
Dried red lentils
Dried red lentils keep well in a cupboard. We have a search link only, not a checked price.
Check retailer price
Stock cubes
Vegan stock cubes
Stock cubes. Many contain celery: check the label. Search link only, no checked price.
Many stock cubes contain celery - check label
Allergens in our catalogue: celery. Check the label.
Check retailer price
Vegetable oil 1 L
Vegetable oil 1L
Vegetable oil keeps in the cupboard. We have a search link only, not a checked price.
Check retailer price
Water
Drinking water. UK Be Ready: water supply interruptions uses 3 litres per person per day. A hot-water cylinder or water butt is not drinking water until you treat it.
Bottled water (6 x 2 L)
ASDA Still Natural Mineral Water 6 x 2L
Bottled drinking water. The UK Be Ready figure is 3 litres per person per day. Don't buy more packs once you store enough.
12 L per pack
£2.55 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Water purification tablets
Aquatabs water purification tablets, 50 x 8.5mg (1 tablet per litre)
Purification tablets for clear water, as a stop-gap until you have a filter. The figure shown is the maker's price, not a supermarket price.
Stop-gap until a gravity filter is bought. Price from maker BCB (not ASDA), 1 Nov 2026; other UK shops 3.95-4.99. Clear water only; filter murky water through cloth first
£4.80 (maker BCB, 1 Nov 2026; not a supermarket price)
Water containers
Collapsible water carrier, 10 L
Food-grade containers for tap or bowser refills. Label the fill date and rotate them. This is not the same as bottled drinking water.
For refills from a bowser or tap: holds about two days of water
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Water filter
Personal straw water filter
A personal straw filter is the cheap basic option. Filters remove bugs and dirt, not chemicals. Boil as well if you are unsure.
Filters remove bugs and dirt, not chemicals. Boil or use tablets if unsure
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Lighting
Torches and battery lanterns. UK Be Ready says a torch is safer than candles. If the torch you own already works, get batteries for it instead of a new one.
Torch
ASDA 9 LED Aluminium Torch (3 x AAA)
One working torch per adult is enough, and safer than candles. If yours works, buy spare batteries rather than a second torch.
One per adult. Safer than candles
£2.06 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Head torch
Basic LED head torch (AAA batteries)
Keeps both hands free. Skip it if you already have a head torch that works.
Keeps both hands free
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Lantern
Battery LED camping lantern
A battery lantern lights a room and is safer than candles. If you do use candles, never leave them alone.
Lights a room. Safer than candles; if you use candles, never leave them alone
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Spare batteries
Asda Super Alkaline AAA 8 pack
Match the batteries to the torches and radio you already own. Check the ones you have before buying a new pack.
Match your torches and radio; check them monthly
Check retailer price
Warmth
Blankets, sleeping bags and the warm clothes you already own. One room, layers, and the bedding you have come first. Do not heat a room with a camping stove, barbecue, patio heater, oven or generator. NHS: carbon monoxide poisoning. See staying warm when the heating is off.
Emergency blankets
Foil emergency blanket
A foil blanket is a cheap extra, one per person. Coats, duvets and ordinary blankets you already own come first.
One per person
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Basic kit
A few cheap basics. A camping stove and its gas are for cooking outdoors only, never for heating the house. Iceland is the food retailer we link. For ordinary home kit, The Range is named below as guidance only.
Power bank
Groov-e 10,000mAh Powerbank
One charged power bank is enough for phones. Charge the one you have before buying another.
Charge it when the clocks change
£20.00 (Asda page, 1 Nov 2026)
Gas canisters
Butane 220 g cartridges, 4 pack
Canisters for that outdoor stove. Check they fit the stove you already own before you buy a different type.
About 1 x 220 g canister every 3 days for 4 people (simple meals); 4-pack. Track them on the Fuel page
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Manual tin opener
Basic manual tin opener
A manual tin opener, because ring-pulls fail. If there is already one in the drawer, don't buy another.
Ring-pull tins can fail
Check retailer price
Matches and lighter
Box of matches and two disposable lighters
Matches and a lighter, kept dry, for the outdoor stove. Not for heating the house.
Keep dry in a sealed bag
Check retailer price
Portable gas stove
Single-burner butane cartridge stove in a carry case
Outdoor cooking only, away from doors and windows. Never indoors, and never to heat a room: a gas stove gives off carbon monoxide, which you cannot smell.
Outdoors only (carbon monoxide). Check it takes your canisters
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Radio (wind-up or battery)
ASDA Tech Portable AM/FM Radio (batteries)
A battery or wind-up radio for official warnings if the phone runs down. Skip it if you already have one that works.
Note your local BBC and commercial station frequencies
Check retailer price
Longer lists, not the cheapest
These sit on the Moderate equipment list, not the Budget one. No checked price, so each card says Check retailer price. Buy one only after the cheaper basics, and only if you do not already own something that does the job.
Warmth
Sleeping bags
3-season sleeping bag
Only if the blankets and warm clothes you already own would not be enough in a cold house. This is on the longer equipment list, not the cheapest one.
One per person for a cold house in a power cut
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Basic kit
Carbon monoxide alarm
Battery carbon monoxide alarm
A battery carbon monoxide alarm for the house. It does not make indoor cooking, a barbecue or a generator safe.
Battery type, so it works in a power cut
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
Duct tape
Duct tape roll
One roll of duct tape is enough for most households. On the longer equipment list.
Check retailer price
Fire blanket
Kitchen fire blanket
A kitchen fire blanket, kept in the kitchen. On the longer equipment list.
Keep in the kitchen
Check retailer price
Search Amazon UK (Ad)
The Range
The Range is a useful place to look for inexpensive home basics such as blankets, battery lanterns, storage boxes and tape. This app has no verified Range product link, and no approved Range affiliate programme, so there is no link on this card. Search The Range yourself.
Check retailer price
No retailer link. Guidance only. OrCore Prep does not earn a commission from this card.