16 Surprising Foods/Ingredients That Will Never Expire

With so many recipes to try, it helps to have a stocked pantry with lots of ingredients to assist in your culinary creations. These "16 Surprising Foods/Ingredients That Will Never Expire," are good to know, when in doubt of what ingredients are still fresh, and haven't expired, so you know your recipe will turn out.

It's helpful to know which canned and dried foods have a long shelf life, some of which can last up to five years or more, so you can have some of these on hand for preparing recipes. Most foods no matter how well packaged or stored will in time, lose their nutritional value and go bad, but there are a handful of foods that can last forever. The following foods are just some from the list that you may want to stock up on for use in recipes, and in case of emergency or food shortage.

Cornstarch, which is great to have on hand for thickening stews, syrups and sauces, it can also be used to soothe rashes and sunburns, clean hair and to eliminate odors. Corn syrup is one of the most popular sugar substitutes in the world, it is used in baked goods, candy, soft drinks and canned food, in can also be used in an emergency when sweetener is needed, it is a good thing to have on hand for the occasional recipe that calls for it. Dried beans and legumes from pinto beans, black beans, garbanzo beans and lentils can keep forever if they are properly sealed and kept in a cool dry place, they are a great staple food, and packed with protein, fibre and garbs for energy. You'll want to look at the list for other food ingredients that will never expire.

You never know when some hard liquor will come in handy, maybe during a power outage it might help to keep the adults warm! Beyond possible use as a celebratory drink or painful situation reliever, liquor can also be quite valuable to stock up on for tough times. Plain liquors can also be used for medical reasons and sterilization, and even remain stable after being opened. If nothing else, a good supply of liquor could also be an invaluable commodity when it comes to bartering with neighbors.

While it may not mean the difference between life and death, a good collection of herbs and spices can certainly seem essential if you are ever forced to live on things like hardtack and dried beans for a long period of time. Everything from black pepper, to cinnamon, cumin, basil, oregano, and many more can be a tasty ingredient in survival food as well as supplying much-needed nutrients.

As long as it is sealed away from moisture and insects, dried pasta can literally last you a lifetime. Easy to prepare even during difficult times, this forever food is also available in a wide variety of forms and flavors, including buckwheat, rice, flour, egg, and many more. A great source of carbs and energy, dried pasta can be worth its weight in gold in an emergency.