24 foods That Last Forever

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Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by Lisa Vargas

When it comes to the basics of survival during any type of long-term catastrophe, food is one of those things that can’t be ignored.  The tricky part is figuring out how long food lasts and finding the foods that last forever ideally.  This post is not about the best survival food kits that are freeze-dried and come in buckets.

This post is about foods that you can buy at the grocery store more or less. Since we will never know the exact moment when all hell will break loose, you need to be prepared with the best types of food that can accommodate you and your family for long periods of time.

So today I wanted to share with you some of the foods that are known to last pretty much forever and are still healthy for you that you can at least live on until some sort of normalcy comes back to society.

Food That Lasts 25 years

I wanted to include a quick section for you to skim through the foods that last 25 years quickly. Therefore, if you’re in a hurry, here are the foods that last the longest:

  • Honey
  • Instant Coffee
  • Bouillon Cubes
  • Corn Syrup
  • Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Pemmican
  • Dehydrated backpacking meals
  • Canned Beans
  • White Rice
  • Powdered Milk
  • Pasta
  • Potato Flakes
  • Rolled Oats
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Tea
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Soy Sauce
  • Corn Starch
  • Alcohol
  • Lentils
  • Hardtack
  • Ghee
  • White Wine Vinegar

If you’d like to have some more in-depth information about the foods that outlast most anything, as well as storage information, you can read about each item listed in the below post.

Foods That Last A Long Time

1.Honey

foods that last forever

Honey is one of those wonderfully sweet foods that go well with anything from toast at breakfast, to drizzled all over a nice salmon to create a delicious glaze.  According to Health Line, Honey has tons of health benefits such as being high in antioxidants, it can help lower blood pressure, it helps lower cholesterol, and can lower triglycerides just to name a few. 

But even more fascinating than its health benefits are its lesser know benefits to helping wounds heal on our bodies. According to Advanced Tissue, Manuka honey can help an infected wound heal properly.  If you want to try some Manuka honey you can get some here.

How To Store Honey

To start off with, you have to keep in mind that there are different forms of honey out there.  For example, you have comb honey, liquid honey formed through extraction, crystalized or chunky honey, and granulated honey. 

Because honey can absorb moisture, make sure that you are storing liquid honey with a very tight lid.  Preferably you can keep it sealed and stored in the bottle you bought it in.  

The best temperature to store your liquid honey is anywhere between 70-80 degrees Farenheight and keep it away from sunlight.  When storing granulated honey try and keep it below 70% humidity and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. 

You can actually store honey in a freezer but never put it in the refrigerator.  The trick is to try and keep it liquid if at all possible. Remember that crystallization is what will happen to your honey over the long haul.  But you can easily turn it back to liquid by heating it up a bit. 

2. Instant Coffee

food that lasts forever

I don’t think I can do without my coffee everyone morning. I’m sure that a lot of you reading this feel the same way.  But when we are in a world without luxuries, and the lights are out, and Lord knows what else has happened, having a simple cup of coffee can calm the nerves.

Even though we may still be living in a post-apocalyptic world, we have to find some creature comforts or else we might just go insane.  This is exactly why instant coffee is one of my favorite items to have on this food that lasts forever list. 

How To Store Instant Coffee

Storing instant coffee is very important because it will greatly affect the shelf-life of the product.  I found this great table seen below by The Eat By Date that explains the differences in different kinds of coffees.

You can see on the chart above instant coffee will last indefinitely if you store it in the freezer, but only between 2-20 years if left in the pantry.  

So make sure that you are fully aware when you are prepping that your instant coffee stockpiles should be kept in the freezer if at all possible.

3. Bouillon Cubes

long term food supply

Ahhh…..the delicious taste of warm soup broth made from good old fashioned bouillon cubes.  I remember wondering what those funny-looking little square things were when my mother was cooking dinner or making a specific recipe.

Bouillon cubes offer an incredible amount of flavor to dishes and can be the perfect flavor additive when you are out in the wilderness surviving and waiting for the societal storm to calm down.

prepping and survival food

I specifically remember when I went to the Peruvian Amazon I went on a 3-day survival expedition with a guide and the Peacock bass we caught from the river we cooked over an open fire with some plantains, a little bit of garlic, and a bouillon cube to add flavor to the meal.

