13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (2024)

  • Food
  • Shopping and Storing

Because it’s never a good time to toss perfectly fine pantry staples.

By

Betty Gold

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (1)

Betty Gold

Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple.

Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines

Updated on January 11, 2023

Fact checked by

Danielle Slauter

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (2)

Fact checked byDanielle Slauter

Highlights: * Has worked as a fact checker for Real Simple since 2022 * Worked as a staff writer for Mochi Magazine * Currently runs and operates the United States blog for Student Beans

Our Fact-Checking Process

Expiration dates are one of the most problematic parts of our nation's growing issue with food waste. Safety always comes first, but it's important to acknowledge that America voluntarily throws away over a third of its food every year. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), that adds up to over $160 billion wasted annually.

How do expiration dates play into this, you ask? Because date labels like Sell-By or Use-By are not federally regulated and should always be taken with a grain of salt. "Confusion over the meaning of dates applied to food products can result in consumers discarding wholesome food," according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). "In an effort to reduce food waste, it is important that consumers understand that the dates applied to food are for quality and not for safety. Food products are safe to consume past the date on the label, and regardless of the date, consumers should evaluate the quality of the food product prior to its consumption." The exception is for infant formula and some baby food, which have mandated expiration dates for safety purposes.

This Is the Secret to Storing Every Type of Fruit and Vegetable So They Last Longer

As a brief primer, read over the list of the main types of expiration dates and their real meanings below, according to the FSIS.

  • A "Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of the best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
  • A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
  • A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date, except when used on infant formula.
  • A "Freeze-By" date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

The best way to discern whether a food or beverage is safe to eat is to inspect it for signs of spoilage. Your nose knows: "Spoiled foods will develop an off odor, flavor, or texture due to naturally occurring spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such characteristics, it should not be eaten," states the FSIS.

We concede that there are a select number of foods that don't really go bad for ages, if ever. Sure, they might not taste or appear brand new, but as long as you're storing these pantry staples under the right conditions (i.e., avoiding heat and direct sunlight), you should be able to keep them for a very long time.

01of 11

Bottled Water

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (3)

Unopened, commercially bottled water will keep indefinitely, though the taste may be impacted by storage conditions (including what else is stored around it, where it is stored, and whether it's exposed to sunlight).

02of 11

Sugar

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (4)

When stored in the pantry in a dark, dry, cool place, sugar won't spoil…ever. But for the best quality, use it within two years.

03of 11

Low-Acid Canned Goods

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (5)

According to the FSIS, canned foods with a low acid content, like meat, beans, peas, soups, or vegetables (or our favorite, canned tuna), will keep anywhere from two to five years. High-acid canned goods like tomato sauce and canned fruit will keep up to 18 months. For optimal longevity, the FSIS says: "Store canned foods and other shelf stable products in a cool, dry place. Never put them above or beside the stove, under the sink, in a damp garage or basem*nt, or any place exposed to high or low temperature extremes. Temperatures below 85 F are best. Check your pantry every few weeks and use canned goods you have had on hand for a while. Don't purchase bulging, rusted, leaking, or deeply dented cans." The USDA offers a lot of good information on food canning.

04of 11

Soy Sauce

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (6)

Unopened, this magic elixir will keep for three years (!) or longer in the pantry. Once it's opened, keep it in the fridge and it'll last almost as long.

05of 11

Rice and Dried Pasta

According to the FSIS, you can keep these pantry staples for up to two years.

06of 11

Dry Beans

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (8)

Easily one of the most underrated foods, dried beans—like black, cannellini, pinto, or Great Northern—are shelf-stable for up to two years.

07of 11

Honey

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (9)

You've got two years to use up your honey bear. Just make sure to keep it in a cool, dark place, or it might crystalize. And even if it does, it's safe to eat (and delicious).

08of 11

Canola Oil

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (10)

Believe it or not, that giant jug of unopened canola oil sitting in your pantry will stay fresh for two years in a cool, dry place. Store it in the fridge, and it'll keep for longer.

09of 11

Dried Fruit

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (11)

Great news: Your favorite afternoon nosh will keep in the pantry for between a year and two years—so go ahead and buy the massive Costco bulk bag. To keep dried fruit even longer, store it in the freezer.

10of 11

Tea Bags

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (12)

Indeed, your favorite beverage (after wine, of course) will last up to three years in the pantry if left unopened. Once the box is opened, however, the bags will last just 18 months.

