If you heard the show this week, you know that we were talking about how long you can keep items in your stockpile before you should really toss them. Those little dates on the package? Yeah, those aren't really for "us". Those are simply a guide to let the store know how to appropriately rotate their stock. Even if it says "Best Before" or "Freshness Guaranteed Until", those dates are truly meaningless once they hit your stockpile.
Now, that's not to say that you shouldn't pay attention to those dates - you just have to do a little creative math! If you store foods appropriately, (stockpile in as cool and dry a place as you can manage, with your fridge below 40 degrees etc.) your foods will last WELL beyond those little stamped dates. Here's a handy chart from gourmetsleuths.com to give you an idea of the actual life span of your hard earned bargains!
FRESH FOODS
| |
| Product | Cook or Freeze By |
| Beef | 3-5 days after purchase |
| Butter | 2 weeks to 2 months unopened |
| Cream & half and half | 3-4 days from sell by date or snif it! |
| Eggs | 3-5 weeks from carton date |
| Fish | 1-2 days wrapped tightly and well chilled or iced. |
| Ground meat | 2 days after purchase |
| Hard cheese | 6 months unopened, 3-4 weeks opened, stored airtight. Its OK to cut away mold, it does not spoil the whole block of cheese |
| Hot dogs | 7 days after sell by date |
| Luncheon meats | 7 days after sell-by date |
| Milk | 5-7 Days past the sell-by date. Don't use if it smells sour. (See California Law ) |
| Pork | 3-5 days after purchase |
| Poultry | 1- 2 days loosely wrapped |
| Soft cheese | 1 week unopened or 2 weeks for cream cheese. |
View: Comprehesive food storage guidelines chart
PROCESSED - SHELF STABLE PRODUCTS
| ||
Unopened, After Purchase
| After Opening | |
| Baked goods | 2 - 7 days. Refrigerate or freeze for longer storage. | |
| Baking powder | Replace every 6 months to a year. To test it: mix 1 teaspoon baking powder with 1/2 cup hot water and the mixture should bubble immediately. | |
| Baking soda | Replace every 6 months to a year. To test: mix 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 2 teaspoons of vinegar and the mixture should bubble immediately. | |
| Canned goods - high acid | 18 months | 3-4 days |
| Canned goods - low acid | 2-5 years | 3-4 days |
| Canned meats, shelf stable | 2 to 5 years/pantry | 3-4 days |
| Flour | Varies by variety. All-purpose flour, stored in cool, dry location can store indefinitely. Refrigerate whole wheat and higher-fat flours. See FAQs | |
| Juices | shelf-stable, bottled. Store for 12 to 18 | 3 - 5 days |
| Powdered seasonings | 6 months to a year past "best by" date. . | 1 month Spoilage is unlikely but quality will degrade. If seasoning mixes add fats, watch for rancidity |
| Salt | Does not "expire". | |
| Sugar | Never (unless it is exposed to moisture and becomes too difficult to use | |
Bread And Cereal Products
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Food | Pantry (Room Temperature) | Refrigerator (33°F to 40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
| muffin mixes | 9 months | ||
| Cakes, prepared | 2-4 days | 2-3 months | |
| Cake mixes | 6-9 months | ||
| Casserole mix | 9-12 months | ||
| Chili powder | 6 months | ||
| Cookies, packaged | 2 months | 8-12 months | |
| Crackers, pretzels | 3 months | ||
| Frosting, canned | 3 months | ||
| Frosting, mix | 8 months | ||
| Fruit cake | 2-3 months | 1 year | |
