How long will it last on my shelf? This is probably the most popular question in food storage, and the answer is essential to ensure a nutritious, tasty product when it’s time to use it. Temperature and oxygen have the greatest effect on food storage shelf-life. If your foods are stored in airtight containers (e.g., #10 cans, food storage buckets with oxygen packets, etc.) in a cool area of your home (70 degrees is the standard), their shelf-life will be extended considerably. So, yes, you should probably throw out that wheat that’s been in the garage for years. 🙂 This storage life information, summarized from the Walton Feed website, has been extremely helpful to me so I wanted to pass it on. All of the storage times are based on the items being stored in #10 cans that are nitrogen-treated or with oxygen packs in other containers, in a temperature controlled area.
Hard Grains (red or white wheat, corn, buckwheat, etc.): 15-20 years in the environment mentioned above, considerably longer if you are able to keep them cooler.
Dry Beans: 8-10 years
Dehydrated Vegetables: 8-10 years
Dehydrated Dairy Products: 5-10 years (rotate Morning Moo milk by 5 years, as it is whey-based)
Flours: 5 years if stored without oxygen in a cool location, but don’t try to store longer than 1 year if it is unprotected. This includes baking mixes. However, if these items are stored in your freezer they will last much longer.
Pasta: 10-15 years if oxygen is removed and it is kept cool and dry.
Honey: Honey, Salt and Sugar should keep indefinitely if stored free of moisture.
Brown & White Rice: Brown rice will keep about 6 months in average conditions. If it is sealed in food storage containers without oxygen it will last 1-2 years and up to 4 years if kept really cold (like vacuum-sealed and stored in your refrigerator or freezer). White rice is much less nutritious but will store 8-10 years if properly packaged and stored.
Yeast: Store in its original foil packaging in your freezer for the longest storage life–5+ years.
I hope this information helps your family to rotate your dry food storage in a timely way. For more details, you can click here and scroll down.
Very helpful information. Thanks!