BLOGS

When you tour a Green Haven Home, you will surely notice the detail and thought we put into building the kitchen. We know that the kitchen is a focal point in the home. That is why we make sure to create ones with spacious islands, lots of counter space, and plenty of cabinet and pantry room.

If you are someone who likes to keep a well-stocked kitchen but are tired of food going bad before you have a chance to get to it, then we want to help you out. Here is a list of pantry staples to keep on hand that will pretty much never go bad.

Dried Beans

Even though dried beans do require you to rehydrate them before cooking, they are great to have on hand because they will remain usable virtually indefinitely. Plus, beans offer a variety of textures, flavors, and nutrients that are essential in keeping a balanced diet.

Dried Pasta

Although all foods are required to come with an expiration date on the package, things like dried pasta can still be good years and years after that date has come and gone. The key to keeping your dried pasta dinner worthy is to keep it tightly sealed and stored in a cool, dry place.

Oats

Next on the list of things that are impervious to expiration dates are oats. Oats are a rich staple with a multitude of uses. You can use them in oatmeal, pies, cookies, or you can even make your own oat milk. Which is surprisingly easy to do!

White Rice

While both white and brown rice have a hefty shelf life, brown rice will become unusable much faster than white rice. If stored in an airtight container, white rice is sure to last you forever. It is important with all long-standing pantry items that you check for pests on occasion, however.

Sugar

From white sugar to powdered sugar and everything in between, you can keep these sweeteners on hand for as long as you wish. Included would also be maple syrup and honey.

Brown sugar can become hard and clumpy over time. You can soften it by placing a damp paper towel in the bag and microwaving the sugar in 15 second intervals until it is your desired texture. Or another alternative would be to add one tablespoon of molasses to one cup of plain white sugar in order to create brown sugar in batches as needed.

Salt​

Salt has long been used to preserve a wide variety of things. Is it any wonder then that you can also count on salt itself to last you forever?

Canned Goods

Oftentimes, exposure to oxygen, light, or moisture is what signals the beginning of food items to deteriorate. Canned goods, however, are tightly sealed in tin containers that block all such elements. Thus, canned goods are likely to last you well beyond their expiration dates. Always be weary though, when dealing with expired canned foods as they can cause botulism when not safely stored. Before consuming, check the can for rust, deep dents or bulges. These are all indicators that what's inside is not ok for consumption.

And there you have it. With this guide you can stock up for emergencies with confidence, knowing that nothing will go to waste in your pantry.