How to Store Non-Perishable Food
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Canned goods. Commercially canned foods are good for two to five years from the date they were packed. High acid food like tomato sauce will not keep as long as a can of beans, for example. Canned protein like tuna, chicken, corned beef and even bacon have a shelf life of five years, or longer.
Canned foods lose vitamins as time goes by so you will want to rotate your food supply so you are using and replacing items before their “use by” dates.
Rice. White rice should be used within two years after opening, brown within six months as it has more protein. You can extend the shelf life of white rice to 10 years or longer when properly sealed and stored.
Flour. You can count on all-purpose flour lasting well for three to six months in its sealed bag, up to one year in the refrigerator and longer if stored in a freezer.
Sugar. Sugar is one of the few products that lasts indefinitely. The only problem it presents for cooks is that it can harden. For this reason, plan on sugar having a useful shelf life of about two years.
Vacuum sealer. One of the best ways to store anything, especially dry items in bulk, is in glass canning jars that have been vacuum sealed. I own a FoodSaver vacuum-sealing machine, that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
It may require a little creativity on your part to find space for your new food reserves. Just keep in mind that most of us have space currently occupied by stuff we never use and really don’t need.
Under the bed. If you have room under your beds, you can use shallow plastic containers to hold canned goods and sealed dry goods.
Closets. Walk in your closet, turn around and look above the door. This space is open in many closets and a great place to add a wire shelf for lighter foodstuffs. Be very careful as you don’t want cans to roll off and land on your head.
Under stairs. That space under the stairs leading to your basement or second story may seem useless for its odd shape and lack of accessibility. But take a second look. With some simple shelves, this space just might be ideal for food storage.
