Non-Perishable Food List: What to Stock Up On and Donate (2026)

Quick answer: Non-perishable food is food you can keep safely at room temperature until you open it. USDA's list includes canned and bottled foods, rice, pasta, flour, sugar, spices, oils, jerky and foods sealed in shelf-stable boxes or pouches.¹ Food banks ask most often for protein, like peanut butter and canned tuna or chicken, plus low-sodium canned vegetables, fruit in juice and whole grains.²³ To see which pantries hand out these foods, browse food pantries with canned goods.

What is non-perishable food?

A non-perishable, or shelf-stable, food has been heated, dried or sealed so germs can't grow in it while the package stays closed.¹ Perishable food, like fresh meat, milk and most fresh produce, needs a fridge or freezer.

Not every can counts. Some canned hams and seafood are labeled "Keep Refrigerated" and are not safe at room temperature.¹ Once you open any shelf-stable food, put the leftovers in a clean container in the fridge.¹

Non-perishable food list by food group

This list groups canned and packaged food the way most pantries sort it. The times are USDA's for unopened food kept in a cool, dry place.¹

Food group	Examples	How long unopened
Canned meat and beans	Chicken, turkey, beef stew, shelf-stable ham, beans	2 to 5 years
Fish and other protein	Tuna or salmon in cans or pouches, jerky, peanut butter, dried beans and lentils	Tuna pouches 18 months; store-bought jerky 12 months; others: check the date
Canned vegetables and soup	Corn, green beans, peas, carrots, potatoes, spinach, pumpkin, soups except tomato	2 to 5 years
Canned fruit and tomatoes	Peaches, pears, pineapple, applesauce, tomatoes, juice	12 to 18 months
Grains	Rice, dried pasta, oats, cereal, crackers, flour	Rice and dried pasta 2 years; others: check the date
Milk	Boxed shelf-stable milk, powdered milk	Check the date
Cooking basics	Oil, spices, sugar, salt	Check the date

Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service shelf-stable storage chart.¹ For one item at a time, the FoodKeeper app, built by USDA with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute, lists storage times food by food.⁴

20 examples of non-perishable foods

Each of these is on USDA's or Ready.gov's shelf-stable lists, or on a food bank's list of needed items.¹⁵⁶³⁷

1. Peanut butter
2. Canned tuna
3. Canned chicken
4. Canned beans
5. Dried beans and lentils
6. Canned soup, stew or chili
7. Canned vegetables
8. Canned fruit in 100% juice³
9. Applesauce
10. Rice
11. Dried pasta
12. Ramen noodles
13. Rolled oats
14. Low-sugar cereal
15. Instant mashed potatoes
16. Shelf-stable or powdered milk
17. Jerky
18. Nuts and trail mix
19. Cooking oil
20. Herbs and spices

How long does non-perishable food last?

Most canned food lasts one to five years. High-acid canned foods, like tomatoes and fruit, keep their best quality for 12 to 18 months, and low-acid canned foods, like meat and vegetables, keep for two to five years.⁸

The date on the package is about quality, not safety. Except for infant formula, federal law doesn't require dates on food, and a "Best if Used By" date tells you when food tastes best.⁸ Food that shows no signs of spoilage is still safe after that date if it was stored well.⁸ Never use infant formula after its "Use-By" date.⁸

Heat shortens shelf life. Keep cans below 85°F, and never above or beside the stove, under the sink, or in a damp garage or basement.¹ Check your shelves every few weeks and use the oldest cans first.¹

When should you throw out a can?

Throw out a can, without tasting it, if it shows any of these signs:¹

• It bulges, swells or leaks.
• It has a deep dent you can lay your finger into, or any sharp dent on a seam.
• It is heavily rusted. Surface rust that wipes off with a paper towel is fine.
• It hisses loudly or spurts liquid when you open it.
• The food smells bad, or liquid that should be clear looks milky.

Double-bag the can and put it in a trash bin outside, where children and pets can't reach it.¹

Is cereal, rice or peanut butter non-perishable?

Yes. All three keep at room temperature until opened. Here is how common pantry foods compare.

Food	Non-perishable?	What to know
Rice	Yes	Keeps 2 years unopened1
Dried pasta and ramen	Yes	Dried pasta keeps 2 years;1 food banks ask for both6
Dry cereal	Yes	On Ready.gov's emergency food list;5 food banks prefer low-sugar, high-fiber kinds6
Peanut butter	Yes	On Ready.gov's list;5 one food bank asks for plain 16-ounce jars, not mixed with jelly2
Shelf-stable milk	Yes	Boxed milk is packed in sterile cartons, and powdered milk is a dried food1
Canned ham	Sometimes	Only if the label does not say "Keep Refrigerated"1

What non-perishable food items do food pantries need most?

Protein tops almost every list, followed by healthier canned produce and whole grains. Here is what four food banks' donation pages listed on Oct. 26, 2026.

