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

Unlike shelf-stable mixes that use the bottled lime juice, Natalie’s has only 3 ingredients: water, fresh limes, and Florida pure cane sugar. —Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 5 July 2025

The shelf-stable sauce was considered a pantry essential in colonial times. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2025

That restock was the first replenishment of shelf-stable food products after As ever's debut drop went live and sold out within an hour on April 2. —Janine Henni, People.com, 1 July 2025

But what about something like a meat and cheese platter, that includes shelf-stable items, condiments, as well as refrigerated fare? —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2025

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