39 Foods You'll Wish You Had Stocked Before An Emergency

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A well-stocked pantry does more than save you an extra trip to the grocery store. It gives you the freedom to cook whenever you want, even if fresh ingredients are limited or unexpected situations keep you at home. Keeping a supply of foods with long shelf lives also helps cut down on waste and makes meal planning much easier.

While very few foods last forever in every condition, many pantry staples can stay safe and maintain their quality for years, or even decades, when stored properly in a cool, dry place. Here are 39 foods worth keeping on hand.

Honey

Pure honey is famous for its incredible shelf life. Thanks to its high sugar content and very low moisture, it naturally resists bacteria and spoilage. If it crystallizes over time, simply warm the jar in hot water to return it to a smooth consistency.

Salt

Salt has been preserving food for thousands of years. As long as it stays dry, it doesn’t spoil and will keep its flavor and preserving ability indefinitely.

Sugar

White sugar has an exceptionally long shelf life because bacteria and mold can’t grow in it. Store it in an airtight container to keep moisture out. Brown sugar may harden over time, but it can usually be softened and used again.

White Rice

White rice stores remarkably well because most of the oils have been removed during processing. When sealed and kept away from heat and moisture, it can remain good for decades.

Dried Beans

Beans are one of the best foods for long-term storage. Although they may take longer to cook as they age, they stay safe to eat for many years if stored properly.

Dried Lentils

Lentils cook faster than most dried beans and are packed with protein and fiber. Kept dry and sealed, they’ll last for years in the pantry.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is useful for thickening soups, sauces, gravies, and desserts. Stored in a cool, dry place, it has an extremely long shelf life.

Liquor

Distilled spirits like whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin have a very long shelf life because of their high alcohol content. Unopened bottles can remain stable for many years.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Its natural acidity helps keep apple cider vinegar stable for years. It works well in cooking, pickling, and many household uses.

Maple Syrup

Unopened pure maple syrup lasts a long time in the pantry. After opening, storing it in the refrigerator helps preserve its quality.

Instant Coffee

Freeze-dried instant coffee stores surprisingly well. When sealed tightly and protected from moisture, it can remain drinkable for many years.

Tea

Loose tea and tea bags keep their quality for years if protected from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.

Powdered Milk

Powdered milk is a favorite for emergency food storage because it lasts much longer than fresh milk while still providing protein and calcium.

Soy Sauce

The high salt content helps soy sauce stay stable for a very long time, especially while unopened.

Baking Soda

Baking soda keeps for years if stored in a sealed container. Besides baking, it’s handy for cleaning, deodorizing, and many household tasks.

Dried Pasta

Dry pasta is inexpensive, versatile, and stores well for years in a cool pantry.

Ghee

Because the milk solids have been removed, ghee lasts much longer than regular butter and can often be stored at room temperature until opened.

Bouillon Cubes

Bouillon cubes add instant flavor to soups, rice, sauces, and stews. Kept dry, they’ll last a very long time.

Pure Vanilla Extract

Real vanilla extract contains alcohol, allowing it to maintain its flavor for many years when tightly sealed.

Dried Spices

Spices slowly lose strength over time, but they usually remain safe to use for years. Replacing them occasionally gives you better flavor, but older spices can still be useful.

Cocoa Powder

Unsweetened cocoa powder stores well for years when kept away from moisture and humidity.

Coconut Oil

Unopened coconut oil has a relatively long shelf life because of its high saturated fat content. Store it in a cool location for the best quality.

Dried Seaweed

Seaweed stores extremely well if protected from moisture, making it a great pantry ingredient for soups, rice dishes, and snacks.

Jerky

Properly dried jerky can last for months, and commercially packaged versions often last much longer. Keeping it sealed helps preserve freshness.

Rice Vinegar

Like other vinegars, rice vinegar remains stable for years thanks to its acidity.

Canned Foods

Canned goods don’t last forever, but many stay safe well beyond their best-by dates if the cans remain in good condition. Check for dents, rust, swelling, or leaks before buying or using them.

Canned vegetables, fruit, soups, beans, and meats all make dependable pantry staples.

Mustard

Commercial mustard has a surprisingly long shelf life because of its vinegar content and natural preservatives.

Worcestershire Sauce

This pantry favorite contains vinegar and fermented ingredients that help it keep its quality for years when stored properly.

Alcohol-Based Extracts

Extracts such as almond, peppermint, lemon, and orange last for years because they’re preserved with alcohol.

Olive Oil

Olive oil doesn’t last as long as many dry goods, but unopened bottles generally stay fresh for up to two years when stored away from heat and light.

Dried Chilies

Whole dried chilies can remain flavorful for years if stored in airtight containers away from moisture.

Tahini

Unopened tahini has a long shelf life. Refrigerating it after opening helps preserve its flavor and texture.

Dried Fruit

Raisins, apricots, dates, cranberries, and other dried fruits store well because most of their moisture has been removed. Airtight containers help keep them fresh longer.

Pemmican

Made from dried meat, rendered fat, and sometimes dried berries, pemmican has been valued for centuries as a long-lasting, high-energy food.

Miso Paste

Fermented foods like miso naturally keep for a long time. Stored in the refrigerator, miso paste can remain good for years.

Pickles

Pickles packed in vinegar or brine stay fresh for a long time because the acidic liquid slows bacterial growth.

Fish Sauce

Fish sauce has a high salt content that allows it to stay stable for years while adding rich flavor to many recipes.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate stores longer than milk chocolate because it contains less dairy. Kept in a cool, dry place away from sunlight, it can stay good for several years.

Related: How to Make Homemade Chocolate