| Hot roll mix | 18 months | ||
| Instant breakfast products | 6 months | ||
| Pancake and piecrust mix | 6 months | ||
| Pancake waffle batter | 1-2 days | 3 months | |
| Toaster pastries | 3 months | ||
| Sauce and gravy mixes | 6 months | ||
| Soup mixes | 1 year | ||
| Spices, Herbs, Condiments, Extracts | |||
| Catsup, chili, and cocktail sauce | 1 month* | 6 months | 1 year |
| Herbs | 6 months | 1-2 years | |
| Herb/spice blends | 2 years | 1-2 years | |
| Mustard | 2 years | 6-8 months* | 8-12 months |
| Spices, ground | 6 months | 1-2 years | |
| Spices, whole | 1-2 years | 2-3 years | |
| Vanilla extract | 2 years | ||
| Other extracts | 1 year | ||
| Other Food Staples | |||
| Bacon bits | 4 months | ||
| Baking powder | 18 months | ||
| Baking soda | 2 years | ||
| Bouillon products | 1 year | ||
| Carbonated soft drinks (12 oz. cans) | 6-9 months | ||
| Carbonated soft drinks, diet (12 oz. cans) | 3-4 months | ||
| Chocolate, premelted | 1 year | ||
| Chocolate syrup | 2 years | 6 months* | |
| Chocolate, semisweet | 2 years | ||
| Chocolate, unsweetened | 18 months | ||
| Cocoa mixes | 8 months | ||
| Coconut, shredded | 1 year | 8 months | 1 year |
| Coffee cans | 2 years | 2 months | 6 months |
| Coffee, instant | 6 months | ||
| Coffee, vacuum-packed | 1 year ^ | ||
| Coffee lighteners (dry) | 9 months | 1 year | |
| Cornstarch | 18 months | 2 years | |
| Gelatin | 18 months | ||
| Honey, jams, jellies, and syrup | 1 year | 6-8 months* | |
| Marshmallows | 2-3 months | ||
| Marshmallow cream | 3-4 months | ||
| Mayonnaise | 2-3 months | 12 months | |
| Molasses | 2 years | ||
| Nuts, shelled | 4 months | 6 months | |
| Nuts, unshelled | 6 months | ||
| Nuts, salted | 6-8 months | ||
| Nuts, unsalted | 9-12 months | ||
| Oil, salad | 3 months^ | ||
| Parmesan grated cheese | 10 months | ||
| Pasteurized process cheese spread | 3 months | 3-4 weeks* | 4 months |
| Peanut butter | 6 months | ||
| Popcorn | 1-2 years | 2 years | 2-3 years |
| Pectin | 1 year | ||
| Salad dressings, bottled | 1 year^ | 3 months* | |
| Soft drinks | 3 months | ||
| Artificial sweetener | 2 years | ||
| Sugar, brown | 4 months | ||
| Sugar, confectioners | 18 months | ||
| Sugar, granulated | 2 years | ||
| Tea bags | 18 months | ||
| Tea, instant | 2 years | ||
| Vegetable oils | 6 months | ||
| Vegetable shortening | 3 months | 6-9 months | |
| Vinegar | 2 years | ||
| Water, bottled | 1-2 years | ||
| Whipped topping (dry) | 1 year | ||
| Yeast, dry | Pkg. exp. date | ||
Vegetables
Food
|
Pantry (Room Temperature)
|
Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) |
Freezer
(0°F) |
| Asparagus | 2-3 days | 8 months | |
| Beets | 2 weeks | ||
| Broccoli | 3-5 days | ||
| Brussels sprouts | 3-5 days | ||
| Cabbage | 1 week | ||
| Carrots | 2 weeks | ||
| Cauliflower | 1 week | ||
| Celery | 1 week | ||
| Corn (husks) | 1-2 days | 8 months | |
| Cucumbers | 1 week | ||
| Eggplant | 1 week | ||
| Green beans | 1-2 days | 8 months | |
| Green peas | 3-5 days | 8 months | |
| Lettuce | 1 week | ||
| Lima beans | 3-5 days | 8 months | |
| Mushrooms | 2 days | ||
| Onions | 1 week | 3-5 days | |
| Onion rings (precooked, frozen) | 1 year# | ||
| Peppers | 1 week | ||
| Pickles, canned | 1 year | 1 month* | |
| Frozen potatoes | 8 month | ||
| Sweet potatoes | 2-3 weeks | ||
| White potatoes | 2-3 months | ||
| Potato chips | 1 month | ||
| Radishes | 2 weeks | ||
| Rhubarb | 3-5 days | ||
| Rutabagas | 1 week | ||
