199 items

Shelf life table

Real lifespan when stored well, not the date on the label.

Shelf life

		Best storage or note	Need
90-day prescription supply	Rotate	Ask your provider. Do not run to empty.	Medical
Activated Charcoal	Indefinite if dry	Sealed glass jar	Compounds and Cleaning
Adhesive bandages, assorted	5+ yrs	Everyday cuts and blisters.	Medical
Alcohol (Spirits)	Indefinite		Food
Anti-nausea (antiemetic)	Rotate	Stops the vomiting that drives dehydration.	Medical
Antibiotic eye & ear drops	Rotate	Infections that spread fast without them.	Medical
Antibiotics (via a provider)	Rotate	Emergency kits exist. Use with guidance.	Medical
Antiparasitic / antimalarial	Rotate	Worms, and malaria coverage where relevant.	Medical
Antiseptic & wound wash	5+ yrs	Clean a wound to prevent infection.	Medical
Antiviral for herpes-family outbreaks	Rotate	Cold sores, shingles, and flares.	Medical
Ascorbic Acid	5 to 10 yr	Sealed, with desiccant	Compounds and Cleaning
Assorted screws, bolts & nails	Indefinite	A graduated bin fixes most things.	Tools and Repair
Baking & flavor staples	Indefinite	Baking soda, soy sauce, vanilla, cornstarch, syrups.	Food
Baking & washing soda	Indefinite	Scrub, deodorize, and boost laundry.	Compounds and Cleaning
Baking Soda	Indefinite	Sealed HDPE or glass	Compounds and Cleaning
Baking soda & tooth tabs	Indefinite	Brush, deodorize, and scrub.	Hygiene and Sanitation
Baling & mechanic's wire	Indefinite	Hold and hang almost anything.	Tools and Repair
Basic vet & first-aid supplies	Rotate	Treat stock without a vet on call.	Garden and Livestock
Bathtub bladder	Indefinite	Store 80 to 100 gallons fast before a storm.	Water
Batteries, all sizes	Rotate	AA to D plus rechargeables. Rotate.	Power and Light
Battery CO detector	Rotate	A twenty-dollar life saver.	Cooking, Fuel and Fire
Bear & pepper spray	Rotate	Less-lethal, and legal most places.	Security
Beef Jerky	2 years	Cool, dry	Food
Beef jerky & meat sticks	1-3 yrs	Shelf-stable protein you can carry.	Food
Beef Tallow	1-2 yrs	Airtight jars or vacuum bags, cool and dark. Freeze for longest life.	Food
Beef Tallow	2-3 years frozen	Airtight; freeze to extend	Food
Beef tallow: uses, energy density and storage	Indefinite; best quality within a year, maybe 2		Food
Beeswax	Indefinite	Sealed container	Compounds and Cleaning
Bentonite Clay	Indefinite	Sealed glass or plastic	Compounds and Cleaning
Bleach or pool shock	up to 10 yrs	Disinfect surfaces and water. Pool shock stores longest.	Hygiene and Sanitation
Body wipes & hand sanitizer	1-2 yrs	Clean up with little or no water.	Hygiene and Sanitation
Borax	Indefinite	Sealed plastic or glass	Compounds and Cleaning
Boric Acid	Indefinite	Sealed glass or plastic	Compounds and Cleaning
Bottled Water	Indefinite if sealed	Cool, dark	Food
Broad-spectrum penicillin	Rotate	Respiratory, skin, and dental infections.	Medical
Burn gel & blister care	1-2 yrs	Common shop and outdoor injuries.	Medical
Calcium Hydroxide	Indefinite	Sealed glass or HDPE	Compounds and Cleaning
Calcium Hypochlorite	Up to 10 yr	Glass or HDPE, sealed	Compounds and Cleaning
Camphor	Indefinite	Airtight glass or tin	Compounds and Cleaning
Candles & firestarters	Indefinite	Simple backup light and ignition.	Power and Light
Canned Beans	5-10 years		Food
Canned Beef	5-10 years		Food
Canned Fruit	2-5 years	Cool, dry	Food
Canned meals, soups & chili	5+ yrs	Hot food with a can opener and heat.	Food
Canned Meat & Fish	5-10 yr	Cool, dry	Food
Canned Pumpkin	2-5 years		Food
Canned Soups	5-10 years		Food
Canned Tomato Sauce	2-5 years		Food
Canned Tuna	5-10 years		Food
Canned Vegetables	3-5 years	Cool, off floor	Food
