Have you found a forgotten pot of honey at the bottom of the cupboard or a packet of rice whose date has passed? Before throwing them away, be aware that they may still be perfectly edible. Contrary to popular belief, certain foods keep for very long years, even almost indefinitely, when stored in the right conditions. Here are the 7 products that you can keep much longer than you imagine.
The difference to know between dates
Every year, thousands of tons of food are thrown away just because it is past its date. However, all the dates written on the packaging do not mean that the product has become unfit for consumption. According to Service-public.fr, it is essential to distinguish the use-by date (DLC), which concerns very perishable foods (meat, fish, fresh produce, etc.), from the minimum durability date (DDM), indicated by the mention “Best before…”.
Once the latter has been exceeded, the food may simply lose a little taste or texture, without presenting a health risk if it has been properly stored.
Honey: an almost unalterable food
He is undoubtedly the champion of conservation. Thanks to its very low water content and its high concentration of sugars, honey creates an environment in which bacteria develop very difficult. The German magazine Focus even points out that archaeologists have found honey in ancient Egyptian tombs, still edible several thousand years later.
If your honey crystallizes, don’t worry: this phenomenon is perfectly natural and does not alter its quality or safety.
Salt
Salt practically does not expire. Composed almost exclusively of sodium chloride, it does not constitute a favorable environment for the development of micro-organisms. Its main enemy remains humidity, which can simply cause it to harden.
Sugar
Like salt, sugar has an exceptional shelf life. It may form blocks when it absorbs moisture, but this does not mean it is unfit for consumption.
White rice
White rice can be kept for many years if stored in an airtight container, protected from humidity and insects. On the other hand, brown rice keeps for a shorter time, because the oils naturally present in its husk can go rancid.
Vinegar
Thanks to its acidity, vinegar naturally prevents the proliferation of many micro-organisms.
Distilled white vinegar is particularly stable over time, but flavored vinegars also keep for a very long time when they remain well sealed.
mustard
An unopened jar of mustard can also last for years. The appearance of a little liquid on its surface is normal: it is generally sufficient to mix it before use.
Strong alcohols
Whiskey, vodka, rum or tequila… Spirits generally containing more than 40% alcohol practically do not deteriorate as long as the bottle remains tightly closed.
Once opened, the drink remains consumable for a very long time, even if its aromas may gradually fade.
The secret? Good conservation
To take full advantage of this long shelf life, some precautions remain essential.
Specialists recommend storing these foods:
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In a dry place;
- Sheltered from the heat;
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Protected from light;
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In intact packaging or airtight container.
Before consuming an old product, take a few seconds to observe it.
An unusual odor, the presence of mold, insects or damaged packaging should lead to it being thrown away.
On the other hand, crystallized honey, clumped sugar or hardened salt are generally not signs of deterioration, but simply the natural consequences of time and humidity.
- Faced with inflation, the article explains how seven foods from the cupboard, often thrown away too quickly despite a simple DDM, remain edible for a very long time.
- It details for each person the scientific reason for this stability, the correct actions for airtight storage and the differences with more fragile products.
- A final focus on errors in humidity, heat or light suggests their unexpected effects on these reserves, which are nevertheless considered eternal.