An amazing invention that works wonders to add a little oomph to a somewhat bland meal!

How To Store Bouillon Cubes

The best way to store bouillon cubes for the long term prepper is to repackage them and keep them in a cool, dark, dry place.  When I say repackaging, I mean that you can take them out of their original bottle or box they came in and repackage them in mylar bags

Make sure not to get any excess moisture anywhere close to the cubes, or else it will increase the likelihood of the cubes breaking down quicker over time.

4. Corn Syrup

Corn Syrup is probably one of the foods we don’t want to admit we like because it’s so bad for us, but truthfully it tastes wonderful and gives us the luxury of having hard candies to enjoy throughout our life.

As a matter of fact, when you are thin on supplies and resources, being able to have some “survival candy” is a great idea to keep your spirits up and keep something sweet around your house or if you are surviving out in the wilderness like I imagine I would be doing. 

How To Store Corn Syrup

According to one of the most popular brands of corn syrup, Karo, this food can last indefinitely as long as you store it properly in a cool, dry place. 

5. Pure Vanilla Extract

food that lasts forever

Pure vanilla extract has been used by since early times by indigenous people as medicine. They used it for such things as calming the digestive system, and treating coughs and even asthma

So vanilla extract may come in handy if you have an upset stomach.  Remember, if society is in chaos, there will be no doctors or hospitals to go to.  You will have to fend for yourself.  

Knowing natural medicines and what to stock up on, could help you down the road in non-life-threatening situations such as a stomachache or cough.

72 HR Emergency Kits

Please note that there is a big shelf life difference between imitation vanilla extract and pure vanilla extract.  

Make sure if you are going to buy a few extra bottles that you buy the pure variation for longterm storage.  Imitation vanilla will last about four years whereas pure vanilla extract can last indefinitely

How To Store Pure Vanilla Extract 

When storing pure vanilla extract make sure you follow these simple rules:

  • Store in a cool, dark place
  • Keep away from sunlight
  • After use, seal lid tightly so that you don’t let air in
  • Seal it right away after use

6. Pemmican

foods that last forever

(Image Source: Wikipedia)

I come from a family of deer and elk hunters.  My father is 75 years old and still goes deer and elk hunting with my uncle, my cousins, and my brother in Idaho in the winter every year.  

As kids, I remember seeing my dad off as he went on his hunting expeditions to Wyoming, Idaho, or wherever, hoping he would come back with a deer or an elk so we could have meat in the freezer for the rest of the year.

I grew up on deer sausage and elk hamburgers, but I had never heard of pemmican until I started diving into wilderness survival and educating myself on necessary foods that last longer than most. 

Pemmican is simply a mixture of fat, saskatoon berries, and deer, elk, or large game meat that was eaten by people of the fur trade traveling on long voyages.  

It was very easy to store and provided a great source of protein and fat for travelers.   Peter Pond was the one who got credited for introducing pemmican to the fur trade and providing such a crucial food to sustain the trade. 

For prepping purposes, because of its ability to last a long time, it can be used a great energy source in lean times.

I found a lot of great information about pemmican in a booked called “The Lost Ways.”  It’s a really neat book on the way of our ancestors, the early settlers, and essentially how they survived with just the clothes on their backs. You can watch a great video here about pemiccan and how to make it yourself.

How To Store Pemiccan

Storing pemmican is quite simple as keeping it in a cool, dark, dry place and making sure that you have it contained in either a jar or even a zip lock bag wrapped tightly in cellophane.  You don’t have to put it in the refrigerator, just make sure it’s not in 100-degree heat. 

You can grab a copy of The Lost Ways to teach you all about making pemiccan and a variety of other survival skills that our ancestors used. Just click on the links underneath the pemiccan video and it will take you where you need to go. I absolutely love this book! It’s fun to read and have on your book shelf.

7. Dehydrated Backpacking Meals

I must admit I had a bit of quandary as to what to put here for meals.  You’ll see other lists of long-lasting foods with meals ready to eat (MREs) on it, but you won’t see the traditional dehydrated backpacking food as often, even though they last much longer and you can easily acquire them through Amazon

Meals that are ready to eat (MREs), are probably the best survival go-to foods out there. They were made for the military, and you can find them easily enough on Amazon.