| Snap beans | 1 week | ||
| Spinach | 8 months | ||
| Squash, Summer | 3-5 days | ||
| Squash, Winter | 1 week | ||
| Tomatoes | 1 week | ||
| Turnips | 2 weeks | ||
| Commercial baby food, jars | 1-2 years^ | 2-3 days | |
| Canned vegetables | 1 year^ | 1-4 days* | |
| Canned vegetables, pickled | 1 year^ | 1-2 months* | |
| Dried vegetables | 6 months | ||
| Frozen vegetables | 8 months | ||
| Vegetable soup | 3-4 days | 3 months | |
Food
|
Pantry (Room Temperature)
|
Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) |
Freezer
(0°F) |
| Apples | Until ripe | 1 month | |
| Apricots | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Avocados | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Bananas | Until ripe | 5 days (fully ripe) | |
| Berries | Until ripe | 3 days | 1 year |
| Canned fruit | 1 year | 2-4 days* | |
| Canned fruit juices | 1 year | 3-4 days* | |
| Cherries | Until ripe | 3 days | |
| Citrus fruit | Until ripe | 2 weeks | |
| Dried fruit | 6 months | 2-4 days+ | |
| Frozen fruit | 1 year | ||
| Fruit juice concentrate | 6 days | 1 year | |
| Fruit pies, baked | 2-3 days | 8 months | |
| Grapes | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Melons | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Nectarines | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Peaches | Until ripe | 5 days | 1 year |
| Pears | Until ripe | 5 days | 1 year |
| Pineapple | Until ripe | 5-7 days | 1 year |
| Plums | Until ripe | 5 days | |
Dairy Products
Food
|
Pantry (Room Temperature)
|
Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) |
Freezer
(0°F) |
| Butter | 1-2 months | 9 months | |
| Buttermilk | 2 weeks | ||
| Cottage cheese | 1 week | 3 months | |
| Cream cheese | 2 weeks | ||
| Cream-light, heavy, half- and-half | 3-4 days | 1-4 months | |
| Eggnog commercial | 3-5 days | 6 months | |
| Margarine | 4-5 months | 12 months | |
| Condensed, evaporated and dry milk | 12-23 months^ | 8-20 days* | |
| Milk | 8-20 days | ||
| Ice cream and sherbet | 2 months | ||
| Hard natural cheese (e.g. cheddar, swiss) | 3-6 months | 6 months | |
| 4 weeks* | |||
| Hard natural cheese, sliced | 2 weeks | ||
| Processed cheese | 1 month | 6 months | |
| Soft cheese (e.g. brie) | 1 week | 6 months | |
| Pudding | 1-2 days* | ||
| Snack dips | 1 week* | ||
| Sour cream | 2 weeks | ||
| Non-dairy whipped cream, canned | 3 months | ||
| Real whipped cream, canned | 3-4 weeks | ||
| Yogurt | 2 weeks | 1-2 months | |
Food
|
Pantry (Room Temperature)
|
Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
| Fresh beef and bison steaks | 3-5 days | 6-9 months | |
| Fresh beef and bison roasts | 3-5 days | 9-12 months | |
| Fresh pork chops | 2-3 days | 4-6 months | |
| Fresh lamb chops | 3-5 days | 6-8 months | |
| Fresh veal | 1-2 days | 4-6 months | |
| Fresh ground meat (e.g. beef, bison, veal, lamb) | 1 day | 3-4 months | |
| Cooked meat | 2-3 days | 2-3 months | |
| Canned meat | 1 year | 3-4 days* | 3-4 months |
| Ham, whole | 1 week | 1-2 months | |
| Ham, canned | 1 year | 1 week* | 3-4 months |
| Ham, canned "keep refrigerated" | 6-9 months | ||
| 1 week* | 3-4 months | ||
| Shelf-stable unopened canned meat (e.g. chili, deviled ham, corn beef) | 1 year | 1week* | |
| Ham, cook before eating | 1 week | ||
| Ham, fully cooked | 2 weeks | ||
| 1 week* | |||
| Ham, dry-cured | 1 year | 1 month | |
| Ham salad, store prepared or homemade | 3-5 days | ||
| Bacon | 2 weeks | 1 month | |
