Food Expiration Dates Guidelines Chart
Remember to label everything with a contents description and a date. Great candidates for freezing include soups, stews, casseroles, cooked meats and fish, and cooked beans, rice, and pasta. Dishes that won't fare well in the freezer include dairy-rich foods such as cream sauces and custards, as well as salads of any kind. Usually fine until a week after the 'Sell By' date. OK for 3-5 weeks after you bring them home (assuming you bought them before the 'sell by' date). Poultry and seafood. Cook or freeze this within a day or two. Beef and pork. Cook or freeze within three to five days. Canned goods. Description: 23 Beautiful Food Expiration Dates Guidelines Chart from the above 1024x702 resolutions which is part of the Charts.Download this image for free in HD resolution the choice 'download button' below. If you do not find the exact resolution you are looking for, then go for a native or higher resolution.
- Food Expiration Dates Guidelines Chart
- Canned Food Expiration Dates Guidelines Chart
- Meat Expiration Dates Unopened
Here's a pantry food storage chart listing the shelf life of common food items kept in your pantry or cupboard, to make sure you're eating your food in the time period you should.
After I've listed the information here on the page scroll down for a free printable version as well, which you can print and keep for reference somewhere, such as your household notebook.
Shelf Life Of Common Pantry Foods
| Food Item | Storage Time | Packaging |
|---|---|---|
| Baking powder | 1 year | |
| Baking soda | 2 years | |
| Beans and peas, dried | 18 months | |
| Biscuit mix | 12-18 months | |
| Bread crumbs | 2-4 months | |
| Cake, brownie and cookie mixes | 1 year | |
| Canned fruit | 1 year | Unopened |
| Canned meats and gravies | 1 year | Unopened |
| Canned vegetables | 1 year | Unopened |
| Cereals, ready to eat | 6-12 months 2-3 months | Unopened Opened |
| Cereals, hot | 1 year | |
| Chocolate chips, semi-sweet | 1 year | |
| Chocolate, unsweetend | 18 months | |
| Cocoa powder | 2 years | |
| Coconut, grated | 1 year | Unopened |
| Coffee, ground | 3-5 months (after printed date) 3-5 months | Unopened After Opening |
| Coffee, instant | 2 years | |
| Coffee, whole bean | 6-9 months (after printed date) 6 months | Unopened Opened |
| Cookies, packaged | 2-4 months | |
| Cornmeal | 1 year | |
| Cornstarch | 18 months | |
| Crackers | 6 months | |
| Croutons | 6 months | |
| Flour, cake | 6 months | |
| Flour, white | 10-15 months | Opened, in air tight container |
| Flour, whole wheat | 6-8 months | Opened in fridge |
| Frosting, canned | 8 months | Unopened |
| Fruit, dried | 6 months | |
| Gelatin | 12-18 months | |
| Grits, instant | 8 months | |
| Grits, regular | 10 months | |
| Honey, molasses, and syrup | 1 year | |
| Hot chocolate mixes | 6-12 months | |
| Infant formula | 12-18 months | |
| Jelly, jam and preserves | 1 year 8 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
| Juice, canned citrus | 6 months | Unopened |
| Juice, canned non-citrus | 1 year | Unopened |
| Ketchup, barbeque sauce | 1 year 5 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
| Marshmallows | 3 months | |
| Mayonnaise | 4 months 2 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
| Milk, evaporated | 1 year | Unopened |
| Milk, non-fat powdered | 1-2 years | |
| Milk, sweetened condensed | 1 year | Unopened |
| Mustard | 2 years 1 year | Unopened Opened in fridge |
| Nuts, unshelled | 8 months | |
| Oils (canola, corn and vegetable) | 1-2 years 6-8 months | Unopened Opened |
| Oil, olive | 2 years | |
| Onions | 4-6 weeks | Dry dark place with lots of air circulation |
| Pancake mix | 6 months | |
| Pasta, dried | 2 years | Once opened keep in air tight containers |
| Peanut butter | 6-9 months | |
| Pickles, olives, relishes | 1 year 3 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
| Popcorn, unpopped kernals | 1-2 years | |
| Popcorn, microwaveable | 6-8 months | |
| Potatoes, white or sweet | 3-5 weeks | Dry dark place with lots of air circulation |
| Potatoes, instant | 1 year | |
| Pudding mixes | 8-12 months | |
| Rice, brown | 1 year | |
| Rice, mixes | 6 months | |
| Rice, white | 2 years | |
| Salad dressing | 10 months 3 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
| Salt | Indefinitely | |
| Sauces, condiments | 1 year | Unopened |
| Shortening | 8 months 6 months | Unopened Opened |
| Soft drinks | 6-9 months | Unopened |
| Spices and herbs, dried and ground | 1-2 years | Airtight containers, discard when scent fades |
| Spices, dried and whole | 2-3 years | Airtight containers, discard when scent fades |
| Sports drinks, bottled | 9 months | |
| Stuffing mix | 6 months | |
| Sugar, brown | 4 months | |
| Sugar, granulated | 2 years | |
| Sugar, powdered | 18 months | |
| Tea, bags and loose | 6-12 months | |
| Tea, instant | 1 year | |
| Vinegar (balsalmic, cider, rice, red wine, white, and white wine) | Indefinitely | Do not store in metal |
| Yeast, active dry | Follow package date |
These Guidelines Are Only Estimates
The estimates provided are that, only estimates. Read all information on packaging regarding expiration and use by dates, and how long the item is safe to consume after opening. If a date on a package is shorter or longer than the dates listed, rely on the dates on the package instead.