I still think one of the biggest mistakes that people do is lump MREs together with dehydrated backpacking meals. Make sure not to confused MREs with the dehydrated backpacking versions. 

With the dehydrated backpacking meals, you need to add typically boiling water to the bag to rehydrate the food and make it edible.  

MREs were truly made for the ultimate survival situation, although MREs will only last on average from 3-4 years whereas the freeze-dried backpacking food can last 20+ years

It might be a good idea to have both on hand because you never know exactly which situation will arrive.

How To Store Dehydrated Backpacking Food

The best way to extend the shelf life of the dehydrated backpacking food is to make sure they are kept in a cool, dry, dark place. This type of food is great for prepping and you can easily buy it in bulk from places like Amazon

8. Canned Beans

is there any food that lasts forever?

Canned food has been stored for long term emergency situations since the first world war and probably before that as well.  Anyone who has been afraid of fallouts, run on the banks, or societal havoc has always been in the habit of storing canned foods.  

But when it comes to filling your pantry with edible foods that can stand the test of time, canned beans will help stock your short term food supply.  Kidney beans, for example, will last anywhere from 3-5 years and possibly longer than that if stores properly. 

How To Store Canned Beans

The best way to store your canned beans is to keep them out of direct sunlight and keep them in a cool place.  There is no need to store them in a refrigerator, only if you have opened them already and didn’t eat the entire can.

9. White Rice

top foods that last forever

White rice is one of the foods that are perfect for long term survival situations.  It provides a great source of much-needed carbohydrates and all you have to do is add some boiling water.

According to Still Tasty, most uncooked rice varieties have an indefinite shelf life, you just want to make sure to keep the nasty things like bugs, moisture, and dust out.

Just make sure not to stock up on brown rice because it has a higher oil content, therefore it won’t store as long (only 3-6 months) uncooked compared to white rice and other varieties.

How To Store White Rice

The best way to store white rice is in an air-tight sealed container at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit.  You can either take the rice out of the bag and put it in containers, or you can leave it in the original bag it came in and then put it into an air-tight container as well.

But the preferred way is based on the dichotomy of the storage situation.  Rice needs some air to “breathe”, yet most people will tell you to keep it in air-tight containers at the same time, to keep the bugs out.  

So what are you to do? The solution and my preferred method are to get some food-grade plastic containers or mylar bags to store your rice and also add in a few moisture absorbing packets and that should solve all of your problems!

10. Powdered Milk

long shelf-life food

I don’t know what I’d do without milk.  I grew up on a beef cattle ranch, but across from us was a dairy and as a kid, I used to go over there and help feed the veal calves their bottles.  I always used to think the powdered milk I have them was pretty cool and when you tasted the powder, it wasn’t half-bad either. 

Powdered milk is ideal for long term survival because it is typically formulated with added nutrients and it can last indefinitely according to the USDA.  But make sure to go for the non-fat powdered milk because not only does it last the longest, it is easy to get as opposed to looking for whole-fat versions.

How To Store Powdered Mik

Keep your powdered milk cans and packages in a cool, dark place and don’t open them.  If you open a can of powdered milk, it will only last about 3-4 months. 

Make sure to keep it away from light as well, and feel to store in clear mylar bags to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

11. Pasta

long lasting survival food

Pasta is another great food that can last indefinitely.  It’s easy to store and it comes in all different shapes and sizes.  There’s not much to say about pasta except that it is a great food for prepping because of its lightweight and easy to store.

How Do You Store Pasta

The important storage things to remember with storing pasta is that you need to:

  • Keep in a cool place or at least at room temperature
  • Keep in a dry place that is nowhere near moisture
  • Keep pasta away from light

12. Potato Flakes

Potato flakes are wonderful for whipping up a quick batch of mashed potatoes on a cold night over a camp stove.  They typically aren’t something you might have in your pantry for everyday use, but for prepping and survival they are great for making fluffy biscuits

How To Store Potato Flakes

Potato flakes, according to Honeyville, will last anywhere from 10-15 years, unopened,  if you have them stored in a #10 food-grade can. It’s a much different case if you happen to open the potato flakes.  At that point, they will only last about 6-12 months.