Canned vegetables & fruit	5+ yrs	Vitamins and variety, ready to eat.	Food
Canning jars, lids & salt	Indefinite	Put up the harvest. Salt cures meat.	Garden and Livestock
CARDNL Essential Electrolytes	7-10 years sealed	Airtight, cool, dry	Food
Cash in small bills	Indefinite	Card readers and ATMs go down first.	Kits and Planning
Castile Soap	Indefinite sealed	Sealed bottle	Compounds and Cleaning
Cayenne Pepper	5+ yrs	Vacuum-sealed or airtight glass, cool and dark.	Medical
Chest seal	5+ yrs	For a penetrating chest wound.	Medical
Children's medicine & fever care	Rotate	Correct doses for their weight.	Kits and Planning
Citric Acid	Indefinite	Airtight glass or plastic	Compounds and Cleaning
Coconut Oil	5 years	Cool	Food
Comfort foods & treats	1-2 yrs	Normalcy in a hard week.	Kits and Planning
Cooking Oil	1-2 yr	Cool, dark	Food
Cooking oil, coconut oil & tallow	1-2 yrs	Fats for calories and cooking. Add shortening for baking.	Food
Copies of IDs & a paper map	Indefinite	Identity and a route that needs no battery.	Kits and Planning
Copies of IDs & insurance	Indefinite	Passports, licenses, and policies.	Kits and Planning
Corn Syrup	Indefinite		Food
Cornstarch	Indefinite	Airtight container	Compounds and Cleaning
Cover material (sawdust, peat)	Indefinite	Controls odor and pathogens.	Hygiene and Sanitation
Crackers, granola & trail mix	1-2 yrs	Grab-and-go carbohydrate.	Food
Cream of Tartar	Indefinite		Food
Creatine	10+ yr	Sealed, with desiccant	Medical
Creatine Monohydrate	10+ years sealed	Airtight + desiccant	Food
Dark Chocolate	4-5 years	Cool, dark	Food
Dark chocolate & hard candy	1-2 yrs	Calories and morale that keep.	Food
Deeds, titles & contacts	Indefinite	Property papers and an emergency contact.	Kits and Planning
Diatomaceous Earth	Indefinite	Sealed bucket or jar	Compounds and Cleaning
Doxycycline (tetracycline)	Rotate	Tick-borne illness and broad backup. Long shelf life.	Medical
Dried Beans	Up to 10 years	Airtight, cool	Food
Dried beans & lentils	10+ yrs	Cheap protein and fiber.	Food
Dried herbal remedies	Indefinite	Learn a few well. Be certain on the ID.	Medical
Duct & Gorilla tape	Indefinite	A hundred field fixes.	Tools and Repair
Easy-open, soft foods	5+ yrs	Nutrition that needs no strength to prepare.	Kits and Planning
Electrolyte powder (Cardnl Essential)	7-10 yrs	Rehydrate from illness, heat, or work.	Medical
Electrolytes	7 to 10 yr sealed	Airtight, cool, dry	Medical
Emergency mylar blankets	Indefinite	Reflect body heat. Pack many.	Warmth and Shelter
Epinephrine auto-injector	Rotate	Reverses anaphylaxis. Nothing else substitutes.	Medical
Epsom Salt	Indefinite	Airtight container	Compounds and Cleaning
Ethanol	Indefinite	Sealed glass or metal	Compounds and Cleaning
Extra prescriptions (90 day)	Rotate	The first thing people run out of.	Kits and Planning
Feed, minerals & electrolytes	Rotate	Keep animals fed and hydrated.	Garden and Livestock
Feminine & family supplies	Indefinite	Stock a deep, personal reserve.	Hygiene and Sanitation
Ferro rod & tinder	Indefinite	A striker that never runs out of fuel.	Cooking, Fuel and Fire
Fire extinguisher (ABC)	Rotate	One per floor and the kitchen.	Cooking, Fuel and Fire
Fire: ferro rod, lighter & matches	Indefinite	Three ways, because one always fails.	Kits and Planning
First-aid + trauma kit	5+ yrs	A tourniquet and the basics to stop a bleed.	Kits and Planning
Flour	10+ yrs	For bread and baking. Seal to keep it fresh.	Food
Fluoroquinolone	Rotate	Gut, urinary, and gram-negative infections.	Medical
Food-grade hose & siphon	Indefinite	Fill and draw from sealed drums safely.	Water
Formula, bottles & baby food	Rotate	A deep, rotated supply. Hard to substitute.	Kits and Planning
