What is Considered a Non Perishable Food Item?
Using sound judgment to be more self-reliant.
When you’re stocking your own pantry or helping others in need, non perishable foods should be on your shopping list. These foods are great for emergencies when the power goes out, for camping, or simply for planning ahead. (Food prices almost always go up, not down.)
We’ll help you choose the best non perishable foods that last for months (or years). Plus, we have storage and organization tips, and a printable list of non perishable foods with estimated shelf life.
Contents
Non Perishable Foods are safe to eat for long periods of time without refrigeration. They are also known as “shelf stable foods”.
Some foods can last a few weeks to months on the shelf. Others can last for months. The longest last 10 to 20 years or more, such as freeze dried food or military MREs.
Note: In spite of some silly prepper shows might say, it is not recommended to live off of nothing but MREs for an extended period of time. They are nutrient dense, but can be hard on your guts.
A young reporter took the 21 day “nothing but MREs challenge” in 2016.
He wrote, “I would alternate between vicious cycles of spending hours in the bathroom and then not being able to go at all.”
Non-perishable foods don’t require refrigeration, but are best kept cool and dry. If it sits on a shelf in the grocery store, it’s safe on the shelf in your home.
Temperature: Store products at less than 75°F (24°C) or lower, if possible. If storage temperatures are higher, rotate your food to maintain quality.
Moisture: Keep food storage areas dry. Keep containers off the floor to allow for air circulation.
Light: Keep food in opaque containers out of direct sunlight.
Insects and rodents: Protect food stored in foil pouches, cans, jars and bottles from rodent and insect damage.
Keep air out. Store your food in meal sized portions, or a package size you can use up in less than a week once opened. If you buy in bulk, reseal in smaller packages.
Air is the enemy of long term food storage. Use vacuum sealed containers or Mylar for longer shelf life. Oxygen absorbers and/or vacuum sealing provide the longest shelf life.
See “Preparedness Storage – Finding Room and Keeping it Safe and Sound” for more storage tips.
The following tables give shelf life estimates for an assortment of foods. These estimates vary widely, depending on which reference you use, so we opted for more conservative estimates.
Start with the “best by” date, but use some common sense. If salt has been hanging around in the earth for thousands of years, it’s not going to go bad sitting in your pantry.
Do not use food with obvious signs of spoilage, like bad odors or bulging containers.
Note that whole wheat flour and brown rice have significantly shorter shelf lives than white flour and white rice. This is because they retain more fat, which goes rancid in storage. Don’t use whole grains or whole grain products with a rancid or bitter flavor.
Some of my favorite flours for bread baking are Gold and White by Natural Mills and King Arthur. These companies dry down their products more than most processors, increasing their shelf life.
If you want to freeze dry your own emergency foods, home freeze dryers are now available through Harvest Right. Learn more here.
Click Here to Download the Printable PDF Version of the Shelf Life Chart
If possible, ask your local food pantry what non perishable foods they need the most. Normally they are grateful to be asked.
Our food bank prefers canned meats and shelf stable proteins and meals, because those are not donated as frequently. They are, of course, thankful for any donation in good condition. (Don’t donate items that are many years out of date. They can’t use them, either.)
We have over 100 emergency preparedness post on the site, all sorted by category on the Common Sense Preparedness page.
They include:
Foods to Stock Up On (for Daily Use or Emergencies)
5 Best Freeze Dried Foods – Quality Long Term Food Storage
Home Food Preservation – 10 Ways to Preserve Food at Home
Emergency Cooking – 10 Ways to Have a Hot Meal When the Power Goes Out
Storage and Shelf Life of Over-the-Counter Medication
If you have preparedness or food storage questions, leave a comment below. We also appreciate it when you share tips that have worked well for you, since we have readers from all over the world, and everyone’s situation is a little bit different.
Hi, have enjoyed your website. Lots of good info! What do you recommend for food storage for folks that don’t have a lot of land to grow in bulk or underground food storage? I live in a neighborhood with a decent sized raised garden bed, but a regular sized pantry. Also, are there options for above ground root cellars?
Thank you!
Hi Allison.
Check out this post for ideas for extra spots to store food and supplies outside of a pantry – https://commonsensehome.com/preparedness-storage/
And this one for above ground “root cellar” type options – https://commonsensehome.com/above-ground-root-cellars/
Even if you don’t have a lot of land to grow huge amounts of food yourself, you may be able to buy in bulk from local growers or farmers markets or even the grocery stores when they run a good sale on fresh produce. Many of our local grocery stores partner with local farmers for certain fresh foods in season, like corn, bean and apples. Buying direct from growers will usually get you the best pricing and freshest produce, but sometimes you need to work with what’s available.
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