13 Essential Items That Could Run Out Quickly in a Panic Buying Situation

It’s that moment when you’re calmly strolling through the store, and then, boom!, you’re swept into a sea of frantic shoppers, all racing to grab the last of the essentials.

According to Business Insider Africa, some products saw a staggering 845% surge in sales in one month during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, an instant reminder of how quickly we can get caught up in the frenzy. And it’s not just a one-time thing, McKinsey’s 2025 State of the Consumer report shows that crisis-era habits have lingered, with shoppers still rushing to stock up when uncertainty strikes. You might be thinking, “Do I really need to stock up on 12 packs of toilet paper?”

Well, maybe not, but here are 13 essentials that could disappear from the shelves in a heartbeat when chaos hits. Let’s look into what you might actually want to grab before it’s gone!

Toilet Paper

Ah, yes, the most iconic casualty of a crisis. It seems like every time something happens, be it a storm, a pandemic, or just Tuesday, people lose their minds over toilet paper. And why? Because who doesn’t want to feel like they’ve got a safe stash of soft squares when the world feels a little… wobbly?

During the great toilet paper rush of 2020, sales in the U.S. skyrocketed by a mind-blowing 845%, according to Business Insider Africa. People hoarded it like it was the currency of the apocalypse, as if suddenly being without toilet paper meant you couldn’t leave your home (or the bathroom).

Smart Tip: Stock up like a champion, but don’t be that person with 50 packs. You can always consider getting a bidet or reusable cloth wipes; they’re quirky and eco-friendly, like an old-school approach!

Bottled Water

Water, the stuff that makes up about 60% of your body, yet when it’s in a bottle, it suddenly becomes the object of mass hysteria. The moment the news hits, it’s like everyone collectively forgets how to drink from a tap, and suddenly, bottled water becomes liquid gold. According to EPA data from 2020, bottled water sales surged by 25% in the first few months of the pandemic.

Fast forward to today, and the trend hasn’t fizzled. The U.S. bottled water market reached $47 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at nearly 6% annually through 2030, as highlighted by Grand View Research. It’s like people thought, “What if the tap water just… stops coming?!” and began hoarding like it was the last cool sip of a long, hot summer.

Thirst-Quenching Insight: Skip the rush and make peace with a reusable water bottle. You’ll be a hero in your own right, and your environmental footprint won’t be nearly as large as that giant stack of water bottles in someone else’s basement.

Canned Goods

Remember that time your mom would stock up on canned beans and tomato soup just because? You’d roll your eyes and say, “Why do we need 17 cans of soup?” And now, here we are, Canned goods are the MVPs of any emergency prep kit. During the pandemic, canned goods saw sales increases. In other words, people discovered that canned food is like the Tupperware of the apocalypse. Sturdy, reliable, and—surprisingly—still tasty after months on the shelf.

Can-Do Tip: Build your canned food collection like you’re prepping for your own personal reality show. You’re a survivor, but with soup.

Rice & Pasta

Rice and pasta, are the unsung heroes of every pantry. You know those times when you come home, open the fridge, and realize there’s nothing to make for dinner? Well, that’s where these humble carbs swoop in to save the day. In fact, the World Food Programme confirms that rice is among the most consumed foods globally. During panic buying, people stockpile rice and pasta like it’s their only ticket to survive off spaghetti for the next month.

Tip: Think of rice and pasta as your emergency culinary blank canvas. You can dress them up with canned veggies or leftovers and have yourself a feast—no Gordon Ramsay required.

Prescription Medications

It’s easy to forget about them when you’re rushing to fill your cart with cans of soup, but if you rely on prescription medications, you know that running out during an emergency is a nightmare waiting to happen. Medications, especially those used to treat chronic conditions, are in short supply during crises. The sheer panic of realizing your pills have run out is enough to make anyone race to the pharmacy in a frenzy.

Smart Strategy: Plan ahead like a medication pro! Refill prescriptions early and talk to your doctor about having a little extra supply on hand for those “just in case” moments. Maybe also stash a few bottles of over-the-counter pain relief, you know, for those days when you’ve been running around like a headless chicken.

Paper Towels & Napkins

Paper towels are always there when you need them, if you’re mopping up a spilled drink or fishing out that last slice of pizza from the box. These little sheets of absorbent joy have a way of vanishing fast whenever panic‑buying kicks in. One moment, the shelves are full, the next, they’re wiped clean, leaving you wondering if napkins will have to step in as the understudy.

Solution: Instead of going overboard, stock up on a reasonable amount of paper towels. And, hey, you can always use washable cloth towels for those messier moments!

