9 Foods That (Almost) Never Go Bad (2024)

Buy almost anything from the grocery store and it will come with an expiration date — a ticking time bomb until you have to throw out that bottle of soy sauce you never opened. But don't toss it just yet: Several common food items have a longer shelf life than you might expect. Why? As Keri Gans, R.D.N. and author of the book The Small Change Diet, explains, "the expiration date only applies to the nutritional value of the product," and not its safety to eat. Shelf-stable foods, like these nine, could last well after their expiration date — so long as you give them a good once-over for signs of discoloration, odor, or compromised packaging, Gans says.

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Soy Sauce

"Soy sauce can last a really, really long time unopened in the pantry," says Gans. But while it can last indefinitely unopened, popping the top puts a three-year time limit on its freshness.

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Worcestershire Sauce

Much like soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce has a relatively high salt and acid content, which act as preservatives, explains Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That's just one reason you can keep an unopened bottle of Worcestershire sauce for five years.

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Honey

Perhaps unsurprisingly thanks to its rich sweetness, "honey has a low acidic pH and very low moisture levels," says Rumsey, "which prevents the growth of bacteria." Honey is safe to keep indefinitely, though it may crystalize over time.

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Sugar

Unless you're an avid baker, that bag of sugar you just bought could last a lifetime — and that's OK. "The key thing with sugar is to just keep it away from moisture," says Gans.

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Rice

Properly stored white rice can last indefinitely. But, "whole grain rice has a shorter shelf life because it is less processed," says Rumsey, who adds that you should keep your brown and whole grain rice no more than six months.

Dried Vegetables

Unlike their fresh counterparts, dehydrated vegetables — think freeze-dried kale chips or green beans — can last eight years in your pantry. "Freeze-dried vegetables have all the water removed from them so they have an extra-long shelf life," Rumsey explains.

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Peanuts

Unopened packages of peanuts can last up to two years. And that includes peanut butter, the conventional kind which is highly processed with sugar and other food additives meant to help it last longer, says Claire Shorenstein, M.S., R.D., and C.D.N.

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Canned Fish

Canned fish — such as tuna, salmon, and sardines — can last up to three years after they're packaged. Why? "Canning foods removes all air and places it in vacuum-sealed containers that are then heat processed," says Rumsey. "This destroys microorganisms and prevents new bacteria from getting in."

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Cornstarch

Cornstarch can also last indefinitely. But these nine items are by no means an exhaustive list of common kitchen goods with long shelf lives. In general, "food lasts longer if it has been preserved via methods like canning, pickling, drying, smoking, pasteurization, or irradiation, or if it contains food preservatives, all of which help inhibit bacterial growth, maintain the appearance of the food, and prevent foodborne illnesses," Shorenstein explains. So before you toss out an unopened food item, ask whether it meets those criteria. And be safe. "The key is to ask yourself, what is the upside to eating potentially spoiled food? Is it truly worth the risk?" says Shorenstein.

FAQs

9 Foods That (Almost) Never Go Bad? ›

We recommend having a selection of grains in your emergency food stockpile. Grains like quinoa, barley, flax, millet, grits, and rye are super versatile. And when properly sealed in airtight containers, they can last upwards of 10 years.

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What foods last 10 years or more? ›

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How long will canned tuna last? ›

A good rule of thumb for canned seafood, such as canned salmon or canned tuna, is that it can be safely kept in a cool dark pantry for 5 years. But really, as long as the seal remains unbroken, a tin can last nearly indefinitely.

Does canned fish go bad? ›

Seafood should never be left out over two hours. You can store commercially canned fish, such as tuna, for up to five years in the pantry; home canned fish, only one year. For more information, you may call the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) toll-free at 888-723-3366 or go to FDA's website.

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What food lasts longest emergency? ›

Canned meats are a good selection. Rice and varieties of beans are nutritious and long-lasting. Ready-to-eat cereals, pasta mixes, rice mixes, dried fruits, etc. can also be included to add variety to your menus.

What will we be eating in 2030? ›

So our diets may be more veg and fruit, whole grains and vegetarian food or new alternatives (soya products, or perhaps insects or artificial meat), and less fried and sugary things. We'll still eat meat, but, perhaps more like our parents and grandparents, see it as a treat to savour every few days.

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What will we eat in 50 years? ›

What food will we be eating in 2050? By 2050, individuals will be eating cultured, or cultivated, meat, high-protein insects, seaweed, algae, and allergen-free nuts. All of this food is rich in essential vitamins and minerals and high in protein.

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What food keeps indefinitely? ›

White, jasmine, wild, basmati and Arborio rice have low oil content and therefore have an indefinite shelf life. Brown rice, however, is higher in oil, so it spoils much faster than its white counterparts.

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Is 10 year old rice still good? ›

Storage Conditions. The best temperature to store grains, including rice, is 40°F or below; however, rice stored at a constant 70° F with oxygen absorbers will store well for up to 10 years. In cooler storage areas rice sealed in oxygen-free containers can be stored for up to 30 years.

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Does survival food really last 25 years? ›

Freeze-dried foods bring a plethora of advantages for freeze dried food in survival food storage. For one, they can last for up to 25 years or more without compromising taste or nutrition.

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What food to store for the apocalypse? ›

Food Ideas That Keep on the Shelf

Canned fruits, vegetables, beans, meats, fish. Canned juices, broths and soups. Shelf-stable "boxes" of juices and milk.