While sugar is a no brainer, you might ask what is BEST for long term storage? White sugar stores for a very long time. In fact, according to the C&H Sugar website, “Sugar, properly stored, has an indefinite shelf life because it does not support microbial growth. … Moisture makes granulated sugar hard and lumpy. Once this happens, there is no way to adequately restore it. Always store granulated sugar in a covered container in a cool, dry area.” White sugar can also be purchased in No. 10 cans or buckets for long-term storage."
Brown sugar stores well in original bags as purchased from the grocery store, if stored in a cool, dry place. According to C&H, brown sugar has an indefinite shelf life, but for best flavor should be used in six months. However, I have not noticed any significant difference in flavor if brown sugar is stored longer. I like to store as much brown sugar as I can get through in about two years.
For easy rotation, date bags and stand them up in a shoe box so the oldest bag can be taken from the front and new bags can be added in the back. Brown sugar can dry out and become hard. After opening, transfer a bag of brown sugar to a sealed container to maintain moisture until it is used up. If brown sugar becomes hard, simply add a half slice of bread to the container for a day, which moistens the sugar nicely.Powdered sugar can be stored in original bags in a cool, dark place.
item #10 Rice, Beans and Wheat. There are a few options for you for long term storage of rice. Some are easier and less expensive than others, but they all have their advantages. The things you want to protect your long term food storage from are light, heat, moisture, and pests.
#10 Can. Really the way I prefer is to get the rice into a #10 can with an oxygen absorber. It is a good usable size for most food products which also makes it a nice size for storing–not too heavy when it’s full or so big it won’t fit under your bed if that’s where you want to store it. However, to pack your bulk foods into a #10 can, you will need a can sealer.