Food bank	Asks for	Avoid
North Texas Food Bank	Peanut butter, canned fruit, unflavored shelf-stable milk, canned tuna and chicken, low-sodium vegetables, trail mix2	Glass containers
New Hampshire Food Bank	Fruit in 100% juice, whole grains, low-sodium vegetables, beans and lentils, canned fish and chicken, nut butters, spices, shelf-stable milk3	Bulk sizes; give store sizes
Second Harvest (New Orleans and Acadiana)	Peanut butter, canned meat, beans, chili, soups, vegetables, fruit, pasta, rice, cereal, cooking oil, salt and pepper7	Glass; anything past its "use by" date
Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina	Tuna, chicken and peanut butter; ready-to-heat soup and pasta9	Not listed

Source: each food bank's donation page, read Oct. 26, 2026.

What is the most requested item at a food pantry?

Protein. The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina says tuna, chicken and peanut butter are in high demand at local food assistance sites.⁹ All four lists above include peanut butter and canned tuna or chicken.²³⁷

What is the best non-perishable food item to donate?

The best donation is food a family can turn into a meal. Pair pasta with sauce, or rice with beans. Choose low-sodium vegetables, fruit in 100% juice and whole grains, which is what the New Hampshire Food Bank asks for.³

Cooking basics help too. Feeding America notes that olive oil, dressings and marinades help if they don't need refrigeration, and Second Harvest lists cooking oil, salt and pepper.¹⁰⁷ In PantryPath's directory, 5,338 of 7,566 confirmed listings say what they hand out. Of those, 3,064 list canned goods and 2,798 list dry goods and grains, but only 414 list condiments and spices.¹¹ You can browse pantries that offer dry goods and grains.

What should you not donate to a food bank?

Skip anything that needs a fridge or that the food bank can't check for safety. Feeding America and South Carolina's environmental agency list these:¹⁰⁶

• Food that needs refrigeration, like produce, dairy and meat
• Leftovers and home-baked goods
• Home-canned or home-jarred food
• Opened, damaged, dented or bloated packages
• Cans without labels
• Glass jars, which can shatter and contaminate food stored nearby

Date rules vary. USDA says food can be donated after its "Best if Used By" date if it shows no spoilage.⁸ But Feeding America asks donors to give food that hasn't reached its "sell-by" date, and Second Harvest won't take items past a "use by" date, so check your food bank's rules first.¹⁰⁷ For more tips, see how to donate to a food bank and how to run a canned food drive pantries want.

Where can I donate non-perishables?

Your regional food bank is the usual drop-off point. Feeding America's food bank finder shows the member food bank that serves your area.¹⁰ Local pantries, churches and school drives collect food too. You can find one in our food pantry directory, then call ahead to ask what they need and when to drop off.

Non-perishable foods to stock up on at home

Buy foods your household already eats, and plan for special diets.⁵ Include some that need no cooking, water or refrigeration, because power can be out for days after a disaster.⁵ Commercially canned food can be eaten straight from the can, so keep a manual can opener with your supply.⁵

Use the oldest cans first and replace them as you go, so nothing sits past its best quality.¹ For a low-cost weekly list built on these staples, see our budget grocery list.

How much non-perishable food per person?

Ready.gov suggests at least a several-day supply.⁵ The American Red Cross suggests a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food for an evacuation kit and a 2-week supply at home.¹² It pairs that with one gallon of water per person per day.¹²

Frequently Asked Questions

Is boxed mac and cheese considered non-perishable?

Yes. A sealed box is dry pasta with a powdered sauce mix, and South Carolina's food donation page lists macaroni and cheese among items food banks often need.⁶ Many boxes need milk and butter to make, so a carton of shelf-stable milk is a good partner if you donate.

What non-perishable foods don't need cooking?

Ready.gov's list includes ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter, dried fruit, canned juice and shelf-stable milk.⁵ These also help people without a working kitchen. If you donate for a shelter or an outreach program, ask whether they prefer pull-tab cans.

Can I donate home-canned food?

No. Food banks can't accept home-canned or home-jarred food, because they can't check how it was made.⁶¹⁰ USDA's storage chart gives home-canned food about 12 months and says to boil it before using.¹

What are healthy non-perishable foods?

Look for low-sodium or no-salt-added vegetables, fruit in 100% juice, plain nut butters and grains with a whole grain as the first ingredient.³ Canned fish, chicken, beans and lentils add protein.³

Should I donate food or money?

Both help. Food banks can stretch cash: the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina says every $10 raised provides 30 meals.⁹ Feeding America also suggests a money gift if a food donation doesn't suit you.¹⁰

How we checked this

On Oct. 26, 2026, we read USDA's shelf-stable food and product dating pages, FoodSafety.gov's FoodKeeper app page, Ready.gov's food page and the Red Cross kit list.¹⁸⁴⁵¹² We read donation pages from four food banks, Feeding America and South Carolina's Department of Environmental Services.^2379106

The same day, we queried PantryPath's directory: 7,566 confirmed listings with a name, city and state, of which 5,338 report the items they offer.¹¹ We did not test foods, check prices or interview food bank staff. Needs lists change, so check your food bank's page before you shop.

Next step: browse food pantries with canned goods, or see what food pantries give you.