foods that do not spoil

**sinopa27** · 10-03-2011, 03:10 AM

I was wondering if there was any food that won't spoil. So far, I can only come up with honey. Or....can honey spoil?

Any ideas?

**pollypurebred39** · 10-03-2011, 03:48 AM

Sugar and believe it or not soy sauce has such a long shelf life it's considered indefinite. I know the bottles have dates on them but they are good many, many, many years past that date.

Dried beans if stored properly

I'm fairly certain rice has a crazy long shelf life if stored properly.

**nodmicks** · 10-03-2011, 08:49 AM

I just read white rice had a 10 year shelf life. I'm the only one in the family who likes rice and I shouldnt eat the white. I might just put a few bags in the stockpile just in case.

**TheRootedNomad** · 10-03-2011, 08:57 AM

Honey is the only one I'm sure about. Grains make me nervous because if the temperature isn't just right you get weevils (sp?).

Beans that are dried and then proprerly stored, like maybe vacuum sealed would be my next choice.

**shp1055** · 10-03-2011, 09:05 AM

Rooted: if you put bay leaves in with your grains you shouldn't have this problem. Replace the bay leaves occassionally.

**low-1** · 10-03-2011, 09:26 AM

Pemmican...

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-03-2011, 11:44 AM

"Properly stored" being the deciding factor many foods will keep indefinitely, especially things that have been canned or heat pasturized/vacuum sealed.

But eventually everything starts to break down at the molecular level. Things will get soggy/stale/tasteless (even packaged up) long before they go "bad" and become unsafe to eat.

**low-1** · 10-03-2011, 12:29 PM

Salt as well, if you consider it a food

**peanut** · 10-03-2011, 05:55 PM

I think the only one I can think of is honey. Most everything else is dependent on proper storage temperature, humidity, light, etc. to stay good for long. But honey can take anything and be good as far as I know. I'd be interested to hear if anyone knows any different.

**Paws** · 10-03-2011, 07:54 PM

Originally Posted by sinopa27

I was wondering if there was any food that won't spoil. So far, I can only come up with honey. Or....can honey spoil?
Any ideas?

I'm not sure about this, but I was told mustard will last almost forever...something about the vinegar in it...

**peanut** · 10-03-2011, 11:58 PM

Hmm...I got food poisoning off mustard that wasn't kept in the fridge.

So I'd axe that one.

What about international dishes like kimchi and sauerkraut? They go more sour with age, but do they actually ever go bad?

**Josephhgoins** · 10-04-2011, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by peanut

Hmm...I got food poisoning off mustard that wasn't kept in the fridge.

So I'd axe that one.

What about international dishes like kimchi and sauerkraut? They go more sour with age, but do they actually ever go bad?

The stuff that makes Saurkraut sour will eventually turn it to liquid. I think it takes about 1.5 years open and 4 or 5 sealed in jars. (from my experiance).

I think if you freeze dry and vacuum seal it pretty much any food will last forever, but that isn't what you mean.

I don't know of anything other than Honey that will last pretty much forever and even that will eventually dehydrate if it is an arid enough environment.

**frugalfranny** · 10-04-2011, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by peanut

Hmm...I got food poisoning off mustard that wasn't kept in the fridge.

So I'd axe that one.

What about international dishes like kimchi and sauerkraut? They go more sour with age, but do they actually ever go bad?

What??? mustard??? What else was WITH the mustard?

I have never kept my mustard (well, some flavored ones but only if they say refrig. after opening) in the refrig. The W. Family says refrig. after opening........French's just says "for best flavor"........

Kimchi smells so bad.............how would you know it was spoiled?

VINEGAR...(5% acidity).......has an infinite shelf life........but depending on brand can get sediments in it.

**annymoll** · 10-04-2011, 01:41 PM

I have whiskey and vodka and wines. They last as long as you don't start taking nips.

**peanut** · 10-04-2011, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

What??? mustard??? What else was WITH the mustard?

You'll laugh at this... it was Honey Mustard!

The side of the bottle had in very fine print I could not read "Refrigerate after opening". It was at my dad's. He had stored it in the cupboard for a few days after we'd picked it up from my mom's fridge when she moved. I was sick for a week off that stuff! And on vacation too. Real bummer. I won't eat honey mustard anymore. Just too many memories there.