Food Storage: Pantry
How long will your staples last?
The longevity of various foods depends on their perishability. Some, like sugars, alcohol-based extracts, and high acid canned goods, will keep for years unopened. Other foods like bread or cookies can get stale in a few days.
Tips for preserving staples
- To preserve foods for the longest period, store in a cool, dry, dark location.
- Make sure food packaging is secure when you purchase it.
- If you buy staples in bulk, buy only as much as you expect you'll use fairly quickly. That will ensure that your staples are always fresh and will give predictable performance in your cooking and baking projects.
- Vacuum seal dry foods if you buy in bulk to extend the storage period.
- Use the oldest stock first and rotate your pantry goods regularly.
- Refrigerate foods that have been opened. Condiments like ketchup and mustard last longer in the fridge than on the shelf.
- READ the package. If it says to "refrigerate after opening", make sure it gets into the fridge.
- Pitch any containers that show signs of bugs, or cans and jars that have bulging lids or show any signs of leakage. The rule of thumb here is "When in doubt, throw it out!"
What do those dates mean?
Manufacturers offer "use by" dates as a guideline to peak quality. It's also a liability protection. Once the food has passed that date, the manufacturer is no longer bound to replace product that has gone bad. The federal government requires labeling only on infant formula and some baby food.
States regulate dates too so there is not much uniformity between states as to what "sell by" or "pull by" dates should be. Both tell the grocer the last day the item may be offered for sale, but has nothing to do with home storage or use. In some states, as long as food has not lost its quality it may be pulled and offered for sale at a reduced rate.
Another date is "best if used by" and again this is an estimate of how long the quality should stand up over time. Expiration dates indicate the when a product should used by. After that date, more caution should be exercised.
Pack dates tell you when food was packaged but give no indication of how long it will be good.
The following tables offer simple guidelines to the life expectancy of various foods. That said, many foods are perfectly safe to eat past the expiration dates as long as the packaging remains intact. You may notice some degradation in quality and that should be expected, but the foods should still be safe to eat. Items like cake or quick bread mixes may not rise and fats may develop rancid "off" flavors.
Baking Ingredients
| Type of food | Unopened | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Baking powder | 6 months | 3 months |
| Baking soda | 2 years | 6 months |
| Quick bread or cake mixes | 15 months | Use-by date |
| Cocoa and cocoa mixes | Indefinitely | 1 year |
| Cornmeal | 12 months | Refrigerate after opening (1 year) |
| Cornstarch | 18 months | 18 months |
| Flour (white) | 1 year | 6-8 months |
| Flour (whole wheat) | 1 month | Refrigerate after opening (6-8 months) |
| Frosting (canned) | 10 months | Refrigerate after opening (1 week) |
| Frosting mixes | 12 months | 3 months |
| Gelatin (unflavored) | 3 years | Reseal in four months |
| Gelatin (flavored) | 18 months | Reseal in four months |
| Molasses | 1 year | 6 months |
| Sugar – brown or granulated white | Forever | Forever |
| Sugar – confectioners | 18 months | 18 months |
| Sugar substitutes | 2 years | 2 years |
| Vanilla | 5 years | 1 year |
| Yeast – dry packets | Use-by date | Refrigerate open packets |
Condiments
| Type of food | Unopened | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Barbeque Sauce | 12 months | 1 month (refrigerated: 4 months) |
| Catsup, cocktail sauce or chili sauce | 1 year | 1 month (refrigerated: 6 months) |
| Chutney | 1 year | Refrigerate after opening (1-2 months) |
| Chopped Garlic | 18 months | Refrigerate; good until use-by date |
| Horseradish | 1 year | Refrigerate after opening (3-4 months) |
| Gravy mix (dry) | 2 years | Use entire packet |
| Gravy mix (wet) | 2-5 years | Refrigerate after opening (1 month) |
