Dry goods are products that are stored and sold in a dry state, meaning they contain little or no moisture and do not require refrigeration.

What “dry goods” means

  • In food and pantry terms, dry goods are shelf‑stable items like rice, pasta, beans, lentils, flour, sugar, oats, spices, tea, and coffee.
  • They are packaged to stay free from moisture and pests, which gives them a long shelf life and makes them pantry staples.
  • Historically and in retail, “dry goods” can also mean textiles and ready‑to‑wear clothing, as opposed to hardware or fresh groceries.

Everyday examples

Common food dry goods include:

  • Grains: rice, wheat, pasta, oats.
  • Legumes: dried beans, lentils, chickpeas.
  • Baking basics: flour, sugar, baking powder, cornstarch.
  • Extras: tea, coffee, cocoa powder, dried cereals, some snack mixes.

In older or North American retail usage, a “dry goods store” might sell:

  • Cloth and fabric
  • Clothing and linens
  • Small sewing items (“notions”) and some non‑perishable grocery items

Why they matter today

  • Dry goods are key for stocking a reliable pantry, meal prepping, and emergency food storage because they last months or years when stored well.
  • They’re also central to online and bulk shopping trends, where people buy large bags of rice, beans, flour, or oats to save money and reduce shopping trips.

TL;DR: Dry goods are long‑lasting, low‑moisture products—most often pantry foods like grains and flour, but in older retail language also textiles and clothing—that don’t need refrigeration.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.