Cleaning Supplies

Remember when grabbing a pack of disinfectant wipes was as easy as picking up a carton of eggs? Those days seem like a distant memory now. During the pandemic, cleaning supplies became the hottest items on shelves, and people hoarded sanitizers and wipes as if they were prepping for the apocalypse. Suddenly,wiping down every surface felt like a matter of life and death. Let’s be honest, who didn’t secretly fantasize about achieving that perfect, germ-free, superhero level of cleanliness?

Solution: Instead of grabbing every bottle of cleaner, keep a stash of multi-purpose cleaners that do the heavy lifting. Bonus points if you mix up some DIY disinfectants. Vinegar is like the magic potion of the cleaning world, and it’s way cheaper than that fancy stuff.

Baby Supplies

For parents, running out of baby supplies feels like a crisis within a crisis. Diapers, formula, and wipes instantly became “I can’t live without it” essentials in the early days of the pandemic. Retail trackers like Nielsen reported that these items were among the first to vanish from shelves, leaving parents scrambling. It’s the moment you realize you’re down to your last diaper,  and suddenly your entire world tilts on its axis. Cue the stress

Solution: Stock up like you’re prepping for the ultimate nap time. Diapers, wipes, formula, you’re a parenting superhero. Bonus points if you toss in a couple of extra baby snacks for good measure.

Frozen Food

The frozen food aisle is a secret treasure trove of easy meals for every occasion. When panic buying sets in, frozen pizza and veggies vanish like magic. Suddenly, that box of lasagna isn’t just dinner, it feels like the ultimate survival strategy. Who knew comfort food could double as crisis management?

Tip: Treat your freezer like your personal life raft. Stock it with frozen meals, veggies, and maybe a treat or two for your soul. You’ll be living the high life while everyone else is trying to figure out how to cook over an open flame.

Batteries

Nothing brings out the panic quite like the thought of losing power in the middle of a storm. Suddenly, batteries transform into the most valuable things on Earth. Flashlights, radios, phones, they all depend on those little cylinders of energy. Nothing says “survival mode” quite like hoarding every size of battery known to mankind.

Power-Up Plan: Keep your batteries organized like you’re building your own little power empire. Flashlights, radios, and extra phone chargers, just in case the lights go out, and you’re left in the dark… literally.

Flour & Yeast

Who knew that flour and yeast would become the hottest items in the grocery store? During lockdown, flour sales soared as people turned their kitchens into personal bakeries. Suddenly, everyone was living out their Great British Bake Off dreams in their own homes, except it was mostly bread and cookies, not fancy showstoppers.

Tip: Stock up on flour and yeast, but maybe not enough to open your own bakery. Your future self will thank you when you’re craving homemade bread during the next wave of chaos.

Hand Sanitizer & Face Masks

Who could forget the COVID‑19 pandemic? Overnight, hand sanitizers and face masks went from boring afterthoughts to must‑have accessories. They weren’t just about staying safe; they became part of everyday life, tucked into purses, cars, and pockets. And oh, the sweet victory of finally snagging that last bottle of sanitizer off the shelf. That wasn’t just hygiene, that was survival with a splash of style.

Tip: You don’t need to hoard the whole store; just keep a couple of bottles of hand sanitizer and a few reusable cloth masks. You’ll be a hygiene hero without looking like you’re prepping for the zombie apocalypse.

Gasoline

When panic sets in, gas stations quickly become a battleground. People rush to fill up their tanks as if gas is going to vanish into thin air. According to U.S. Department of Energy data, fuel stations often experience shortages during major events, as people scramble to ensure they have enough gas to power their cars, generators, and maybe even their doomsday bunkers.

Fueling Up Tip: Keep your gas tank at least half full. And, if you’re really feeling adventurous, grab a small fuel container and store it safely, just in case you need it for your next spontaneous road trip… or for when the world ends, whichever comes first.

Key Takeaways

When chaos hits, if it’s a storm, a pandemic, or just a sudden sense of uncertainty, shoppers tend to rush for the same familiar items. Toilet paper, bottled water, canned goods, and cleaning supplies become symbols of security, even if the shelves empty faster than logic would suggest. It’s less about actual shortages and more about the comfort of knowing you’ve got the basics covered.

But panic buying isn’t just about food and hygiene. Parents scramble for baby supplies, patients worry about prescriptions, and everyone suddenly remembers how much they rely on batteries and gasoline when the lights go out. These essentials remind us that survival isn’t only about eating, it’s about keeping life running smoothly when the world feels shaky.
The lesson? Stock smart, not frantic.

A reasonable stash of pantry staples, hygiene products, and power backups can save you stress without turning your home into a warehouse. Crisis shopping habits may have started in 2020, but they’ve lingered into today, proof that when uncertainty strikes, preparedness is the real peace of mind

Disclosure line: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.

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