Spring Cleaning: Shelf life of common pantry items

by Sarah J. Gim, Posted Mar 30th 2006 @ 7:51AM

Eggs, milk, even jarred mayonnaise (which we know could probably withstand nuclear fallout) all have expiration dates, but what about the dried goods in your pantry? Some of the things have a "Best when used by" date, but not everything. This list of shelf-lives for common pantry items is taken from a book that my father bought me when he helped me "clean out" my own pantry. I think he was scared.

Baking

All purpose flour - 12 months unopened, 6-8 months opened
Whole wheat flour - 12 months unopened, 6 months opened (if refrigerated)
Granulated sugar - 2 years unopened, 6 months opened
Brown sugar - 4 months unopened, 4 month opened (in freezer)
Confectioner's sugar - 18 months unopened
Solid shortening - 8 months unopened, 3 months opened
Cocoa - 2 years unopened, 1 year opened
Baking soda - 18 months unopened, 6 months opened
Baking powder - 6 months unopened, 3 months opened
Cornstarch - 18 months

Spices - more info from ochef on spices, and note that spices last longer than herbs

Whole spices - 2-4 years
Ground spices - 2-3 years
Paprika - 2-3 years (if refrigerated)
Cayenne pepper - 2-3 years (if refrigerated)

Canned goods (lower acid foods have a longer shelf life)

Tomato products - 1-2 years unopened
Fruit juices - 1-2 years unopened
Soups - 3-5 years unopened
Meats - 2-4 years unopened (Spam, however, I would guess could last a life-time)
Gravy - 3-5 years unopened
Vegetables - 3-4 years unopened

Other stuff, with more info from the Washington Post

Pasta (dried, no eggs) - 2 years unopened, 1 year opened
Pasta (dried, with eggs) - 2 years unopened, 1-2 months opened
Salad dressings - 1 year unopened, 3 months opened (in refrigerator)
Honey - 1 year
Ground coffee - 2 years unopened, 2 weeks opened (in refrigerator)
Instant coffee - 1 year unopened, 3 months opened (do people really drink instant coffee?!?!)
Bottled water - 2 years unopened, 3 months opened
Jams and jellies - 1 year unopened, 6 months opened (in refrigerator)
Peanut butter - 6-9 months unopened, 2-3 months opened

Of course, these are all suggested shelf-lives. You should always go by the date if there is one printed on the package, and certainly throw anything out if it looks or smells bad.

Filed Under: Spring Cleaning, Ingredients, How To
Tags: canned food, chocolate, condiments, dried food, grains, nuts, pantry, seeds, shelf-life, spices, spring cleaning, SpringCleaning

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-30-2006 @10:15AM Dan Tannenbaum said... Like, water goes bad? Then that means the water in my well, which has been around for millions and millions of years is expired, and I should get a new water source? Also, there are special irradiated food that have expiration dates measured in decades. And I think SPAM has a millenium-based expiration date.
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3-30-2006 @11:30AM Jenny said... My sister got me in the habit of writing the date I open a jar on the jar with a Sharpie. I'm not sure I adhere to all these dates, but at least I know how old it is.

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3-30-2006 @2:33PM Jumper said... No the water it's self doesn't go out of date, the plastic bottle that it comes in can break down and leech into the water after that length of time..jeez, was that a question someone really had to ask?
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3-30-2006 @2:36PM Jumper said... No the water it's self doesn't go out of date, the plastic bottle that it comes in can break down and leech into the water after that length of time..jeez, was that a question someone really had to ask?
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3-30-2006 @2:41PM jen said... huh, I strongly disagree with the honey and sugar expir. dates. Honey doesn't go bad, if kept in an airtight container, and neither does sugar. Honey may crystalize, but warm it up and it's fine. Unlike flour, honey and sugar don't contain fats that'll go rancid; unlike baking soda or baking powder, the active ingredient in sugar doesn't lose it's power.

also, unopened jams and jellies last a whole lot longer than a year. They're preserved for goodness sake!
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