How To Safely Store Food Long-Term So It Stays Fresher For Longer
A few years ago I gave our pantry a makeover so it was more practical, organized, and visually pleasing! This is where I keep most of my canned foods and canning products. Plus, there are lots of bulk food items such as rice, beans, sugar, flour, etc.
I wanted an area stacked with beautiful glass jars and baskets—you know, like the pantries flooding your Pinterest feed :-) where everything is easily accessible and would make even Martha Stewart smile!
Since we live on the farm, we are not too close to grocery shops and sometimes need to buy staple items in bulk. I also preserve a lot of the produce from our garden to enjoy in the off-season.
For these reasons, I need to store our bulk and canned goods appropriately to ensure they stay fresh and safe to eat for a long time.
When pantry foods are stored correctly, you'd be surprised how long they can last after the suggested expiration date!
Continue reading for my tips on how to safely store your pantry goods for the long term.
A well-stocked pantry is also great for meal planning and helps to maintain a healthy diet.
A few tips on storing food long-term
Begin with a fresh slate
First, discard all stale and expired food items and give your pantry a proper clean-out to start with a fresh slate. Vacuum and wash down the surfaces with soapy water to ensure you clean all dust particles and get rid of insects, mites, and their eggs.
Clean, dark, dry, cool
Your storage area needs to be clean, dry, dark, and cool. 50-70 degrees F is the ideal temperature range to keep food fresher for longer. It’s ideal to store food in a basement. We do not have one, so this closet stays around 70-75 degrees. Not ideal, but it works.
Factors that spoil food
Factors that generally cause food spoilage are heat, excessive cold, air, light, moisture, smells, and critters. So keep these factors in mind when planning your pantry or food storage area. I.e., don't store your food near the oven!
FIFO
Apply the FIFO concept —first in, first out. Place your newest products at the back to ensure you eat the oldest first.
Using the right containers
Airtight containers are the best for long-term storage. Plastic bags and cardboard boxes won’t be suitable. Instead, use glass, Tupperware, or tins.
Glass - Is affordable, reusable, recyclable, transparent, and airtight, but can break.
Tupperware - Not breakable, transparent, and airtight, but more expensive.
Tins - Ideal for small items and stacking, not breakable, but you can't see what's inside.
Foods with a long shelf life when stored correctly
HOMEMADE CANNED RECIPES
Highly acidic foods such as tomatoes and fruit can be stored for 12-18 months in the pantry. Less acidic foods such as meat and veggies can be stored for 2-4 years.
Please note that these only apply if canning was done 100% correctly and stored in the conditions mentioned above. Here is my guide on how to can food safely with a beginner’s recipe!
Tinned FOOD
Tinned foods that are stored correctly and not dented, damaged, or rusted can last indefinitely. However, they will lose nutritional value and might not taste as good 10 years down the line! The same applies to acidic and non-acidic canned foods, as above.
DRIED BEANS, LEGUMES, AND LENTILS
These dry pantry staples can last indefinitely and won't spoil if stored correctly in airtight containers. The great thing about beans and legumes is that they won't lose their nutritional value over time.
Beans will lose their moisture after 2 years, so you may need to cook them for longer. Cooked beans can be frozen for up to 1 year.
PASTA
Dry pasta, spaghetti, and macaroni can be stored in airtight containers for up to 2 years in a pantry. Cooked pasta can be frozen for 6-8 months.
We get most of our dried goods, beans, nuts, etc from Country Life Natural Foods! They have an amazing selection of high-quality organic foods. Buying food in bulk from them offers us so many benefits.
You can always use the code AZURE for 10% off your order! And keep an eye out, they will soon launch 3-6 month food bundles!
GRAINS
Grains such as rice, oats, wheat, barley, cornmeal are some of the best staples to have in your pantry. When they are stored correctly and kept dry, they can last you a good while.
Rice: Brown and wild rice will stay fresh for 6-8 months in your pantry and 8-12 months in the fridge. While white rice can last 3 to 5 years. When cooked, your white and brown rice can be frozen for 6-8 months.
Oats: Last up to 3 years if you transfer it out of its cardboard box to an airtight container.
Quinoa: Last up to 3 years in the pantry or fridge when stored correctly.
NUTS AND SEEDS
Nuts: When stored correctly, most nuts can last up to 9 months in the pantry, except for pecan, pistachios, and walnuts. They'll stay fresh for between 3- 6 months. When kept in the fridge, all nuts will stay fresh up until 1 year and when frozen up to 2 years.
Chia seeds: Chia seeds will be perfectly fine for 2+ years in the pantry and 4+ years in the fridge or freezer.
Flax seeds: 6- 12 months in an airtight container in your pantry and 1+ years in the fridge or freezer.
Sunflower seeds: They will remain fresh in your pantry for up to 3 months in their raw form and up to 5 months roasted. You can keep them in the fridge or freezer for up to 1 year.
Vegetable Seeds: We keep some of our bulk seeds in this closet. They are organized in plastic photo organizers. Keep your seeds out of the sun and in a cool, dark, place and they will do well. I also store seeds in the freezer!
HERBS AND SPICES
Ground or powdered spices can last about 2 - 3 years, and dried herbs 1 - 2 years if they are kept in an airtight container, in a cool dark place, away from heat and moisture.
DRIED FRUIT
Dried fruits will stay fresh in your pantry if you store them correctly for up to 1 year. You can prolong their freshness up to 2 years in the fridge and indefinitely when you freeze them.
VEGETABLES
Some veggies can stay fresher for longer when stored in a cool, dark, and dry location such as the pantry. A dark pantry will prevent these veggies from sprouting. Onions, garlic, shallots, potatoes, butternut, and beets can last up to a month in the pantry if the temps are kept between 50 and 60 F.
It feels good knowing that my storage area is organized and stocked. Whenever I need something, I don’t have to dig to find it, which is convenient.
It is also great to know that the food is stored correctly and will be safe to consume for a long time.
Remember, our senses are there for a reason. Always use your eyes and smell to determine if food that has been stored for a long time is safe to consume. If unsure, rather chuck it. Nobody has time for food poisoning ;-)
If you follow these recommendations for storing food in your pantry, I assure you—it will make life so much easier!
Items used in our food storage closet
Bulk Food Items - Country Life Natural Foods ( Use Code AZURE for 10% off )
Wallpaper by Wallblush- Fiona
Food Storage Buckets - CLICK HERE
5 Gallon Bucket Screw on lids- CLICK HERE
Glass Jars - CLICK HERE
Kitchen Organization Essentials - CLICK HERE
PIN FOR LATER
If you’re looking for other information on canning and such see below!
How to Can food in 10 easy steps
I hope this was helpful friends!! Have questions? Comment below!
Warmly, Annette