Food Storage Guidelines
A chart showing how long to safely store various foods.
Article by: Barbara Bowman
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The following guidelines are based on storage from the "date of purchase". If there is a "use by" date, cook or freeze the product by that date. If there is an "expiration date" (EXCEPT FOR EGGS which last several weeks longer) then abide by the date. Best by dates are only best quality guidelines and are NOT safety dates. Foods are usable beyond those dates as shown on the chart below.
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Bread And Cereal Products
| Food | Pantry (Room Temperature
| Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F)
| Freezer (0°F)
| | Baked quick breads | 4-5 days | 1-2 weeks | 2-3 months | | Bread | 5-7 days | 1-2 weeks | 3 months | | Bread crumbs and
croutons | 6 months | | | | Bread rolls, unbaked | | 2-3 weeks | 1 month | | Cereals,
ready-to-eat | 2-3 months | | 1 year | | Cereals, ready-to-cook | 6 months | | | | Corn meal | 1 year | 18 months | 2 years | | Doughnuts | 4-5 days | | 3 months | | Flour, cake, all-purpose | 1 year | | 1-2 years | | Flour, whole
wheat | | 6-8 months | 1-2
years | | Pasta | 2 years | | | | Pies and
pastries | | 3 days | 4-6
months | | Pies and
pastries, baked | | | 1-2
months | | Pies and
pastries, cream filled | | 2-3 days | 3
months | | Pizza | | 3-4 days | 1-2
months | | Rice,
brown | 6 months | | | | Rice,
white | 1 year | 6-7 days+ | 6
months+ | | Tacos,
enchiladas, and burritos (frozen) | | 2 weeks | 1
year | | Waffles | | 4-5 days | 1 month | |
| Food | Pantry (Room Temperature)
| Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) | Freezer
(0°F) |
| muffin mixes | 9 months | | |
| Cakes, prepared | 2-4 days | | 2-3 months |
| Cake mixes | 6-9 months | | |
| Casserole mix | 9-12 months | | |
| Chili powder | 6 months | | |
| Cookies, packaged | 2 months | | 8-12 months |
| Crackers, pretzels | 3 months | | |
| Frosting, canned | 3 months | | |
| Frosting, mix | 8 months | | |
| Fruit cake | | 2-3 months | 1 year |
| Hot roll mix | 18 months | |
| Instant breakfast products | 6 months | | |
| Pancake and piecrust mix | 6 months | | |
| Pancake waffle batter | | 1-2 days | 3 months |
| Toaster pastries | 3 months | | |
| Sauce and gravy mixes | 6 months | | |
| Soup mixes | 1 year | | |
| Spices, Herbs, Condiments, Extracts | | | |
| Catsup, chili, and cocktail sauce | 1 month* | 6 months | 1 year |
| Herbs | 6 months | | 1-2 years |
| Herb/spice blends | 2 years | | 1-2 years |
| Mustard | 2 years | 6-8 months* | 8-12 months |
| Spices, ground | 6 months | | 1-2 years |
| Spices, whole | 1-2 years | | 2-3 years |
| Vanilla extract | 2 years | | |
| Other extracts | 1 year | | |
| Other Food Staples | | | |
| Bacon bits | 4 months | | |
| Baking powder | 18 months | |
| Baking soda | 2 years | | |
| Bouillon products | 1 year | | |
| Carbonated soft drinks (12 oz. cans) | 6-9 months | |
| Carbonated soft drinks, diet (12 oz. cans) | 3-4 months | |
| Chocolate, premelted | 1 year | | |
| Chocolate syrup | 2 years | 6 months* | |
| Chocolate, semisweet | 2 years | | |
| Chocolate, unsweetened | 18 months | |
| Cocoa mixes | 8 months | | |
| Coconut, shredded | 1 year | 8 months | 1 year |
| Coffee cans | 2 years | 2 months | 6 months |
| Coffee, instant | 6 months | | |
| Coffee, vacuum-packed | 1 year ^ | | |
| Coffee lighteners (dry) | 9 months | | 1 year |
| Cornstarch | 18 months | | 2 years |
| Gelatin | 18 months | | |
| Honey, jams, jellies, and syrup | 1 year | 6-8 months* |
| Marshmallows | 2-3 months | |
| Marshmallow cream | 3-4 months | |
| Mayonnaise | 2-3 months | 12 months |
| Molasses | 2 years | | |
| Nuts, shelled | 4 months | 6 months | |
| Nuts, unshelled | 6 months | | |
| Nuts, salted | | | 6-8 months |
| Nuts, unsalted | | | 9-12 months |
| Oil, salad | 3 months^ | | |
| Parmesan grated cheese | 10 months | |
| Pasteurized process cheese spread | 3 months | 3-4 weeks* | 4 months |
