The longest-lasting foods, ranked by shelf life
- Per-food cited sources
- Content updated 2026-09-04
Exact references cover 5 of 126 detected claims in the English guide. The remaining statements have not completed exact-source review. References alone do not confirm every claim; normal smell or appearance does not prove safety.
The longest-lasting foods are pantry and freezer staples — items such as Honey, Tuna (canned) and Baking soda that keep for months, years, or even indefinitely when stored properly. Below are the 50 foods with the longest shelf life in our database, ranked by how long they keep, with fridge, freezer, and pantry times tied to each food page's cited sources.
Indefinitely or years (pantry & freezer staples)
| # | Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honey | Indefinitely | — | Indefinitely |
| 2 | Tuna (canned) | — | — | Follow the label |
| 3 | Baking soda | 2–3 years | 1 year | 2–3 years |
| 4 | Brown sugar | 2–3 years | 1 year | 2–3 years |
| 5 | Powdered sugar | 2–3 years | 1 year | 2–3 years |
| 6 | Vinegar | 2–3 years | 1 year | 2–3 years |
| 7 | Cocoa powder | 1–2 years | 1 year | 2–3 years |
| 8 | Fish sauce (opened) | 2–3 years | 1 year | — |
| 9 | Soy sauce (opened) | 2–3 years | 1 year | — |
| 10 | Coconut oil | — | — | 2–3 years |
| 11 | Dry pasta | 1–2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| 12 | White rice (dry) | 1–2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| 13 | Barley (dry) | 1–2 years | 2 years | 6–12 months |
| 14 | Bulgur (dry) | 1–2 years | 2 years | 6–12 months |
| 15 | Cornmeal (dry) | 1–2 years | 2 years | 6–12 months |
| 16 | Couscous (dry) | 1–2 years | 2 years | 6–12 months |
| 17 | Instant oatmeal (dry) | 1–2 years | 2 years | 6–12 months |
| 18 | Quinoa (dry) | 1–2 years | 2 years | 6–12 months |
| 19 | All-purpose flour | 1 year | 2 years | 6–12 months |
| 20 | Brown rice (dry) | 6–12 months | 2 years | 6–12 months |
| 21 | Capers (opened) | 1–2 years | 1 year | — |
| 22 | Maple syrup (opened) | 1–2 years | 1 year | — |
| 23 | Worcestershire sauce (opened) | 1–2 years | 1 year | — |
| 24 | Mustard (opened) | 1 year | 1 year | — |
| 25 | Shrimp (raw) | 3–5 days | 6–18 months | — |
| 26 | Squid (raw) | 1–3 days | 6–18 months | — |
| 27 | Baking powder | 6–12 months | 1 year | 6–12 months |
| 28 | Dry yeast | 4–12 months | 1 year | 4–12 months |
| 29 | Hot sauce (opened) | 6–12 months | 1 year | 6–12 months |
| 30 | Jam (opened) | 6–12 months | 1 year | — |
| 31 | Sriracha (opened) | 6–12 months | 1 year | — |
| 32 | Granola (opened) | 6–9 months | 1 year | 2–3 months |
| 33 | Breakfast cereal (opened) | 6–9 months | 1 year | 1–2 months |
| 34 | Peanut butter (opened) | 3–6 months | 1 year | 3–4 months |
| 35 | Parmesan (block) | 6–9 months | 1 year | — |
| 36 | BBQ sauce (opened) | 4–6 months | 1 year | — |
| 37 | Crackers (opened) | 2–4 months | 8–12 months | 1–2 months |
| 38 | Trail mix (opened) | 2–3 months | 1 year | 1–2 months |
| 39 | Dates | 1–2 months | 1 year | 1–2 months |
| 40 | Relish (opened) | 3–4 months | 1 year | — |
| 41 | Pickles (opened) | 2–3 months | 1 year | — |
| 42 | Butternut squash | 1–2 weeks | 10–12 months | 1–2 months |
| 43 | Beef jerky (opened) | 3–5 days | 1 year | 1–2 months |
| 44 | Curry paste (opened) | 1–2 months | 6–12 months | — |
| 45 | Tahini (opened) | 1–2 months | 6–12 months | — |
| 46 | Pretzels | 1–2 weeks | 8–12 months | 2–4 weeks |
| 47 | Carrots | 3–5 weeks | 8–12 months | — |
| 48 | Cranberries | 2–3 weeks | 10–12 months | 1–2 weeks |
| 49 | Clementines | 2–3 weeks | 10–12 months | 5–7 days |
| 50 | Grapefruit | 2–3 weeks | 10–12 months | 5–7 days |
Ranked by the longest stated storage time across fridge, freezer, and pantry. Durations are for unopened or raw items kept at the recommended temperature; opened or prepared versions spoil faster — see each food’s page for the full breakdown, source citations, and signs of spoilage.