Did you know there are foods that don’t expire? It’s true — you can stock up on certain foods and enjoy them for a lifetime without worrying about expiration dates! Knowing which foods have the longest shelf life can help you prepare for emergencies and natural disasters, and that’s exactly what we’re covering in this post.
Most food products are stamped with a “best-by” date, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they expire after that date. Your local grocery store offers plenty of foods that can be stored for 30 years or more — even indefinitely — under certain conditions!
There are also plenty of places beyond the grocery store where you can buy foods to store long-term. We’ll explore those and other long-term food storage tips later in this post.
Jillee’s Take:
Table Of Contents
19 Grocery Store Foods That Don’t Expire
This non-perishable items list covers readily available edible foods that never go bad. Following this list, we’ll look at some of the best specialty foods you can add to your stockpile.
1. Honey
Although it may crystallize over time, honey won’t actually expire or become unusable. Honey is self-preserving because only about 17% of its structure is water, which isn’t enough to allow bacteria and other microorganisms to thrive.
“I have the [remnants] of a quart of honey that a neighbor gave me years ago. It’s still good!”
– OGT Reader Bernadette P.
2. Sugar
Both white and brown sugar can be used indefinitely if stored in an airtight container away from light and heat because it is extremely inhospitable to bacteria. Sugar also comes in handy outside the kitchen, so it’s quite a versatile commodity!
If you’ve ever wondered “Does sugar go bad?”, the short answer is no. However, exposure to moisture or air can make sugar hard and clumpy, or even promote further contamination. For added peace of mind, store sugar in a vacuum-sealed container.
(You can even store cinnamon sugar long-term, though the flavor of the cinnamon may wane over time.)
3. White Rice
White rice lasts longer than brown rice because brown rice is more oily. But if you store white rice in an airtight container, it can stay good forever! Rice is an ideal staple food to store for emergencies (but don’t forget to rinse your rice before cooking it!)
4. Salt
Salting is one of the world’s oldest methods of food preservation. Salt is extremely effective at dehydrating things, including bacteria, and will stay good for years when properly stored.
Note that salt fortified with iodine or other additives has a shorter shelf life than pure salt. It will still stay good for several years, though, and there are plenty of ways to use salt aside from preserving and seasoning food!
5. Cornstarch
Cornstarch is another powdery ingredient that will stay good indefinitely. To ensure it stays uncontaminated, store it in an airtight container away from light and heat. Cornstarch has many uses besides cooking, so it’s definitely worth keeping on hand.
6. Vinegar
According to the Vinegar Institute, the shelf life of most vinegars is virtually indefinite. The acidic nature of vinegar makes it self-preserving and a great preservative for other foods. It’s a useful addition to your emergency supplies, because you can use it for a variety of cleaning tasks.
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White vinegar will remain unchanged over time, but other types of vinegar (like wine vinegars or apple cider vinegar) may change in color and appearance while remaining perfectly safe to use.
7. Pure Vanilla Extract
Alcohol is an effective preservative, and pure vanilla extract has a very high alcohol content (around 40%). Pure vanilla extract will stay good pretty much indefinitely! (If you make your own vanilla extract in your Instant Pot, you’ll have plenty to use now and to add to your stockpile.)
Imitation vanilla also lasts a long time, but it often contains other ingredients that shorten its shelf life.
8. Maple Syrup
You can store unopened maple syrup in your pantry indefinitely. Once opened, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in your fridge, and it will still stay good for years!
9. Soy Sauce
Soy sauce is high in salt, another effective preservative. If your soy sauce is properly sealed and stored in a cool, dark place, it will stay usable indefinitely.
10. Bouillon Cubes
Bouillon cubes also have a high salt content. These cubes won’t expire, which is a great reason to keep a container of them in your emergency food supply. That way, you’ll always be able to make a simple broth or add flavor to soups and sauces!
11. Dried Beans
Beans are an excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, so they’re one of the best foods for long-term storage. Dried beans will last indefinitely if stored properly in a cool, dry place, and they’re easy to prepare.