| Herbs (dried) | 1-2 years | 1 year |
| Honey | 1 year | 1 year |
| Jam, jelly, marmalade | 1 year | Refrigerate after opening (6 months) |
| Maple Syrup | 1 year | Refrigerate after opening (1 year) |
| Mayonnaise | 2-3 months | Refrigerate after opening (3 months) |
| Mustard | 1 year | 1-2 months (refrigerated: 1 year) |
| Olives | 12-18 months | Refrigerate after opening (2 weeks) |
| Pickles | 1 year | Refrigerate after opening (2-3 months) |
| Relish | 1 year | 6 months |
| Salad dressings | 1 year | Refrigerate after opening (3 months) |
| Salsa | 1 year | 1 month |
| Salt | Forever | Forever |
| Worcestershire sauce | 1 year | 1 year |
Food Staples
| Type of food | Unopened | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Bread (store at room temperature in a bread box) | 1-2 weeks | 1 week |
| Canned goods such as soups, pasta, peas, potatoes, and spinach (low acidity or sugar) | 2+ years | Refrigerate after opening (3-4 days) |
| Canned goods such as juice, fruit, pickles (high acidity or sugar) | 2+ years | Refrigerate after opening (5-7 days) |
| Cereal (ready-to-eat) | 6-12 months | 3 months |
| Cereal (cook-before-eat) | 6-12 months | 6-12 months |
| Chocolate | 12-24 months | 1 year |
| Chocolate syrup | 2 years | Refrigerate after opening (6 months) |
| Coffee (whole beans from bulk bin) | 2-4 weeks in air tight container | Vacuum pack and freeze (3-4 months) |
| Coffee (ground, in can) | 2 years | Refrigerate after opening (2 weeks) |
| Coffee (instant) | 1 year | Refrigerate after opening (2-3 months) |
| Coffee Creamer, Powder | 6 months | 6 months |
| Dried Beans | 1 year | 1 year |
| Lentils (dried) | 1 year | 1 year |
| Pasta – Dried w/out eggs | 2 years | 1 year |
| Pasta – Egg Noodles | 2 years | 1-2 months |
| Peanut Butter | 9 months | 3 months |
| Peas – Dried split | 1 year | 1 year |
| Popcorn – Kernels in jar | 2 years | 1 year |
| Popcorn – Microwavable Bags | 1 year | 1-2 days popped |
| Potato Chips | 2 months | 1-2 weeks |
| Potatoes – Instant | 6-12 months | 6-12 months |
| Pudding mix | 1 year | 3-4 months |
| Rice – White | 1-2 years | 1 year |
| Rice – Brown | 1 year | 6 months |
| Rice – Flavored Mixes | 6 months | Use entire amount |
| Rice – Cream Flavored Mixes | 1 year | Use entire amount |
Cooking Ingredients
| Type of food | Unopened | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Bread Crumbs | 6 months | 6 months |
| Dried Mushrooms | 6 months | 3 months |
| Oil (olive or vegetable) | 6 months | 4-7 months |
| Oil Sprays | 2 years | 1 year |
| Spices – Whole | 2-4 years if vacuum sealed | 1 year |
| Spices – ground | 1 year | Six months |
| Sun dried tomatoes | 9–12 months | 6 months |
| Vinegar | 5 years | 3 years |
Packaged Goods
| Type of food | Unopened | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Cookies (packaged) | 2 months | 1 month |
| Crackers | 8 months | 1 month |
| Diet powder mixes | 6 months | 3 months |
| Nuts (jars or cans) | 1 year | 3 weeks |
| Shortening, Solid (eg. Crisco) | 8 months | 3-5 months |
| Soda (Bottles) | 3-5 months | Refrigerate after opening (2-3 days) |
| Soda (Cans) | 9-12 months | N/A |
| Soup Mix | 12 months | Use entire amount |
Miscellaneous
| Type of food | Unopened | Opened |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Food | Two months | Refrigerate after opening (1-2 days) |
| Candy | 1 year | N/A |
| Dried Fruits | 6 months | Refrigerate after opening (6 months) |
| Evaporated milk (canned) | 1 year | Refrigerate after opening (4-5 days) |
| Juice boxes | 6 months | Refrigerate after opening (8-12 days) |
| Marshmallows | 2-4 months | 1 month |
| Tapioca | 1 year | 1 year |
| Tea Bags | Freshest before 18 months | Freshest before 1 year |
| Tea – Loose | 2 years | 1 year |
| Tea – Instant | 3 years | 1 year |
| Toaster pastries – fruit filled | 6 months | 1 week if packet is unsealed |
| Toaster pastries – non fruit filled | 9 months | 1-2 weeks if packet is unsealed |
For more information
- Food Reference - Manufacturer's codes on canned goods
- Sally Strackbein's Emergency Kitchen - Handy table with coding and shelf life
- Pantry Storage Info from Clemson University
