Food Storage Guide
. . . Answers the Question . . .
FN-579, August 1998
Reviewed October 2007
Julie Garden-Robinson, Food and Nutrition Specialist
Table of Contents
How long can I store _________ before its
quality deteriorates or it's no longer safe to eat?
Like many answers, this one depends on several factors: the
type of food, length of time the food sat on the store shelf
before you bought it, the temperature of the food while it was in
the store, its packaging, how efficiently your refrigerator or
freezer runs, and the temperature in your cupboards.
While you can't control all these factors, there are some
precautions you can take. For example, always read the package
labels and buy the products with the most distant expiration
dates. When you're shopping, buy perishable foods, like meats,
last. In fact, you may want to organize your shopping list so
your perishables are at the bottom. At home, put purchase dates
on packaging and rotate your food supplies on a regular basis. Be
sure to always use the "first in first out" rule.
This publication provides handling tips and recommendations
for storing food in your cupboards, refrigerator or freezer.
Beyond the guidelines, though, you still have to rely on some
old-fashioned common sense. And remember the most basic of rules:
When in doubt, throw it out.
- Store foods in cool cabinets and away from appliances
which produce heat.
- Many staples and canned foods have a relatively long
shelf life, but buy only what you can expect to use
within the time recommended in the chart. Date food
packages and use the oldest first. Foods stored for
longer than recommended times or beyond date on the
package may change quality, color and flavor.
- Buy fresh-looking packages. Dusty cans or torn labels can
indicate old stock. Do not purchase dented or bulging
cans.
Food Storage Handling Hints
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Baking powder 18 months or Keep dry and covered.
expiration
date on can
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Baking soda 2 years Keep dry and covered.
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Bouillon cubes 1 year Keep dry and covered.
or granules
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Bread crumbs (dried) 6 months Keep dry and covered.
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Bread, rolls 3 days
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Bulgur 6-12 months
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Cereals
- ready-to-eat, unopened 6-12 months Check date on package. Refold
- ready-to-eat, opened 2-3 months package liner tightly
after opening.
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Hot cereal (dry) 6 months
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Chocolate
- premelted 12 months Keep cool.
- semi-sweet 18 months Keep cool.
- unsweetened 18 months Keep cool.
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Cocoa Indefinitely
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Chocolate syrup
- unopened 2 years
- opened 6 months Cover tightly. Refrigerate
after opening.
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Cocoa mixes 8 months Cover tightly.
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Coffee
- cans, unopened 2 years Refrigerate after opening;
- cans, opened 2 weeks keep tightly closed. Use dry
- instant, unopened 1 to 2 years measuring spoon. Can be
- instant, opened 2 months frozen to extend shelf life.
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Coffee lighteners
- unopened, dry 9 months Keep tightly covered.
- opened, dry 6 months Keep tightly covered.
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Cornmeal 12 months Keep tightly covered. Can be
frozen for indefinite storage.
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Cornstarch 18 months Keep tightly covered.
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Flour - Can be frozen for indefinite storage.
- white 6-8 months Keep in airtight container.
Keep refrigerated.
- whole wheat 6-8 months Store in airtight container.
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Gelatin (all types) 18 months Keep in original container.
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Grits 12 months Store in airtight container.
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Honey 12 months Cover tightly.
If crystallizes, warm opened
jar in pan of hot water.
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Jellies, jams 12 months Cover tightly.
Refrigerate after opening.
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Molasses
- unopened 2 years
- opened 6 months Keep tightly covered.
Refrigerate to extend
storage life.
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Marshmallow cream
- unopened 3-4 months Cover tightly. Refrigerate
after opening to extend
storage life. Serve at room
temperature.
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Marshmallows 2-3 months Keep in airtight container.
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Mayonnaise - unopened 2-3 months Check package date.
Refrigerate after opening.
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Milk
- condensed or 12 months Refrigerate after opening.
evaporated, unopened
- nonfat dry
. unopened 6 months
. opened 3 months Store in airtight container.
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Pasta
- spaghetti,macaroni,etc. 2 years Once opened, store in
- egg noodles 6 months airtight container.
