13 Foods and Drinks That Basically Never Expire

Throwing out foods that are past their sell-by, use-by, or best-by dates can be a frustrating experience. Thankfully, some foods have surprisingly long shelf lives. In fact, many items remain usable indefinitely — or at least for a very long time — especially if they are sealed or stored with care. Whether you’re shopping for kitchen essentials or stockpiling a fallout shelter for doomsday, here are 13 foods and drinks that basically never expire.

Corn syrup

Like many items in this list, corn syrup can go bad (mold or a sour smell are solid signs of spoilage), but when kept in the right conditions, corn syrup will be safe to consume indefinitely. You can thank the high sugar content for this stability, as it creates an environment inhospitable to bacteria…unless water is introduced.

Cornstarch

Water is the enemy of cornstarch. Sure, numerous recipes call for both of these ingredients, and mixing them together makes a fun slime-like substance called “oobleck,” but if you want the cornstarch in your pantry to last, keep it dry and cool in an airtight container. Follow those precautions, and your cornstarch will last for a long, long time.

Honey

When it comes to non-perishable foods, honey is at the head of the table. In fact, archaeologists in Egypt found traces of honey that were thousands of years old and still edible…although we don’t think anyone actually tested that last theory. Improperly stored honey can crystallize or become cloudy, but that process can be reversed by heating the honey in a double boiler or simply running the bottle/jar under hot water.

Liquor

 

We never hesitate to buy the necessary liquors for a craft cocktail. Even if we have no idea when we’ll use a particular ingredient again, we are reassured by the fact that alcohol really never expires. Unopened gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whisky last indefinitely, but the shelf life can vary after the bottle is opened. For the purposes of quality and potency, it’s recommended that you consume opened gin, rum, tequila, and whisky within two years…but vodka remains strong for about 20 years!

Maple syrup

Maple syrup is a tricky one. Technically, like the aforementioned sugar-packed corn syrup, it has a very long shelf life. However, unless stored in near-perfect conditions, it’s still susceptible to mold and spoilage. For the best results, store your syrup in the back of the fridge after opening it — the door shelves are the warmest parts of the fridge and thus should be avoided. Also, be sure to clean the cap of any crystallized syrup or other residue that could compromise the airtight seal.

Pasta

An opened box of dried pasta lasts for about a year. If it’s unopened, you’ll buy yourself an additional year or two. But if you ditch the cardboard box for an airtight container and store it in a cool, dark place, dried pasta has an indefinite shelf life.

Powdered milk

I think we’ve only seen powdered milk in fallout shelters on TV and in movies, but that inclusion makes sense, as this liquid-less substance has an incredibly long shelf life. Most labels say 18 months, but some brands claim their product can last for more than 25 years, and even the USDA has stated that under the right conditions, powdered milk never expires.

Rice

Even in relatively poor conditions, rice stays in top form for about 10 years; when sealed in an airtight container in a cool environment, that figure gets bumped up to 30 years. But it’s not like there’s some magical timer that goes off after 30 years — this recommendation is just an estimate, and your rice could easily last longer.

Salt

Salt can be used as a seasoning, an ingredient, a brine, a preservative, a cleaning agent, and even for health and beauty purposes — and best of all, it never expires. You might think this is true of all spices and seasonings, however, most will lose their flavor after a few years — but not salt. It’s no wonder that past civilizations, and even some current ones, have used salt as a currency. In fact, the Ancient Greeks would trade salt for slaves, which reportedly led to the popular phrase “not worth his salt.”

Sriracha

According to the label, a bottle of sriracha is good for about three years. But that’s more of a suggested “best by” date, as sriracha really never expires. The reason? Hot peppers, salt, and vinegar — the primary ingredients in sriracha — are all outstanding natural preservatives.

Sugar

Be it powdered, granulated, brown, or any other type, sugar does not expire. However, sweeteners still pose some challenges. Pests are attracted to them, and moisture can wreak havoc, so store your sugars in airtight containers. Brown sugar also tends to harden after about six months, but this damage is reversible! Use a food processor to break up the clumps, or place the brown sugar in a microwave-safe bowl covered in a damp paper towel and heat for about 20 seconds.

Vanilla extract

The next time you shell out a large amount of money on a small amount of vanilla extract, remind yourself that this product remains shelf stable for a very long time. The labels recommend tossing it after five years, but that’s just because the quality starts to degrade around that time. Due to the high alcohol content (about 35% alcohol by volume), it remains safe for much longer.

White vinegar

Vinegar is fascinating. It is touted for its numerous health benefits, including blood sugar and weight management. It can be used in baking, cheesemaking, pickling, and creating tasty salad dressings. And its antimicrobial properties make vinegar an effective, safe, and environmentally friendly household cleaner. It can even kill weeds! Bec