| 1 week* | |||
| Corned beef, uncooked | 5-7 days | 1-2 months | |
| Restructured (flaked) meat products | 9-12 months | ||
| Sausage, fresh | 1-2 days | 1-2 months | |
| Smoked breakfast sausage links, patties | 1 week | 2 months | |
| Sausage, smoked (e.g. Mettwurst) | 1 week | 1-2 months | |
| Sausage, semi-dry (e.g. Summer sausage) | 2-3 weeks* | 6 months | |
| Sausage, dry smoked (e.g. Pepperoni, jerky, dry Salami) | 1 year | 1 month* | 6 months |
| Frankfurters, bologna | 2 weeks | 1-2 months | |
| 3-5 days* | |||
| Luncheon meat | 2 weeks | 1 month | |
| 3-5 days* | |||
| Meat gravies | 1-2 days | 2-3 months | |
| TV beef and pork dinners | 18 months# | ||
| Meat based casseroles | 3-4 days | 4 months | |
| Variety meats (giblets, tongue, liver, heart, etc.) | 1-2 days | 3-4 months | |
| Vinegar pickled meats (e.g. pickled pigs feet) | 1 year^ | 2 weeks* | |
Food
|
Pantry (Room Temperature)
|
Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) |
Freezer
(0°F) |
| Breaded fish | 4-6 months | ||
| Canned fish | 1 year | 1-2 days* | |
| Cooked fish or seafood | 3-4 days | 3 months | |
| Lean fish (e.g. cod, flounder, haddock) | 1-2 days | 6 months | |
| Fatty fish (e.g. bluefish, salmon, mackeral) | 1-2 days | 2-3 months | |
| Dry pickled fish | 3-4 weeks | ||
| Smoked fish | 2 weeks | 4-5 weeks | |
| Seafood-clams, crab, lobster in shell | 2 days | 3 months | |
| Seafood-oysters and scallops | 1-2 days | 3-4 months | |
| Seafood-shrimp | 1-2 days | 1 year | |
| Seafood-shucked clams | 1-2 days | 3-6 months | |
| Tuna salad, store prepared or homemade | 3-5 days |
Food
|
Pantry (Room Temperature)
|
Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) |
Freezer
(0°F) |
| Chicken nuggets or patties | 1-2 days | ||
| Chicken livers | 1-2 days | 3 months | |
| Chicken and poultry TV dinners | 6 months | ||
| Canned poultry^ | 1 year | 1 day* | |
| Cooked poultry | 2-3 days | 4-6 months | |
| Fresh poultry | 1 day | 1 year | |
| Frozen poultry parts | 6-9 months | ||
| Canned poultry | 1 day | 3 months | |
| Poultry pies, stews, and gravies | 1-2 days | 6 months | |
| Poultry salads, store prepared or homemade | 3-5 days | ||
| Poultry stuffing, cooked | 3-4 days | 1 month | |
| Eggs, in shell | 3-5 weeks | ||
| Eggs, hard-boiled | 1 week | ||
| Eggs, pasteurized | 10 days | 1 year | |
| 3 days* | |||
| Egg substitute | 10 days | 1 year | |
| 3 days* | |||
| Egg yolks (covered in water) | 2-4 days | 1 year | |
| Egg whites (For each cup of egg yolk add 1 Tbs. of sugar or salt) | 2-4 days | 1 year | |
| Wild Game | |||
| Frog legs | 1 day | 6-9 months | |
| Game birds | 2 days | 9 months | |
| Small game (rabbit, squirrel, etc.) | 2 days | 9-12 months | |
| Venison ground meat | 1-2 days | 2-3 months | |
| Venison steaks and roasts | 3-5 days | 9-12 months | |
Also, as we mentioned on the show, the USDA and FDA do NOT mandate expiration dates for any food or food products besides baby formula. Some states have stricter guidelines but there is nothing in the federal statutes, so really it's about consumer responsibility! Just follow the guidelines above, remember to rotate your stockpile, and you'll be maximizing the value of what you're bringing home! Remember, it doesn't matter how cheap that box of cereal was if you have to throw it out before your family eats it!
Questions? Post them below and we'll be more than happy to help you out!
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