11 Foods That Never Spoil or Expire

Related Articles

Are you stocking up on foods for a potential emergency? Dried fruit and canned tuna will last for quite a while in your pantry, but if you want foods that will last for a long time, reach for one of these foods.

Proper storing is important as well, so unless stated otherwise, the best and perfect way to preserve any of these foods is to keep it in a cool dark place and with little temperature fluctuations as possible. Loss of taste is normal when food is stored for long periods, but this does not mean that it is unsafe to eat.

11 Foods That Never Spoil or Expire
foods that does not spoil / pixabay

Foods That Does Not Spoil of Expire:

1. Cornstarch

Cornstarch, which is commonly used as a thickening agent for foods such as gravy is usually used in small amounts that a box could, literally, last you a lifetime. To keep cornstarch indefinitely, remember to keep it dry, tightly sealed and store it in a cool place.

2. Distilled White Vinegar

Vinegar is highly acidic, therefore it is actually used to keep other food fresh. On its own, it can stay fresh for years.

3. Dried Beans

Dried beans can stay safe for an indefinite time. They will take longer to soften when cooked, and will not completely soften at all, after about a 1-2 years. But dried beans do not lose their nutritional value with age, therefore their shelf life is classified as indefinite.

4. Ghee

Ghee is a kind of butter that is made from cows, and is used mostly in South Asian countries such as Bangladesh and India. It is clarified butter, that is made by stirring and boiling regular butter until the water has evaporated, thus leaving only butter fat and milk proteins. Ghee is the butter fat portion.

When made and if stored properly, it needs no refrigeration at and can last forever. Ghee is a great substitute for cooking oil, and is high in vitamins, and will definitely add that missing buttery flavor.

5. Honey

Honey is known as the only food that truly lasts forever, this is due to the handiwork of bees and its magical chemistry. The nectar that comes from the flowers mixes with enzymes inside the bees that extract it, and this changes the nectar’s composition, therefore breaking it down into simple sugars that are deposited into honeycombs. The enzymes from the bee’s stomach and the fanning action from the bees’ wings make a liquid that is both highly acidic, and has low moisture, which are truly inhospitable digs for bacterial growth.

The sealing and processing of honey also adds to its indefinite shelf life.

But, despite being low in moisture, honey’s sugars are hygroscopic, which means that they take in moisture from the air. When the strained and heated honey is sealed properly, moisture cannot be absorbed, therefore, the honey stays the same forever. The oldest jar of this sweet stuff is believed to be 5,500 years old.

See also  What You Should Eat for Healthy Hair?

6. Instant Coffee

As long as the instant coffee is vacuum sealed, it will lasts indefinitely.

7. Pure Maple Syrup

A Guide to Food Storage for Emergencies by Utah State University, included pure maple syrup along with other commercial sugars, such as granular sugars and honey, as having an indefinite shelf life “due to their resistance to microbial growth, including that of molds.”

The Massachusetts Maple Producers Association, agrees that an un-opened maple syrup will last forever. But, they are also providing consumers with instructions should molding occur, “If any harmless mold should form on the surface, just bring the syrup to a slight boil, then skim the surface, and place in a clean container, then refrigerate.”

8. Salt

Sea salt, table salt, or kosher, will stay as fresh as the day you bought it. This will remain so throughout the years. Sodium chloride is a mineral that is taken from the Earth, therefore, its permanence should come as no surprise. Also, it has been used for years as a tool for preserving foods because it helps in removing moisture.

But, the salt in your cupboard may not last forever, though. Morton Salt stated that adding iodine to table salt, reduces its shelf life. Therefore, if your container says iodized salt, expect it to last for about 5 years.

9. Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is very high in salt content, which prevents the bacteria from growing in it. It is one of those foods, that although it will not expire, may not taste as good, as when it was fresh.

It is better to place it in a cold or cool place. Soy sauce can be use as flavoring for cooking or as dip.

10. Sugar

The hard part with sugar is not keeping it fresh, but in keeping it from turning rock hard. Sugar does not spoil because it does not support bacterial growth.

Just make sure to place it in an airtight container to keep the moisture and bugs away.

11. White Rice

Researchers have reported that white or polished rice will maintain its flavor and nutrient content for 30 years, when stored in oxygen-free containers and in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Brown rice, on the other hand, does not last nearly as long or for just at least 6 months due to the natural oils present in its bran layer.

Related Topics:
1. The Effects of Eating Instant Noodles
2. Top 8 Food Labeling Tricks You Should Be Aware Of
3. What You Should Know About Fats: Tthe Good, The Bad and The Ugly

More on this topic

Comments

Popular stories