8 Foods that Last Forever

Here is a list of eight foods, including some pancake day favourites, that when contained in the right enviroment may never need to be thrown away again...

#1 - Honey

Honey will forever be there for you, and will never lose its precious quality. It is possible that it changes color, or even crystallizes over a certain period of time, but it will always remain safe and delicious. This is because microorganisms can’t stand the low water content of honey. To keep it in its natural form, you should keep it in a cool area and make sure that it is tightly closed! If the honey somehow crystallizes over time, don’t worry, just put it in hot water and wait for it to be dissolved.

#2 – Maple Syrup

Just like honey, maple syrup has the ability to last forever. The only difference is how you should store it. Maple syrup should be kept in the freezer in order for it to be able to have an indefinite shelf life. So now you know that you should never have to worry if the maple syrup has gone bad when making pancakes!

#3 – Sugar

It really doesn’t matter if the sugar is brown, white, or even powdered – it will forever be edible. It simply can’t spoil, because bacteria are unable to live in such environment. However, the only thing about old sugar is that it becomes harder each year. But, you shouldn’t worry, as you can do the same thing that you do with honey (put it in hot water) and it will return in its original form. Remember to store it in a cool and dry place!

#4 – Rice

Any type of rice, except for brown, can last forever. The reason why brown rice can’t, is because it has higher oil content than any other type of rice, thus making it last only a couple of months at best. In order for rice to have an indefinite shelf life, you should keep it in a cool and dry area. To keep it away from contaminants, you should even consider putting it in the freezer or in the refrigerator.

#5 – Salt

Table or sea salt, it doesn’t really matter; any type will always be edible. It will forever be there to enhance the taste of your meals as long as you store it in a cool and dry place because it is prone to absorbing moisture. However, when it does absorb moisture it is still safe to consume, but it will taste a little different.

#6 – Hard Liquor

You should never be afraid of drinking old hard liquor, as its shelf life is indefinite. Drinks such as vodka, rum, whiskey, and similar drinks can never really spoil. Even after they are opened, they will be as good as the day you opened them. The aroma and taste of the drinks fades over time, but it literally takes decades before you can even taste a small difference. Remember to keep bottles in a cool and dark place, and to keep them tightly closed at all times!

#7 – Pure Vanilla Extract

You should never throw away pure vanilla extract in fear of it going bad, because its shelf life is indefinite. The reason why it can stay fresh forever is because it is made from alcohol, which keeps away any kind of contaminants. The thing about this product is that it actually gets better over time because of its liquor based content. Just remember to keep it in a cool and dark place, just like hard liquor.

#8 – Distilled White Vinegar

You can always rely on distilled white vinegar, because it has no expiration date. The taste of this salad supplement won’t fade just as long as you keep it in a cool and dark place, and tightly closed. You can even put it to use when there is cleaning, polishing, or deodorizing to be done. Those are exactly the reasons why you should have a lot of this stuff at home, as you might need it more often than you think.

Courtesy of http://www.uncoverdiscover.com