The term staple foods is reserved for foods
that have a long shelf life. Many food companies are adamant about making foods that can last
on shelves for a longer time because in the long run it’s better for them. Better for
storage, better for transport, longer shelf life. How long can that shelf life actually
be? Well let’s take a look at 10 foods that never expire. Sugar Of course sugar never expires - the most evil
food in the world will hang in there haunting you from your cupboards for the rest of your
life. Why doesn’t sugar expire? Well there’s a super science-y explanation behind that
one. It has everything to do with microorganisms and how long they can last on their own. Sugar
soaks up what little bit of moisture there is contained in microorganisms, causing them
to die, rather than making the sugar rot. (However, if you keep sugar in a very humid
or wet environment, this handy tactic goes out the window, and then the sugar CAN go
bad.) But with proper storage, this could be why sugar is in everything - its just always
around and readily available. Please know that once you mix sugar into anything it can
now expire but on it’s own it will last a lifetime. Don’t mix this fact up with
brown sugar, the way that brown sugar has to be processed leaves it open for dryness
and the opportunity to clump together. We all know clumped together is the most annoying
thing ever. This never happens with white sugar and that is leaving us suspicious. We
will admit that it’s pretty handy that sugar never expires, at least we know something
will always be there for us. Albeit a fattening food item but, beggars can’t be choosers. Instant Coffee The smell of Instant Coffee is quite amazing.
There are not many things that can instantly perk you up after just one smell. Fresh ground
coffee is always the best but instant coffee is a good buffer when that isn’t available.
Fresh ground coffee never keeps its freshness after a while it doesn’t taste the same
and it’s not as strong. According to Canitgobad.com, coffee doesn’t expire in a typical way.
“In most cases coffee doesn’t go bad in a way that it’s spoiled and you can get
sick after drinking a cup brewed with it. It will, however, lose its taste over time
and after a certain period of time the coffee will start to taste stale or tasteless.”.
When it comes to instant coffee, it can stick around for a pretty long time. In some cases
when it’s stored while still at its best, it can last indefinitely. That being said,
if you are worried that your coffee has gone bad something to look out for are mold in
the container it is sealed in. But, it takes a lot for coffee to grow mold. Powdered Milk So let’s be clear - like everything else
on this list powdered milk can go bad if not stored properly. Powdered milk, also known
as dried milk, is chalked full of preservatives to keep it useable for years upon years. Manufacturers
recommend that you use powdered milk within 18 months. But the USDA has confirmed that
powdered milk can be stored indefinitely. Some survival stores sell nonfat dry powdered
milk labeled with a 25-year shelf life. Apparently, the shelf life depends on the type of powdered
milk; nonfat, whole, or buttermilk. Like everything else, the storage life of this product depends
on how it’s stored, what type of milk it is and what it’ s stored in. Some people
recommend using mason jars for a tight seal that cannot break unless broken. Another way
powdered milk can last even longer is by freezing it. Usually things that are frozen are automatically
in preservation mode and powdered milk is no different. If you choose not to freeze
it or preserve it correctly, start looking out for signs of it going bad. Yellow discoloration,
a bad odor, if it looks as though it’s clumpy - this could all mean that moisture got in
there somehow. It’s best to throw it out at that point. You don’t want to risk a
hurt stomach and anything that goes along with drinking spoiled powdered milk. Soy Sauce How many people have a bottle of soy sauce
in their cupboards that they refuse to toss out? You know the one. Where the lid is a
mess and the contents of the bottle have spilled out onto the side of the lid leaving that
disgusting ring of now sticky soy sauce on the edges. The bottle itself looks old yet,
the contents of the bottle are dang near perfect, how is this possible? What kind of sorcery
is this? The crazy part is, it tastes the same as the day we got it. After some research,
a lightbulb went off and it turns out that soy sauce is yet another one of those staple
items that will not expire. Like many seasonings and sauces, soy has acid-hydrolyzed vegetable
protein. This veggie protein also contributes to long-lasting shelf life. Traditional soy
sauce only has 4 ingredients; water, salt, soybeans and wheat and normally only enough
is made for whatever it is being used for. Our question is; if it is only 4 ingredients
why aren’t we all making it fresh instead of ingesting the one with a lot of chemicals
to expand its shelf life? Popcorn Kernels Popcorn kernels are one of those foods that
can just sit on a shelf and wait patiently for someone to feel like cooking them up.
This is not only amazing it’s comforting. Seeing as popcorn is actually a pretty healthy
snack before being loaded up with butter and all sorts of random stuff for flavor. It is
100% whole grain and you can eat like 6 cups worth of it in one sitting. This makes me
wonder if there is something called the popcorn diet. Maybe we should be the ones to create
it. Unpopped and properly stored kernels will last indefinitely. Microwave popcorn coated
in all that coagulated melted butter will last a good 6-8 months. And popped popcorn
will last a solid 3 weeks - if you can handle how stale it gets. All of this sounds like
a pretty good deal to us. Think about it, if you popped some popcorn somewhere that
thing will last 3 weeks on your person if stored well. That being said, here are some
signs that could indicate that your microwave popcorn has gone bad. If when you remove the
cellophane wrapping there is a weird smell, that means the butter and oils coating the
kernels have gone bad. If you pop kernels and A LOT of them don’t pop, it is not at
it’s best. Red Wine Yes, that’s right your beloved red wine
can last for hundreds of years. As long as it is of good quality and it’s stored correctly.
