13 Types of Food You Can Store for Years (With preservation tips)

Even if your food security is not at stake at present, it is a wise move to store some for emergencies. Because you never know when food shortages might turn our world upside down. Especially, if you live in an area prone to floods, keeping a stash of food with a long shelf life can be a literal lifesaver. 

Dry beans, pasta, sugar, and rice last for a long time and can be stored for more than 2 years. Moist bouillon cubes, cheese, honey, canned foods have a longer shelf life as well. 

Some of the foods you can store for years need to go through special procedures of storing. Otherwise, they tend to go bad even if they have a longer shelf life. So, in this article, I will list down a number of foods that have an excellent shelf life and include the proper way of storing them. 

Why Is It Necessary to Store Foods?

Natural calamities and probable food shortages are the two reasons you should be considering a food stash. 

People often get panicked at the news of any forthcoming natural calamity. And they start panic buying. In such cases, you might not get the foods you need at the stores easily. To avoid such a situation you should consider storing foods that have a longer shelf life. 

You never know when a recession might disrupt the normalcy of your day-to-day life. And it might limit your access to a good amount of food. Why take any risk when you can store some food for a longer period of time.

Sometimes you might want to make the most of your grocery shopping budget. And buying food in bulk always saves some money. And you obviously want to store them for a long time. So you should buy foods in bulk that you can store for years. Otherwise, it is of no use to save money on groceries if you cannot consume the foods later on.

Which Foods Can You Store for Years?

You cannot store every food item for years. Some food items remain as it is even after years whereas others go bad soon after the expiry date. Here is a list of few foods you can store for a number of years: 

#1 Canned Foods

According to the USDA, canned foods have an indefinite shelf life if you store them properly. However, you can store high acid canned fruits or pickled products for approximately 2 years. And if you want to store canned products beyond that time, go for low acid canned vegetable or meat products.

Store the products in a dry and cool place where the temperature is between 50 to 70 degrees F. If you store them below or above that temperature the food will lose its quality. Also, try to store products that are in glass jars. Because foods in glass jars remain good for a longer period of time, compared to the foods in steel cans.

If you are canning foods at home, rinse the glass jars and dry them properly before placing food in them. Seal the jars with concave lids as such lids prevent air from growing molds in the food. Before consuming them, make sure to boil the foods for 10 to 15 minutes for a better taste.

#2 Water or Drinking Beverages 

At this moment, the idea of storing drinking beverages, especially water, might seem funny to you. But, during natural disasters drinking water gets contaminated easily. In such cases, water scarcity can put you in a real life-threatening situation. So it is wiser to store safe water or drinking beverages.

You can store water for a long period in food-grade plastic containers, in a cool and dry place. If the water is from public supplies you do not need to purify it before storing it. But if you are storing water from any well or spring, you need to purify or disinfect it.

Water itself has no expiry date but you should avoid storing plastic bottled water. Those bottled water can affect your respiratory system and immunity once they reach way beyond their expiration date. Because the harmful plastic compounds of the bottle accumulate in the water after the expiry date.

Liquors are not something of great value but still, you can store them if you are willing to. Moderate amounts of liquor consumption can have a positive impact on your circulatory system. Unopened liquor bottles will taste the same even after years if you properly store them.

You need to store the hard liquors in a relatively cooler and dark area, specifically a cabinet or pantry. Otherwise, in a warmer place, they will not have the longest shelf life. While storing wine make sure to flip the bottle once in a while to keep the cork moist. Otherwise, the cork will crack and will leave the wine to oxidize. And it will taste acidic.

#3 Dark Chocolate 

Dark chocolate is richer in minerals than milk chocolate. As it has antioxidants, it lowers your stress level. And a small chunk of a dark chocolate bar is a literal energy booster. So, consider storing it for any unfortunate event or forthcoming calamity. 

You can preserve dark chocolate for approximately 2 years. Do not throw away the wrapper in which it comes. Because the wrapper is ideal to keep dark chocolate in its good forms for years. However, if the wrapper is not in good condition, wrap the chocolates tightly in aluminum foil and keep them in your cupboard or pantry.

If you don’t have enough space in your cupboard, store it in a dry place where the temperature ranges from 54 degrees to 65 degrees F. Way below or way beyond temperature will form grey streaks on the bars. Try to keep the strong odor away. Otherwise, over time, chocolate will absorb the odor and smell bad. 

