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
Christine FosterExamples of shelf-stable in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Why This Recall Matters Unlike dry and shelf-stable staples, coffee creamers—whether dairy-based or non-dairy—can be more vulnerable to spoilage, storage mishaps and packaging failures.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
That means consumers may start to see price hikes at the grocery store within weeks, especially for some of the least shelf-stable items.
—Jiachuan Wu, NBC News, 15 Mar. 2025
The result of such refining is a neutral-tasting oil that is inexpensive, shelf-stable and able to be heated at a high temperature without smoking, said Eric Decker, a food science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
—Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Oat milk is available in shelf-stable and refrigerated options.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shelf-stable
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
That means consumers may start to see price hikes at the grocery store within weeks, especially for some of the least shelf-stable items.
—Jiachuan Wu, NBC News, 15 Mar. 2025
The result of such refining is a neutral-tasting oil that is inexpensive, shelf-stable and able to be heated at a high temperature without smoking, said Eric Decker, a food science professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
—Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Oat milk is available in shelf-stable and refrigerated options.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shelf-stable
Cite this Entry
“Shelf-stable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shelf-stable. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share