12. Powdered Milk
Powdered milk will stay good for 2-10 years after its best-by date if stored in an airtight container. Store it in a cool place (around 60°F) to extend the storage life even further, or keep it in your freezer to keep it fresh indefinitely!
Reconstituted powdered milk isn’t a perfect substitute for fresh milk, but it sure is nice to have on hand. It’s great for cooking or putting on cereals, if you don’t want to drink it straight.
(Other powdered foods last a long time too! For example, powdered peanut butter has a shelf life of up to 15 years!)
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13. Popcorn
Bags of microwave popcorn will expire, but loose popcorn kernels can last virtually forever. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry area, and you can have popcorn as a healthy snack anytime you want — even years from now! Plus, popcorn is easy to pop over a fire, so it’s great for camping or survival situations.
14. Canned Foods
When stockpiling canned food, it’s easy to keep your stockpile fresh by periodically eating the oldest foods and replacing them with new ones. Even though most canned goods have expiration dates, they’ll stay good almost indefinitely when stored in a cool, dark, and dry place.
15. Dried Spices
“Perishable foods that never go bad” may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s an accurate label for most dried spices and seasonings. You can store and use them almost indefinitely, though once they’ve been opened, their flavor and aroma may diminish over time.
16. Almonds
Almonds are another food that doesn’t go bad or expire if stored properly. They can develop a rubbery texture or bitter flavor when stored at room temperature, so keep almonds in an airtight container in your fridge or freezer for best results.
17. Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder is low in fat and moisture, which makes it less susceptible to rancidity and microbial growth. It doesn’t expire, and you can use it for a lifetime by storing it in your pantry in an airtight container.
18. Dried Pasta
Pasta is a great staple food to add to your stockpile. You can squirrel away pounds of unopened dry pasta without worrying about it expiring.
19. Frozen Fruits And Vegetables
Frozen fruits and vegetables that are high in acidity, such as tomatoes, strawberries, pineapple, and grapefruit, can stay good in your freezer for years if tightly sealed. The combination of freezing temperatures and acidity helps inhibit microbial growth and enzyme activity that can lead to spoilage.
Other Foods With A Long Shelf Life
Dehydrated And Freeze-Dried Foods
Dehydrated and freeze-dried foods are great for long-term food storage. Not only will they last forever in your pantry, but they’re also lightweight and don’t take up much space.
Emergency And Survival Kits
Experts recommend having a three-day supply of shelf-stable food for each person in your household in case of emergencies, and 72-hour kits are perfect for this. They’re usually stocked with dehydrated and freeze-dried foods, and you can find them fairly easily online and at warehouse stores like Costco.
Backpacking Meals
Backpacking meals last for a long time and are readily available at outdoor recreation stores. They typically contain one or two servings per pouch and you only need boiling water to rehydrate them.
#10 Cans
Large #10 cans of freeze-dried fruits, vegetables, and meals have a very long shelf life — up to 20-30 years, in some cases. They’re widely available online and go for about $20 per can. Even buying one can at a time, you can build up a substantial food supply fairly quickly.
MREs
MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) are made for the military and come in very sturdy packaging that heats the food inside with no need for an external heat source. They are indeed ready to eat, but they don’t always taste that great and are heavier than dried foods.
Tips For Starting An Emergency Food Stockpile
Tip #1: Don’t Forget Water
In any emergency, you’re going to need water, especially if you plan to stockpile dehydrated foods that will be useless without it. Store water in a cool location in opaque, BPA-free containers and rotate your stock regularly.
Believe it or not, water can expire! It may not go bad, per se, but contaminants can make it unpleasant or even dangerous to drink. Label your water containers with the date you filled them, then after 6 months, use the water in the container before refilling it with fresh water.
Tip #2: Buy What You Like
Before buying emergency or survival food, it’s best to actually try it first. The best foods to stockpile are the ones your family likes to eat, and you don’t want to end up with a decade’s worth of unpalatable food. Look for individual servings or samples of unfamiliar foods you can try before committing.
Tip #3: Consider Comfort Foods
In a natural disaster or other emergency, a little comfort food can go a long way. Consider adding a few shelf-stable comfort foods to your stockpile, like freeze-dried ice cream, instant coffee, or hard candies.
