STORAGE LIFE OF PARTICULAR FOODS

The Soft Grains

Barley
Hulled or
Pearled Oat
Groats
Rolled Oats
Quinoa
Rye

Soft Grains have softer outer shells which don't protect the seed interior as well as hard shelled seeds.  However, However hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, they will still have a storage life of 25 years at a stable temperature of 65 degrees F.

The Hard Grains

Buckwheat
Corn, Dry
Flax
Kamut
Millet
Durum wheat
Hard red wheat
Hard white wheat
Soft wheat
Special bake wheat
Spelt
Triticale

The Hard Grains all store well because of their hard
outer shell which is nature's near perfect container.
Remove that container and the contents rapidly
deteriorate. Wheat, probably nature's longest storing
seed, has been known to be edible after scores of years
when stored in a cool dry place. As a general rule for
hard grains, hermetically sealed in the absence of
oxygen, plan on a storage life of 30 years at a
stable temperature of 65 degrees F.

Beans

Adzuki Beans
Black eye Beans
Black Turtle Beans
Garbanzo Beans
Great Northern
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Lima Beans
Mung Beans
Pink Beans
Pinto Beans
Small Red Beans
Soy Beans

As beans age they lose their oils, resist water
absorption and won't swell. Worst case, they must
be ground to be used. Storing beans in nitrogen
helps prolong the loss of these oils as does cool
temperatures. Hermetically sealed in the absence
of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 25-30 years at
a stable temperature of 65 degrees F.

Dehydrated Vegetables

Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Celery
Onions
Peppers
Potatoes

Dehydrated vegetables store well if hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen. Plan on a storage life of 20-25 years at a stable temperature of 65 degrees F.

Dehydrated Dairy Products

Cheese Powder
Cocoa Powder
Powder Eggs
Butter/margarine pdr
Morning Moo
Whey Powder

Dehydrated Dairy Products generally store less because of fat content.  If stored dry in hermetically sealed containers with the oxygen removed they will store approximately 5 years.  If stored at a stable temperature of 65 degrees F. dairy products may store up to 10 years.

Instant and regular milks that are non fat will store 20 years.  One exception is Morning Moo. As a new whey based product, it hasn't been tested for long term storage and may store less.

Storing foods in refrigerators or freezers will help.  Especially after opening.

Flours and Other Products
Made From Cracked/ground Seed

All Purpose Flour
Bakers Flour
Unbleached Flour
White Flour
Whole Wheat Flour
Cornmeal
Mixes
Refried Beans
Cracked wheat
Germade
Gluten
Wheat flakes

After seeds are broken open their outer shells can no
longer protect the seed contents and seed nutrients
start to degrade. Don't try to store unprotected
flours longer than a year. Hermetically sealed in the
absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 5-10 years at
a stable temperature of 65 degrees F. They should keep
proportionately longer if stored at cooler temperatures.
Note: Granola is not a long storing food because of the nuts. They contain high concentrations of oil which go rancid over the short term. Expect granola to last about 6-9 months.

Pasta

Macaroni
Noodles
Ribbons
Spaghetti

Pasta will store longer than flour if kept dry. Hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 20 years at a stable temperature of 65 degrees F. Pasta should keep proportionately longer if stored at cooler temperatures.

Dehydrated Fruit

Fruit that is dried well may keep as well as many dehydrated items. Hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 25 years at a stable temperature of 65 degrees F.

Honey, Salt and Sugar

Honey, Salt and Sugar should keep for many years if stored free of moisture. Watch out for additives in the honey. It is possible to buy honey with water and sugar added. This honey generally doesn't crystallize like pure 100% honey does when stored for a long time.  Honey can be warmed and melted down after it hardens.   Avoid boiling honey as it will kill the nutrition.

Peanut Butter Powder

Peanut Butter Powder will not store as long as wheat flour. Hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 3-5 years at a stable temperature of 65 degrees F. 

Brown and White Rice

Brown and white rice store very differently. Brown rice is only expected to store for 6 months under average conditions. This is because of the essential fatty acids in brown rice. These oils quickly go rancid as they oxidize. It will store much longer if refrigerated. White rice has the outer shell removed along with those fats. Because of this, white rice contains less nutrition but will store longer. Hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life for white rice of 25-30 years at a stable temperature of 65 degrees F. Stored in the absence of oxygen, brown rice will last longer than if it was stored in air. Plan on only 1 to 2 years if the temperature is kept cooler-50-60 degrees.

Total Vegetable Protein-meat substitutes

Total Vegetable Protein, made from soy beans, has an unusually long storage life. Hermetically sealed in the absence of oxygen, plan on a storage life of 10 years at a stable temperature of 65 degrees F.   Some of these products contain a certain amount of moisture that will shorten the shelf life.