Foods You Can Store Almost Indefinitely

Having some foods in storage might be very beneficial for your budget. Fortunately, there are some foods that can be stored for several years.

5-Minute Crafts has prepared a list of foods that have a very long (sometimes indefinite) shelf life.

Instant coffee

Professional baristas don’t recommend keeping an open pack of coffee beans for more than 2 weeks to get the most taste and flavor from coffee when you make it. But, in fact, an open pack of beans can be stored for up to 6 months, and a closed one, for 6 to 9 months.

Ground coffee has a shorter shelf life. Don’t store a pack of ground coffee for more than 3-5 months.

And instant coffee (given the right conditions) can be stored for 2-20 years. It’s important to keep the coffee protected from moisture and high temperatures.

Honey

Real honey can have an indefinite shelf life. It’s important to keep it safe from moisture and in a cool place.
Over time, honey can change color or crystallize, but it doesn’t change its features at all.

Baking soda

Baking soda doesn’t have a shelf life. If you keep it safe from moisture and store it in a sealed container or pack, far from other smells, it can remain usable for many years.

Of course, like any product, if you store it incorrectly, it can spoil. To check it, add 1/4 cup of baking soda to 2 teaspoons of vinegar. If the mix becomes bubbly, the soda is okay.

Corn starch

Corn starch can remain fresh for many years if you store it in a cool, dark closet, far from warmth and light. After you open it, keep it in a sealed pack to preserve all the important features.

Dry peas and lentils

Dried peas can be stored for 4-5 years in a standard pack, and 20 or more years in a sealed container with an oxygen scavenger. The same is true for dry lentils.

Even after several years, dried peas don’t lose their nutritional value and keep all their nutrients.

Rice

White rice can be stored for 4-5 years, and if it’s in a vacuum container — up to 30 years.
Brown rice, even though it’s more nutritious, has a shorter shelf life. You can store it in a closed pack for 6-8 months and in a fridge for 8-12 months. If you want to prolong its shelf life, keep it in a freezer. You can store it there for as long as you need.

Sugar

Sugar can be stored indefinitely because bacteria can’t develop in it. But it can solidify with time. To prevent this from happening, put it in a sealed container and keep it there, or wrap the original package in a plastic bag and close it tight.

White vinegar

Distilled white vinegar has an indefinite shelf life if you store it in a cool, dark closet, far from direct sunlight and heat sources. To keep it fresh, close the bottle well after each use. The same is true for apple cider vinegar.

Salt

All kinds of salt (sea salt, regular salt, and others) can be stored forever. It never spoils or goes stale. Keep it in a cool dry place.