| Peanut butter | 6 months | | |
| Popcorn | 1-2 years | 2 years | 2-3 years |
| Pectin | 1 year | | |
| Salad dressings, bottled | 1 year^ | 3 months* | |
| Soft drinks | 3 months | | |
| Artificial sweetener | 2 years | | |
| Sugar, brown | 4 months | | |
| Sugar, confectioners | 18 months | | |
| Sugar, granulated | 2 years | | |
| Tea bags | 18 months | | |
| Tea, instant | 2 years | | |
| Vegetable oils | 6 months | | |
| Vegetable shortening | 3 months | 6-9 months |
| Vinegar | 2 years | | |
| Water, bottled | 1-2 years | | |
| Whipped topping (dry) | 1 year | | |
| Yeast, dry | Pkg. exp. date | |
Food | Pantry (Room Temperature) | Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) | Freezer
(0°F) |
| Asparagus | | 2-3 days | 8 months |
| Beets | | 2 weeks | |
| Broccoli | | 3-5 days | |
| Brussels sprouts | | 3-5 days | |
| Cabbage | | 1 week | |
| Carrots | | 2 weeks | |
| Cauliflower | | 1 week | |
| Celery | | 1 week | |
| Corn (husks) | | 1-2 days | 8 months |
| Cucumbers | | 1 week | |
| Eggplant | | 1 week | |
| Green beans | | 1-2 days | 8 months |
| Green peas | | 3-5 days | 8 months |
| Lettuce | | 1 week | |
| Lima beans | | 3-5 days | 8 months |
| Mushrooms | | 2 days | |
| Onions | 1 week | 3-5 days | |
| Onion rings (precooked, frozen) | | | 1 year# |
| Peppers | | 1 week | |
| Pickles, canned | 1 year | 1 month* | |
| Frozen potatoes | | | 8 month |
| Sweet potatoes | 2-3 weeks | | |
| White potatoes | 2-3 months | |
| Potato chips | 1 month | | |
| Radishes | | 2 weeks | |
| Rhubarb | | 3-5 days | |
| Rutabagas | 1 week | | |
| Snap beans | | 1 week | |
| Spinach | 8 months |
| Squash, Summer | | 3-5 days | |
| Squash, Winter | 1 week | | |
| Tomatoes | | 1 week | |
| Turnips | | 2 weeks | |
| Commercial baby food, jars | 1-2 years^ | 2-3 days | |
| Canned vegetables | 1 year^ | 1-4 days* | |
| Canned vegetables, pickled | 1 year^ | 1-2 months* |
| Dried vegetables | 6 months | | |
| Frozen vegetables | | | 8 months |
| Vegetable soup | | 3-4 days | 3 months |
Food | Pantry (Room Temperature) | Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) | Freezer
(0°F) |
| Apples | Until ripe | 1 month | |
| Apricots | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Avocados | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Bananas | Until ripe | 5 days (fully ripe) |
| Berries | Until ripe | 3 days | 1 year |
| Canned fruit | 1 year | 2-4 days* | |
| Canned fruit juices | 1 year | 3-4 days* | |
| Cherries | Until ripe | 3 days | |
| Citrus fruit | Until ripe | 2 weeks | |
| Dried fruit | 6 months | 2-4 days+ | |
| Frozen fruit | | | 1 year |
| Fruit juice concentrate | | 6 days | 1 year |
| Fruit pies, baked | | 2-3 days | 8 months |
| Grapes | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Melons | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Nectarines | Until ripe | 5 days | |
| Peaches | Until ripe | 5 days | 1 year |
| Pears | Until ripe | 5 days | 1 year |
| Pineapple | Until ripe | 5-7 days | 1 year |
| Plums | Until ripe | 5 days | |
Food | Pantry (Room Temperature) | Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) | Freezer
(0°F) |
| Butter | | 1-2 months | 9 months |
| Buttermilk | | 2 weeks | |
| Cottage cheese | | 1 week | 3 months |
| Cream cheese | | 2 weeks | |
| Cream-light, heavy, half- and-half | | 3-4 days | 1-4 months |
| Eggnog commercial | | 3-5 days | 6 months |
| Margarine | | 4-5 months | 12 months |
| Condensed, evaporated and dry milk | 12-23 months^ | 8-20 days* |
| Milk | | 8-20 days | |
| Ice cream and sherbet | | | 2 months |
| Hard natural cheese (e.g. cheddar, swiss) | | 3-6 months | 6 months |
| | 4 weeks* | |
| Hard natural cheese, sliced | | 2 weeks | |
| Processed cheese | | 1 month | 6 months |
| Soft cheese (e.g. brie) | | 1 week | 6 months |
| Pudding | | 1-2 days* | |
| Snack dips | | 1 week* | |
| Sour cream | | 2 weeks | |
| Non-dairy whipped cream, canned | | 3 months | |
| Real whipped cream, canned | | 3-4 weeks | |
| Yogurt | | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
