[suthener]

I buy a few cans of soup or stew every time I grocery shop (I don’t normally eat them), and I have what I estimate to be several months worth in an emergency situation. I believe that cans kept in a climate controlled area (my house) will last pretty much forever. Does anybody disagree with this?

[Drango]

I believe that cans kept in a climate controlled area (my house) will last pretty much forever

Sorry, cans just don't have they long of a shelf life. Rotate 'em!

[Stegall Tx]

Here is A.T.Hagan's “The Prudent Pantry” that grew out of the misc.survivalism Food Storage FAQ. It's really a very detailed "how to" on building a food storage program over several years.

The most important aspect of any of this is that you should occasionally use the stuff you buy. Not so much for rotation (I mean, the shelf life on some of this stuff is upwards of 3 decades!), but so you know what to do with it once you need it. If you don't know how to prepare the food when it's easy to do so, it's unlikely you will be able to do so in a stressful situation.

This is not something you are going to be able to do overnight. Buying a few extra cans of soup is a wise way of starting your plan, but that's just the start.

Best of luck!