Cook'n is the best selling recipe organizer

Volume III
February 18, 2011


Weekly Home / Cook'n & Eat'n

Foods That Will

Keep Forever

By Patty Liston
I have discovered a great site: StillTasty.com. Everything you would want to know about keeping foods fresh, or when to throw them out, and news about expiration dates, etc., is on this site. I’m always learning something new when I read through their information.

1. HONEY Pure honey is as durable as it is delicious; it keeps safe indefinitely. Honey may change color or crystallize over time, but that won't make it unsafe. Keep it fresh: Store in a cool area and keep tightly closed. Revive crystallized honey by placing the opened jar in warm water and stirring until dissolved.  

2. RICE White, wild, arborio, jasmine and basmati rice all have an indefinite shelf life, when kept free from contaminants. The exception: brown rice. Thanks to its higher oil content, it won’t keep nearly as long.

Keep it fresh: Store in a cool, dry area. Once opened, place rice in a sealed airtight container or place original package in a resealable heavy-duty freezer bag. For added protection, store rice in the refrigerator or freezer.  

3. SUGAR White, brown or powdered — sugar never spoils because it doesn’t support bacterial growth. The real challenge is to prevent it from becoming rock-hard. Keep it fresh: Keep sugar in a cool, dry area. To prevent sugar from hardening after opening, place it in an airtight container or cover the original package in a heavy-duty plastic bag and seal tightly.  

4. MAPLE SYRUP Pure maple syrup not only makes your pancakes special, it adds tremendous flavor to a whole range of dishes. Best of all, it keeps forever in the freezer.  

Keep it fresh: Refrigerate after opening. For long-term storage, freeze maple syrup in airtight plastic containers.  

5. PURE VANILLA EXTRACT Yes, it’s more expensive than its imitation counterpart. But pure vanilla extract keeps forever, so you’ll never have to waste a drop.  

Keep it fresh: Store in cool, dark cupboard and keep tightly closed when not in use.  

6. DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR A reliable standby in everything from marinades to salad dressings, distilled white vinegar will remain virtually unchanged as the years pass by.  Keep it fresh: Store vinegar a cool, dark area and keep tightly capped after each use.  

7. CORNSTARCH A must-have for thickening sauces, gravies, and puddings. Cornstarch will keep indefinitely if it's kept dry and free from contaminants.  

Keep it fresh: Store in cool, dry area; keep package tightly closed between uses.  

8. SALT From the basic table variety to fancier versions like kosher and sea, salt is a flavor enhancer that never spoils or goes stale.  

Keep it fresh: Store in cool, dry area.


Contribute to the Cook'n Club!

DVO would love to publish your article, prose, photography and art as well as your cooking, kitchen and nutrition tips, tricks and secrets. Visit the Newsletter Submission / Win Win for All section in our Forum for more information and details.