BUCKHORN CLIFFSA preparedness field manual

Food · Supply

Lentils

Lentils: real shelf life Up to 5 years when stored well (Airtight, cool).

UP TO 5 YRWorks without power

Quick facts

  • Real shelf lifeUp to 5 years
  • Label date says2-3 years
  • Best storageAirtight, cool
  • Watch forMold, pests

Where this sits on the food shopping list

How to check it

Dried Beans & Legumes

Warning signs Mold, pests, or a musty smell; beans that stay rock-hard after soaking and cooking.

How to check Inspect for mold and pests. Soak and cook a small sample to test for hardness or off-flavors.

The Preparedness Food Shopping List (PDF), a one page printable PDF

Free download

Get the one-page food shopping list

What to store, how much of it for one person for one month, and how long it keeps. One page with checkboxes, built from the Survival Foods field guide. Print it, multiply by your people and months, and take it to the store.

The PDF comes by email, with my newsletter now and then. Already on the list? You still get it. Read the full page.

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

How long does lentils last?

Lentils really last up to 5 years when kept airtight and cool, compared with the 2 to 3 years a label date typically gives. Watch for mold and pests as they age.

How do I store lentils long term?

Store lentils airtight and cool. Kept that way they last up to 5 years, beyond the 2 to 3 years on the label. Inspect them for mold and pests from time to time.

How do I tell if lentils has gone bad?

Look for mold, pests or a musty smell. Soak and cook a small sample as a test: lentils that stay rock-hard after soaking and cooking, or that taste off, are past their useful life.

Keep going

Read nextDried BeansDried Beans: real shelf life Up to 10 years when stored well (Airtight, cool).Food · Supply

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