Buying in bulk and taking advantage of awesome coupon deals is a great way to feed your family on a budget. However, for many food items, their expiration dates come up faster than you can eat them and then you have wasted both food and money! Luckily, there are lots of food staples that have incredibly long shelf lives that are perfect for stocking your pantry. Whether you are stocking up for a potential emergency or just utilizing great coupons and sales, these items can stay in your pantry for years into the future. Check out the list below for foods that practically never expire.
1. White Rice
When white rice is stored in an airtight container at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it can retain its nutritional content for up to 30 years! Buy a bunch of rice in bulk and stash it in the fridge or freezer and you can have tasty stir fries, casseroles, and more for decades to come.
2. Honey
This yummy sweetener is naturally both acidic and low in moisture content, making it nearly impossible for bacteria to grow. That is why honey is one of the world’s only foods that truly lasts forever! If it starts to crystallize, just warm it up before you want to use it and the honey will be as good as new.
3. Bottled Water
According to the FDA, bottled water is fine to drink even if it changes in appearance or taste. This is an essential to stock for emergencies and trips, so stocking up is a great idea!
4. Brown and White Sugar
Keeping your sugars in airtight storage containers is the key to their long shelf life. Even if your sugar hardens, just break it up or soften with light heat; it will still be just as good to eat.
5. Soy Sauce
This Asian food essential can last almost indefinitely unopened in your pantry. If you keep it in the refrigerator, your opened bottle will stay good for up to 3 years.
6. Salt
Because sodium chloride is a naturally occurring substance, it makes sense that it lasts forever. Many table salts contain iodine, though, which gives it a shelf life of just 5 years. If you are stocking up, try to find non-iodized salt so you can keep it longer.
7. Vitamins
Vitamins are expensive, so grab a bunch when you find a great deal! Even though they do lose some of their nutritional value, they are still at 90 percent after 2 years.
8. Baking Soda
If you are buying it for baking purposes, baking soda can only be kept up to 18 months. For cleaning, though, it is good forever, though it does lose potency over time. Buy a bunch when you find a deal; if you don’t use it for baked goods in time, you can always use it to clean your house as a backup plan!
9. Cornstarch
Cornstarch is a holiday essential for thickening soups, stews, and gravies. Buy a bunch from the bulk store and store it in a cool, dry place and it will stay good for years.
10. Dried Beans
Even though they do lose some of their nutritional value over the years, dried beans can be eaten as an “emergency food” even after 30 years in storage. Buy them in bulk so you always have a cheap, nutritious food on hand for your family.
11. Real Maple Syrup
Real maple syrup lasts forever unopened because it is nearly impossible for mold to grow on it. If some mold does grow, however, you can just boil the syrup, skim off the mold, pop it in the fridge, and it is good as new. Stock up on pure maple syrup so you can enjoy pancakes anytime!
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12. Bouillon Cubes
These little flavor bombs are perfect for making soups and other dishes taste great. Just make sure you take them out of the original packaging and pop them into airtight containers. Keeping moisture out is essential to storing these for a long time.
13. Powdered Milk
Even though it does not taste as good as fresh milk, powdered milk is a great alternative to keep in your pantry for weather or financial emergencies. It lasts a long time and is easy to store.
14. Hard Liquor
Hard alcohol (except cream liqueurs) will last forever, even if they are open. Though oxidization will cause flavors to change and you may lose a bit to evaporation, you can buy a bunch of your favorite booze when you find a deal and enjoy it decades later.
15. Hard Grains
Dried grains like corn, millet, buckwheat, and other bulk store favorites have been proven to last at least 10 years in storage. Stock up on pounds of these grains so you always have a base for breads, bowls, and breakfasts.
16. Instant Coffee
When sealed super airtight and stashed in the freezer, instant coffee will keep indefinitely. It isn’t as good as a freshly-brewed pot of java, but it will do in a pinch!
17. Pemmican
This unique mixture of rendered fat, dried berries, and dried meat was invented by Native Americans as a protein-packed survival food. Its long shelf life make it ideal for camping, road trips, and your emergency food stash.
18. White Vinegar
Whether you want to make dressings, marinades, or even use it to clean your house, white vinegar is a versatile item to stock up on. It stays fresh forever, so buy the huge bulk bottle or grab a few regular bottles when you find a great deal!
