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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Read more:
- Storing Apples: Proper Apple Storage Techniques
- Plastic-Free Shopping: 3 Easy Tips for Waste Reduction
- Reuse Vegetable Scraps: Skip the Trash and put Food back on your Plate
Do you like this post?