I suggest you not Freeze chocolate as it attracts moisture and spoils easily. But if you are in a hot and humid area, you should wrap the chocolate in foil and a paper towel before placing it in the freezer. It is better if you keep the bars in the freezer for 24 hours before storing them in the freezer. 

#4 Powdered Milk

Milk is the main ingredient for a lot of beverages and dishes. So, for your food storage, you should definitely give this food a thought. It is better to store powdered milk instead of gallons of liquid milk. As dry milk is handier, easy to use, and has a longer shelf life. 

As per the USDA, if you do not open the packet, you can store powdered milk for five to seven years. However, you can store it in sealed Mylar bags or canning jars with an oxygen absorber. 

Surprisingly it is true that storing powdered milk in the freezer increases its shelf life. Seal the milk in doubled-up freezer bags. And place them in the freezer at 0 degrees F. 

#5 Instant Coffee

If you happen to be a caffeinator, you will crave coffee regardless of the time and situation. And for that caffeine fix, instant coffee powder comes in handy. If you can store it properly, it will last for more than 5 years.

The coffee powder can get lumpy if it comes in contact with air frequently. So, use an air-tight opaque container to store them in a dark, dry, and cool place. If the coffee comes in a vacuum-sealed package already, you can keep the unopened package in your pantry without having to worry much. 

#6 Pasta

If you love some Italian cuisine, it will delight you that pasta can be stored for over 5 years. You should use some wide-mouth glass jars to store the pasta in a dry and cool place.

Sometimes critters or weevils make their way into the dried pasta. To keep them away, add some dried laurel leaves to the pasta. For better long-term storage, add an oxygen scavenger or oxygen absorber in the jars. 

#7 Oats

Oats are one of the must-have pantry staples.  It is cheaper in price but high in nutritional value. If you can store them properly, they last up to 30 years. And it is no joke! 

You should select organic oats that contain no added flavoring or pesticide. Such oats do not expire or go bad quickly. You should store the oats in food-grade storage buckets or in Mylar bags along with an oxygen absorber. It will keep the air and moisture out so that the oats do not discolor or smell bad. 

#8 Rice

You can store rice, specifically white rice in bulk for more than 30 years in a dry and cool place. Avoid storing brown rice as it does not have a longer shelf life. Brown rice contains oil in its layers which causes it to go bad way too soon than white rice.

Clean and sanitize food-grade containers before storing rice in them. Otherwise, over time rice will smell bad. Make sure to add an oxygen absorber especially made for dry foods. Because it will not absorb all the oxygen from the container. And it is a good condition for the rice to stay in its perfect condition for years.

#9 Gouda Cheese

If you are looking for a vegetarian-friendly alternative source of protein to store, Gouda cheese is the answer. It has a longer shelf life of over 20 years.

Wrap the cheese in parchment paper and store them in the freezer. Every time you cut off a chunk, brush vegetable shortening over the remaining cheese. It will help it to stay in good condition. 

#10 Honey

Honey is easy to store in any cool corner of your kitchen. To keep the quality of the stored honey as good as possible, you should avoid refrigerating it. A room temperature between 70 to 80 degrees F is fine to store honey. 

Consider storing honey in a dark place to keep its consistency better. Try to avoid using a steel jar or else it will oxidize the honey. Using a glass jar is a better choice indeed.

#11 Bouillon Cubes

When you have some bouillon cubes on hand, preparing a fulfilling meal seems easy peasy. All you need to do is boil water and add some cubes to enjoy some good broth. 

These cubes are high in salt so they do not go bad quickly. However, you need to store them in some Mylar bags so that mold does not grow on them. You can keep the bags in the kitchen cabinet or pantry. The cubes will remain good for up to 2 years.

#12 Sugar

Though sugar never spoils if it is kept right away from humidity and heat, it is suggested not to store sugar for more than 2 years. Sugar easily attracts moisture. So it is necessary to store it in airtight jars to prevent it from clumping.

Avoid storing powdered sugar. Because even in airtight containers, it becomes lumpy. Also, avoid a damp area to store or else stored sugar will absorb the damp odor. 

#13 Dry Beans

Dry beans are a good source of nutrition. It is wiser and easier to store some dry beans for any emergency. You can store them for up to 3 years in a cool and dark place.

