shelf-stable

adjective

shelf-sta·​ble ˈshelf-ˌstā-bəl How to pronounce shelf-stable (audio)
: 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

Word History

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shelf-stable was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near shelf-stable

shelf sea

shelf-stable

shelfy

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Shelf-stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelf-stable. Accessed 3 Dec. 2022.

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