The Best Foods to Buy in Bulk on a Ketogenic Diet + Storage Tips

Whether you choose to stock up on food, hydration, or household necessities may be likely due to living in an area that experiences frequent natural disasters or as a means to maintain your living standard during economic downtimes. Whichever the case, having surplus stores is always a wise move.

The first thing many may think of when it comes to long-term food storage are things like rice and beans. And the assumption that all foods that store well long-term are high in carbs or sugars could be disheartening to those who want to remain on a ketogenic diet while creating a healthy food stockpile.

However, many foods are ideal to purchase in bulk, store well for years if stored properly, and provide a low carb count to boot! Don't worry; we'll share our full list of keto pantry picks below to get you started or offer additional motivation to continue prepping for a rainy day.

A quick browse at online or in-person big-box stores opens the door to a wide variety of keto bulk food items, all at your fingertips with a tap of your mobile device or accessible in-store.

Here are some of our favorite items to add to your grocery list to create meals any time of day when shopping in bulk and keeping it keto:

Breakfast:

• HighKey Protein Cereal
• Snack House Keto Cereal
• HighKey Instant Hot Cereal
• Low Karb - Keto Blueberry Nut Granola
• The Cereal School
• Next Mile Meals (e.g., sausage scramble or steak omelet)
• Catalina Crunch Cereal & Keto Smoothies
• Nüsh Foods Keto Pancake Mix
• Birch Benders Keto Pancake and Waffle mix
• Wildway Keto Hot Cereal (r.e., original, toasted coconut, blueberry flax, or cinnamon roll)

Lunch:

• Tuna (cans or packets)
• Salmon (cans or packets)
• Mackerel (cans or packets)
• Hard Salami
• Next Mile Meals (e.g., beef tacos, coconut chicken curry, or Italian-style beef marinara)
• Pepperoni (keto pizza topping)
• Sugar-free jam or jelly (perfect for a keto-friendly PB&J)
• Folios Parmesan Cheese Wraps (for a quick low-carb sandwich base)
• Kitchen & Love Indian Cauliflower Quick Meals (r.e., vegetable curry, Moroccan vegetable harissa, or Peruvian vegetable ceviche—they’re shelf-stable, just heat and eat!)

Dinner:

• Broccoli Florets, Thousand Lakes Freeze Dried Fruits and Vegetables
• Mediterranean Fields, Vegetable Salad
• Freeze Dried Green Beans (Legacy Foods)
• Smoked Oysters (canned in olive oil)
• Keystone Pork (canned, fully-cooked)
• Corned Beef (canned)
• Sardines (canned in olive oil)
• Augason Farms Freeze-Dried White Meat Chicken
• Legacy Foods, Freeze Dried Green Beans

Dessert:

• PBH Foods Keto Donuts
• SuperFat Keto Cookies
• Keto Cheesecake Fat Bombs
• Thin Slim Foods (chocolate cloud cakes)
• Rebel Ice Cream
• Enlightened Keto Ice Cream
• Good Dee’s Sugar-Free Rainbow Sprinkles
• Lily's Chocolate, Baking Chips
• Lily’s Chocolate Bars
• Ultimate Chocolate PB Cheesecake Fat Bomb
• Wholesome Provisions | People's Keto Chocolate Keto Sprinkles
• Augason Farms Freeze Dried Raspberries
• Super Creamy Strawberry Fat Bomb
• Lakanto Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips

Snacks:

• DNX Savory Snack Bars (grass-fed chicken and bison meat with uncured bacon)
• Low Karb - Keto Nut Granola, Cinnamon Pecan
• FatSnax (e.g., cookies or mini cookies, crackers, snack bites)
• IQ Bar (almond butter chip, chocolate sea salt, peanut butter chip, lemon blueberry)
• Coconut Chips
• Coconut Butter
• Natural Peanut Butters, Almond Butter, or other Keto Nut Butters
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Keto friendly nuts
• Pickled Eggs
• Twin Peaks Low Carb, Keto-Friendly Protein Puffs, Sour Cream & Onion
• Duke's Smoked Shorty Sausages (e.g., original, hot & spicy, hatch green chile, or hickory peach)
• Dang Keto Bar (r.e., lemon matcha, peanut butter, almond cookie, or crazy rich chocolate)
• Munk Pack Pecan & Almond Nut and Seed Bars
• Birch Benders, Brownie a-la-cup
• Keto Granola (try our homemade crunchtastic granola recipe here; it's delicious and a fun project to make with the kids!)
• Max Mallow (keto-friendly marshmallows)—yum, bring on the s'mores!
• Keto Farms Crunchy Snacks (r.e., nacho cheddar, zesty ranch, cheesy jalapeño, or sweet strawberry)
• Keto Crisps
• Whisps
• Moon Cheese
• Quest Snacks (e.g., bars, cookies, and chips)
• Pork Rinds
• Smart Sweets Candy
• Pickles
• Olives
• EPIC (grass-fed meat bars)
• BETT3R Keto (r.e., chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip cookie, cranberry & lime keto cookie, coconut keto cookies, red velvet keto cookies, et al.)
• Flock (chicken skin zero carb chips: original, salt & vinegar, or BBQ)
• Quevos Keto-friendly Egg White Chips, Dill Pickle
• Low Karb - Keto Glazed Nuts Snack - Delicious Healthy Nut Mix

Also, here are a few online go-to sites to snag additional pantry-worthy keto finds:

• Explorado Market
• Netrition.com
• Thrive Market
• Ketocandygirl.com
• Bariatricpal.com
• Lucky Vitamin
• Primal Kitchen

Beverages:

• Water (bottled, plain or sparkling)
• Nuun Sport: Electrolyte Drink Tablets
• Konscious Keto Shake (r.e., strawberry cheesecake, banana crème brûlée or creamy chocolate)
• Coconut Milk
• Almond Milk
• Keto Activate (Konscious Keto BHB Exogenous Ketones)
• Bone Broth (e.g., homemade, Kettle & Fire, Proper Good, or your favorite keto-friendly broth brand)
• Coffee (whole beans, ground, instant or k-cups)
• Stur water enhancer
• Water Drops water enhancer
• Zevia brand sodas

Healthy Fats:

• Rendered Bacon Fat
• Duck Fat
• Beef Tallow
• Lard
• Avocado Oil
• Olive Oil
• Coconut Oil
• MCT Oil
• Ghee

Keto-friendly Sweeteners:

• Stevia (liquid or powder) | 365 Whole Foods, SweetLeaf, or your preferred brand
• Monk Fruit (liquid or powder)
• Monk Fruit/Erythritol blend (Lakanto)
• Erythritol (Swerve - granular, brown, or confectioners)—the company sells its sweeteners in bulk, as well!
• Pyure
• Sukrin (granular, golden, syrup, etc.)
• Anthony's Erythritol Granules
• Xylitol
• Allulose

Baking Mixes:

• Lakanto Mixes (r.e., blueberry muffin, brownie, "sugar" cookie)
• Swerve (r.e., vanilla and chocolate cake mix, brownie mix, chocolate chip cookie mix or pancake, and waffle mix)
• Keto and Co. (r.e., shortbread, fudge brownies, chocolate or vanilla cake mix, and buttercream frosting mix)
• Livlo Keto Brownie Baking Mix
• Good Dee's Blueberry Pancake Mix & Butter Pecan Cookie Mix
• HighKey Cake & Muffin Baking Mix

Handy Pantry Ingredients:

