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.

Cooking & Baking Ingredients

Store for the following times or until the expiration date if listed, whichever comes first:

Baking cocoa – unopened 8 months, opened 3-6 months

Baking powder and soda – 6 months after opening

Bread Crumbs - 6 months

Brown sugar – 4 months

Cake mixes - 1 year

Coconut (canned or shredded in an unopened package) – 1 year (refrigerate after opening)

Corn and canola oils – 18 months

Cornmeal – 12 months in a tightly sealed container

Cornstarch – indefinitely in a tightly sealed container

Dried fruit – 6 months

Flour, all types – 6-8 months

Gelatin – 18 months in original container or package

Honey – 12 months in a sealed container

Marshmallows – 2-3 months

Nuts in a vacuum can – 3 months (1 year refrigerated)

Nuts in the shell – 4 months (1 year refrigerated)

Olive oil – 24 months

Pancake mix – 6-9 months

Powdered or confectioner’s sugar – 18 months

Prepared cake, pudding, and biscuit mixes – 9-12 months

Semisweet chocolate – 18 months

Shortening (unopened) – 18 months (6-8 months after opening)

Chocolate syrup (unopened) – 2 years (refrigerate after opening)

Molasses – 12 months unopened, 6 months opened (refrigeration can extend life)

Vanilla extract – unopened 2 years, opened 1 year if tightly sealed

Vinegar – unopened 2 years, opened 1 year if tightly sealed

White sugar, brown sugar – 2 years (sugar doesn’t go off, but may change flavor)

Herbs and Spices

Herbs and spices are highly variable. Generally, whole spices can last up to 4 years and ground spices up to 2, while ground herbs such as oregano will last for between 6 months and 2 years with proper storage. Herbs and spices should be stored in airtight jars in a cool, dark, dry place. If they no longer smell strongly, they are probably past their prime.

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.