Food Storage Guidelines
You don't have to be modest, you can admit it. You have a fabulously fully-stocked kitchen. Anything and everything that anyone could ever want rests quietly in the cupboard shelves, kitchen cabinets and refrigerator bins. But how long have some of those foods been on those shelves? And how long is too long?
We have put together some handy charts to help you distinguish "still good" from "time to toss." So, keep lining those shelves with cans and boxes and don't stop piling in the fruits and veggies, just make sure you know when to replace them.
Dairy Products - Real and Substitutions
| Staples | |
| Food Product |
Storage Life |
|
Baking Powder |
18 months or expiration date |
|
Baking Soda |
24 months |
|
Bisquick |
Expiration date |
|
Bouillon |
24 months |
|
Bread Crumbs, dried |
6 months |
|
Bread - Rolls |
3 days |
| Bulgar | 6-12 months |
|
Cereals - Unopened |
6-12 months |
|
Cereals - Opened |
2-3 months |
|
Cereal - Hot, dry |
6 months |
|
Chocolate - Pre-melted |
12 months |
| Chocolate - Semi-sweet | 18 months |
|
Chocolate - Unsweetened |
18 months |
|
Chocolate Syrup - Unopened |
24 months |
| Chocolate Syrup - Opened | 6 months |
| Cocoa |
Indefinite |
|
Cocoa Mixes |
8 months |
|
Coffee |
24 months |
|
Coffee Lighteners (dry) |
9 months |
| Cornmeal | 12 months |
|
Cornstarch |
18 months |
| Drink Mix - Country Time Lemonade | 24 months |
| Drink Mix - Crystal Light | 24 months |
|
Drink Mix - Kool Aid |
18-24 months |
|
Flour - White |
6-8 months |
| Flour - Whole Wheat | 6-8 months |
|
Gelatin, all types |
18 months |
|
Grits |
12 months |
|
Honey |
12-24 months |
|
Jellies, Jams |
12 months |
|
Molasses |
12+ months |
|
Marshmallow Cream |
3-4 months |
| Marshmallows | 2-3 months |
|
Mayonnaise |
2-3 months |
|
Milk - Condensed, unopened |
12 months |
|
Milk - Evaporated, unopened |
12 months |
| Milke - Nonfat, dry, unopened | 6 months |
|
Pasta |
24 months |
| Pectin - liquid or dry, unopened |
12 months or expiration date |
| Rice - White | 24+ months |
|
Rice- Brown, Wild |
6-12 months |
|
Rice - Flavored or Herb |
6 months |
|
Rice - Minute |
18 months |
|
Salad Dressings - Bottled, unopened |
10-12 months |
|
Salad Oils |
6 months |
|
Oil - Crisco or Puritan |
24 months |
|
Oil - Corn |
18 months |
| Oil - Vegetable | 6 months |
|
Shortening, solid |
8 months |
|
Vinegar (in container with plastic lid) |
Indefinitely |
|
Salt |
Indefinitely |
| Sugar - Brown | 18 months |
| Sugar - Confectioners' |
24+ |
| Sugar - Granulated | Indefinitely |
|
Sugar - Artificial Sweeteners |
24 months |
|
Syrup - Corn |
36 months |
| Syrup - Pancake | 3-4 months |
|
Tea - Bags |
18 months |
| Tea - Instant | 36 months |
|
Teat - Loose |
24 months |
|
Vinegar - Unopened |
24 months |
| Vinegar - Opened | 12 months |
|
Bread, Pastries and Cakes |
||
| Food Product |
Storage Life: Refrigerator |
Storage Life: Freezer |
| Unbaked Rolls and Breads |
2-3 weeks |
1 month |
|
Partially-Baked Cinnamon Rolls |
2 months |
|
|
Baked Quick Breads |
2 months |
|
|
Baked Muffins |
6-12 months |
|
| Baked Breads with no preservatives |
2-3 weeks |
2-3 months |
|
Unfrosted Doughnuts |
2-4 months |
|
|
Waffles |
|
1 month |
|
Unbaked Fruit Pies |
1-2 days |
2-4 months |
|
Baked Fruit Pies |
2-3 days |
6-8 months |
|
Pumpkin or Chiffon Pies |
2-3 days |
1-2 months |
|
Baked Cookies |
6-12 months |
|
|
Freezer Pie Shells |
12 months |
|
|
Cookie Dough |
3 months |
|
|
Unbaked Cake Batter |
1 month |
|
|
Frosted Baked Cakes |
|
1 month |
|
Unfrosted Baked Cakes |
2-4 months |
|
|
Angel Cakes |
6-12 months |
|
|
Fruit Cakes |
6-12 months |
|
|
Refrigerated biscuits, rolls, pastries, cookie dough |
Expiration date |
|
| Dairy Prodcuts - Real and Substitutes | ||
| Food Product |
Storage Life: Refrigerator |
