10 common foods that will never expire
Expiration dates can be so confusing these days, but with the foodstuffs in the list below you don’t need to worry. Huffington Post has put together a list of 10 common foods that you can still use, even if you’ve had them sitting in your pantry since the 60s.
The reason? They’re never going to go off.
1. Honey
Even though it might change colour and become crystallised after a certain amount of time, honey stays safe to eat indefinitely, which just might put those bees out of business.
2. Rice
Brown rice has a higher oil content which can make it go off, but as long as it’s kept in an airtight container any type of white rice from jasmine to basmati should keep fine.
3. White vinegar
Don’t be afraid to buy bulk when it comes to white vinegar as it keeps fresh forever and is quite a useful ingredient when it comes to dressings and marinades.
4. Vanilla extract
Pure vanilla extract will stay fresh, but this isn’t true for the imitation brands. So it’s worth forking out a little more for a bottle of vanilla extract that won’t expire.
5. Salt
A bowl of hot chips would be lost without it, and the ever-important seasoning that is salt will stay fresh as the day you purchased it for years and years and years.
6. Sugar
Sugar doesn’t spoil as it doesn’t support bacterial growth, but you have to be careful and store it in an airtight container to keep bugs and moisture out.
7. Hard liquor
While some varieties of hard liquor might lose their aroma slightly over time, most types of hard liquor will stay good as long as you keep it in a cool, dark place.
8. Dried beans
While the ones that have been sitting in your cupboard since the 60s will take a while to soften when cooked, beans actually don’t lose their nutritional value with age.
9. Instant coffee
Keep instant coffee in the freezer and it will last forever, sealed or not.
10. Maple syrup
A stack of pancakes wouldn’t be complete without this popular condiment, and just like instant coffee if you keep it frozen it would keep forever.
Do you use any of these food on a common basis?
Let us know in the comments.
Related links:
5 reasons why it’s important to let kids loose in the kitchen
Bananas under threat of extinction
Heston Blumenthal’s 10 tricks for the perfect roast potato