There are a number of tricks and tips to maximize the longevity of your food purchases. Processing and freezing many types of fresh fruit will keep them for months and make them handy for making smoothies and cooking, while canning vegetables and sauces is a great way to keep food stored past growing seasons. Even these foods have shelf lives that range from a few months to a year.
They say nothing lasts forever. And that’s mostly true. Unless, of course, you’re talking about these pantry staples which, when stored properly, can be kept indefinitely:
Honey
Topping the list, honey is the one food that truly does last forever. This natural sweetener is water-sucking, or hygroscopic, is acidic, and contains some natural hydrogen peroxide. These are all traits that keep it from spoiling, because it won’t host bacteria. This is why honey is sometimes used as an emergency antiseptic dressing. This sweet treat is so long-lasting that honey recovered from the tombs of Egyptian pharoahs has been tasted and found to be safe for consumption!
Pure honey that has been opened may crystallize or change colors, but that doesn’t mean that it has spoiled. If your honey has crystallized, you can place the open jar in warm water, stirring the honey until the crystals have dissolved.