• Augason Farms Dehydrated Chopped Onions or Diced Red & Green Bell Peppers
• Nut Butters (e.g., almond, cashew, peanut, macadamia, et al.)
• Real Butter Powder
• Heavy Cream Powder
• Liquid, Shelf-Stable, Heavy Cream (Trader Joe's)
• Tomato Paste
• Sauerkraut
• Herbs, Spices, Curry Paste, Salt and Pepper
• MCT Powder
• Bulk Nuts (e.g., pili, pecan, walnut, macadamia, almonds, et al.)
• Nutristore Freeze Dried Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
• Navitas Organics Cacao Powder
• Dried Whole Egg Solids
• Dried Egg Whites
• Red Feather Canned Butter
• Spinach (canned)
• Turkey (canned) - preserve turkey and other animal products at home using a pressure canner, which can be relaxing and helps save money!
• Green Beans (canned)
• Asparagus (canned)
• Keto-friendly Flour (e.g., coconut, almond, lupin, Carbquik, et al.)
• Salsa
• Sugar-free Ketchup
• Mustard
• Sugar Free Maple Syrup
• Sugar-free Relish
• Hot Sauce
• Buffalo Sauce (Frank's Red Hot)
• Sriracha Sauce
• ChocZero Baking Chocolate Chips
• Primal Kitchen Salad Dressing
• Hearts of Palm (plant-based keto pasta, spaghetti or lasagna style)
• Augason Farms Freeze Dried Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Best Foods to Buy in Bulk (fresh or frozen) and Can

Always look out for sales, set coupons aside, and pair them with local deals, and ask about a case or bulk discounts to maximize your savings when purchasing food en mass.

Also, here are some fantastic foods to grab by the bunch at the farmer's market, or snag on sale in-store, and preserve long-term to continue building your on-demand keto food stock:

• Green Beans
• Asparagus
• Cauliflower
• Meats and Seafood
• Berries for Jam and Jelly (e.g., strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, et al.)

Best Places to Source Keto Bulk Food Online

Some of the options we've shared require a more massive upfront payout since you're buying in bulk. However, if you're on a tighter budget, you can also add a little extra to each weekly shopping haul and stash it away to build your food reserve slowly—start where you are and remain consistent about acquiring items, especially if on sale.

Also, using store and manufacturer's coupons in conjunction with sales, and keeping an eye out for keto-friendly clearance food items is another cost-effective way to stock your pantry with shelf-stable foods to carry you through the winter and spring months with ease.

Plus, take a look at the weekly deals at the following stores for in-person or online discounts that are easy on the budget, filling, and low-carb:

In-person Shopping:

• Local Farmer's Markets: Patronizing local farmers is essential to maintaining their symbiotic relationship with the community. And something important to note is that more locations now accept emergency food funding programs like SNAP or EBT and add free dollars per every so many dollars spent—a great way to increase and stretch your food budget!

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs): Joining a crop purchasing cooperative in the form of a CSA is another way to support local agriculture and access fresher local food. There's usually an opt-in window, and then you'll receive scheduled deliveries of fresh produce to enjoy!

• Trader Joe's: The snake-like, winding, and often long lines in this market indicate the chain’s popularity, excellent prices, and variety—people are loyal for a very good reason.

  
  Trader Joe's offers an endless amount of shelf-stable and keto-friendly foods to stock up and have available at all times at unbeatable prices.

• Whole Foods: Many people joke and refer to this retailer as "whole paycheck," but there are also cost-effective finds for the keto dieter to enjoy at Whole Foods if you know where to look.

  
  Check out the Whole Foods 365 brand, which offers a wide variety of items at discounted prices. Also, shop what's on sale and take advantage of using both store and manufacturer's coupons together for additional savings!

• Aldi: If you’re looking for a bargain and have a local market, you’re probably already fond of Aldi’s super-affordable prices. Check out their keto options if you come across a location during your food shopping travels.

• Wegman's: Like Aldi, Wegman's hard-to-beat prices have attracted a loyal following. And the in-store brand of products at Wegman's is fantastic. Plus, the store offers online shopping and delivery in specific locations—a great way to lighten the load of your to-do list.

• Costco, BJ's, or Sam's Club: Big-box stores are an excellent shopping model for buying bulk. Plus, each of the stores mentioned provides a wide variety of keto-friendly foods at bargain prices per unit.

• HEB: There are many discounts to discover at HEB, a favorite of many foodies and couponers. Check out the regular deals at your local stores if applicable.

• Target: From canned foods to spices and fresh or frozen foods, Target provides an array of low-carb options at very reasonable prices—especially the fantastic clearance items that you can sometimes score within the endcaps of specific isles.

  
  Plus, you can also grab some pantry organizers and gadgets in-store or online to neaten and refine your food storage setup.

