Eating expired products can be risky, but there are some foods you don’t ever have to worry about since they are safe to eat after many, many years.
We comprised a list of 10 food products that can last almost forever and never spoil.
10. Rice
The best temperature to store rice is at 4.5°C or below. It’s better to store rice in plastic containers for foods (PETE) or in glass jars. As one study shows, under these conditions, rice can be stored up to 30 years and it won’t lose its aroma or nutritional value. It’s also worth mentioning that the study used 2 types of rice — parboiled and polished grains.
9. Powdered milk
Powdered milk that is processed according to all the appropriate health standards can be stored for a long time without losing its nutritional value — just as long as it’s stored in an airtight container.
8. Soy sauce
Soy sauce can be stored safely for at least 3 years even if the bottle has been opened. The shelf life of soy sauce in an airtight container can be much longer, but it depends on conditions like the type of soy sauce it is, the way that it was processed, its quality, and the storage temperature.
For example, high quality soy sauce can only be made through natural fermentation, a process that usually takes anywhere from several months to two years. Only this type of soy sauce can last more than three years. That’s why you should beware of certain brands that add chemicals to speed up the fermentation process.
7. Maple syrup
According to the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association, an unopened bottle of maple syrup can be kept indefinitely. And even after having opened it, you can use it for several years if you keep it in a refrigerator.
6. Dried kidney beans
Researchers from Brigham Young University have found out that after 30 years of storing, dried kidney beans had changed their visual appearance, but all the samples remained acceptable for use in emergency situations. They concluded that dried kidney beans, as well as other beans, can last for at least 30 years.
5. Salt
Salt is actually a mineral, not a product, which is why it’s impossible for it to spoil. Of course, the mineral can quickly absorb water, turning into one huge rock over time. But ultimately, salt always remains just that, salt.
However, remember that iodized salt lasts only around a year. During this period of time, iodine usually evaporates and the salt loses its useful quality, although you can still use it as common table salt.
4. Strong alcoholic drinks
Alcoholic drinks like vodka, whisky, rum and cognac have no expiration date, but it’s important to store them in a cool dark place in properly sealed bottles.
3. Vinegar
White vinegar is another product without an expiration date, but you should still be sure to store it under proper conditions. If you want to keep vinegar for a long time, the best way to store it is in its original airtight container in a cool, dark place away from heat sources.
2. Sugar
Like salt, sugar lasts for an indefinitely long period of time, especially if you store it in an airtight container. But even if sugar absorbs water from the air and turns into a solid rock, it doesn’t lose its quality.
1. Honey
Honey is a really unique food in that it can last forever thanks to its chemical composition that makes it extremely difficult for bacteria growth. Moreover, if you buy sealed jars with honey in them, you can be absolutely sure that it can’t spoil as it won’t come in contact with air and water.
While excavating one of the Egyptian pyramids, archaeologists discovered some jars of honey. The average age of the finding was around 2,000-3,000 years old. It was still perfectly edible — the archaeologists even tasted it! Some years later, 5,500 year-old honey was found in Georgia.