13. Rolled Oats

long term survival food for the apocalypse

Rolled oats are considered a fantastic survival food, but if you start doing research on how long they can actually be stored long term, there are varying opinions.  Some people say 18-24 months and others have said 4-15 years if stored in properly sealed mylar bags.

How To Store Rolled Oats

Like most other grain products, you will want to store your oats in a sealed, air-tight container in a cool, dry place.  

The best way to store is in a #10 can with a moisture absorber but it’s not always the most convenient way.  I need to say that #10 cans are not easy to come by, so to be honest, it’s not as practical as using a #10 food storage container bucket to achieve the same result.

14. Salt

foods that can last a long time on the shelf

Salt has hundreds of different uses and has been known for centuries to preserve meat, which would come in handy if you are surviving in the wilderness until some sort of normalcy approaches. 

There are a variety of different types of salts such as sea salt, Iodized salt (table salt), and canning salts and all are fairly easy to find either in the store or online.   

Probably the best reason to stock up on salt is that it helps balance electrolytes in your body as well as preserving your meat if you happen to be waiting it out in the mountains trapping small animals or possibly hunting large game.

How To Store Salt

The storage life of salt is forever, so you don’t have to worry about that.  If you are trying to store iodized salt for a long time, it may turn a little yellow, but it is still edible. 

Each type of salt is a little different, but the purpose of this article is to not break down each type of salt, but rather to tell you that it’s a vital item of the foods that last forever. To read a little more in-depth about the types of salt you can do that here

Because salt loves to absorb moisture if it can, you need to have it sealed in air-tight containers and store it in a cool, dark place like most of your other items on this list.  

15. Sugar

foods that last forever for fallout shelter

Having some sugar around is a great way to sweeten up a cup of coffee or tea or anything for that matter.  It’s great when used for a quick energy source and can be used as a source to help people with low blood sugar levels.

Believe it or not, you can even start a fire with it if you have some extra potassium permanganate (KMnO4).  Chances are you won’t have the chemical necessary on a whim, but it’s just a cool fact to know!

How To Store Sugar

Sugar cubes, granulated sugar, and raw sugar will last indefinitely if stored properly. Make sure to store your sugar in its original bag, then place it in an airtight container in the pantry.  

If you have opened your sugar, you can just put it in a food storage container in your pantry and it should store great.

16. Tea

food that lasts forever on the shelf

Tea is a great alternative to coffee in the morning and still gives you that caffeine boost.  When prepping, it might be easiest to stock up on the pre-bagged teas. This is a great survival food that should last you for years if stored properly

How To Store Tea

It’s pretty simple to keep your tea stored. Just make sure to keep it away from moisture, sunlight, heat, and air.  The UV rays will make your tea spoil quickly.  

Make sure to store the tea in containers that are not clear and never buy tea from manufacturers that have been storing it in clear containers either.  And last but not least, keep the tea away from other odors because tea absorbs odors easily. 

17. Apple Cider Vinegar

what is the only food that lasts forever?

Apple cider vinegar is known to have many health benefits such as lowering blood sugar levels, killing harmful bacteria, and several others. For survivalists and preppers, it can come in really handy as a cure for poison ivy, a natural deodorant, a sunburn cure, and anti-fungal properties, just to name a few.  Apple cider vinegar is a long-lasting food that will be a great addition to your prepper pantry.

How To Store Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar will typically store for two years but can stay indefinitely if you store it properly.  Like other items, make sure to store in a cool, dry place, with the lid tightly sealed. 

18. Soy Sauce

food that lasts forever

Since we know that you can store rice for an indefinite amount of time, what’s better to go on rice than a little soy sauce? Soy sauce is a great flavor booster and will serve well during lean times to make your rice and other food items taste better. 

Soy sauce will stay for many years, even though most places you will read tell you that it is best used within the first 2 years.  It won’t be the best quality after the first few years, but it will still help spice up a plate of white rice. 

How To Store Soy Sauce

The best way to store an unopened bottle of soy sauce is in the refrigerator or in a cool, dark pantry.  For purposes of the survivalist, I would assume you are looking for foods that you can stock up on, and keep in your pantry easily. 

