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)
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Tomato products - 1-2 years unopened
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Fruit juices - 1-2 years unopened
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Soups - 3-5 years unopened
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Meats - 2-4 years unopened (Spam, however, I would guess could last a life-time)
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Gravy - 3-5 years unopened
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Vegetables - 3-4 years unopened
Other stuff, with more info from the Washington Post
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Pasta (dried, no eggs) - 2 years unopened, 1 year opened
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Pasta (dried, with eggs) - 2 years unopened, 1-2 months opened
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Salad dressings - 1 year unopened, 3 months opened (in refrigerator)
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Honey - 1 year
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Ground coffee - 2 years unopened, 2 weeks opened (in refrigerator)
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Instant coffee - 1 year unopened, 3 months opened (do people really drink instant coffee?!?!)
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Bottled water - 2 years unopened, 3 months opened
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Jams and jellies - 1 year unopened, 6 months opened (in refrigerator)
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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.

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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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4-04-2006 @12:21AM Gail Reilly said... Oh boy, do I have to throw a LOT of things away...
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