There is no one universal answer for how long the dehydrated foods lasts because it needs to take into consideration for many factors and the condition of the food itself.
So I created a list of different types of foods and their storage life here.
If you buy dehydrated food from the store, you can just see the expire date on the packaging.
For DIY or homemade dehydrated food, you could see the table below to estimate know how long these foods last.
The list here not only contains dehydrated food but other types of dried foods as well.
After the list, I will talk about the factors that affect the dehydrated food lifespan and how to store it for long term.
Best Value Food Dehydrator
NOTE :Item does not have an on off switch. This unit turns on when plugged in. Four-tray system for dehydrating foods at a fraction of the cost of commercially dehydrated foods with no additives or preservatives See-through cover to monitor drying progress on top tray; Bottom-mounted fan and heating element provide consistent air flow for optimum drying Drying trays and cover are fully immiscible and dishwasher safe; Fruit roll sheets, nonstick mesh screens, jerky gun and jerky spice kits available Easy to store; Drying trays nest for compact storage; Cord stores in base Four drying trays included; Expands up to eight trays for added capacity This dehydrator operates at a preset temperature of approximately 165°.
Reminder: Check out my basic food storage preparation guide.
Table of Contents
Dehydrated & Dry Food Lifespan Table
| Food Type | Last how many year | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Grains | 8 | Barley Hulled or Pearled Oat Groats Rolled Oats Quinoa Rye |
| Hard Grains | 10-12 | Buckwheat Corn, Dry Flax Kamut Millet Durum wheat Hard red wheat Hard white wheat Soft wheat Special bake wheat Spelt Triticale |
| Beans | 8-10 | Adzuki Beans Blackeye Beans Black Turtle Beans Garbanzo Beans Great Northern Kidney Beans Lentils Lima Beans Mung Beans Pink Beans Pinto Beans Small Red Beans Soy Beans |
| Dehydrated Vegetables | 8-10 | Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Celery Onions Peppers Potatoes |
| Dehydrated Dairy Products | 15 | Cheese Powder Cocoa Powder Powder Eggs Butter/margarine Powder Milk Whey Powder |
| Flours and Other Products | 5 | All-Purpose Flour Bakers Flour Unbleached Flour White Flour Whole Wheat Flour Cornmeal Mixes Refried Beans Cracked Wheat Germade Gluten Granola Wheat Flakes |
| Pasta | 8 - 10 | Macaroni Noodles Ribbons Spaghetti |
| Dehydrated Fruit | 5 | |
| Honey, Salt, and Sugar | indefinitely | |
| Peanut Butter Powder | 4-5 | |
| White Rice | 8-10 | |
| Brown Rice | 1 - 2 | |
| Textured Vegetable Protein | 15-20 | |
| Yeast | 2 |
Source: https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/information-center/self-reliance/storage-life-of-dry-foods
Factors that affect the food lifespan
As I mentioned, how long the food lasts also needs to consider a few factors.
Temperature
In warm or near room temperature will help the bacteria grow, in result spoiling the food.
United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, states that for every 10.8 degrees in temperature rise, you decrease the shelf life of stored food by half. The best range for food storage is a constant temperature between 40-60 degrees.
Light
Light is a form of energy that can degrade the food value of foods.
Store food in dark areas, and pack the food in non-transparent container/package.
Moisture Content
Same as the temperature reason, with enough moisture will help the bacteria grow faster, for long term storage, foods should have 10% or less moisture content.
Oxygen
Foods store best when oxygen-free. You can put the oxygen absorber inside the package and seal it.
Container
You can use a ziplock mylar bag to store your food.
It is strong than a regular bag.
Mylar bag is good because the light does not get through, so food doesn’t degrade, protect from moisture and bug infestation, put oxygen absorber inside to extend the shelf life even longer.
Check out the other guide best foods to grow for survival