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Pectin
- liquid or dry 1 year or expiration date
. unopened
- liquid - opened 1 month Recap and refrigerate.
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Rice
- white 2 years Keep tightly covered.
- brown, wild 6-12 months
- flavored or herb 6 months
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Salad dressings
- bottled, unopened 10-12 months
- bottled, opened 3 months Refrigerate after opening.
- made from mix 2 weeks Refrigerate prepared dressing.
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Vegetable oils
- unopened 6 months
- opened 1-3 months Refrigeration not needed.
Store in a cool, dark place
in tightly closed container.
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Shortenings (solid) 8 months Refrigeration not needed.
Store in a cool, dark place
in tightly closed container.
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Sugar
- brown 4 months Put in airtight container.
- confectioners' 18 months Put in airtight container.
- granulated 2 years Cover tightly.
- artificial sweeteners 2 years Cover tightly.
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Corn syrup Up to 3 years Keep tightly covered.
Refrigerate to extend storage
life. Remove any light
surface mold and heat to
180 �F before use.
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Pancake syrup 3-4 months Refrigerate after opening.
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Tea
- bags 18 months Put in airtight container.
- instant 3 years Cover tightly.
- loose 2 years Put in airtight container.
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Vinegar
- unopened 2 years
- opened 12 months Keep tightly covered.
Slightly cloudy appearance
doesn't affect quality.
Distilled vinegar keeps
longer than cider vinegar.
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- Use foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags or airtight
containers designed for use with food for packaging foods
for refrigerator storage. Moisture- and vapor-proof
materials are best.
- Clean refrigerator regularly to reduce food odors. Remove
spoiled foods immediately so decay cannot pass to other
foods.
- Store foods at cool temperatures. From 34 to 40 degrees
Fahrenheit is best. Perishable foods stored at
temperatures above 40 �F spoil rapidly. Check
temperatures with a refrigerator thermometer or an
outdoor thermometer.
- Use foods quickly. Don't depend on maximum storage time.
- Freeze foods in containers or materials designed for
freezer storage.
- Keep freezer clean and at 0 �F or lower.
Breads, Pastries, Cakes
Refrigerator Freezer
Products at 32 to 40 �F at 0 �F Comments
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Unbaked 2-3 weeks 1 month Longer storage causes
rolls and yeast to become
bread inactivated and the
gluten weakened.
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Partially baked 2 months
cinnamon rolls
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Baked quick 2 months
breads
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Baked muffins 6-12 months
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Baked breads 2-3 weeks 2-3 months Refrigeration storage is
with no recommended to inhibit
preservatives mold growth.
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Unfrosted 2-4 months
doughnuts
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Waffles 1 month
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Unbaked 1-2 days 2-4 months
fruit pies
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Baked 2-3 days 6-8 months
fruit pies
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Pumpkin or 2-3 days 1-2 months
chiffon pies
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Baked cookies 6-12 months Cookies will keep two to
three weeks in airtight
container in cupboard.
Cookies do not need to
be refrigerated.
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Freezer 12 months If package is open and
pie shells not used, rewrap and
(ex. Pet Ritz) freeze remaining crust
and use within two months.
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Cookie dough 3 months
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Unbaked 1 month Use double-action
cakes (batter) baking powder if batter
is frozen.
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Frosted 1 month
baked cakes
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Unfrosted 2-4 months
baked cakes
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Angel cakes 6-12 months
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Fruit cakes 6-12 months
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Refrigerated Expiration * Don't store in
biscuits, date on label refrigerator door because
rolls, temperature fluctuation
pastries, and jarring lower quality.
cookie dough
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Dairy Products – Real and Substitutes
Refrigerator Freezer
Products at 32 to 40 �F at 0 �F Comments
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Butter 1-2 weeks Wrap or cover tightly.
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Margarine 4-6 months 12 months Wrap or cover tightly.
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Buttermilk 1-2 weeks * Cover tightly. Flavor not
affected if buttermilk
separates; remix before
serving. Check date on
carton. Will keep several
days after date.