Soy sauce may be a food that you want to rotate out every 8-10 years if it’s unopened.  But either way, for short-term or long-term use, it works well for any meal.

19. Corn Starch

emergency survival foods with long shelf-life

Beyond the obvious cooking uses of corn starch, did you know that corn starch can be used to soothe sunburns and bug bites?  All you have to do is mix it with a little water and then apply it to the affected area and voila! Corn starch is a great food that will last you a very long time and it makes it on our list for one of our favorites!

These home remedies are important when nothing else is available during a blackout period.  Having corn starch hand is a great item to stock up on and it’s easy to store.

How To Store Corn Starch

Corn starch is another item that will last almost indefinitely when stored correctly.  Simply store it covered in a food container in your pantry and it will be ready just in case of a catastrophic event. 

20. Alcohol

foods for long term survival

Many people have wondered how long alcohol will last and if it has a long shelf life. With all of the stress and commotion that can come along with a SHTF situation, alcohol may prove to be a good stress reliever when the occasion arises.  It’s always good to have some around just to brighten the spirits!

Most spirits have a really long shelf-life of up to 10 years, which is fantastic for storing it in your prepper pantry.

How To Store Alcohol

Alcohol will last for several years but not forever and you can easily store whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin at room temperature and everything will be great.   Try and make sure that you keep it cool and in a dark place.

21. Lentils

long shelf-life foods

Lentils are a great food long-term food source and can be stored almost indefinitely.  There are several different varieties of lentils and each varietal will store the same.  Lentils are a great prepper food because of their high protein content and high fiber content

How To Store Lentils

Lentils are one of those items, like rice, where you want to keep them in an air-tight, low-moisture area in a cool, dark place.  You might see the color fade a little bit over time, but the taste should remain relatively the same. 

22. Hardtack

what are the best survival foods?

(Image Source: Instructables)

Hardtack is a food that will last almost forever. It is one of the foods made from water, flour, and salt that you would use specifically for long term survival purposes when there is nothing else around to eat.  It sort of reminds me of “lembas bread” from Lord of The Rings that they used for their long voyage to destroy the ring but it lasts a lot longer.     

It was most widely used by the military, land migrations, and sea voyages. It’s definitely not the most flavorful thing you’ll ever eat, but when there is nothing left and all the shelves have been emptied at the supermarkets and you’re in survival mode, you’ll be happy to have some.

You can easily make hardtack at home by following this easy recipe from Instructables.

How To Store Hardtack

Like many long term food storage techniques, you will want to keep hardtack away from moisture.  The best way to do this is to store it in ziplock bags.

23. Ghee

survival foods that last forever

Ghee is a wonderful substitute for butter and there is a little controversy around which is better for you – butter or ghee.  But for survival and prepping purposes, Ghee is a fantastic alternative to butter and has a variety of health benefits that can come into play over long periods of time in the wilderness or if you are held up in your homes or bunkers.

How To Store Ghee

If you were to search how to store ghee, you will find that several different sources giving several different opinions.  I think it’s best in the end, to keep it stored in a cool, dark pantry if that’s where you found it in the grocery store.  

If you found it in the refrigerator, then it’s best to store it in the refrigerator, since this is what the manufacturer intended. 

24. Distilled White Vinegar

foods that last forever

Distilled white vinegar is similar to apple cider vinegar but you might be more interested in using this for cooking instead of the former.  White wine vinegar will be best the first few years but will stay forever in your pantry if stored properly.

For preppers and homesteaders, white vinegar is can be used for pickling vegetables when paired with water and other pickling spices and white wine vinegar is a food that lasts forever. 

How To Store White Vinegar

Like all other vinegar, you can store distilled white vinegar in your pantry and it should be fine. If you keep it away from sunlight, it won’t go bad, even though there is an expiration date on it.  

Conclusion

If you are just beginning your journey into survival and prepping, this should be a good list for you to start with.  These are foods that can easily be acquired at your local grocery store or even in bulk at places like Costco and Sam’s Club.

If you follow the instructions on how to store them properly and at what temperature, you will have a great stash of food items to help get you through the tough times. 

One thing to keep in mind is food rotation that isn’t talked about in this article, so make sure to properly understand the ins and outs of how to rotate your food storage.