Hey Bestie viewers! We can all agree that
a well-stocked pantry can be a lifesaver. We always tend to shop a little extra and load
up our freezers and shelves. But when you get super busy all that food is sitting for days,
weeks, months, or even years. Although expiration dates are there for a reason you
might be wondering if those staples are good to use especially if they smell and look all right.
In today's video let's discuss food that lasts forever in your pantry.
Is ketchup on that list? What about pasta? We're talking all that and more...
1. Honey
The oldest jar of honey almost dates back 5500 years and is still
edible. This shows the indefinite shelf life of this natural sweetener. A jar of honey that
is tightly sealed and kept away from moisture can be good for years, some even say forever.
This has got something to do with the chemistry of bees and nectar.
When bees extract flower nectar it goes into their stomachs and creates a highly acidic
product. It's so acidic that it's practically impossible for any bacteria to live in it.
The honey will change its color and harden over time but it can be made runny again
by gently placing the honeypot in simmering water for a few minutes.
Do you use honey in cooking? Sound off in the comments below and start
a conversation with our Bestie community.
2. Pasta
Dried pasta, in packets, is free from moisture and can be stored in the pantry
as is. But if you are buying the boxed variety you must transfer it to an airtight container.
If stored properly pasta can outlive its printed date. It will be edible up to 2 years from the
best by date. Cooked pasta, however, will have a shelf life of 3 to 5 days in your fridge.
A quick tip to store pasta for longer is to place small packets of moisture absorber like
silica. But even after doing all this, If you see bugs crawling around you need to toss it.
3. Pemmican There are so
many fancy steakhouses that serve the best quality meat. And surely nothing can beat it.
But imagine if you were living in an apocalyptic world infested with Zombies in
underground bunkers for years, pemmican would come to any meat lover's rescue.
The origin of this food probably goes back to native American tribes. The
original recipe was a mix of Buffalo or elk meat with berries and rendered fat.
This full of protein food could be eaten raw, fried, or stewed. It
remains the favorite food of survivalists for centuries as it lasts for many years.
4. Ketchup and Mayo We always put bottles
of ketchup and Mayo directly in the fridge once we get them home. But we
hardly see any supermarkets storing them in the fridge. Ketchup will not last for
eternity but it won’t exactly turn bad immediately past its expiration date.
If your tomato or chili sauce stays up to 12 months in an unopened situation in the fridge then
it is safe for consumption. Mayo can last for 12 weeks after opening in the fridge. While mustard
can be edible for 3 years in a sealed condition and 6 to 8 months in an open unrefrigerated state.
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5. White rice Nutritionally
brown rice has an upper hand over white rice. But when it comes to the longest shelf life,
white rice wins the race. The polished variety of basmati, Jasmine,
or any other white rice can stay fresh for almost 30 years. That's unbelievable!
If you try to store your rice in a sealed airtight bag you might be able
to keep bug eggs away thus keeping it fresh. The best way to keep rice fresh
would be to store it in an oxygen-free container below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you were to do the same with brown rice it would go completely rancid
in just six months. The natural oils from the barn make it go bad slowly.
6. Beans
These can be a great source of protein for vegetarians. Especially dried pinto,
black-eyed, liver, and kidney beans that have a truckload of fiber with many nutrients.
Jar them up properly in an airtight container and keep away from direct sunlight in a cool place.
Beans can be consumed after decades. Sure their nutritional content may decrease and
they might take longer to cook but it will be your safe bet in an emergency. Go ahead
and make that mixed bean soup from all the surplus beans in your pantry.
7. Hard liquor Now all those
impromptu get-togethers at your home won’t need a quick trip to the liquor store. You
can safely stock rum, whisky, Tequila, Vodka, gin, and liquors from this family
in your home bar. Experts say that they last forever even at room temperature.
But a few cream-based liqueurs like Irish cream or vermouth need to be refrigerated
after opening. The reason why other alcohols last for a long time is because of the alcohol content.
