shelf-stable

adjective

shelf-sta·​ble ˈshelf-ˌstā-bəl 

: processed or packaged to withstand prolonged storage without refrigeration

All the rage in Europe and Latin America, boxed shelf-stable milk has yet to catch on with U.S. consumers.

—Christine Foster

Examples of shelf-stable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Unopened tubes and cans are both shelf-stable, but once opened, the difference is significant. —Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026

As Ever sells shelf-stable food products such as jam, tea and honey, alongside candles and wines. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026

Joint Venture’s Food Recovery Initiative installed four fridges at affordable housing sites in San Jose and Palo Alto, and Martha’s Kitchen stocks them with fresh produce, shelf-stable groceries and ready-to-eat meals. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026

Our editors were impressed by how these pickles retained a crunchy snap and toothsome texture all the way through—something that is hard to come by with the brining and preservation necessary for a shelf-stable pickle. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shelf-stable

• able
• chaebol
• fable
• label
• sable
• stabile
• stable
• table
• allocable
• educable
• integrable
• purchasable