9 familiar foods with a shelf life of... 5,500 years
These familiar foods can be kept for up to 30 years, 5,500 years... some can even be kept "forever".
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| Honey: One of the foods with the longest shelf life, honey contains chemical components that make it difficult for bacteria to grow. Moreover, if honey is kept in a sealed jar, not exposed to air and water, it can be kept forever. It is known that while researching in Georgia, archaeologists also discovered a 5,500-year-old jar of honey. And more special is that it can still be eaten, retaining the original flavor. |
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| Vinegar: According to an article published on EatbyDate, vinegar is a product that does not have an expiration date. However, to achieve a permanent shelf life, make sure to store vinegar in a sealed jar, in a cool place, away from heat sources and out of sunlight. Although vinegar does not cause any harm, the composition and flavor of vinegar will change slightly after about 5 - 10 years. |
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| Cornstarch: Depending on how you store it, the shelf life of cornstarch will be determined. If corn is stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, the shelf life can be up to forever. |
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| Salt: Included in the list of foods with the longest shelf life on Earth, salt is used to preserve food because it can remove moisture quite well. However, coarse salt grains can absorb water and clump after a period of storage but can still be used. If your salt jar has added iodine, it can only retain its quality for 1 year. After this time, the iodine activity will be lost and it will become normal salt. |
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| Dried beans: According to research by scientists at Brigham Young University (USA), after 30 years, dried beans, although there are big changes in appearance, are still safe for users. Specifically, after 30 years, although the overall quality of the beans has decreased, the protein ratio in the beans is still at an acceptable level for use in emergency situations. |
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| Sugar: Similar to salt, sugar has a seemingly indefinite shelf life. It is best to store granulated sugar and powdered sugar in a tightly sealed jar or container, keeping the outside air out. However, even if sugar absorbs water from the air and forms a solid lump, the quality of the sugar will remain almost unchanged. In addition, powdered sugar, brown sugar, rock sugar, etc. also have a permanent shelf life if stored properly. |
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| Vanilla extract: Besides environmental factors, the shelf life of vanilla is determined by the ingredients in this oil, is it 100% pure or not? Pure vanilla has a shelf life of forever. However, you must be careful to buy pure vanilla extract from reputable suppliers to ensure adequate alcohol content and purity as well as antibacterial packaging... |
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| Rice: According to scientists, the prerequisite is that the ambient temperature must be less than 4.5 degrees Celsius and the rice must be kept in a glass jar or a specialized, sealed plastic box. If these conditions are met, the rice can be preserved for 30 years without significant loss of flavor or nutritional value. |
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| Red Maple Syrup: Mildly sweet, like honey but not too sweet, red maple syrup is often used as a honey substitute. Unopened, this syrup will keep indefinitely, but once opened, you will need to refrigerate it. |
