Does edible salt have a shelf life?

Every type of food has its own shelf life, but because of different types of food, the shelf life is different. Some people think that foods like salt must have no shelf life, because most salt will not be eaten too quickly after opening, and it may take several months or half a year to eat a pack. In fact, salt also has a shelf life, and if it is stored for a long time, the effect of salt will disappear.

1. How long can salt be stored?

According to the relevant national "Food Labeling Management Regulations", edible salt, vinegar, and solid sugar will not deteriorate under normal conditions and are exempt from labeling the food shelf life.

In recent years, as people have become more and more aware of quality and safety, manufacturers have marked the products during production. Generally, the shelf life of refined iodized salt is 5 years, and the shelf life of low-sodium salt and other table salt is 3 years. Nutrients such as calcium, zinc, selenium, and iron will have corresponding shelf life labels. Of course, if there is no shelf life label, it does not mean it is fake salt, because the chemical properties of edible salt are very stable, and there is no requirement for freshness when consumed. Even if there is no shelf life label, it will not cause harm to consumers' health.

According to reports, the shelf life of iron-added salt is 1 year, the shelf life of selenium-added salt, calcium salt, and zinc-added salt are all 8 years, and the shelf life of iodized salt is 18 months. Pure edible salt has no shelf life and it can be fine even if it gets damp as long as it is not contaminated by toxins or radiation.

It should be noted that although foods such as salt and vinegar do not need to be labeled with a shelf life, in order to maintain a better taste, it is best to use them up within 1 year.

2. Can I still eat the expired salt at home?

You can still eat expired salt. Iodine will evaporate slowly and salt will clump, but it will not affect consumption.

Whether it is pure salt or iodized salt, no matter how long it is stored, it will not affect consumption. Iodized salt has a shelf life, mainly because the iodine component in it is easily oxidized and decomposed. After the shelf life of 18 months, the iodine content in it is very low and cannot play the role of iodine supplement.

3. Decoding the misunderstandings about salt: Have you fallen for it?

1. Use salt to stir-fry

The iodine element in iodized salt is added in the form of the compound potassium iodate, which has relatively stable properties. However, during the cooking process, potassium iodide will decompose into iodine and evaporate when exposed to high temperatures. If you put salt into the pot as soon as the oil is hot when cooking, the iodine element will evaporate due to the high temperature. Therefore, when cooking, you should try to add salt just before the dish is served, so as to ensure that less iodine evaporates.

2. Does salt have a shelf life?

Most people believe that household salt never expires and will always be salty no matter how long it is stored. This is because the main chemical component of table salt is sodium chloride, which is the main source of saltiness. The chemical properties of sodium chloride are very stable, so no matter how long it is stored, the salty taste will not change. But being salty doesn't mean it hasn't gone bad. Because table salt contains potassium iodide in addition to sodium chloride. Although the properties of potassium iodide are relatively stable, the iodine element in potassium iodide will evaporate under long-term exposure to light, wind and heat, causing the iodine content in table salt to decrease, thus affecting the effect of iodine supplementation. Therefore, table salt has a shelf life and its storage time should not be too long, three years is appropriate.