You can store them either in the freezer or at room temperature between 70 to 80 degrees F. Mason jars are good to store dry beans for a couple of years. Add some bay leaves to the beans to keep weevils away.

What are Some of the Methods to Preserve Food for Years?

Meat and seasonal vegetable or fruit products need to be preserved followed by some specific methods. Otherwise, molds easily grow on the foods and such foods are not worth smelling let alone consuming.  Here are a few commonly used preservation methods for keeping foods good for years:

Canning

https://youtu.be/qH6i9DyDb38

There are two ways to can food at home, one is a water bath and the other is pressure canning. You should follow the water bath canning procedure to store high acid food or jam, jellies, pickles, and such items. And pressure canning for the low acid food items. 

For water bath canning you need nothing special but can jars and stockpot. To preserve store-bought canned foods, boil the cans of foods at 212 degrees F for ten minutes. And bring them to room temperature before storing.

If you want to can fresh vegetables, boil an empty can jar at 212 degrees F boiling water in a pot for 10 minutes. After that place the veggies in the jar, and pour some warm water and a drop of vinegar. 

Before sealing the canned foods and storing them in a dry place, tap them gently. It will kill the air bubbles inside. Now the veggies or fruits are ideal to store for 2 years.

For canning meat or low acid products, you will definitely need a pressure canner. The procedure is similar to water bathing. But the temperature should be higher, specifically 240 degrees F. 

Foods You Can Store by Water Bath Canning:

• Tomatoes 

• Salsas or Pickles 

• Jams and Jellies

• Processed foods 

• Zucchini 

• Cherries 

• Beans

Foods to Store by Pressure Canning:

• Chili peppers

• Corn

• Beets

• All kinds of seafood and poultry 

• Potatoes 

• Carrots

• Spinach 

Drying Foods

https://youtu.be/FKSgyjk_e3c

This method is nothing but removing moisture from foods. Moisture attracts molds, yeast, and bacteria easily. Therefore, you cannot store foods for years that are high in moisture without drying them. Dried foods stay good for up to 5 years.

You can dry herbs or leafy vegetables in your attic. Tie them in bundles and hang them upside down until they are completely dry. Then, place them in airtight jars and store them in a cool, dry place. 

If you have an oven you can dry the food there. Cut the fruits, herbs, or vegetables and place them in a paper towel. Microwave them in high power for two to four minutes. Do not forget to rearrange the chunks every 30 seconds of oven drying. Cool them down and store them in the pantry in jars. 

Dried foods are a good addition to baked goods or some broth, soup, and smoothies. And dried fruits are a better option to snack on at any time. 

Foods You Can Dry and Store

• Strawberries 

• Bananas 

• All herbs and leafy veggies

• Carrots

• Blueberry 

• Broccoli

• Apricots etc.

Freezing Foods

It is one of the go-to preservation methods. If you freeze foods properly at 0 degrees F, the foods will remain safe to eat for many years to come.

You can store bite-size fruits and vegetables in the freezer. Wash them and place them on a paper towel. After drying, transfer them to an open tray and cover them with plastic cling wrap. Keep the tray in the freezer for 12 hours. Then transfer the foods in freezer bags and store them in the freezer.

Foods You Can Freeze for Years:

• Kiwi

• Mangoes

• Peaches 

• Onions

• Peppers

• Carrots

• All the leafy veggies 

Few Tips for Long Term Food Storage

The what-ifs situations are really troublesome when it comes to long-term food storage. So, I thought a few basic tips might help you out. 

• If you are worried about weevils sneaking into your pantry, vacuum your pantry shelves. And then wipe the shelves with half water and white vinegar. 
• If it seems too much of a chore, keep some basil or bay leaves and garlic cloves in the pantry. It will keep the bugs away.
• While storing flours or items in heavier jars, make sure to place the jars on lower shelves. It will help you to handle them easily when cleaning your shelves. 
• If you do not have enough space in your cupboard for long-term storage, consider using your basement. It is one of the most stable places to store dried food or root veggies for years.

Conclusion 

There are plenty of foods you can store for years. Though many people don’t give this much thought. But they are the ones who end up regretting their lack of preparation when an unfortunate event occurs. 

So, reading this article and getting acquainted with foods with a long shelf life is your first step in the right direction. Now, it’s time to bulk buy and stock up.