Foods that never (or almost never) expire

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

When stocking up on groceries, whether it’s for an emergency stash or merely because they’re on sale, it’s important to note what ingredients are going to give more bang for their buck. While fresh foods have a shelf life of mere days, there are others that can stick around for years—or will never expire at all!

The foods and drinks in this gallery are sure to be around when you need them. Save yourself some money and click through to find out the foods that will last the longest!

White rice

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

While brown rice can only last around six months due to its oils, white rice can be kept indefinitely. As long as it is well-sealed and kept away from moisture, it’s definitely a food staple.

Maple syrup

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

While fake maple syrup does have a shelf life, the real stuff does not. As long as it remains unopened, you can keep this around forever.

Canned coconut milk

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

If powdered milk isn’t your thing, try canned coconut milk. Cook it into your food or use it for your baking needs. It will last for more than a year.

Red wine

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

Not all wine is created equal. While commercial wines may last from one to three years, fine wine will stick around for decades. As a note though, the wine must be unopened. That just means you can stock up though.

Olives

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

Good for anything from appetizers to martinis, unopened jars of olives have a shelf life of up to three years.

Salt

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

This is probably a good thing, as it’s unlikely you know how long it's been since you last filled your salt shaker. Not only can salt help preserve your food for longer, as long as it doesn’t get wet, it will never spoil.

Popcorn

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

While popped popcorn may go bad and stale after a while, popcorn kernels will remain ready to go for several years.

Sugar

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

Stored in an airtight container (as long as you keep water and bugs out) you can sweeten your food for as long as you like. Be warned, however, that the texture may change.

Marinara sauce

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

There’s a reason that spaghetti is a go-to staple when you have no more groceries in the house. A jar of marinara sauce is good for a year past the best-by date if unopened.

Spam

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

One of the least shocking entries on this list, spam is made to last. However, it may surprise you that it may not last forever. Typically it’s recommended to consume it within two to five years of its best-by date.

Meat jerky

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

Similar to pemmican, meat jerky was made to last. An unopened pack will last you for a year or two (if you manage to restrain yourself for that long).

Canned tuna

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

Similar to spam, canned tuna has a rather long shelf life. It also lasts around two to five years past its best-by date, making it a particularly good “stocking up” purchase.

Vanilla extract

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

This delicious baking staple has just enough alcohol in it to keep the bacteria away, ensuring an almost indefinite shelf life. Just make sure it’s the real stuff though, as imitation vanilla won’t stay good nearly as long.

Canned tomatoes

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

Much like marinara sauce, canned tomatoes are also a good investment. They can last you up to two years.

Instant coffee

White rice, Maple syrup, Canned coconut milk, Red wine, Marinara sauce, Meat jerky, Canned tuna, Vanilla extract, Canned tomatoes, Instant coffee

Not anyone's first choice, but it will do in a pinch. Keep instant coffee in a cool, dry place for your emergency caffeine needs. Properly stored, it will keep for years.

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