Buying and Storing Non-Perishable Foods

Buying non-perishable foods on sale is a great way to stock up.  There are several options:

Cans - Usually good for 2 years.  Will have an expiration date printed on them.  I usually take a black permanent market and write month/year on front.

Bags - For flour, brown and powdered sugars and baking goods, I usually store in the freezer for at least a week.  Then seal in a ziploc gallon size bag to make sure there are no uninvited guest.  The same with Pasta.

Jars - Are like cans.  You will have a printed expiration date.  Mark it on the front in permanent marker.  Also, make sure the jars are in a secure location so they will not fall.   Second thing to look for is a reusable jar.  When I buy Spaghetti Sauce, I only buy the sauces that come in the canning jars.  They can be re-used, traded, or sold.

Boxes - Boxes can be treated differently depending on what and how it is packaged.  For instance - Hamburger Helper is in sealed envelopes within the box.  So it can be easily stored on the shelf.  Pasta, however is usually loose inside the box.  If you plan on keeping it for any period of time, it is best to take it out of the box and put it into either a plastic container or a sealed bag.

Just a note - the expiration dates on foods are not really expiration dates.  Some links with more information are here, here, here, and here.

Another option, if you are looking at storing food is the freeze dried and dehydrated food.

While there are many sources for this, two of the best I have found is:

Honeyville Farms

Emergency Essentials


Remember, shop well, shop smart!