Frugal Americans presents you: 10 pantry items you shouldn’t keep there forever!
Your pantry is your kitchen’s wonderland because it’s the place where you keep lots of stuff that will make your cooking experience more enjoyable. Many of your pantry items have remarkable expiration dates months (or even years) from now, but is it safe to keep them for such a long time?
Experts say that all these pantry items lose their flavors and properties as days go by, so although they might not be expired, that doesn’t mean that you should consume them.
So if you have a bit of free time, you should take a couple of minutes to inspect all of your pantry items, because it’s important to double-check the things you have had sitting there forever. Better safe than sorry, especially when it comes to things you put inside your body.
So, should you throw away or keep these pantry items? Let’s uncover this mystery together!
1. Spices
Spices make your food taste way better than regular salt and pepper, but the thing many people forget is that your favorite delicious species, like nutmeg, turmeric, and paprika, lose their potency after about two or three years.
While consuming old spices isn’t going to cause you any harm, you won’t taste them in your food either. Before you add them to your dishes, do a little sniff and taste test to see if they’re still fresh or not. If the results are negative, they’re the first pantry items that should go away.
2. Graham crackers
Graham crackers are one of the best things ever, especially when you make s’mores with them! If you want to make them last longer, place the opened bag of crackers in an airtight container to block moisture from seeping in, because who likes eating musty crackers? I sure don’t.
However, even if you don’t open your bag of crackers but keep them in your pantry for too long, they can still get stale. According to food experts, you shouldn’t keep them in your pantry for more than 9 months because they won’t be any good.
3. Cereal
Cereal makes your mornings happier and more enjoyable, but if they’re soggy and stale, your breakfast is doomed. This is why food experts advise you to keep these pantry items for no more than three months if the cereal box is opened because they’ll go stale due to air exposure.
However, if you have a sealed box and you want to keep it for later, it should be good for up to a year. Keep in mind that the shelf life of one type of cereal can depend on another.
Cereal that contains nuts or oils, for instance, is more likely to go bad because nuts can go rancid over time. Don’t worry, it won’t happen to you if you eat rancid cereals, but the taste won’t be pleasant.
4. Nuts and seeds
If you bought some nuts and seeds, such as peanuts and almonds, you shouldn’t keep them in opened bags for more than a couple of months. They’re rich in healthy oils that will help your brain and your skin look and feel better, but the oil in them will start to go rancid after a few months of staying in your pantry.
You can tell if they’re no longer fresh by their oily and dark appearance or their paint-like or greasy odor. If you want to keep them fresh, crunchy, and tasty for as long as possible, put them in a clear freezer bag and store them in the fridge for up to a year.
5. Tea
If you’re a tea person and like to have all sorts of varieties, you should know that these are pantry items you should keep forever! They will be fresh and delicious for a year, but it’s better to not consume them over this period because the oil in them will go rancid and will give a bad flavor to your cup of tea.
Maybe you’re not into tea and prefer to drink coffee in the morning. Well, it doesn’t matter, because the same thing goes for coffee beans and grounds.
Nutritionists say that you shouldn’t keep these pantry items for more than 2 or maybe 4 weeks because they won’t taste as good as they first did. If you’re more into instant coffee, you’re a bit lucky because you can keep it in your pantry for roughly two months.
6. Brown rice
You might know that brown rice is a bit healthier compared to white rice, but the sad thing is that it doesn’t last as long on your pantry shelf. Nutritionists say that this complex and tasty food contains oil in its bran layer, and when the oil goes bad, it makes the brown rice’s life shorter: roughly 6 months.
But there’s good news here too! You don’t have to throw away these pantry items because you can find better places to store them. In this case, you could put your tasty brown rice in the freezer, and it will be good and fresh for about a year.
7. Whole grain flour
Another one of these pantry items that isn’t as fresh when kept in dry places is whole-grain flour. Many people believe that if they keep it on their pantry shelves, they’ll keep it fresh for longer, but that’s not the case.
Nutritionists say that this food item is better when kept in the refrigerator or freezer. It can last for roughly 8 months in the fridge and up to a year in your trusted freezer. You should also know that whole grain flour turns rancid before white flour does, and while it won’t affect your health, it’s not going to have a great taste.
8. Canned vegetables
Canned vegetables are pantry items that are present in everybody’s homes because they’re easy to use and don’t take a lot of time to cook. While you might think that they can last a lifetime on your pantry shelf, that’s not true.
Food experts say that canned veggies can get a tinny and metallic taste due to the can’s texture, which can break down over time. For instance, canned vegetables that are low in acid content, such as corn, can last up to five years, compared to canned goods that are high in acid content, like pickles, which can last for roughly 12 to 18 months.
However, if you’re in doubt about whether you can consume your canned veggies or not, nutritionists say that they’re generally safe to eat well past their best-by and use-by dates, but they should be free of rust, dents, or bulging.
9. Whole grains
Whole grains are pantry items that the majority of people have at home, thanks to the fact that they’re healthy, nutritious, and pair well with several sources of fats and protein.
Speaking of whole grains, farro and quinoa’s shelf lives are highly impacted by their fat content. These foods aren’t good friends with moisture, heat, and air because these three elements can influence the quality of their healthy oils, which can then make them go rancid while waiting for you to reach out for them.
You can tell whether your whole grains are safe to eat or not by their smell. If you notice an oily or musty scent, they have passed their peak. Food experts say that these pantry items should smell somewhat sweet or have no aroma at all.
10. Olive oil
Olive oil is probably one of your most trusted pantry items, thanks to the fact that it is rich in healthy fats and tastes amazing in salads. As much as you might like to store this ingredient in your pantry, you should know that it doesn’t make good friends with light and heat.
If you have an old, opened bottle of olive oil sitting on your pantry shelf, make sure you consume it in no more than 6 months, because it will taste bad afterward.
If you’re looking for a high-quality olive oil to dash over your salads, tasty fish, or lean meat, here’s one from my favorite brand! If you want to read something else from Frugal Americans, here’s a great article for you: Are You on a Low Income? 9 Ways to Save Money!