Tip #4: Store Food In Your Car
In addition to having food in the house, consider keeping a stash of food and water rations in your car. It’s not uncommon to have to shelter in your car because of extreme weather or car problems, so it’s a good idea to keep some food and water there too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Foods Never Go Bad?
Foods high in salt, alcohol, or acid and dry foods with minimal moisture rarely go bad, and many remain safe to eat for a lifetime when properly stored. Examples include salt, sugar, honey, cornstarch, white rice, vinegar, and vanilla extract.
What Condiments Never Expire?
Condiments such as vinegar, soy sauce, and pure maple syrup never expire when stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Which Edible Food Never Goes Bad?
Many edible foods, especially those with low moisture content, never go bad. Honey is one such edible food that never goes bad.
Does Canned Tuna Go Bad?
Yes, canned tuna can go bad. An open can of tuna can go bad within 4-7 days, but unopened canned tuna can stay good to eat for 5-7 years.
Does Worcestershire Sauce Go Bad?
Salty sauces like Worcestershire sauce won’t go bad for up to 4-5 years if properly stored, though their flavor and aroma may diminish once opened. They should be stored in a tightly sealed container away from direct sunlight.
Conclusion
Dry, acidic, and salty foods can have indefinite shelf lives, making them ideal choices for a long-term food stockpile. Remember to store foods in their original packaging (or in an airtight container) away from moisture, heat, and light for best results.
What’s in your emergency food stockpile?
I have the remains of a quart of honey that a neighbor gave me years ago. It’s still good. Remember, honey has been found in Egyptian tombs. However, doubt if anybody would want to taste it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can I get a copy of this list without the ads? I want to print it out.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.And without the pictures. My printer was going to use 58 pages.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great list. I’ll have to show my folks. It will be a great guide for storing.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The powdered milk may still be usable, but if it’s been stored in the cupboard the flavor will change, and not for the better! Learned that one from experience.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hello Jillee, I have a container filled with sugar which has gone really hard, I have tried everything to get it out ie apple, marshamallow and I can’t put it in the microwave to soften it as there is a metal band around the cermaic container. Have you any idea how I can get the sugar out as I don’t want to throw away the container? Thank you.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jean, try dampening (not dripping wet) a paper towel and placing it inside the container. Put the top on and store it in a cool dry place overnight. You should be able to use a utensil to break it up after 24 hours. Good luck. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If the problem is too much moisture, and the container is heat-safe, you can place in 200F degree oven overnight and should be able to break up the clumps after by sticking a steak knife or other pointed knife into the clumps.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wish I had read this a few weeks ago. My mother threw out a huge jar of honey because it had crystallized & she thought it was bad…. and so I had no honey for my tea :(
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the dipper lid though! I’m buying that right now! Thanks!
Did you have success with the dipper lid? A number of the reviews said it was too long for a 16 oz. jar but the five star review never mentioned that as being a problem.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Although beans do not go bad after several years they are unusable. Even after soaking they remain hard and will not soften with cooking.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Roxanne, I’ve also had beans get too hard to eat, even after I cooked them for hours.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve read that if opened maple syrup develops mold, you can skim it off then gently heat the syrup until simmering and it’s still ok to eat!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have had sugar turn sour. It’s a good idea to smell it. I’ve had vinegar develop a cloudy substance that my grandmother called mother.A few years ago I read somewhere that honey was found in an ancient Egyptian tomb that was still edible!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If you live in a high humidity area, you can add a food grade desiccant to the product, ie: sugar, salt, etc. I like Wisedry, purchased from Amazon. I do not receive any consideration from Wisedry or Amazon strictly my opinion. Next, I always store opened soy sauce in the fridge.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I add dry rice to my salt shakers a my area is very humid in the summer. The rice keeps the salt from absorbing the water in the air and clumping. Actually, I keep the rice in the salt shakers all year around,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We have experienced soya sauce gone bad. My mom kept hers in the cupboard. It was numerous years after the best before date. It destroyed the rice we poured it on. Was not good at all.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve kept my soy sauce refrigerated for a long tine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A word of caution about beans and popcorn. The older the dried beans, the longer they take to cook and the tougher they will be. Take it from a vegan who cooks dried beans several times a week. Popcorn will also lose it’s freshness even though it will still pop.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the tip Julie! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I know from experience also
