Storing survival food correctly increases its lifespan and reduces the risk of spoilage.
When my colleague wrote about the best places for storing your emergency food stockpile, he highlighted the benefits of using a pantry.
As he pointed out, it’s easier to control temperature and humidity in a pantry than in a garage.
Utilize a can organizer, and you can keep your stockpile off the floor while ensuring you eat your canned goods long before they reach their expiration dates.
Some of the most common mistakes preppers make when stockpiling survival food are:
- Not storing enough and failing to rotate
- Failing to replenish their supplies
A good-quality can organizer can help you avoid both these potential pitfalls.
The best can organizers for pantries are durable, easy to assemble and use, and automatically rotate your survival food stockpile. They can also be adjusted to accommodate different-sized cans and should fit neatly onto your pantry shelf.
SimpleHouseware Stackable Can Rack Organizer
Easy to assemble and fully adjustable, this can rack will accommodate up to 36 cans.
Using the FIFO, or “first in, first out,” concept, it provides an effective way to store and organize your canned goods so that you’re always eating the oldest first.
Our Top 6 Can Organizers Reviewed
#1 SimpleHouseware Stackable Can Rack Organizer
This durable can organizer is sturdy yet compact. It comes with six fully adjustable dividers to set it up to store jars and beverage cans, as well as standard-sized canned products.
Adjustable and easy to install, this straightforward pantry rotation system allows you to store more food in a limited space. That means you’ll have enough food for disaster survival purposes, and it will still be edible.
Capable of storing up to 36 cans at a time, you can also create a bigger pantry organizer by stacking multiple sets together.
As each item on this can rack is visible, you can check expiration dates and rotate your cans accordingly.
When organized correctly, the gently sloping shelves will ensure the oldest cans roll to the front of the rack, making them easily accessible. Add new products at the back of the frame to ensure appropriate FIFO rotation, although this can be tricky if pushed up against a wall.
Unlike some can organizers, which can be adjusted to fit almost any shelf width, this can rack organizer has a standard width of 17,” which is consistent with most pantry shelves and cabinets. It could prove problematic in smaller storage spaces, however.
Pros:
- Sturdy construction
- All products are easily visible
Cons:
- Width not adjustable
- Tricky to refill
#2 DecoBros Supreme Stackable Can Rack Organizer
This pantry organizer is made of heavy-duty steel, so it won’t bend or wobble, even if you fill it to capacity.
Capable of storing up to 36 cans, it comes with adjustable dividers so you can store #10 cans that measure around 6″ wide and 7″ high, as well as standard #300 cans.
Check out this article for more details about the #10 can and why they’re so popular among survivalists.
This organizer arranges cans similarly to the SimpleHouseware can rack – add your new purchases to the back, and let the older products roll to the front.
Although you can stack multiple racks together for additional storage, ensure the bottom rack is secure. If it isn’t, the whole structure could come crashing down.
Pros:
- Made with heavy-duty steel
- Adjustable for different can sizes
Cons:
- Stacking racks can cause instability
- The oldest stock must be removed before new products can be added
#3 Utopia Kitchen Storage Can Rack Organizer
This robust can rack organizer is easy to assemble, use, and keep clean.
It’s designed to handle the weight of up to 36 cans and can be slotted onto almost any standard-sized shelf or countertop.
Measuring 18″ wide, it’s deeper than most other products and therefore less suited to small pantries and compact storage spaces.
Each component snaps easily into place, making assembly a breeze. The angled shelves ensure the oldest products roll forward, ready for use, while newer products can be added at the back.
If extra storage is required, simply add on a few additional units.
Unfortunately, the construction isn’t perfect, and you’ll need to watch out for sharp corners.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Large enough to accommodate an emergency food stockpile
Cons:
- Some construction defects
- Too wide for small storage spaces
#4 mDesign 2-Tier Metal Wire Can Dispenser Storage Rack
This 2-tier can organizer features a significantly different design from the other products reviewed here. New products are stacked on the top shelf while the older cans roll down to the second shelf, ready for easy dispensing.
The slim design makes it suitable for all storage space, from a compact kitchen cupboard to a spacious refrigerator. It’s even versatile enough to use in an RV or camper van.
The can organizer can also accommodate various sizes without any adjustment, although you’ll struggle to squeeze #303 cans or larger into this compact space.