Alcohol is by far the best disinfectant and can arrest bacterial growth.
8. Soy sauce
Chinese cooking is almost incomplete without this sauce. When you are out enjoying it,
you might be bothered about the freshness of soy sauce. But soy sauce is the last thing you should
be worried about when it comes to freshness. An unopened bottle kept in the fridge can
last almost forever. Opened bottles however can go up to 2 to 3 years without spoiling.
Speaking of putting food in the fridge,
you need to know about these 21 foods you should not refrigerate.
9. Oats I’m sure we all
have this in our cabinets right now. And why shouldn't we? This whole grain is the
quickest breakfast option that is full of fiber, lowers cholesterol, and is loaded with nutrients.
If you aren’t a regular oats eater but you plan on keeping them long
term you'll want to transfer the contents to a tight container.
Oats stored in an unopened container can last for 2 to 3 years. They easily outlive
their expiration date. Frozen oats can last for about eight months when stored properly.
10. Butter The slab of butter sitting in
the fridge might be in better condition than you thought. Both opened and unopened butter can stay
in the fridge for 1 to 3 months. If you put it in the freezer its shelf life extends up to 1 year.
Another breakfast staple that perfectly goes with bread is peanut butter and an
unopened jar can go up to 9 months. Now you don't have to worry about
stocking up on peanut butter when it's on sale and figure out how much to buy.
While we’re on the topic of butter, another noteworthy mention would be ghee. It is a
staple of Indian cooking. It is believed that the older the ghee the more medicinal properties.
This clarified butter does not have any milk solids or moisture. Therefore it can last up to
20 years when stored properly. But if it is left in the freezer it can remain fresh indefinitely.
11. Powdered milk
This is literally dried milk. That means not a single drop of moisture
within will make it go bad. Milk powder can add extra richness to cookies, bread, cakes,
and other confectionery goods. An unopened packet can last up to 20 years. So don't worry about
keeping extra milk powder packets. When the avid baker in you wakes up, you’ll be ready!
12. Instant Coffee We all have our favorite
coffee shops for our regular morning joe. Although some might argue about the correct
brewing technique, having instant coffee at home is a quick fix to get a caffeine high.
A tightly sealed pack can stay fresh for up to 25 years in your pantry. It can stay even longer if
you put it in the freezer. Now you don't have to worry about your favorite brand selling out. For
such deep food insecurities, you can just freeze your favorite and enjoy it for the years to come.
13. Bullion cubes You obviously cannot
store containers of broth for very long, so compress the flavors and store them in the form
of bullion cubes. You can stock different types and flavors of these cubes and just dissolve them
in water to start an amazing broth. You can add vegetables, proteins, and noodles of your choice
and revamp the entire dish. When stored in cool and dark places they can last up to two years.
14. Salt
You might have seen your grandmother salting up meat cuts and preserves. Salt has the amazing
ability to dehydrate foods and keep them fresh for a longer time. Salt never goes bad and can
last forever. Although a few believe that iodized salt can last only up to five years.
Himalayan pink salt also lasts perfectly well without losing any of its qualities.
15. Sugar Storing sugar in
a hermetically sealed bag can not only maximize its freshness but keep ants and other bugs away.
White, brown, cane and even powdered sugar absorb moisture from the air and turn into rock-hard
lumps. Despite this, it won't go bad. You can use the same sugar by softening it in the microwave.
16. Canned fruits and vegetables The contents from a can stay good
up to 6 months after their expiry date. But they will taste the best before that date. They must
be stored properly in your cupboards, if it gets dented, bulged or if the liquid seeps out then
it's a clear sign that the contents are not in great shape. It would be best to throw it away.
You need to make water your best friend. If not, your body can give off subtle signs of
illness. Let's keep the conversation going with a couple of water-related videos, shall we?
Click on 16 crucial signs you’re not drinking enough water.
Or 15
clear signs your body is craving for more water.
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both,
and learn more about staying hydrated. Which is that one food that has been
sitting in your house for way too long now? Let us know in the comments below!