What is a good quality wine? Look for information about where the wine was made or how long
the fruits aged for, and when you get as far as opening the bottle, smell it. If you can
smell particular flavors and you can taste hints of those flavors you are good to go.
But, of course, one of the best indicators is the year the batch was made. If you look
up the region it was made in and the weather during that time, it’s usually a good indicator
if this wine is quality. Even if you happen to pick up a fairly cheap bottle or box of
wine, that doesn’t mean it will necessarily expire soon. Storing it in a cool and dark
place is recommended. After opening it, remember to seal it tightly - and even better, put
it in the fridge! So, now that we have that out of the way we should mention that some
wines are actually made to go bad. How to tell if it’s bad? It’s fairly simple.
You need to examine its looks, smell and taste. If it has changed its color, or it has developed
off odor, it’s bad and you should throw it out. If it doesn’t taste the same, or
has a vinegar-y effect, toss it. Better to be safe than sorry. Canola Oil At one time there was a huge controversy over
canola oil - people were confused about how bad it was for you. The oil is vegetable-based
and from Canada. Yet, it’s hard to find out exactly which vegetable is being used.
This sounds like a product that would enjoy a long shelf life. Don’t get it twisted
though, not every oil has an indefinite shelf life. But, now that canola oil has received
a clean bill of health, many people are flocking to it. Not only because of that healthy checkmark
but because they can use it confidently 3 years down the road and then some. According
to Eat This, Not That, “It can last up to two years in a cool, dry place and for an
indefinite amount of time if stored in the fridge.” This apparently goes for the oils
in spray cans as well. They are even more preserved than the ones in the jug. Canola
oil is found in so many things we eat on a regular basis like meat. Once the teeny tiny
seeds are pressed, the shells that are remaining are mixed in with livestock feed. So even
if you are actively trying to avoid this oil, it may be harder than you thought to keep
it out of your diet. Spam People just don’t believe that anything
in a can be healthy. So let’s take a look at why people believe Spam can go bad. We
all know that once meat is processed, it needs to be eaten in a certain amount of time. There
is an assumption that because Spam is in a can and looks like it has been minced to paste,
that it is cooked. This is where we all get it wrong. Spam has been preserved like a boss
in that can. No, seriously, it sits in a salt brine that keeps it as fresh as a salt brine
can keep anything. So essentially it is ready to eat from the can - no cooking or seasoning
or anything else is really required. Unopened cans of any kind of meat (chicken, fish, tuna
etc) usually have a shelf life of 2-5 years after the best before date. However, many
people have admitted to eating their long lost can of Spam well after that. According
to survivalistboards.com Spam is fine to eat after that 5-year mark, the only difference
is the taste might be dull. Dull meat over no meat? Guess we’re trying dull meat for
the first time. Dry Beans Beans should be a staple in everyone’s diet
- they are high in protein and filling. Most people avoid beans because they don’t know
how to cook them. Or, they think they take too long to cook - and to be honest canned
beans are way easier to deal with. Toss them in a pot and stir for a few minutes. Then
add them to just about anything. Dry beans need to be boiled or soaked for a certain
amount of time. Depending on the bean, it’s best to start overnight. But the upside is
they will last a very, very, very long time in your cupboard until you have the time to
cook them. This has everything to do with the fact that they are dried. So, as long
as you store them correctly and don’t allow any moisture into their package than everything
should be fine. If you’re really not a fan of dried beans, than by all means get yourself
some canned beans - they too can last a pretty long time in your cupboard. Canned beans can
safely last for a year in your cupboard and even after they are still edible but tread
lightly, every once in a while you come across a can after a year and well, let’s just
say the smell that comes out of it after you open it is not the greatest. If you don't
finish an opened can of beans, think about putting them in the freezer. You can get another
year out of canned beans that have been frozen. White Vinegar White Vinegar isn’t something that many
people think of as a staple - what do you need white vinegar for? A lot actually. It
can be used to pickle fruits and vegetables and clean meat before cooking. And it’s
actually pretty popular when you are making your own sauces and marinades. Think about
it, if vinegar is good for all these things it makes sense that it has a long shelf life.
According to Eat This, Not That, vinegar is self-preserving. There’s even a vinegar
institute that provides information and research on the latest that is going on with this food.
There are a number of health benefits that also go along with white vinegar. Don’t
make the mistake of thinking that brown or malt vinegar is the same. They too are somewhat
self-preserving but there are way more ingredients that go into it. Hence the color and the more
potent taste. The acidic nature of this product also means that it does not require refrigeration. Checking us out for the first time? Then go
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