By Ayn Monique Klahre
The pantry—originally a room to store bread—dates back to medieval times, though today this cool, dry spot keeps a much wider variety of foods safe to eat. With the right conditions, many pantry staples can sit for years or even decades and still be perfectly edible, which is nice to know if you’re stocking up for emergencies! While you should always use your best judgment before eating something you bought years ago, take some peace of mind from the fact that these pantry goods pretty much never expire.
Most Canned Food
Because the canning process locks out oxygen, canned food will stay fresh for years—often far beyond the printed expiration date. Remember, though, that eating improperly stored canned goods can cause botulism, so if your cans look rusted or have deep dents or bulges, don’t eat what’s inside.
Salt
When stored in an airtight container, this natural preservative will last forever. So, go ahead—shake that salt shaker.
Honey
It may be a liquid, but this viscous sweetener has a very low water content, which helps it last for years. Even when honey changes color or crystallizes, it’s still good—as long as the container is sealed.
Sugar
All kinds of sugar, including brown sugar, powdered sugar, and white sugar, will last indefinitely. Sugar can harden over time, but it’s still safe to eat if you don’t mind the texture. If the lumps really bother you, try softening the sugar by putting it in a plastic bag along with a damp paper towel and microwaving it for about 15 seconds.
Maple Syrup
Just like honey, pure maple syrup has low water content and can last for ages—which, given how much it costs, is a huge relief!
Alcohol
Distilled liquors like tequila, vodka, gin, whiskey, and rum last indefinitely, even after they’ve been opened. The only downside to keeping an opened bottle of spirits on the shelf is that it will slowly lose its flavor over time.
Powdered Milk
As long as it’s sealed, an unopened package of powdered milk can last indefinitely.
Vanilla Extract
Pure vanilla extract (not the imitation stuff) is mostly alcohol, so a bottle of the stuff will stay fresh for years as long as it’s been properly sealed after use.
Distilled White Vinegar
This high-acidity liquid is a preservative for a reason: Distilled white vinegar will last forever in a cool, dark place.
White Rice
Inside an airtight container, all varieties of uncooked white rice will last forever (just keep an eye out for pantry pests). Alas, brown rice has a shorter shelf life than its white cousin.
Dried Beans
Though they may take longer to get tender when you finally cook them, many varieties of dried beans remain edible basically forever.
Cornstarch
Keep cornstarch well sealed after you’ve opened it, and this low-moisture thickener can last for years.
