15 supermarket foods that legitimately last for years

It’s wasteful to throw out food but it’s often hard to plan correctly and have the right ingredients on hand exactly when you need them. The trick is to know the shelf life of a variety of foods ahead of time and have those staples stocked for future use. So we asked food and nutrition experts how to know when certain items are no longer edible and how long specific foods last in your fridge, freezer or pantry. Here are the foods that could safely last for years. Plan correctly, and you will always have some key items on hand when you need them.

“Herbs can go off very quickly, so prior to that happening, chop them up finely, put them in an ice cube tray and add either water or olive oil,” advises Nikki Sharp, author of Meal Prep Your Way to Weight Loss and host of the podcast #Adulting. Stash the ice cube tray in the freezer and forget about it. “Then, when you’re ready to use the herb, pop it out and you can heat the olive oil up in a pan while sautéing your coriander, for example. Alternatively, add mint and water then throw into smoothies.” This method allows herbs to last for up to a year, Sharp says.

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Fresh fruit is great, but frozen fruit will give you more bang for your buck if you’re looking for longevity. “Fruits can add flavour to any dish, or you can use them to whip up smoothies that can act as a meal or snack,” says dietitian Beth Warren, author of Secrets of a Kosher Girl. “Frozen fruit lasts about one year in the freezer.”

“Frozen vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh ones, and sometimes even more so because they are stored straight from harvest,” Warren explains. “Nutrients like vitamin C are lost over time, so frozen vegetables like string beans are more likely to have more than fresh. They are an easy solution to getting veggies on your plate when on a budget or in a time crunch, and they last for about 18 months in the freezer.”

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Whether you prefer peanut, almond, cashew or another type of nut butter, the good news is that you can definitely stock up on it and save it for later. If unopened, a jar of nut butter lasts for two years, according to savethefood.com by Dana Gunders, an expert for food waste reduction. But heads up: Once opened, commercial nut butters last up to six months, and natural ones stay good for just three months.

“Pickling is a process that was created specifically to preserve vegetables for long periods of time,” says Neda Varbanova of healthywithnedi.com. “Pickles can last up to two years unopened in the pantry.” And even after they’re opened, they still last a pretty long time: up to a year in the fridge.

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As long as they’re sealed properly, nuts can last up to two years in the freezer, says registered dietitian nutritionist Sharon Palmer. Almonds are particularly durable. “The hard structure of the nut can help maintain freshness, and almonds are a bit lower in fat and higher in vitamin E, which means lower risk of rancidity,” Palmer says.

“I love to store canned legumes because they are so versatile,” Warren says. “You can eat them alone or add them to another dish for added bulk and flavour. Unopened canned legumes begin to lose their moisture after one to two years.” After that, you might have to cook them longer, but they’re still good, she says.

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That canned tuna is always a safe buy, according to savethefood.com, because it lasts for three years when stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, the contents can be refrigerated for three to four days and frozen for up to two months.

“Vinegar can last in the pantry for up to three to four years for the best quality,” says Abbey Sharp, a registered dietitian and founder of abbeyskitchen.com. “Store it in a tightly sealed container, in a cool dark place away from heat or sunlight.” Once opened, you should try to use vinegar within two years for the best taste – but it’s safe to use indefinitely.

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