Storage Life: Freezer |
| Butter | 1-2 weeks | |
| Buttermilk | 1-2 weeks | |
| Cheese - Cottage, Ricotta | 1-2 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Cheese - Cream, Neufchatel | 2 weeks | |
| Cheese - Hard, Wax-Coated | 1-2 months | 6-8 months |
| Cheese - Sliced | 2 weeks | |
| Cheese - Cream Cheese, soft | 5-6 days | |
| Cheese - Parmesan Romano, grated | 2 months | |
| Cheese - Processed | 3-4 months | 6-8 months |
| Dips - Commercial | 2 weeks | |
| Dips - Homemade | 2 days | |
| Eggs - In Shell | 3 weeks | |
| Eggs - Whites or Yolks | 2-4 days | 1 year |
| Eggs - Hard Cooked | 1 week | |
| Egg Custards, Fillings, Pastries or Cream Pies | 1-2 days | |
| Egg Substitutes - Opened | 3 days | |
| Egg Substitutes - Unopened | 10 days | 1 year |
| Margarine | 4-6 months | 12 months |
| Milk - Evaporated, opened | 4-5 days | |
| Milk - Homogenized, dry nonfat | 5 days | |
| Milk - Sweetened, condensed, opened | 4-5 days | |
| Sour Cream | 2 weeks | |
| Whipped Topping - Can | 3 months | |
| Whipped Topping - From Mix | 3 days | |
| Whipped Topping - Cool Whip (eg.) | 2-3 weeks | 14 months |
| Yogurt | 7-10 days | |
| Fruits, Vegetables and Juices | ||
| Food Product |
Storage Life: Refrigerator |
Storage Life: Freezer |
| Apples |
1 month |
8-12 months |
| Apricots, Grapes, Nectartines, Peaches, Pears, Plums | 3-5 days |
8-12 months |
|
Artichokes |
1 week |
|
|
Asparagus |
2-3 days |
8-12 months |
| Avocados |
3-5 days |
8-12 months |
|
Bananas, Plantains |
8-12 months |
|
|
Beets, Carrots |
2 weeks |
8-12 months |
| Beans, Broccoli, Lima Beans, Peas, Summer Squash |
3-5 days |
8-12 months |
| Berries, Cherries | 2-3 days | 8-12 months |
|
Cauliflower |
1 week |
8-12 months |
|
Celery, Cabbage, Chilies, Green Beans, Peppers, Tomatoes |
1 week |
8-12 months |
| Cilantro, Parsley |
1 week |
8-12 months |
| Citrus Fruit | 3 weeks |
4-6 months |
|
Corn |
Day purchased |
8-12 months |
| Cranberry Cocktail, canned |
5-6 days |
3-6 months |
| Greens - Colards, Kale, Mustard, Spinach, Swiss Chard |
3-5 days |
8-12 months |
|
Greens - Lettuce and Salad |
1 week |
|
|
Green Onions |
3-5 days |
|
|
Guavas, Papayas |
1-2 days |
8-12 months |
|
Kiwis |
3-5 days |
4-6 months |
|
Mangoes |
8-12 months |
|
|
Melons |
1 week |
8-12 months |
|
Mushrooms, Okra |
1-2 days |
8-12 months |
|
Pineapple |
2-3 days |
4-6 months |
| Juices - canned, bottled or reconstituted | 6 days | 8 months |
| Pre-mixed, full strength Fruit Juice | Expiration date | |
|
Radishes |
2 weeks |
|
| Real Lemon | 12 months | |
|
Squash, hard |
8-12 months |
|
For a more detailed breakdown of storing fruits and vegetables, see Selecting and Storing Fruits and Selecting and Storing Vegetables.
|
Meats, Poutry and Seafood |
||
|
Food Product |
Storage Life: Refrigerator |
Storage Life: Freezer |
|
FRESH MEAT |
||
|
Beef Roasts, Steaks |
3-5 days |
6-12 months |
|
Chicken or Turkey, pieces |
1-2 days |
9-12 months |
|
Chicken or Turkey, whole |
1-2 days |
1 year |
|
Duck, Goose |
1-2 days |
6 months |
|
Game Birds |
1-2 days |
6 months |
|
Giblets |
1-2 days |
3-4 months |
|
Ground Meat, Stew |
1-2 days |
3-4 months |
|
Lamb, roasts or chops |
3-5 days |
6-9 months |
|
Pork, roasts or chops |
3-5 days |
4-6 months |
|
Pre-stuffed Pork, Lamb Chops and Chicken Breasts |
1 day |
4-6 months |
| Sausage |
1-2 days |
1-2 months |
| Variety Meats: Heart, liver, tongue, etc. |
1-2 days |
1-2 months |
|
Venison, roasts, steaks, chops |
3-5 days |
6-12 months |
|
COOKED MEATS |
||
|
Breakfast Sausage, smoked |
7 days |
1-2 months |
|
Ham - Whole |
7 days |
1-2 months |
|
Ham - Half |
3-5 days |
1-2 months |
|
Ham - Slices |
3-4 days |
1-2 months |
|
Ham - Canned |
6-9 months |
|
|
Hot Dogs, Luncheon Meats - Unopened |
2 weeks |
1-2 months |
