Certain pantry items don’t last quite as long as you like. However, there are plenty of other products which have a very long shelf life. It is a lifesaver as you can fill your cupboards with them and don’t need to dash to the supermarket in case of guests turning up at your doorstep unannounced. Keep in mind that your pantry staples will last longer if you can store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark place and handle them with dry hands.
Read on to learn about 25 pantry items that last a long time.
Dried Fruits
Dried fruits like raisins, berries, apricots, candied kiwis, and pineapples last 1-2 years. The trick is to keep them in an airtight container and use dry hands while handling them. As soon as you see fungus, throw it out.
Flour
Flour loses taste within six months if stored at room temperature. Refrigerate flour for a longer shelf life.
Dark Chocolate
Milk or white chocolate needs to be consumed within a year, but dark chocolate can stay for two years if kept in its original packaging at room temperature.
Honey
Use up honey within two years. Also, keep it in a cool, dry place to avoid crystallization.
Tea
Loose-leaf tea and tea bags stay fresh in the pantry for a few years. Keep them in a sealed container for best results.
Jams And Jellies
If not opened, jams and jellies can stay fresh up to 6 months. Once opened, put them in the fridge and consume them within a year or two, or they might discolor and lose taste.
Dried Spices And Herbs
Dried spices and herbs like turmeric, pepper, cumin, parsley, thyme, and coriander can stay fresh for up to a couple of years. Pepper might lose its color after a year but it won’t affect its pungency. Refrigerating spices helps in prolonging the shelf life, but spices lose their potency after a couple of years.
Pasta/Noodles
An unopened box of dried pasta/noodles can keep fresh for several years, even past its prime date. Once opened, put the remaining pasta/noodles in an airtight container to prolong their shelf life.
Oats
Generally, oats last a couple of years, however, if stored in an airtight container, they can last a few more years.
Pickles
Unopened jars of pickles and pickled vegetables can stay in your pantry for 2-4 years. However, opened jars need to go into the fridge and be consumed within a year.
Soy
If unopened, it will last for several years. Once it’s open, put it in the fridge and it will last for a few years.
Oils
Oils like olive and coconut oil stay fresh for up to a year, after which they might change their flavor and turn rancid.
Low Acid Canned Goods
Beans, peas, corn, soups, or vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, potato, and spinach will stay fresh from 2 to 5 years. However, if you see the can bulging, it’s time to throw it out.
Dried Beans
Kidney beans, chickpeas, black-eyed beans, soybeans, and pinto beans stay fresh for several years. However, they take longer to get tender as they age.
Grains
Wheat won’t stay for more than 2-3 years, but millets like rye, quinoa, and barley last longer if stored properly in airtight containers.
Irish Cream
Liquor like Irish Cream needs to be refrigerated once opened and consumed within 5-6 years, or it is known to curdle.
Rice
Rice can be kept for 2 to 3 decades if stored in an airtight container. Use dry hands while handling it to avoid getting bugs. However, brown rice doesn’t stay for long; it usually gives out a rancid odor.
Instant Coffee
Instant coffee can last for a few decades. The trick is to keep it dry. Transfer the contents into an airtight glass jar and use a clean, dry spoon while handling.
Powdered Milk
Powdered milk if stored in an airtight container with a bag of desiccant, can last up to 20 years.
Popcorn
Popcorn can last several decades if stored in an airtight container. Even slight moisture can lead to an infestation of bugs.
Salt
There is no expiration of salt. Keep it as long as you want in an airtight container to avoid lumps.
Sugar
When stored in a dark, dry, cool place, sugar won’t spoil. Due to humidity, it can turn into lumps, but it won’t affect its taste.
Corn Starch
Corn starch can last long if stored in a cool, dry place. It is known to last forever if thrown in the fridge in an airtight container.
Hard Liquor
Hard liquors like gin, tequila, rum, whiskey, vodka, and gin when stored at room temperature can last a lifetime. Their high alcohol content wards off bacterial growth.
Vinegar
Keep it in its original packaging in a cool, dry place away, and it will last you forever. Due to its acidic nature, it is self-preserving and doesn’t require refrigeration. Balsamic, wine, and rice vinegar may change their flavor and quality if consumed after 2 years. Apple cider vinegar lasts for up to 5 years.