• Walmart: There are so many keto foods available at this megastore, including the food-prepper darling: #10 cans of shelf-stable food.

  
  Besides, there are always sales at Walmart, and this can help you amass your pantry stock as fast and thoroughly as possible.

Online Shopping:

• Thrive Market: Although this online market requires a membership fee, their products are often sold at up to 40% less than other markets, so definitely worth checking out.
• Netrition.com: If a keto “candy shop” were a web site, it would be netrition.com. The site provides everything from stevia-sweetened water flavorings, to keto-friendly everyday sweeteners, to sugar-free jams and sauces, and so much more!
• Amazon: Whether sold directly by the company or one of the thousands of products shipped by third-party sellers through the mega-retailer: if you’re looking for something, just about anything, you’ll probably find it at Amazon.

Plus, you can get your items in one or two days in most cases if you are a Prime member.

• Vita Prime: Sites like Vita Prime are essential because they sell self-care, supplement, and hygiene items geared toward the keto dieter worth checking out to have your favorites on-hand in your emergency stash.
• Grocery.com: Browsing the endless low-carb options on this site is exciting; there are so many options! So much so, our suggestion is that you eat before you log on and make a list to stay on a target based on your budget and stick to getting supplies that may be running low.

Storing Bulk Foods

There's no point stocking up on bulk foods for future use if stored improperly, which will likely lead to spoilage or interference with flavor.

The best storing method to use at any given time depends upon what type of food you plan to preserve, mainly it's acidity level.

For instance, commonly used canning recipes like strawberry jam and virtually all high-acidity fruits can be preserved using water-bath canning. However, low-acid foods, like fish, poultry, beef, pork, and all vegetables, must be preserved via pressure canning to ensure food safety.

In addition to canning, you can also significantly extend the freshness and life of food by fermenting, freeze-drying, dehydrating, or vacuum-sealing items.

Plus, you can preserve dry foods, like dehydrated onions or mushrooms, inside large Mason jars, using oxygen absorbers and a food vacuum-sealer attachment, to prevent oxidation and seal food long-term, by removing air to prevent oxidation or spoilage.

Some store food in mylar bags or air-tight 5-pound containers with oxygen absorbers to extend food life and those methods are useful as well. Experiment to see which method or combination of techniques works best for you, consider the amount of space you have available for storage, and assess your family’s needs to determine what’s best for you.

Helpful Food Storage Tools

Safe and sturdy containers are vital for anyone looking to can food properly, but there are other tools to have on hand to assist in the food preservation process.

Here are a few commonly-used items folks are wise to have handy and in abundance, along with their stocked food-centric reserves:

• Paper plates, cups, paper towels, and plastic utensils
• Air-tight Containers
• FoodSaver (vacuum) Bags, Containers, and Jar-sealing Accessories
• Clear Pantry Organizer Containers
• Label Printer
• Oxygen Absorbers
• Mason Jars and Lids
• Pressure and Waterbath Canners
• Canning Tools (e.g., jar remover, lid remover, headspace ruler, air-pocket remover tool, et al.)

Summary

We witnessed the panic and pandemonium that ensued in March. People who hadn't thought to prepare prior found themselves clearing shelves and grappling with people in the supermarket over toilet paper!

But despite the frenzy we witnessed earlier this year, buying bulk, prepping, and stocking up on food and necessary supplies for a basic standard of living—when done as intended—is meant to be a thoughtful process of amassing extra food and supplies over time with intention and urgency but not panic.

These times are uncertain in many ways, but if we plan, keep a close eye on sales, and remain diligent, we'll never have to scramble because we are always ready for unexpected life events.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when looking at the colossal pantries of others who've been prepping a lot longer than you but try to avoid comparison. Buy what you can as you can and do what your budget allows.

Buying in bulk, preserving food for your working or extended pantry, and shopping wisely to get the items your family regularly uses at a bargain give your budget a break, while providing added convenience and food security for the future!

Also, check out our super nutrient-dense Keto Shake and Keto Activate or Supreme Greens bundles to stock up on your favorite Konscious Keto bestsellers while they’re in stock, so you’re never out of your go-to KK goodies!

Sources

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