Honey
oney
is a really unique food in that it can last
forever thanks
to its chemical composition that makes it extremely difficult for
bacteria growth. Moreover, if you buy sealed jars with honey in them,
you can be absolutely sure that it can’t spoil as it won’t
come in contact with air and water.
While
excavating one of the Egyptian pyramids, archaeologists discovered some
jars of honey. The average age of the finding was around
2,000-3,000 years old.
It was still perfectly edible — the archaeologists even
tasted it! Some years later, 5,500 year-old honey was found
in Georgia.
Sugar
Like
salt, sugar lasts for an indefinitely long period of time,
especially if you store it in an airtight container. But
even if sugar absorbs water from the air and turns into a solid rock,
it doesn’t lose its quality.
By the
way, powdered sugar and brown sugar can also be stored as long
as common sugar.
Vinegar
White vinegar
is another product without
an expiration date,
but you should still be sure to store it under proper
conditions. If you want to keep vinegar for a long time, the
best way to store it is in its original airtight container
in a cool, dark place away from heat sources.
Strong
alcoholic drinks
Alcoholic
drinks like vodka, whisky, rum and cognac have no expiration date,
but it’s important to store them in a cool dark place
in properly sealed bottles.
Salt
Salt
is actually a mineral, not a product, which is why it’s
impossible for it to spoil. Of course, the mineral can quickly
absorb water, turning into one huge rock over time. But ultimately, salt always
remains just that, salt.
However,
remember that iodized salt lasts only around a year. During this period of time,
iodine usually evaporates and the salt loses its useful quality, although you
can still use it as common table salt.
Dried
kidney beans
Researchers
from Brigham Young University have found out that after 30 years
of storing, dried kidney beans had changed their visual appearance, but
all the samples remained acceptable for use in emergency situations. They
concluded that dried kidney beans, as well as other beans, can last
for at least 30 years.
Maple
syrup
According
to the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association, an unopened bottle
of maple syrup can be kept indefinitely. And
even after having opened it, you can use it for several years if you keep
it in a refrigerator.
Soy
sauce
Soy
sauce can be stored safely for at least 3 years
even if the bottle has been opened. The shelf life of soy sauce
in an airtight container can be much longer, but it depends on conditions like the type
of soy sauce it is, the way that it was processed, its quality,
and the storage temperature.
For example,
high quality soy sauce can only be made through natural fermentation,
a process that usually takes anywhere from several months to two
years. Only this type of soy sauce can last more than three years. That’s
why you should beware of certain brands that add chemicals to speed
up the fermentation process.
Powdered
milk
Powdered
milk that is processed according to all the appropriate health
standards can be stored for a long time
without losing its nutritional value — just as long as it’s
stored in an airtight container.
Rice
The
best temperature to store rice is at 4.5°C or below. It’s
better to store rice in plastic containers for foods (PETE)
or in glass jars. As one study shows, under these conditions,
rice can be stored up to 30 years and
it won’t lose its aroma or nutritional value. It’s also worth
mentioning that the study used 2 types of rice — parboiled and
polished grains.
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