Most unopened shelf-stable food should be stored in a cool, dry and dark
storage area. Before opening, shelf-stable foods should be safe unless the can
or packaging has been damaged. After opening, store products in tightly closed
containers.
The storage of many shelf-stable items at room temperature is a quality
issue unless the product is contaminated (bugs in flour, for example).
Some foods must be refrigerated after opening, such as tuna or chili.
Baby food jars & cans Unopened Open refrigerated Open on shelf
Fruits & vegetables 2 months after date 2-3 days
Meats & eggs 2 months after date 1 day
Cereal, dry mixes Use-by date 2 months
Formula Use-by date 1-2 days
Baking ingredients Unopened Open refrigerated Open on shelf
Baking powder 6 months 3 months
Baking soda 18 months 6 months
Biscuit or pancake mix 15 months use-by date
Cake, brownie and bread mixes 12-18 months use-by date
Cornmeal, regular degerminated 6-12 months 12 months
stone ground or blue 1 month 2-3 months
Cornstarch 18 months 18 months
Flour, white 6-12 months 6-8 months
Flour, whole wheat 1 month 6-8 months
Frosting, canned 10 months 1 week
Frosting mixes 12 months 3 months
Beans, dried 12 months 12 months
Canned goods, low acid 2-5 years 3-4 days
(such as meat, poultry, fish, gravy, stew, soups, beans, carrots, corn,
pasta, peas, potatoes, spinach)
Canned goods, high acid 12-18 months 5-7 days
(such as juices, fruit, pickles, sauerbraut, tomato, soup, and foods in
vinegar-based sauce)
Cereal, ready-to-eat 6-12 months 3 months
Cereal, cook-before-eat 12 months 6-12 months
Chocolate 18-24 months 1 year
Chocolate syrup 2 years 6 months
Cocoa and cocoa mixes indefinitely 1 year
Coffee Unopened Open refrigerated Open on shelf
Whole beans, non-vacuum bag 1-3 weeks 3-4 months frozen
Ground, in cans 2 years 2 weeks
Instant, jars and tins 12 months 2-3 months
Condiments Unopened Open refrigerated Open on shelf
Barbecue sauce, bottled 12 months 4 months 1 month
Catsup, tomato; cocktail sauce or chili sauce 12 months 6 months 1 month
Chutney 12 months 1-2 months
Horseradish, in jar 12 months 3-4 months
Mayonnaise, commercial 2-3 months 2 months
Mustard 12 months 1 year 1-2 months
Olives, black and green 12 -18 months 2 weeks
Pickles 12 months 1-2 months
Salad dressings, commercial, bottled 10-12 months 3 months
Salsa, picante and taco sauces 12 months 1 month
Cookies, packaged 2 months 8-12 months frozen 4 weeks
Crackers 8 months freeze or refrig. 3-4 months 1 month
Diet powder mixes 6 months 3 months
Extracts, vanilla, lemon, etc. 3 years 1 year
Fruits, dried 6 months 6 months
Garlic, chopped, commercial jars 18 months Refrigerate; use by date on
jar
Gelatin, flavored 18 months reseal 4 months
Gelatin, unflavored 3 years reseal 4 months
Gravy, jars & cans 2-5 years 1-2 days
dry gravy mixes 2 years Mix entire packet
Herbs, dried 1-2 years Store in cool dark place 1 year.
Honey 12 months 12 months
Jams, jellies, preserves 12 months 6 months
Juice, boxes 4-6 months 8-12 days
Lentils, dried 12 months 12 months
Maple syrup, pure genuine 12 months 12 months
Marshmallows, marshmallow creme 2-4 months 1 month
Milk, canned evaporated 12 months 4-5 days
Molasses 12 months 6 months
Mushrooms, dried 6 months 3 months
Oils, olive or vegetable 6 months 4-6 months
walnut, macadamia, other nut oils 6 months 4 months
vegetable oil sprays 2 years 1 year
Nuts, jars or cans 12 months 4-6 months, Freeze 9-12 months
Pasta, dry, made without eggs 2 years 1 year
dry egg noodles 2 years 1-2 months
Peanut butter, commercial 6-9 months 2-3 months
Peas, dried split 12 months 12 months
Pectin Use by package date 1 mo.
Popcorn, dry kernels in jar 2 years 1 year
commercially popped in bags 2-3 months 1-2 weeks
Microwave packets 12 months 1-2 days popped
Potato chips 2 months 1-2 weeks
Potatoes, instant 6-12 months 6-12 months
Pudding mixes 12 months 3-4 months
Rice, white or wild 2 years 1 year
brown 1 year 6 months
flavored or herb mixes 6 months Use entire amt.
Sauce mixes, non dairy (spaghetti, taco, etc.) 2 years Use entire amt.
cream sauces with milk solids 1 year
Shortening, solid 8 months 3 months
Soda Unopened Open refrigerated Open on shelf
Diet sodas, bottles or cans 3 months after date 2-3 days
Regular sodas, bottles 3 months after date 2-3 days
Regular sodas, cans 9 months after date n.a.
Soup mixes 12 months Use entire amt.
Spices, whole 2-4 years sealed 1 year
ground 2-3 years sealed 1 year
Paprika, red pepper, chili powder 2 years Store in refrig.
Sugar, brown Sugar nevers spoils
Granulated Sugar nevers spoils
Confectioners 18 months
Sugar substitutes 2 years
Syrup, pancake, maple & other flavors 12 months 12 months
Tapioca 12 months 12 months
Tea, bags 18 months 12 months
Loose 2 years 6-12 months
Instant 3 years 6-12 months
Toaster pastries, fruit filled 6 months Keep foil packets sealed
non-fruit fillings 9 months
Tomatoes, sun dried, packed in oil 12 months 6-12 months
packed in cellophane 9 months 3-6 months
Vinegar 2 years 12 months
Yeast, dry, packets and jars Use-by date Refrigerate open jars
Water, bottled 1-2 years 3 months
Worcestershire sauce 1 year 1 year
Storage:
A diamond is merely a lump of coal
that did well under pressure.
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