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If you're stockpiling emergency foods, hopefully, you have a system for rotating that food. My husband and I have a room with metal shelving units sticking out from the wall, so it's easy to pull old cans and boxes of food from one side while putting foods we just bought on the other side.
There are some foods, however, for which our system is a little more chaotic. We use boxes, totes, and five-gallon buckets for these foods, and although we try to rotate through them, we're not as concerned because we know these foods would last for decades.
In this article, I'm going to list 33 examples of foods that can last for decades, but first I want to make a little disclaimer. Technically, many of these foods are ingredients (baking soda, bouillon cubes, etc).
And while many of these foods will last forever without any special storage methods (such as honey, salt, and sugar), most of these foods need to be stored properly if they're going to last more than a few years.
I'm talking about Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, airtight and moisture-proof containers, stable temperatures of 75 degrees F or below, and dark closets or cupboards.
As long as you store these foods properly, they will last 20, 30, 40 years, or more. To learn more about storing food the right way, check this Beginner's Guide to Emergency Food Storage. Now on to the list.
Survival Foods That Last for Decades
1. Alcohol
Liquor will last pretty much forever, and of course, wine gets better with time. Note that this does not include beer. Although beer might still be safe to drink after a few decades, it would taste awful.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Not only is this an important ingredient in many recipes, it has many health benefits. Every prepper should have a bottle of apple cider vinegar, or learn to make their own.
3. Baking Soda
This is a kitchen staple, and it also has many other uses for preppers and homesteaders such as cleaning and dealing with pests. That's why I recommend buying a couple of big bags.
4. Bouillon Cubes
It's so easy to make a delicious meal when you have some bouillon cubes on hand. All you have to do is heat up some water, some meat and/or veggies, and a cube. The reason they last so long is because of the high salt content, but you'll need to store them in Mylar bags to preserve the taste.
5. Cocoa
Who doesn't love a cup of hot cocoa on a cold day? Just to be clear, I'm not talking about instant cocoa–which usually has some kind of dairy product in it–but pure unsweetened cocoa powder.
6. Corn Starch
In addition to being crucial for many recipes, it's also a great thickener. Just be sure it's kept unopened in a cool, dry place in airtight containers.
7. Corn Syrup
This can be used instead of sugar in almost any recipe. But unlike sugar, it's important that you keep it in an airtight container.
8. Dried Beans
To make these last for decades, you'll need to pull out all the stops: they need to be completely dry in airtight bags inside airtight containers. They also need to stay in a cool, dark location. Otherwise, you could significantly shorten the shelf life.
9. Dried Corn
The same goes for dried corn. It can last a very long time, but only if you store it properly.
10. Dried Lentils
A great source of protein and fiber, dried lentils can last for decades if stored in airtight, moisture-proof containers. They're very versatile in cooking. You can use them in soups, stews, and all sorts of side dishes.
11. Freeze-Dried Cheese
Freeze-dried cheese retains its flavor and nutritional value while lasting up to 25 years when stored in airtight containers. While it doesn't taste great by itself, it turns out great when used in cooking or baked on a pizza.
12. Freeze-Dried Fruits and Vegetables
Freeze-dried fruits and veggies retain a lot of their nutritional value and can last up to 30 years when stored properly. You can rehydrate them, add them to soups and stews, or eat them as they are as a quick, nutritious snack.
13. Freeze-Dried Meat
When sealed up in #10 cans, freeze-dried meats can last up to 25 years without losing nutritional value. They rehydrate quickly, making them easy to use in cooking and emergency meals.
14. Ghee
Butter wouldn't normally last very long, but this type is processed so that all the milk solids are removed, meaning it can last indefinitely. It's also a good option for people with a slight sensitivity to dairy. Here's how to make it.
15. Hardtack
Soldiers used to carry this food with them in the days before canned food and MRE's. Since it's so hard, it can be difficult to eat, but it's great when dipped in coffee, cocoa, or crumbled into soup. Here's our hardtack recipe.
16. Honey
Supposedly, archaeologists found 3000-year-old honey in the Egyptian pyramids and it was still good to eat. The only thing is, it will harden over time, so you'll have to heat it up before eating it.
17. Instant Coffee
As long as you don't open it, instant coffee should last a very long time, and indefinitely if you keep it in the freezer. It's not as good as regular coffee, but hey, it still has caffeine in it.
18. Maple Syrup
The high sugar content is what makes this last so long. We have a lot of it because it's not just good on pancakes, but also on toast, waffles, oatmeal, bacon, potatoes, vegetables, and even ice cream (yes, I have a major sweet tooth).