These listed dates are for pantry shelf-life of foods, and if it states “unopened” for the packaging column, there is typically a shorter shelf life once the item is opened, and in addition it may need to be refrigerated. Look at the packaging for details. You can find out more about refrigerated food storage guidelines here.
Also, use your senses of sight and smell to be sure food is safe to eat. Even if it says it’s within the expiration date periods, if it smells or looks funny throw it out!
For more information about food safety, check out my article with 5 food storage safety tips, plus visit FoodSafety.gov.
Printable Pantry Food Shelf Life Chart {Cheat Sheet}
Click here to get your Cheat Sheet (4 pages) (opens into PDF)
Now, follow the steps below to Import Cinema FX into Premiere. Free adobe premiere pro presets.
I've created a printable version of this information for you so it is easier for you to reference when cleaning out your pantry as part of the Organize Pantry & Spices Challenge.
This cheat sheet will help you both know when to throw certain foods out and also when to plan to eat them while they'll taste their best.
In addition, check out the articles about fresh fruit storage tips and fresh vegetable storage tips, to learn more about the fruits and vegetables that can be stored at room temperature, instead of in the refrigerator.
Other Printable Forms You May Like
Here are some additional printable forms about food storage, including other cheat sheets with storage times for food, that you may find helpful.
Freezer Storage Times {Cheat Sheet} | Refrigerated Food Storage Guidelines {Cheat Sheet} | Pantry Inventory Form |
Food Expiration Dates Guidelines Chart
Share Your Comments, Tips & Ideas
I would love to hear from you, sharing your thoughts, questions, or ideas about this topic, so leave me a comment below. I try to always respond back!
Related Pages You May Enjoy
The costs of wasted food go far beyond the money you may have wasted buying something and letting it spoil. We've talked about ways to stop wasting food before, but if all you really need to know is 'How long will this stay fresh and how should I store it,' this helpful chart will help.
Canned Food Expiration Dates Guidelines Chart
How to Wage Your Own War Against Food Waste
Back in December, I decided to eat more fruits and vegetables. No matter what, I was going to eat…
Read more ReadAdvertisement
This chart, sent over to us by our friends at Visual.ly, does a great job at listing some common foods and how long they'll stay fresh and safe to eat based on different storage methods (along with a few that you might be tempted to freeze but really shouldn't.) At the bottom the chart goes into detail about the differences between the 'sell by,' 'use by,' and 'expires on' dates you commonly see on packaging at the store. Put simply, those dates refer to the quality of the food and how often a store should rotate its stock to ensure freshness—it has nothing to do with the safety of the food.
Its also worth noting that while the chart has good data, don't forget to trust your nose—if you've stored your food properly, you can usually beat most expiration dates and keep your food fresher, longer. For another reference, check out previously mentionedStill Tasty and type in the type of food you're curious about. Otherwise, click the chart below to enlarge, or hit the link below to see it at Visual.ly.
StillTasty Tells You How Long Your Food Will Last
Got a fridge full of food but not sure what's still edible and what you'd regret an hour…
Read more ReadMeat Expiration Dates Unopened
Advertisement
update: A couple of you noticed a few typos on the chart (like the shelf life of tomatoes, for example!) We reached out to the team at Visual.ly with your feedback, and they've updated their chart with the correct information. We've posted a new version below, so it's up to date. Thanks, everyone!
The Shelf Life of Food Visual.ly
Advertisement