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Honey & 7 Other Foods That You Didn’t Know Never Expire

Foods that never expire
Photo: © Colourbox.de

Some of your products are missing the best-by date? Don’t worry about it, some foods never expire. If stored correctly, they will never go to waste, no matter how long they linger in the cabinet. 

Yes, forever! Given proper storage, some foods will never go bad, and therefore, you should never throw them away — and they’re also ideal for anyone who likes to keep a full pantry at all times.

1. Honey Never Expires

Foods that never expire honey
The reason why this food never expires is attributed to an enzyme found in the stomach of bees. (Photo: © Colourbox.de)

It may begin to crystalize, but pure honey will never go bad. Always keep containers tightly closed, store them in a cool and dry place, and avoid crumbs or other impurities from getting into the container. Above all, protect from liquids, which will make honey sour.

If your honey crystallizes, place it inside a warm oven after baking. It will be soft and spreadable again. No matter how hard you try to let it go bad, this food never expires.

2. Rice: Is the Infinite Grain

Foods that never expire rice
It better not expire — rice is a staple food for half the world’s population. (Photo: © Colourbox.de)

Ignore any “Best By” date on your rice packaging: rice never spoils. The only exception is brown rice, whose increased fat content causes it to eventually go off. But basmati rice, jasmine rice, wild rice, etc., will not spoil if kept in dry, sealed containers.

3. Sugar: Forever Sweet

Foods never expire sugar
Granulated sugars are also used as preservatives to prevent the growth of micro-organisms and foods from spoiling, i.e. candied fruits, jams, etc., which would otherwise expire much quicker. (Photo: CC0 Public Domain / Unsplash - Josh Massey)

Sugar cannot rot because bacteria cannot survive on sugar alone. Should it be exposed to moisture, however, it does like to form rock-hard clumps. So close it up tight, and you can use it forever.

4. Liquor: Never Down for the Count

Foods that never expire alcohol liquor
Alcohol doesn’t go bad. (Photo: © Colourbox.de)

This isn’t a surprise, is it? Of all the foods listed here, liquor is likely the best-known forever food. Of course, the definition of “foods” that never expire is being stretched a bit to include alcohol at all… But did you know it takes several decades before even liquor flavor slowly starts to weaken?

5. White Wine Vinegar: Eternally Sour

Foods that never expire vinegar
Vinegar was used as a condiment and for preservation by the Babylonians around 3000 BC. (Photo: © Colourbox.de)

Vinegar, or more specifically distilled white wine vinegar, cannot spoil. This multifunctional ingredient used in sauces, marinades, and dressings is uncomplicated to store. Keeping it tightly closed in a cool, dark place will ensure decades of excellent acidification. Although not strictly a food, white wine vinegar never expires.

6. Maple Syrup: An Immortal Nectar

Foods that never expire maple syrup
During the Second World War, when food was rationed, people in the northeastern United States would stretch sugar rations by sweetening them with maple syrup, as this food didn’t expire and was available all year round. (Photo: © Colourbox.de)

Maple syrup is not only delicious, but if frozen, it can last forever. Refrigeration alone greatly extends the shelf life of this popular sugar substitute once opened, but freezing it will preserve it for eternity.

7. Corn Starch: The All-Time Thickener

Foods never expire corn starch
Typically used for thickening sauces and soups, corn starch will never leave your side (until the package is empty). (Photo: © Colourbox.de)

Corn starch can be used to thicken any liquid possible. Once you’ve rescued your thin gravy from the brink, don’t throw away the rest of the starch — if tightly sealed, corn starch never spoils.

8. Salt: Forever Seasoning

Foods that never expire salt
Salt is one of the world’s most common preservatives. (Photo: © Colourbox.de)

Salt never goes bad and never loses its effectiveness. Like sugar, it’s important to prevent salt from absorbing wetness; seal it tightly to prevent the formation of rock-hard salt blocks, which make it difficult to dose properly in the future. Modern table salt typically includes separating agents which keep such clumps from forming in the first place.

If you’ve enjoyed this enlightening article on foods that never expire, feel free to check out our guide on correctly storing foods that do expire: Storing Food: 7 Easy Tricks to Avoid Food Waste.

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