19. Pasta
Spaghetti, macaroni, fettuccine, lasagna… all this stuff will last for decades if stored properly. I recommend everyone store lots of pasta. It is very filling and can be used for all kinds of delicious meals.
20. Pemmican
This tasty food was made by Native Americans long before they had refrigerators. There are reports of it lasting up to 50 years when kept in airtight containers in a cool, dry, dark location. Check out this recipe for pemmican.
21. Potato Flakes
I love having instant potatoes on hand. Sometimes we'll cook some meat and veggies for dinner, and mashed potatoes just pull the meal together.
22. Powdered Eggs
Powdered eggs are a shelf-stable must-have, capable of lasting 5 to 10 years in properly sealed containers. They are excellent for baking or preparing dishes where fresh eggs are required.
23. Powdered Milk
Powdered milk that comes in regular packages will only last a couple of years, but if you put it in a Mylar bag with oxygen absorbers it will last 10 years. I know, that's only one decade, and I said decades. But if you can find some powdered milk in nitrogen-packed cans, it should last a couple of decades.
24. Ramen Noodles
These aren't very healthy, but if you like them, then it's worth buying a few variety packs and shoving them in the back of the closet because they'll still be safe to eat after a few decades, although they won't taste as good.
25. Rolled Oats
Oatmeal is a healthy, filling, and delicious breakfast (especially with some maple syrup on it). But like many of the items on this list, you'll want to store it in airtight containers in a cool, dry, dark location (sick of hearing that, yet?).
26. Salt
This isn't so much a food as it is a mineral, so you can rest assured it will last forever.
27. Soy Sauce
This stuff is so delicious on rice and/or vegetables. The reason it lasts so long is because of the high sodium content. The sodium is so high, in fact, that a teen went into a coma after chugging a bottle on a dare.
28. Sugar
This is the most important, or least important, ingredient you can store, depending on your priorities.
29. Tea
If coffee isn't your thing, maybe you prefer a hot cup of tea. As long as you keep it dry, it won't lose its flavor or potency at all.
30. Vanilla Extract
The reason this lasts so long is that it's mostly alcohol. Vanilla extract is a great thing to have on hand for making cookies, pancakes, ice cream, and other treats.
31. White Rice
Rice is a staple of diets all over the world. It's cheap and very filling. Just make sure you store it properly, and also make sure it's white rice and not brown rice, which only lasts about 6 months.
32. White Vinegar
I don't use vinegar in cooking very often, but I keep several jugs on hand anyway because I use it for dozens of other things, many of which involving keeping my kitchen nice and clean.
33. Whole Wheat Grains
Typically, you'll have to get whole wheat grains through a company that specializes in emergency food. Make sure you have a grain mill so you can turn it into flour.
Food Storage Tips
Keep in mind that just because the foods we have listed here are capable of lasting for decades, that doesn't mean that you can store them any way you want to. These foods are still susceptible to bacteria, which can cause food poisoning with potentially devastating results in a disaster scenario.
With that in mind, here are some special tips to follow:
- Always store your food at normal room temperature and in a dark area (70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit). There should be no natural sunlight, and nor should there be any moisture as both are direct invitations to bacteria. Good places include the basement (assuming there’s little moisture), pantry, closets, or spare bedrooms.
- Avoid storing your food in garages, sheds, the outdoors, attics, or in bathrooms. These places are much more vulnerable to bacteria.
- Store as much of your food as you can in Mylar bags which will keep moisture, oxygen, and pests out. Label the type of food stored and the specific date you stored it. You can buy different sizes of Mylar bags as well. Include at least one oxygen absorber packet in each bag as well. Proceed to place each Mylar bag in a food grade storage bucket and seal it off against the outside by shutting the lid firmly.
- Consider adding bay leaves into your food buckets. They help to keep pests such as insects and rodents away.
- Always store your food out of sight, and do not discuss it with anyone you do not trust.
- When it comes to flour, always store it in the freezer for two to three days before you store it at normal room temperatures. The freezer temperature will kill off any bacteria that may already be present.
- Consider rotating your food out every six months to a year. Yes, this will be more expensive, but it may be wise to stay on the safe side. At the very least, you need to thoroughly inspect your food preps at regular intervals. Remember the old adage, “when in doubt, throw it out.” If you have any reason to suspect that your food has gone bad, don’t eat it and replace it as soon as possible.
Well, there you have it, over two dozen foods that will last for decades (when stored the right way, of course). If you're new to emergency preparedness, these foods are a great place to start.
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