ORAC stands for ‘oxygen radical absorbance capacity.’ It is a measuring unit that determine a specific food’s antioxidant ability. The more antioxidants a food will have, the higher the value of the ORAC unit.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and thereby lead in overall long-term safety. Naturally, you might think: why should I care about SHTF’s long-term health? No, you shouldn’t probably. Yet you’re likely to change your stock of food if you’re like me. So when your cans expire … you can eat a healthy and balanced meal instead of throwing them away.
Below is a classified collection of rich foodstuffs from ORAC which is also suitable for storage. Therefore, some rich ORAC items may not be listed unless they are easily stored or stored for at least one year in non-frozen storage. In addition, other products, including dehydration and vacuum processing, may need to be processed somewhere before stockpiling.
ORAC Food Type: Legumes, Nuts and Seeds
- Pecan Nuts
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 17,940 Units
Shelf life: 1-2 years if they are kept in the freezer. Left in their shell and stored in a cool, dry place, pecans will stay fresh for 6 to 12 months and will maintain their taste.
- Kidney beans
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 8,459 Units
Shelf life: 2-5 years if kept in original canned packaging, but 8-10 years if stored in dried form in hermetically sealed, oxygen free packaging.
Related: How to Dry Can Beans and Rice for a Shelf Life of 20 + Years
- Lentils
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 7,282 Units
Shelf life: 2-5 years if kept in original canned packaging, but 8-10 years if stored in dried form in hermetically sealed, oxygen free packaging.
- Soy beans
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 5,764 Units
Shelf life: 1-2 years if dried and kept in an airtight container. However, shelf life can be prolonged by several years if the soy beans are in dried form and in hermetically sealed, oxygen free packaging.
- Almonds
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 4,454 Units
Shelf life: 1-2 years if kept in original sealed can or bottle. You can use almonds to make 2400 calorie emergency ration bars designed to feed you for a full day.
Related: 50 Foods to Dehydrate for Your Stockpile
- Red Rice, Uncooked
ORAC Value per 100 grams: Units 3,598
Shelf life: 12-18 months if stored in the refrigerator and up to a year in the pantry.
ORAC Food Type: Vegetables
- Artichokes
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 9,416 Units
Shelf life: 2-5 years if kept in original canned packaging.
- Jalapeno Peppers, Dried
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 8,250
Shelf life: 1-2 years if kept in sealed packaging.
- Kalamata Olives
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 8,250
Shelf life: 1-2 years if kept in original canned packaging.
- Raw Garlic
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 5,708
Shelf life: 1 year if the bulbs are kept in a cool dry place.
Related: Canning Lemon/Lime Curd
ORAC Food Type: Spices
- Ground cloves
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 314,446 Units
Shelf life: 3+ years. Commercially purchased dried and ground cloves will not spoil if kept in an airtight container, but potency is lost over time.
- Ground cinnamon
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 267,536 Units
Shelf life: 3+ years. Commercially purchased ground cinnamon will not spoil if kept in an airtight container, but potency is lost over time.
- Dried oregano
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 200,129 Units
Shelf life: 3+ years. Commercially purchased dried oregano will not spoil if kept in an airtight container, but potency is lost over time.
- Dried parsley
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 74,349 Units
Shelf life: 1-3 years if kept in an airtight container, although potency is lost over time, but you can grow it indoors.
- Dried basil
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 67,553 Units
Shelf life: 1-3 years if kept in an airtight container, although potency is lost over time.
- Dill weed
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 4,392 Units
Shelf life: 1-3 years. Commercially purchased dill weed will not spoil if kept in an airtight container, but potency is lost over time.
ORAC Food Type: Fruits and Berries
- Freeze-dried acai berry
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 102,700 Units
Shelf life: 2-3 years if kept in sealed packaging.
- Golden Raisins
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 10,450 Units
Shelf life: 1-2 years if kept in sealed packaging.
- Prunes
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 6,552 Units
Shelf life: 1-2 years if kept in sealed packaging.
- Dried pears
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 6,552 Units
Shelf life: 1-2 years if kept in sealed packaging.
ORAC Food Type: Miscellaneous
- Cocoa powder (unsweetened)
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 80,933 Units
Shelf life: Commercially purchased cocoa powder will last indefinitely if kept in its original, sealed packaging. Here are Top 20 Things You Need To Grab Before The SHTF Journey.
- Peanut butter
ORAC Value per 100 grams: 3,432 Units
Shelf life: 2+ years if commercially manufactured and sealed in an airtight container.
End Note
The above shelf lives are under pantry conditions, i.e. a somewhat cool, dark and dry place. If long-term frozen storage is available, the shelf lives would be greater for most of the listed items or not require some of them to be dried or hermetically sealed to maintain an equivalent shelf life.
