shelf-stable

American

[shelf-stey-buhl] / ˈʃɛlfˈsteɪ bəl /

adjective

(of food, liquid, or medicine) able to be stored safely for a long time without refrigeration.

We always keep a couple of shelf-stable boxes of almond milk on hand now that both of us have gone vegan.

Etymology

Origin of shelf-stable

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

shelf-stable

Once the product was shelf-stable, an entire world of possibilities opened up to Hidden Valley Ranch.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Is there anything shelf-stable worth stocking up on while it’s cheap?

From Salon ● May 22, 2026

Other exhibits displayed early cordless phones, Tetra Pak’s shelf-stable milk containers and pay-at-the-pump gas-station transactions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

For the most part, they’re branded products manufactured to be convenient, tasty, shelf-stable and difficult to stop eating.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 23, 2026

When her turn came, she showed her government employee card and received two boxes, one with fresh fruits and vegetables, the other with shelf-stable goods.

From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023