|
Hot Dogs, Luncheon Meats - Opened |
3-7 days |
1-2 months |
|
Cooked, leftover meat |
3-4 days |
2-3 months |
|
Leftover Gravy and Meat Broth |
1-2 days |
2-3 months |
|
Cooked, leftover poultry |
3-4 days |
4-6 months |
|
Cooked, leftover chicken nuggets or patties |
1-2 days |
1-3 months |
|
FRESH SEAFOOD |
||
| Lean Fish - Cod, Flounder, Trout, Haddock, Halibut, Pollack, Perch |
1-2 days |
4-6 months |
|
Fatty Fish - Mullet, Smelt, Salmon, Mackerel, Bluefish, Tuna, Swordfish |
1-2 days |
2-3 months |
|
Live Crabs and Lobsters |
Day purchased |
|
|
Live Mussels and Clams |
2-3 days |
|
|
Live Oysters |
7-10 days |
|
|
Shucked Mussels and Clams |
1-2 days |
3-4 months |
|
Shucked Oysters |
5-7 days |
3-4 months |
|
Shrimp, Crabmeat |
2-3 days |
4 months |
|
Scallops |
2-3 days |
3 months |
|
COOKED FISH |
||
|
Fish Sticks |
18 months |
|
|
Breaded Shrimp, commercial |
1 year |
|
|
Cooked pieces |
3-4 days |
3 months |
| Mixes and Packaged Foods | |
|
Food Product |
Storage Life |
|
Biscuit, Brownie, Muffin Mixes |
9 months |
|
Cake Mixes |
9 months |
|
Casseroles (complete or add own meat) |
9-12 months |
|
Cookies |
2-3 weeks |
|
Krusteaz Mixes |
24 months |
|
Pillsbury Mixes |
18 months |
|
Betty Crocker Mixes |
8-12+ months |
|
Jiffy Mixes |
24 months |
|
Crackers |
3 months |
|
Stove Top Dressing Mix |
Expiration Date |
|
Frosting |
3 months |
| Hot-Roll Mixes | 18 months |
|
Pancake Mixes |
6-9 months |
|
Pie Crust Mixes |
8 months |
|
Pies and Pastries |
2-3 days |
|
Potatoes - Instant |
6-12 months |
|
Pudding Mixes |
12 months |
|
Rice Mixes |
6 months |
|
Rice-a-Roni |
Expiration Date |
|
Pasta-Roni |
Expiration Date |
|
Rice and Sauce |
9-12 months |
|
Sauce/Gravy Mix |
6-12 months |
|
Soup Mix |
12 months |
|
Soup Base |
12 months |
|
Country Kitchen Soup |
36 months |
|
Toaster Pastries |
2-3 months |
|
Canned and Dried Foods |
|
|
Food Product |
Storage Life |
|
Canned Tomato Sauce |
12 months |
| Canned Cheese Sauce | 24-36 months |
|
Canned Tuna, Fish and Seafood |
5 years |
|
Canned Cranberry Sauce |
Expiration date |
|
Canned Fruits |
36+ months |
|
Canned Fruit Pie Fillings |
24-36 months |
|
Black Label Ham |
Expiration date |
|
Canned Meat |
36 months |
|
Canned Chicken |
36 months |
|
Canned Soup |
Expiration date |
|
Canned Tomatoes |
36+ months |
|
Canned Vegetables |
24-48 months |
|
Canned Baked Beans |
24 months |
|
Canned French Fried Onions |
24 months |
|
Canned Ragu Spaghetti Sauce |
Expiration date |
|
Canned Five Brothers Pasta Sauce |
24 months |
|
Canned Fruit Juices |
6 months |
|
Juices |
12-24 months |
|
Dried Fruits |
6 months |
|
Dried Vegetables |
12 months |
|
Dried Peas and Beans |
12 months |
| Spices, Herbs and Condiments | |
|
Food Product |
Storage Life |
|
Catsup |
18-24 months |
|
Chili Sauce |
24 months |
|
Mustard - Yellow, Prepared |
24 months |
|
Jar Pickles |
12-24 months |
|
Spices |
12-24 months |
|
Steak Sauce |
24 months |
|
Tabasco Sauce |
60 months |
|
Extracts |
24 months |
|
Vanilla |
12 months |
|
Vegetables - Dehydrated, flaked |
6 months |
| Others | |
|
Food Product |
Strorage Life |
| Cheese - Parmesan, grated | 10 months |
|
Coconut, shredded, canned or packaged |
12 months |
|
Imitation Bacon Bits |
12 months |
|
Instant Breakfast |
6 months |
|
Nuts |
4 months |
|
Nuts - In Shell |
24 months |
|
Nut Meats Package |
3 months |
|
Peanut Butter |
6-9 months |
|
Jif Peanut Butter |
24 months |
|
Popcorn |
24 months |
|
Freeze-Dried Mushrooms |
24 months |
|
Whipped Topping (dry) |
12 months |
|
Yeast (dry) |
Expiration date |
Storage information compiled with the help of the Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Center and the North Dakota State University Extension Service.
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