How Long to Keep Food Stored in

Pantries, Cupboards, and Freezers

Buying in bulk saves money, but even dry and canned foods won’t keep forever. The following guidelines can be used to determine when foods need to be thrown away, particularly those that have been bought from bulk stores and don’t have packaging with expiration dates.

Baked Goods

Baked goods should be stored at room temperature because they go stale faster in the fridge, with the exception of cheesecakes and other items containing dairy products (especially cream). Anything with fresh dairy must be refrigerated at all times.

Baked goods stored in cupboards and pantries usually go stale within a few days, freezing can extend longevity. Baked goods stored in the freezer should keep for the following times:

Angel, sponge, layer, or cheesecake – 4-6 months

Bagels – 2 months

Baked cookies – 4-6 months

Bread - 3 months

Danishes, doughnuts – 3 months

Fruit pies (baked) – 1 year

Muffins, quick breads, rolls – 2-4 months

Nut pies – 6 months

Pumpkin or chiffon pies – 1 month

Unbaked cookie dough – 6 months

Unbaked pie shells – unopened 12 months, opened 2 months (these should be used within a day if transferred to the fridge)

Storing bread dough in the freezer is not recommended, as it may not rise as well afterward. Freezing custard-based pies is also not advisable.

Dry Foods

Check the expiration dates on dry foods that are stored at room temperature. If there isn’t one, the following guidelines can be used:

Bread Crumbs - 6 months

Bouillon cubes or granules – 2 years

Brown rice – 6 months in a tightly sealed container

Cereals – 6-12 months (but will likely go stale more rapidly once opened unless kept in a tightly sealed bag or container)

Coffee creamer, dry - 6 months

Crackers – 6 months (faster after opening)

Flavored rice (i.e., with herbs) – 6 months in a tightly sealed container

Instant potatoes – 6-12 months

Noodles (containing dried egg solids) – 1-2 months

Pasta (without egg solids) – 1 year

Plain white rice – 2 years or more in a tightly sealed container

Popcorn – 1-2 years in a sealed container

Canned Food & Snacks

Discard cans that are rusted, leaking, bulging, or giving off a bad odor, as these are signs of spoilage. Assuming they’re not old when purchased, canned foods stored in a dry place should keep for the following times:

Canned fruit (including tomatoes) – unopened 12-18 months, opened 2-3 days in the fridge

Canned meals – unopened 2-5 years for low-acid items such as most pastas, stews, soups, and vegetables; 12-18 months for anything containing tomatoes, fruit, sauerkraut, or vinegar

Canned or bottled olives – unopened 1 year, opened 2 weeks in the fridge

Pickles – unopened 1 year, opened 3 months in the fridge

These guidelines assume that the food is not stale or old when purchased and that food products are sealed in their original airtight packaging. Improper storage will shorten the lives of dry goods so that they may go stale before their use-by dates. Storing in a cool, dry place in airtight containers helps to preserve the maximum lifespan of dry goods.

What do packaging dates mean?

“Sell by” means the store should sell the product by the printed date, but the product still can be safely eaten by the consumer.

“Best if used by” means the consumer should use the product by the date listed for best quality and flavor (not for safety reasons).

“Use by” or “expires” means the product should be used by consumers by the date listed; you are likely to see a marked deterioration in product quality and safety after that date.