Only capable of storing 12 cans, this organizer is perhaps a little small for a whole family of preppers but suitable for individuals and couples looking to stockpile emergency food supplies. Made of steel wire, it’s also durable enough to transport and easy to clean.
Pros:
- Durable construction
- Can accommodate different can sizes without adjustment
Cons:
- Only stores up to 12 cans
- Unsuitable for larger items
#5 MOOACE 2 Pack Stackable Can Rack Organizer
This robust can organizer won’t look out of place in any prepper’s pantry. Constructed out of durable metal and iron piping, it is more than capable of holding 36 large cans. Rubber pads on the feet prevent it from sliding or scratching your shelves.
These stackable racks can be joined together to create even more storage space, while the 15° tilt provides easy access by allowing the oldest cans to roll to the front.
Slightly narrower than the standard-sized can rack, this organizer measures just under 17″, so it should fit easily onto most shelves and kitchen counters.
With six adjustable dividers, it can be adapted to accommodate glass jars and the larger #10 cans used by survival companies like Valley Food Storage.
It is simple to install and has all the tools needed to assemble it ready for use. Assembly is a little more complex than with other similar products, however.
Pros:
- High-quality construction
- Can accommodate #10 cans
Cons:
- Difficult to access newer products
- Complex assembly
#6 FIFO Can Tracker Stores 54 cans
This product is designed to optimize the FIFO concept by rotating your canned goods so that the oldest products are the most easily accessible.
Although you can store up to 54 cans at a time, you won’t necessarily be able to see what you have stockpiled. Unless you have a photographic memory, you’d need an inventory to keep track of the contents, which isn’t ideal.
Simple to assemble, you can connect multiple units, although storing more than 54 cans at a time could be a little excessive, even for the most avid and organized prepper!
While ideal for storing emergency food supplies, this can rack isn’t great for daily use as you can only access the first item in each row.
Not only that, but this product can only hold #2 soup cans and standard size #300, so if you were planning on adding a few cans of tuna or a larger can or two of beans, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
On the plus side, it is narrower than some of the other products we’ve reviewed, making it more suitable for small storage areas.
Pros:
- Suitable for small space
- Accommodates up to 54 cans
Cons:
- Only 3 cans are accessible at any one time
- It can’t be adjusted to store tuna or #10 cans
How To Find The Best Can Organizer For Stockpiling Emergency Food
Before shopping around for a can organizer, consider where you want it situated.
If it’s on a shelf in your pantry, measure the available space to make sure you know what size you’re looking for. If necessary, reinforce your shelving so it can carry the weight of however many cans you need to store.
For instance, a standard #300 can may only contain 400g of produce, but it weighs just over 1 lb.
If you’re considering the 54-can FIFO can tracker, your shelf must hold the combined weight of those cans and the rack itself. That’s nearly 60 lbs of weight!
Once you’ve figured out your shelving capacity, consider the following features:
Material
Plastic racks might be easier to assemble, but they won’t have the longevity of metal wire or stainless steel products.
Capacity
Think about how many cans you need to stockpile for an emergency and find a can organizer with the same capacity. Remember that cans are heavy to carry, so storing too many could prove wasteful in the long run if you need to get out of your home in a hurry.
Ease of Use
A FIFO can organizer is great for rotation if you’re stockpiling food for an emergency.
It’s also easier to keep track of your canned goods if you have a can organizer that makes each item visible.
The Benefits of Using a Can Organizer
A can organizer enables you to store emergency food correctly, extending its shelf life and minimizing the chances of spoiling.
It also makes it easier to identify and discard spoiled items, consume your products before their expiry date, and ensure everything in your stockpile is edible when disaster hits.
Using a can organizer removes the need to store canned food on the floor, where it can quickly spoil. It also helps to prevent dirt and pests from getting into your stockpile.
They also enable you to maximize the available space, allowing you to store enough food to sustain you through a disaster that may last for weeks or even months.
Conclusion
The stackable can rack organizer from SimpleHouseware is our favorite can organizer. Capitalizing on the FIFO concept ensures you use the oldest items first so that, if disaster strikes, you won’t be faced with a hotchpotch of expired, inedible items.
You can learn more about stockpiling cans in our Canned Food Shelf Life guide.