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Honey can also be slowly warmed by placing the honey in a heat proof bottle and placing it in a sauce pan of water. Heat slowly until the honey returns to liquid form. Be sure to not exceed 140 degrees or you will lose those antibacterial properties found in honey. Crystallized honey is edible in this form and an easy way to serve to children over the age of 1 year. It’s less messy!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.So far as Maple Syrup. I used it to leave in the pantry after opening, but once it got moldy and have since put it in the fridge after opening.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I think those are also good for an emergency bag. I’ve experienced 3.11 earthquake in Japan and after that, it was pretty difficult to buy food for a while so keeping food that won’t expire in an emergency bag and have it in the house will be helpful. Thanks for the tips.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When I was a little girl (in the early 1960’s; my goodness, where did the time go?) very few food items had expiration dates. I remember yeast did, and milk, and, I think, bread. We just bought the products and ate them, with no thought as to whether they had passed their “freshness peak”.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a question about the soy sauce.. I always keep this on hand, but in this post it says to store in the cupboard. Does this mean even after opening? I always keep mine in the fridge, is this wrong??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Either way is just fine — it has enough salt that it won’t go bad in the cupboard, but there’s nothing wrong with storing it in the fridge :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you happen to know if the loose granule bouillon has in indefinite shelf life also?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I missed that recipe, would u mind sharing?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My whole life I use what my Grandma did– white vinegar and newspaper… Clear clear clear!
But what’s your recipe??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hello Jillee
Ive been reading your blog for some time and also reading your book.
I just have to tell you that the cleaner for the floor using the dawn and vinegar is spot on.! I am so excited to find this cleaner and using it on my floors is the best ever and I have tried many cleaners and none compare to the brightness of the floor. Amazing!
Also the bathtub cleaner…..So white, better than any cleaner I have tried out there.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much for your advice!!
Glad to hear it, thanks Diana!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee, just want to say thank you for what you do everyday to make our lives easier. You’re a gem. Also, one of your faves is also mine! The contigo travel mugs are so awesome, I love them!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks again for faithfully posting everyday. I hadn’t thought about shelf like of some of those items. I do use my freezer to prolong the life of a lot of items, so people that have the room could keep that in mind. I store all my flour out there, also dried fruit, nuts, powdered milk, and extra homemade cookies, muffins and cupcakes. The last three items can get freezer burned after a long time but works to keep me out of them.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Very cool! thanks for the great tips!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Lol! (:
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If the Bouillon needs to be kept in the fridge, then it will go bad much more quickly!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I freeze mine in 1 tsp blobs on a cookie sheet then put them in a baggie and stick in the freezer. I always manage to use it up before it goes bad so I don’t know how long it is good for. I have kept it in the freezer for at least a year.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I only use brown rice and what I do is cook it and freeze OR just freeze the grains , I only do this after it has been on the shelf for a long , long time . That is the only way I know to preserve it a few more months .
As for the spelling . . who cares , all the other words were correct ,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.one letter out of the billions you write should not be noted , let alone commented on !
God love ya Jillee. I was only just wondering about some rice wine and cider vinegars! You were reading my mind. I have fibromyalgia and don’t always feel like cooking, so I have a lot of food go to waste. My fridge looks like an antique shop!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How long does dry pet (cat) food last? I put a big bag in the freezer (months ago). Do you think it’s still good?
Has the bag been opened?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks so much! This is super helpful information. One note (because I made this mistake myself)…while Jasmine Rice is a white rice and will keep forever, it will lose (I had to be careful of my spelling here – wink, wink) its distinctive jasmine flavor after a year. I bought mine in a large quantity not knowing this. However, it still works great for most dishes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have had jasmine rice stored for more than 3 years and it is still just as fragrant as when I bought it….depends on temperature fluctuations and what you store it in I would imagine.
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