How Long Does Dehydrated or Freeze-Dried Food Last After Opening?

If you reseal in a vacuum seal like meat after opening , how much shelf life can they obtain?

I opened a pouch of dehydrated food but it isn’t resealable. There is still about half remaining. How long will it last in the bag like this before going bad? What is the best practice to preserve its shelf-life after opening? Is it fine to keep it in the pouch for storage? I closed up the pouch the best I could and put a binder clip on it. It’s being stored in a dry and cool place.

Jody, if you’ve freeze-dried your food, keeping it in the freezer isn’t necessary as long as you store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Having said that, tossing it in the freezer shouldn’t hurt—other than freezer burn, possibly.

As for shelf life, there are so many factors at play that it’s hard to say precisely how long your cheese will last. Adding that oil could decrease shelf life a bit, but either way, if everything else is done properly, it should last a few years.

How long does organic grated parmesan cheese last for after it’s been dehydrated? I sprinkled some parmesan cheese, seasoning, & olive oil on tomatoes & zucchini before dehydrating them. Is it better to leave dehydrated cheese in the pantry or freezer to preserve any dairy products from spoiling?

Hi Kimberly,

Usually, if a freeze-dried food is unopened, it can last anywhere from a few days to a month or more. It really depends on the heat and humidity in where it’s being stored. So while I can’t necessarily give you an exact time frame, you can judge for yourself according to how it looks, smells and feels. If it’s getting squishy, that means it is retaining moisture, and moisture is one of the things that makes food go bad. However, if you just opened the bag that had a best buy date of 12/15, then give it a look, and if it’s retaining moisture, it might be best to get rid of it. However, we have done tests which show many freeze-dried products, MREs, and other long-term food supplies, will be very much edible many years after their best buy or expiration date.

I ha e a bag that has been opened thatbid freeze dried. Has a best buy 12/15 sticker. How long is it good for? We ha e heard that best buy dates are not always what you should go by.

They will still be fine, but the shelf life will deteriorate the more humid the location. Rust is an issue, but sometimes you might not be able to see the tiny holes rust creates. A dehumidifier would be a good thing to use in that room.

We are looking to move to an older home that has had a lot of moisture in the basement, we hope to remedy that. But will cans store OK in the basement if not opened? Would I just need to watch for signs of rust?

Cannot afford an expensive machine! Will a cheaper one do? How much would I have to spend to be effective?

Had some freeze dried packaged foods in the garage overhead. Pulled it down and found the packages were wet on the outside. All were unopened. Do you think there still good after being in such heat ?

Storing food in hot temperatures can drain the shelf life drastically, depending on how hot it gets. Really, the only way to tell would be to open it. If the moisture somehow got into the can, then it probably won’t be good to eat. Likewise, it also depends on how long the cans were sitting in the heat. The longer they were exposed, the less likely they are to be good.

Sorry, they weren’t cans but the pouches with the little packs inside

Are there any plans to make an "emergency" dog food that has a long shelf life? Probably be a good market

how about putting a vacume seal on it in a jar or plastic bag? that should deprive it of O2? Also would it be better to simply buy canned dog food or vacume seal dry kibbles in canning jars? I wonder if the fat content would hold up under a vacume or rancidify. Not only is fido part of the family, he might earn his kibbles by alerting us of ner-do-wells in certain stituations

The powdered buttermilk that I buy at the grocery store required refrigeration after opening. I have read the post here and from it I gather that once I open PP's powdered buttermilk that I can use it in pantry mixes, leave it in the pantry vs. the fridge, etc? I want to be certain before I buy any. Thanks.

In ideal conditions (limited light, heat, moisture and oxygen), unopened freeze-dried scrambled eggs can be stored up to 25 years. Unopened dehydrated eggs can be stored for about 5 years in ideal conditions. Some Provident Pantry® foods can be life sustaining for up to 30 years. You can read more about this topic online at www.beprepared.com/shelflife.

What is the shelf life of scrambled eggs or powdered eggs if you don't open the can?

Are there any #10 can items that have a particularly short shelf life once opened? Meats? Powdered eggs? Butter?

I'm thinking about getting some powdered eggs for baking with (muffins, etc.) but I am unsure about the specific shelf life, as it might take me a while to use up the whole can.

I live in the south. I have a cool, dark walk-in pantry that ranges between 65-80*F. I have limited refrigerator space, but I have a chest freezer and usually have a little extra space there.

If you open a large container and know that you will not use the rest up for a while, you could also share it out into jars with oxygen absorbers or canning jars sealed with you sealameal.

Temperature is a major factor in the shelf life of any item, including freeze-dried cheese. I would not specifically avoid any one product, the general guidelines which we have outlined is for all products. Unfortunately, we do not have the answer to your question regarding how long any specific item will remain safe. Please feel free to email any request to [email protected]. Thank you!

Thanks for the prompt reply. Part of my next trip includes the So Cal desert, with likely high temps. Should I avoid f-d cheese thru that section? Or is the safe time reduced to a day? A week? A month? Any guidance is welcome. And by the way, would PP like to sponsor a PCT hiker? Publicity and endorsements in exchange for free food? Thanks again, JDM

The information and concepts in this post can be applied to all the different types of dehydrated and freeze-dried foods. Simply treat cheese as you would meats or veggies or fruits. Without being refrigerated or frozen (for example while hiking), it could last up to 3 months if not exposed to extreme temperatures or humidity. Happy Trails!

Concerning freeze-dried cheese specifically, how long will it remain safely edible after opening if not refrigerated or frozen? I'm a long-distance hiker and want to save weight with f-d foods. I have used your f-d meats, veggies, and fruits w/out a problem, but I'm not sure about the cheeses. Thanks in advance. JDM

An additional note about freezing: Remember not to defrost and then refreeze any of your food. Just take out the amount needed each time you cook.

That would be a great idea to put it in your freezer. Remember that temperature is one factor in how long your food will last after opening. You want to store it as cool as possible, so a freezer is a great way to accomplish that. Some other options would be a refrigerator or in a cool basement.

So would you suggest after putting the food in a freezer bag and sealing it putting it in the freezer? I would say yes so I am probably answering my own question. We have opened some cans recently that were over 25 years old and what we have opened so far has been good.