11of 11

Hemp Seeds and Chia Seeds

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (13)

These pint-sized plant-based protein powerhouses will both keep for a year. Unopened packages of hemp seeds are fine in the pantry, but for optimal freshness, keep your chia in an airtight container in the fridge.

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Sources

Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy.

  1. Foster, Joanna. Environmental Defense Fund. Every Year the U.S. Throws Away 160 Billion Pounds of Food. These Students Set out to Do Something about It. Accessed September 21, 2022.

13 Foods That (Basically) Never Spoil (2024)

FAQs

Which food never spoils? ›

HONEY. Honey has been called the only food that truly lasts forever, thanks to its magical chemistry and the handiwork of bees. The nectar from flowers mixes with enzymes inside the bees that extract it, which changes the nectar's composition and breaks it down into simple sugars that are deposited into honeycombs.

What food stays good the longest? ›

Whole grains and legumes: Staples such as rice, quinoa, beans, and lentils, when stored in a cool, dry environment, can boast shelf lives that span several years. Honey: This sweet nectar, thanks to its natural composition, can remain consumable indefinitely when stored in a sealed container.

What is the longest lasting food for survival? ›

Soft grains include things like oats, rye, and quinoa. They are stable for about 8 years on average, but this can be increased to 20 years in ideal conditions. Hard grains include buckwheat, corn, flax, mullet, wheat, and more. These grains can last from 12 years to 30 or more!

What food never spoils trivia? ›

What food never spoils? Honey is low in water and high in sugar, so bacteria cannot grow on it. Honey also contains small amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which inhibits growth of microbes.

Can water expire? ›

It's important to understand that water itself doesn't go bad. Water is a simple molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and it doesn't have an expiration date. However, the water's storage container can impact its taste, quality, and safety over time.

What drinks never expire? ›

Alcohol. Distilled liquors like tequila, vodka, gin, whiskey, and rum last indefinitely, even after they've been opened. While it's still technically drinkable, an open bottle of spirits does slowly lose its flavor over time, and may not have the appeal it did when it was “fresh.”

What is the cheapest food that lasts the longest? ›

10 Cheap (and Healthy) Foods that Last a Long Time
  • Dried Beans and Lentils. Average Price: Under $2 for a 1-pound bag. ...
  • Brown Rice and Other Whole Grains. Average Price: About $2 (depending on where you purchase) for a 1-pound bag. ...
  • Frozen Vegetables. ...
  • Peanut Butter. ...
  • Canned Tuna. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Whey Protein. ...
  • Apples.

What canned food doesn't expire? ›

Canned fruits and vegetables

Cans in good condition—meaning no dents, swelling or rust—stored in a cool, clean, dry place are safe indefinitely. We're talking corn, peas, carrots, green beans, asparagus, peaches, pears, pineapple and so much more.

What two foods can you survive on? ›

What 2 foods can you survive on? You can survive on a balanced diet of potatoes, kale, trail mix, grains, and beans. This combination offers plenty of protein, carbs, minerals, and vitamins to keep your body healthy and energized.

What is the best food to stockpile? ›

  • Meats & Beans. Canned meat, chicken, turkey, seafood. and other protein-rich foods, such as. ...
  • Vegetables. Canned vegetables and vegetable juices. ...
  • Fruits. Canned fruits and fruit juices. ...
  • Milk. Canned, boxed or dried milk and shelf- ...
  • Grains. Ready-to-eat cereal, crackers, pretzels, ...
  • Water. Enough for 1 gallon per day.

Which food doesn't get rotten? ›

Healthy options include dried beans and fruit, canned fish and vegetables, and nondairy milk, among others. Non-perishable foods, such as canned goods and dried fruit, have a long shelf life and don't require refrigeration to keep them from spoiling.

What foods are not dead? ›

Raw Food – Raw vegetables, fresh fruit, unroasted nuts and seeds, and sprouted grains, beans, and legumes are at the top of the living food pyramid. They are packed with vitamins and enzymes, all perfectly intact because the food is fresh and unaltered by heat, processing, or containerized storage.

What food to store for the apocalypse? ›

What Emergency Foods to Keep in Your Pantry
  • Peanut Butter. ...
  • Whole-Wheat Crackers. ...
  • Cereal. ...
  • Granola Bars and Power Bars. ...
  • Dried Fruits, Such as Apricots and Raisins. ...
  • Canned Tuna, Salmon, Chicken, or Turkey. ...
  • Canned Vegetables, Such as Green Beans, Carrots, and Peas. ...
  • Canned Beans.
Mar 27, 2023

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