Prison Commissary Food: What People Eat and Why It Matters

Prison commissary food is the packaged food your loved one can buy with money in their account. The most common items are instant ramen, chips, tuna and mackerel pouches, coffee and other snacks. For many people, commissary food is not a treat. It is how they get enough to eat. Here is what is sold, why it matters so much and how people turn simple items into shared meals.

The most common commissary foods

Every facility has its own list, but some foods show up almost everywhere. Here are examples from three published lists:

• Instant ramen. Pennsylvania's general population list (dated April 4, 2025) prices a chicken ramen at $0.39. Washington's Coyote Ridge list (updated November 1, 2026) sells a single ramen for $0.31.
• Chips and snacks. FCI Milan's federal list (dated December 2024) includes plain chips ($1.90), tortilla chips ($2.95) and pork rinds ($1.60).
• Tuna, mackerel and salmon. FCI Milan sells mackerel ($1.15) and tuna ($2.70). Coyote Ridge sells tuna in water ($1.81) and whole mackerel ($2.10).
• Coffee. Coffee is on all three lists. Coyote Ridge sells a 3 oz Keefe coffee for $5.09.
• Rice, beans and ready meals. FCI Milan's list includes cheese rice ($2.35) and chili with beans ($1.95).

Prices change, so check the current list. For the full range of items, see our prison commissary list guide.

Why commissary food matters so much

Food is the top thing people buy. A 2018 Prison Policy Initiative study of Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington found that ready-to-eat food, snacks and drinks were the largest spending categories. In Massachusetts, people spent an average of $940 a year on food and drinks alone.

The main reason is the quality of prison meals. The same study describes cafeteria meals as small and unappealing, and says the commissary sells no fresh food. A 2024 Vera Institute article reports that:

• Most states spend less than $3 per person per day on prison food.
• In a 2020 survey by Impact Justice, 62% of people said they rarely or never had fresh vegetables.
• In that same survey, three in four people said they had been served spoiled food.

A 2016 NPR report on research by Michael Gibson-Light of the University of Arizona described one state prison that cut from three hot meals a day to two, plus a cold weekday lunch. People there complained about smaller portions and lower quality.

The cost of eating at commissary

Commissary food costs real money, and prison wages are very low. A 2017 Prison Policy Initiative survey found that regular prison jobs paid an average of $0.86 to $3.45 a day.

The Vera Institute notes that average commissary spending of $947 a year is far more than the $180 to $660 that typical prison jobs pay each year. It also reports that three in five formerly incarcerated people said they could not afford anything from commissary.

That gap is often filled by family. If you are helping a loved one, our guide to supporting a loved one in prison on a budget has ideas. To understand how much can be spent, read about commissary spending limits.

Ramen: more than a meal

Ramen has a special place inside. It is cheap, filling and easy to flavor.

In the NPR report, Gibson-Light found that ramen, often called "soups," worked as an informal currency in the prison he studied. People traded it for services like laundry. He linked its value to cutbacks in prison food.

Gustavo "Goose" Alvarez, who co-wrote the cookbook Prison Ramen with Clifton Collins Jr., told WBUR that everyone inside ends up cooking with ramen, no matter who they are.

Spreads: cooking in a cell

A "spread" is a meal people make themselves, often from commissary items. It can replace or add to a prison meal. Most spreads start with ramen. People add chips, pork rinds, tuna, beans, cheese or sausage.

Cooking inside takes creativity, since people don't have regular stoves. Common methods described by people who have cooked inside include:

• Softening crushed noodles or chips with hot water.
• Mixing ingredients right in the chip bag or noodle package.
• Wrapping a sealed bag in a towel to hold in heat.
• Using a microwave where one is allowed.

Chastyn Hicks, writing from an Arizona prison for the Prison Journalism Project, shared recipes using ramen, chicharrones, cheese, beans and chips. He described cooking as a way to make time inside more bearable and to build friendships.

For many families, it helps to know that a deposit can become a shared meal and a moment of comfort.

Tips for families

• Ask your loved one which foods they want most. Favorites often depend on what their facility sells.
• Check whether the facility offers food packages from approved vendors. See our prison care packages guide.
• Remember that limits and prices are set by each facility. Check with the facility if you're unsure.