10 Everyday Foods That Will NEVER Expire

I adore food. The only thing I don't love about food is that it's perishable and has a wide range of expiration dates, making it difficult to know what's expired and what isn't. This is especially true if the label is somewhat difficult to read. For example, is that a three world one? There's a big difference. I know that these dates are frequently inaccurate, but have you ever eaten food the day after it should have expired?

I've been wondering in recent years, what foods to have on hand that won't spoil in the next three weeks in the event of a disaster that traps me in my basement for three years. I did some research on this and can tell you the answer is no Twinkie, so today we're going to talk about ten foods that practically never go bad.

First, and perhaps surprisingly, salt is a naturally occurring preservative that has been used for many centuries. It doesn't really expire because, in theory, it's just a rock or mineral that can absorb moisture, which is something we happen to eat a lot because it gives originally bland food a delicious taste. Beyond that, though, salt is invaluable for preserving and seasoning a wide variety of foods. Because salt can kill bacteria by drying them out on a cellular level, it also has medical uses in other contexts. This is also the reason salt is permanent. But be advised that not all salts you keep in your cabinet will live forever. For instance, iodized salt has a shelf life of just around five years. Table salt, sea salt, and culture salt, on the other hand, have a much longer shelf life.

Next up, sugar has an infinite shelf life regardless of color because, like salt, it has an unfriendly environment that truly does not support bacterial growth. However, how you store sugar also plays a big role in this; if you store it in a tightly closed container in a very dry area of your kitchen, it is unlikely that moisture will harden and ruin your supply of sugar. Though some claim that hardened brown sugar can still be used in any recipe if it is processed in a food processor or microwaved. After all, a lot of people are aware of this honey, which is known as the golden nectar of the gods. Yes, honey is exactly that; many people consider it to be the only food that may genuinely endure forever.

and we can thank the bees and flowers for his creation. Honey can last for thousands of years if stored properly because of the unique combination of bee enzymes and flower nectar that is highly acidic and low in moisture, which prevents bacteria from growing. In fact, an ancient supply of honey was discovered in Georgia that is over 5,000 years old, making it the oldest honey ever discovered. Even after the honey has crystallized and changed color, it cannot be returned to its original form by gently heating it.

next, maple syrup The best way to store maple syrup and extend its shelf life is to pour it into a glass container and place it inside a freezer water cooler. This will prevent spoilage and ensure that the syrup is always of the highest quality. However, there are instances where molding on the surface occurs; in these cases, maple producers advise removing the moldy portions and slightly boiling the syrup before refrigerating it again. Pure maple syrup, like honey, has an infinite shelf life due to its strong resistance to microbial growth.

White vinegar, In addition to its many household applications, white vinegar has an extremely long shelf life. Because of its low pH, vinegar essentially preserves itself and does not require refrigeration. Although some varieties of vinegar may change color or form sediments, they can still generally be consumed and used for other purposes. Today, vinegar is used not only as a condiment but also as a cleaning agent.

Next, those who prefer drinking hard liquor understand that they don't have to finish a bottle right away and can store it anywhere. They also don't have to worry about it going bad because once opened, liquor containers don't lose a few ounces due to evaporation and may even lose some of their unique aroma over time. Still, the liquor is always drinkable and tastes partially nose-well. Additionally, they work well as an excellent disinfectant in case of medical emergency, so even if you're not preserving them for eating, they can still be of great assistance. Next up, heart attack This cracker, which is really just water and plain flour, may seem like a pretty boring combination, but heart attacks are considered dietary staples and supplements throughout the world—not because of their flavor, but rather because of their durability. Proper preparation and storage can keep this dense cracker fresh for decades or even a century, making it the ideal emergency food.

White rice is number eight. This may surprise you, but raw white or polished rice can remain fresh and retain its nutritional value for decades when stored in an airtight container kept in a cool, dry place. Even if the container is covered in a thick layer of dust or dirt, the rice can still be cooked inside as long as you can keep bugs and insects out of it.Brown rice, on the other hand, has a substantially shorter shelf life—between six months and a year—due to its higher oil content and polish than regular rice.

I'm now in corn starch. Although we don't always eat corn starch for its flavor, we do use it as a thickening agent to make different syrups, juices, and sauces. In addition to being a very nutrient-rich food item, this gluten-free powder is also effective in treating burrs and rashes, cleaning hair, and eliminating odors. For these reasons, everyone should keep some in their cupboard. You really don't need to worry about throwing it out or replacing your supply too often if you store it in an airtight container in a cool place. If you do that, your corn starch will pretty much last well.

Before all else, pemmican—which, for the most part, you may not be familiar with—is the ultimate survival food for many survivalists for a variety of reasons. We owe it to the Native American tribes for creating it; it's made of dried meat that has been ground into a powder along with berries and rendered fat. Because it's a rich source of protein that can be stored for a long time, pemmican has earned the title of the ultimate survival food if prepared and stored properly. Some even swear that this nutrient-dense, well-preserved food is a staple of Canadian cuisine and was preferred to the food of fur traders and explorers of the Arctic and Antarctic who traveled great distances and had little chance to resupply their food supplies. This food was so valuable to so many that it was once at the center of the Pemmican War, a conflict that lasted nearly ten years and involved both raw and cooked pemmican.

There you have it, folks. The next time you're shopping for the apocalypse, make sure to include these items on your list. Additionally, I should have mentioned water because without it, food will spoil quickly and water never goes bad. However, in case this essay ends up being used as a shopping list for the end of the world, some people may use it to stockpile honey, rice, and corn starch, which will keep them comfortable in their bunkers until the zombie apocalypse occurs, at which point they will realize that they don't have water. I just want to make sure that doesn't happen.