Freeze-Dried Foods	25-30 years	Sealed #10 can	Food
Freeze-dried fruit & veg	10+ yrs	Nutrients and variety, very light.	Food
Freeze-dried meals	10+ yrs	Light, fast, very long shelf life.	Food
Gauze, pads & roller bandages	5+ yrs	Control bleeding and cover wounds.	Medical
Glucose monitor & test strips	Rotate	Consumables that run out fast.	Kits and Planning
Glycerin	Indefinite	Sealed glass or HDPE	Compounds and Cleaning
Half-mask respirator & filters	Rotate	Smoke, dust, and particulates when you move.	Security
Hand & body warmers	Rotate	Hours of heat in a pocket.	Warmth and Shelter
Hard Cheese	6-12 months	Refrigerated	Food
Hard liquor	Indefinite	Barter, morale, and a field antiseptic.	Food
Heirloom / open-pollinated seed	5+ yrs	Save and replant. Store cool and dry.	Garden and Livestock
Hemostatic gauze	5+ yrs	Packs a deep wound to clot it.	Medical
Honey	Indefinite sealed	Sealed glass or HDPE	Food
Hose clamps & o-rings	Indefinite	Seal and join under pressure.	Tools and Repair
Hydrogen Peroxide	1 to 3 yr; test it	Original dark bottle	Compounds and Cleaning
Influenza antiviral	Rotate	Shortens the flu when started early.	Medical
Instant Coffee	Indefinite	Airtight	Food
Instant coffee & tea	Indefinite	Freeze-dried keeps for years. Morale is a ration.	Food
Iodine	5-10 yrs	Airtight amber container, cool and dark. Light kills potency.	Medical
Iodine / povidone	5-10 yrs	Water and wound disinfection.	Compounds and Cleaning
Isopropyl Alcohol	5-10+ yr sealed	Sealed, away from flame	Compounds and Cleaning
Laundry bar soap	Indefinite	Washes off poison-ivy oil and other skin oils.	Medical
Lentils	Up to 5 years	Airtight, cool	Food
Long-burn candles	Indefinite	Light and a little heat.	Cooking, Fuel and Fire
Lugol's Iodine	5 to 10 yr	Amber glass, sealed	Compounds and Cleaning
Lye	Indefinite	HDPE, airtight and dry	Compounds and Cleaning
Macrolide (atypical coverage)	Rotate	Chest infections and short-course needs.	Medical
Maple Syrup	Indefinite	Cool, dark	Food
Medical & Rx records	Indefinite	Conditions, doses, and allergies.	Kits and Planning
Medical tape & wrap	5+ yrs	Hold dressings and support joints.	Medical
Metronidazole	Rotate	Anaerobic and protozoal gut infections.	Medical
MRE & ready-to-eat pouches	5+ yrs	Full meals with a heater, no cooking.	Food
MREs (meals, ready-to-eat): contents, heating, shelf life	Around 3 to 5 years		Food
Multivitamins & vitamin C	Rotate	Cover the gaps a stored diet leaves.	Food
Naloxone nasal spray	Rotate	Reverses an opioid overdose in minutes.	Medical
Notepad & frequency list	Indefinite	Written plans beat dead phones.	Power and Light
Nuts & Seeds	6-12 mo	Fridge or freezer	Food
Oats	2-3 years	Airtight	Food
Oil lamps & lamp oil	Indefinite	No-battery light that stores forever.	Power and Light
Optic, light & batteries	Rotate	See and identify the threat.	Security
OTC pain, allergy & anti-diarrheal	Rotate	The everyday medicine cabinet. Rotate.	Medical
Oxygen & dialysis plan	Rotate	Know your backup and your evacuation trigger.	Kits and Planning
Paraffin / beeswax firestarters	Indefinite	Waterproof, long-burning ignition.	Cooking, Fuel and Fire
Paraffin Wax	Indefinite	Sealed container	Compounds and Cleaning
Pasta	2-3 years	Airtight	Food
Peanut & nut butter	1-2 yrs	Dense calories and fat. Rotate.	Food
Peanut Butter	2-3 years	Cool, sealed	Food
Pet food & water	Rotate	Two weeks minimum. They depend on you.	Kits and Planning
Pet meds, records & carrier	Rotate	Vaccination papers travel with the animal.	Kits and Planning
Petroleum Jelly	Indefinite	Any sealed container	Compounds and Cleaning
Plastic sheeting & tape	Indefinite	Seal a room and cover broken glass.	Warmth and Shelter
