10 Foods That Last Almost Forever In Your Survival Pantry To Stockpile Now

Trying to decide what prep foods you want in your emergency pantry? A good place to start is gathering foods that have an "almost forever" shelf life, stored properly, of course.

1. Raw honey

Because of its unique chemistry, honey has been dubbed the one food that genuinely lasts forever. When bees gather nectar from flowers, their internal enzymes react with the nectar to modify its composition and convert it into simple sugars that are then collected in honeycombs. Mixed with digestive enzymes, it's extremely acidic and low in moisture, making it an extremely unfriendly environment for bacteria to flourish. You can also preserve other foods in honey. The oldest jar of honey they think dates back 5,500 years. You may have crystals form in your honey, just heat it slightly to melt them.

Raw honey combPhoto byRichelleg

2. Rice, white

White rice can be kept for 30 years in oxygen-free containers, like mylar bags in buckets with oxygen absorbers. Rice can be kept even longer if kept in a cool place.

3. Salt

Salt is extracted from the earth or the ocean. Because it draws out moisture, it has also been used for ages as a method of food preservation. It has to be real salt, however.

SaltPhoto byRichelleg

4. Sugar

Stored granulated and brown sugar, sealed containers to prevent moisture buildup can last quite awhile as it does not spoil (if dry).

5. Hardtack

Hardtack is a small, hard, flavorless cracker of sorts. It's kept many a men, women, and children alive during hard times when there wasn't much food available. It travels well, is easy to make, and if baked and stored correctly, has the potential to last decades.

HardtackPhoto byRichelleg

6. Beans

Although bean quality can generally decline after 30 years, the nutrition is still there for us to enjoy.

7. Maple Syrup, real

Along the same line as salt, granular sugars, honey, and other commercial sugars have an endless shelf life because of their resistance to microbial growth, including molds. This also applies to pure maple syrup in a sealed container.

8. Milk, powdered

Dry milk powder stored correctly can last 10-20 years, depending on the brand and how it's stored.

Powdered milkPhoto byRichelleg

9. Hard Alcohol

Not just for a nightcap, it's also great for tinctures. Pure spirits will last for decades if stored properly.

10. Pemmican

A portable, high-protein food source that's kept people alive for centuries. The dried meat from large game animals, such as buffalo or elk, was ground into a powder and combined with readily available berries and rendered fat. The pemmican could be cooked, stewed, or consumed raw.

PemmicanPhoto byRichelleg

So there you have it! Ten foods that will keep in your pantry almost forever. Remember to use common sense, and when in doubt, throw it out.

Atributions:

13 Surprising Foods With Unusually Long Shelf Lives. (2016, August 31). Tastemade. https://www.tastemade.com/articles/13-surprising-foods-with-unusually-long-shelf-lives/

Sybertz, A. (2023, February 21). 10 Foods That Last (Basically) Forever. Southern Living. https://www.southernliving.com/foods-that-last-a-long-time-7111866