Food | Pantry (Room Temperature) | Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) |
Freezer
(0°F) |
| Fresh beef and bison steaks | | 3-5 days | 6-9 months |
| Fresh beef and bison roasts | | 3-5 days | 9-12 months |
| Fresh pork chops | | 2-3 days | 4-6 months |
| Fresh lamb chops | | 3-5 days | 6-8 months |
| Fresh veal | | 1-2 days | 4-6 months |
| Fresh ground meat (e.g. beef, bison, veal, lamb) | | 1 day | 3-4 months |
| Cooked meat | | 2-3 days | 2-3 months |
| Canned meat | 1 year | 3-4 days* | 3-4 months |
| Ham, whole | | 1 week | 1-2 months |
| Ham, canned | 1 year | 1 week* | 3-4 months |
| Ham, canned "keep refrigerated" | | 6-9 months |
| | 1 week* | 3-4 months |
| Shelf-stable unopened canned meat (e.g. chili, deviled ham, corn beef) | 1 year | 1week* | |
| Ham, cook before eating | | 1 week | |
| Ham, fully cooked | | 2 weeks | |
| | 1 week* | |
| Ham, dry-cured | 1 year | 1 month | |
| Ham salad, store prepared or homemade | | 3-5 days | |
| Bacon | | 2 weeks | 1 month |
| | 1 week* | |
| Corned beef, uncooked | | 5-7 days | 1-2 months |
| Restructured (flaked) meat products | | | 9-12 months |
| Sausage, fresh | | 1-2 days | 1-2 months |
| Smoked breakfast sausage links, patties | | 1 week | 2 months |
| Sausage, smoked (e.g. Mettwurst) | | 1 week | 1-2 months |
| Sausage, semi-dry (e.g. Summer sausage) | | 2-3 weeks* | 6 months |
| Sausage, dry smoked (e.g. Pepperoni, jerky, dry Salami) | 1 year | 1 month* | 6 months |
| Frankfurters, bologna | | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| | 3-5 days* | |
| Luncheon meat | | 2 weeks | 1 month |
| | 3-5 days* | |
| Meat gravies | | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
| TV beef and pork dinners | | | 18 months# |
| Meat based casseroles | | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Variety meats (giblets, tongue, liver, heart, etc.) | | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Vinegar pickled meats (e.g. pickled pigs feet) | 1 year^ | 2 weeks* | |
| Food | Pantry (Room Temperature) | Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) | Freezer
(0°F) |
| Breaded fish | | | 4-6 months |
| Canned fish | 1 year | 1-2 days* | |
| Cooked fish or seafood | | 3-4 days | 3 months |
| Lean fish (e.g. cod, flounder, haddock) | | 1-2 days | 6 months |
| Fatty fish (e.g. bluefish, salmon, mackeral) | | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
| Dry pickled fish | | 3-4 weeks | |
| Smoked fish | | 2 weeks | 4-5 weeks |
| Seafood-clams, crab, lobster in shell | | 2 days | 3 months |
| Seafood-oysters and scallops | | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Seafood-shrimp | | 1-2 days | 1 year |
| Seafood-shucked clams | | 1-2 days | 3-6 months |
| Tuna salad, store prepared or homemade | | 3-5 days | |
Food | Pantry (Room Temperature) | Refrigerator
(33°F to 40°F) | Freezer
(0°F) |
| Chicken nuggets or
patties | | 1-2 days | |
| Chicken livers | | 1-2 days | 3 months |
| Chicken and poultry TV
dinners | | | 6 months |
| Canned poultry^ | 1 year | 1 day* | |
| Cooked poultry | | 2-3 days | 4-6 months |
| Fresh poultry | | 1 day | 1 year |
| Frozen poultry parts | | | 6-9 months |
| Canned poultry | | 1 day | 3 months |
| Poultry pies, stews, and
gravies | | 1-2 days | 6 months |
| Poultry salads, store prepared
or homemade | | 3-5 days | |
| Poultry stuffing,
cooked | | 3-4 days | 1 month |
| Eggs, in shell | | 3-5 weeks | |
| Eggs, hard-boiled | | 1 week | |
| Eggs, pasteurized | | 10 days | 1 year |
| | | 3 days* | |
| Egg substitute | | 10 days | 1 year |
| | | 3 days* | |
| Egg yolks (covered in
water) | | 2-4 days | 1 year |
| Egg whites (For each cup of egg
yolk add 1 Tbs. of sugar or salt) | 2-4 days | 1 year |
| Wild Game | | | |
| Frog legs | | 1 day | 6-9 months |
| Game birds | | 2 days | 9 months |
| Small game (rabbit, squirrel,
etc.) | | 2 days | 9-12 months |
| Venison ground meat | | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
| Venison steaks and
roasts | | 3-5 days | 9-12 months |