Potassium iodide (KI) tablets for nuclear emergencies	labeled 3 years; up to 10 years if stored cool and dry		Medical
Potassium Nitrate	Indefinite	Sealed glass or plastic	Compounds and Cleaning
Potassium Permanganate	Indefinite	Amber glass, sealed	Compounds and Cleaning
Powdered eggs & milk	5+ yrs	Protein and dairy that store for years.	Food
Powdered Milk	2-10 years	Airtight, cool	Food
Powdered milk for food storage	2 to 10 years, cool, dry, airtight container		Food
Pressure dressing	5+ yrs	Holds pressure on a heavy bleed.	Medical
Printed maps & compass	Indefinite	Navigate when the phone is dead.	Kits and Planning
Rain barrel & diverter	Indefinite	Catch roof water for washing and garden.	Water
Rescue inhaler (bronchodilator)	Rotate	Opens the airway in an asthma attack.	Medical
Rice Vinegar	Indefinite		Food
Rice, pasta & oats	10+ yrs	The calorie backbone. Store sealed.	Food
Salt	Indefinite	Airtight container	Food
Sardines (canned)	5-10 years	Cool, dry	Food
Sediment pre-filters	Indefinite	Extend the life of the main filter.	Water
Silicone & construction adhesive	1-2 yrs	Seal and mount.	Tools and Repair
Silver rounds & coins	Indefinite	Barter and a hedge when cash loses value.	Kits and Planning
Silver sulfadiazine burn cream	Rotate	Prevents infection in a serious burn.	Medical
Sodium Nitrate	Indefinite	Sealed glass or plastic	Food
Soy Sauce	Indefinite		Food
Spare fuel + stabilizer	Rotate	For generators and engines. Rotate.	Cooking, Fuel and Fire
Spare glasses & hearing batteries	Rotate	The small parts that isolate someone fast.	Kits and Planning
Spare glasses & pet supplies	Rotate	The needs that are easy to forget.	Kits and Planning
Spices, bouillon & sauces	Indefinite	Make plain calories worth eating.	Food
Sprouting seeds	5+ yrs	Fresh greens and vitamin C in days, indoors.	Food
Steroid / prescription anti-inflammatory	Rotate	Severe swelling and allergic flares.	Medical
Stormproof matches & lighters	Indefinite	Keep dry, and keep many.	Cooking, Fuel and Fire
Stove fuel canisters	Indefinite	Propane or butane. Store deep.	Cooking, Fuel and Fire
Sugar	Indefinite	Airtight, dry	Food
Sugar & honey	Indefinite	Energy, morale, and preservation.	Food
Sulfur	Indefinite	Sealed, ventilated	Compounds and Cleaning
Super glue & two-part epoxy	1-2 yrs	Fast and structural repairs.	Tools and Repair
Systemic antifungal	Rotate	Fungal infection a cream will not reach.	Medical
Tarps & paracord	Indefinite	Cover, divert water, and build shade.	Warmth and Shelter
Tea Bags	2-3 years		Food
Thread locker	1-2 yrs	Keeps bolts from vibrating loose.	Tools and Repair
TVP (textured protein)	10+ yrs	Cheap protein that stretches any meal.	Food
Unscented bleach or tablets	1-2 yrs	Simple chemical backup. Rotate yearly.	Water
Vanilla Extract	Indefinite		Food
Vinegar	Indefinite	Sealed glass or HDPE	Compounds and Cleaning
Washing Soda	Indefinite	Airtight, with desiccant	Compounds and Cleaning
Water barrels & jugs	Indefinite	1 gallon per person per day. Two weeks minimum.	Water
Water test strips	1-2 yrs	Check hardness, chlorine, and pH.	Water
Wheat Berries	Up to 30 years	Mylar + O2, cool	Food
Wheat berries, rice & oats	10+ yrs	Bulk whole grain, sealed in mylar for decades.	Food
White Rice	10-30 years	Mylar + O2, cool	Food
Wound-closure strips	5+ yrs	Close a clean cut without stitches.	Medical
Yeast & sourdough starter	Rotate	Leaven bread from your stored flour.	Food
Zip ties & paracord	Indefinite	Bundle, mount, and lash.	Tools and Repair

Sources: the Survival Foods, Stockpile Essentials, and Chemical Compounds field guides. Shelf life assumes cool, dark, dry storage in the right container.

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