10 Foods Boomers Ate That Almost Never Expired

While there is no doubt that dietary habits have changed since the baby boomer generation was growing up, not everything has changed. As boomers lived during historical times, we know that many of their parents lived during World War II when rationing was common. 

As a result, parents of boomers may have wanted to have food in the house that didn’t expire. With this in mind, let’s take a look at food boomers ate that have lengthy expiration dates.

Boxed Mac and Cheese

One of the world’s best comfort foods, there is just something about mac and cheese. With the rise of boxed mac and cheese starting in the 1930s, its popularity was well-established by the time boomers came around. The good news is that this comfort food can easily last up to two years if stored properly in a pantry.

Dried Pasta

If you add dried pasta to an airtight container and leave it at room temperature, you can expect at least 2 years before expiring. Pasta has long been a favorite of boomers and their children, so it’s always good to have pasta around.

Canned Vegetables

While vegetables continue to be an unpopular item for kids, boomers, just like kids today, were told to eat them. If boomer parents chose canned vegetables and stored them in a pantry, there is every reason to believe the cans would last up to five years.

Spam

One of the best-known names in all of canned foods, Spam will easily last up to 5 years on a shelf. Spam cans don’t even offer an expiration date. Instead, they include a “best by” date that is an indicator of when it’s most fresh. This date is likely at least 3 years after manufacturing.

Canned Tuna

While canned tuna might not be everyone’s favorite, boomers grew up knowing this food all too well. The good news is that canned tuna has a pretty lengthy shelf life. While there is a “best by” date, it’s not uncommon to see canned tuna last up to 5 years if stored properly.

Oats

As one of the most popular breakfast items during the 1950s and 1960s, boomers undoubtedly had oatmeal for breakfast. The good news is that oats are a dried grain and have a long shelf life. If stored in an airtight container, oats should last for years before needing to be thrown out.

Rice

Rice has been a staple for generations before boomers and continues to this day. The good news is that uncooked rice (white, brown, jasmine, etc.) can be stored in a pantry for a long time. If you come across vacuum-packed rice grains, you can expect a shelf life of 25 years or more.

Maple Syrup

There was just something exciting about Saturday morning when boomers were growing up. You had Saturday morning cartoons like The Flintstones and flapjacks to look forward to. The good news is that a boomer’s favorite flapjack topping of maple syrup can last for ages.

Popcorn

One of the most popular movie snacks for boomers in the 1950s, popcorn sales dropped in the 1960s with the rise of TV. As a result, popcorn manufacturers promoted popcorn for watching TV at home. While bags of popcorn will expire, loose popcorn kernels will last indefinitely if they are stored in a dry and cool area like a pantry.

Honey

Arguably the food item that will last the longest is honey. With a low 3.9 pH, it’s been said that microbes cannot grow inside a sweetened honey jar. The result is that honey can essentially last indefinitely, as long as it’s being stored properly.