|
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 |
|
|
|
Packaged Foods and Mixes |
|
Biscuit, brownie, and 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 |
|
|
Vegetables |
|
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 |
|
Fruits |
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
Dairy Products |
|
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 |
|
Meats |
|
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* |
|
|
Fish |
|
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 |
|
|
Poultry and Eggs |
|
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 |
Source
Virginia Cooperative Extension Legend: *Opened +Cooked
^Refrigerate after opening #After manufacture date
|