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Cheese
- cottage, 1-2 weeks 4 weeks Keep all cheese tightly
ricotta packaged in moisture-
- cream, 2 weeks * resistant wrap. If outside
Neufchatel of hard cheese gets
- hard and slightly moldy, just cut
wax-coated in away cheese � inch beneath
large pieces, and beside the mold - it
Cheddar, Edam, won't affect flavor. If
Gouda, Swiss, cheese is covered with
brick heavy mold, discard
. unopened 1-2 months 6-8 months entire block. For longer
. opened 3-4 weeks storage, freeze. Freezing
- sliced 2 weeks will affect the texture
- soft cream 5-6 days and possible taste. Cream
cheese (after opening) cheese becomes crumbly
when frozen, may be used
for cooking. Keep
refrigerated. Use within
one week of the "best
when purchased by" date.
- Parmesan 2 months Refrigerate after opening.
Romano- See cupboard storage
grated chart.
(opened)
- process 3-4 weeks 6-8 months Refrigerate slices of
(opened) process cheese and cheese
food. Refrigerate loaves
and jars after opened.
Most squeeze packages and
aerosol cans don't need
refrigeration, but
check label.
- shredded cheeses Keep refrigerated. Use
within two days of the
"best when purchased by"
date on the label.
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Dips
- commercial 2 weeks Keep tightly covered.
- homemade 2 days Keep tightly covered.
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Milk
- evaporated 4-5 days * Keep covered.
(opened)
- homogenized, 5 days * Keep containers tightly
reconstituted closed. To prevent
dry nonfat, spoilage, skimmed don't
return unused milk to
original container.
- sweetened, 4-5 days * Keep covered.
condensed
(opened)
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Sour cream 2 weeks * Keep covered.
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Whipped topping
- in aerosol 3 months *
can
- prepared 3 days * Keep covered.
from mix
- (eg. 2-3 weeks 14 months May be refrozen four or
Cool Whip) five times if thawed in
refrigerator.
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Yogurt 7-10 days * Keep covered and
refrigerated. Follow the
"use by" date on the
package, or up to two
weeks after the "sell by"
date. Yogurt may separate
when frozen.
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Eggs
- in shell 3 weeks * Store covered. Keep small
end down to center yolks.
- whites 2-4 days 1 year Store in covered
or yolks container. For longer
storage, freeze.
- hard cooked 1 week *
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Eggs
- containing 1-2 days *
products
- custards,
custard-filled
pastries, cream pies
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Liquid
pasteurized
eggs or egg
substitutes
- opened 3 days *
- unopened 10 days 1 year
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Refrigerator Freezer
Products at 32 to 40 �F at 0 �F Comments
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Bananas Refrigerate only when
fully ripe. Skin will
darken.
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Apples 1-3 weeks Discard bruised or
decayed fruit. Don't wash
before storing because
moisture encouraged
spoilage. Store in
crisper or moisture-
resistant bag or wrap.
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Berries, 1-2 days
cherries
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Citrus fruit 3 weeks
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Juices - 6 days 8 months Thaw in refrigerator.
canned, (diluted) Keep fruit juice tightly
bottled or covered. Transfer canned
reconstituted juice to glass or plastic
container when opened. Do
not store in cans.
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Pre-mixed, Keep refrigerated. Do not
full strength use after the "used by"
fruit juice date on the carton.
(eg. Tropicana)
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Real Lemon 12 months
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Cranberry 5-6 days 3-6 months
cocktail (diluted)
(canned)
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Melons 1 week Wrap uncut cantaloupe
and honeydew to prevent
odor spreading to other
foods.
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Other 3-5 days Wrap cut surfaces of
citrus fruit and
cantaloupe to prevent
drying.
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[ MORE... ] [
Table of Contents ]
[ Introduction ] [ Cupboard Storage Chart ]
[ Refrigerator/Freezer Storage Chart
] [ Mixes and Packaged Foods ]
[ What do packaging dates mean? ]
FN-579, August 1998
Reviewed October 2007
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