Food Pantry Storage Chart

What's on This Page Mixes And Packaged Foods Staples Canned And Dried Foods Others Spices, Herbs, Condiments, And Extracts

Store foods in the coolest cabinets or pantry and away from appliances which produce heat. Many staples and canned foods have a relatively long shelf life, but buy only what you expect to use within the time recommended for each product. Always check for pull dates when shopping and avoid item tahat are near the pull date whenever possible. Use the oldest first. Geographic area affects storage time. Warm and humid climates shorten the shelf-life of foods. Buy packaged food in fresh-looking packages. KITCHEN STAPLES FOOD RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F HANDLING HINTS Baking Powder 18 months or expiration date on can Keep dry and covered. Baking Soda 2 years Keep dry and covered. Bouillon Cubes or Granules 2 years Keep dry and covered. Cereals ready-to-eat (unopened) ready-to-eat (opened) cooked (before preparation) 6-12 months* 2-3 months 6 months Refold package liner tightly after opening. Chocolate premelted semi-sweet unsweetened 12 months 18 months 18 months Keep cool. Chocolate Syrup unopened opened 2 years* 6 months Cover tightly, refrigerate after opening. Cocoa Mixes 8 months Cover tightly. Coffee cans (unopened) cans (opened) instant (unopened) instant (opened) 2 years* 2 weeks 1-2 years* 2 months Refrigerate after opening. Keep tightly closed, use dry measuring spoon. Coffee lighteners (dry) unopened opened 9 months* 6 months Keep lid tightly closed. Cornmeal 12 months Keep tightly closed. Cornstarch 18 months Keep tightly closed. Flour white whole wheat 6-8 months 6-8 months Keep in an airtight container. Keep refrigerator. Store in airtight container Gelatin, all types 18 months Keep in original container. Grits 12 months Store in airtight container. Honey 12 months Cover tightly; if crystallizes, warm jar in pan of hot water. Jellies, Jams 12 months Cover tightly. Storage life lengthened if refrigerated after opening. Molasses unopened opened 12 months+* 6 months Keep tightly closed. Refrigerate to extend storage life, remove any light surface mold and use. Marshmallow Cream (unopened) 3-4 months Cover tightly. Refrigerate after opening to extend storage life. Serve at room temperature. Marshmallows 2-3 months Keep in airtight container. Mayonnaise (unopened) 2-3 months Refrigerate after opening. Milk condensed or evaporated (unopened) non-fat dry (unopened) (opened) 12 months 6 months* 3 months Invert cans every two months. Store in airtight container. Pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, etc.) 2 years Once opened, store in airtight container. Pectin, liquid (opened) 1 month Recap and refrigerate. Pectin, liquid or dry 1 year or exp. date Recap and refrigerate. Rice white flavored or herb 2 years+ 6 months Keep tightly closed. Salad Dressings bottled (unopened) bottled (opened) made from mix 10-12 months* 3 months 2 weeks Refrigerate after opening. Refrigerate prepared dressing. Salad Oils unopened opened 6 months* 1-3 months Refrigerate after opening. Shortenings, solid 8 months Refrigeration not needed. Sugar brown confectioners granulated sweeteners 4 months 18 months 2 years+ 2 years+ Put in airtight container. Put in airtight container. Cover tightly. Syrups 12 months Keep tightly closed. Refrigerate to extend storage life, remove any light surface mold and use. Tea bags instant loose 18 months 3 years 2 years Put in airtight container. Cover tightly. Vinegar unopened opened 2 years+ 12 months Keep tightly closed. Slightly cloudy appearance doesn't affect quality. Distilled vinegar keeps longer than cider vinegar. MIXES AND PACKAGED FOODS FOOD RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F HANDLING HINTS Biscuit, Brownie, Muffin Mix 9 months Keep cool and dry. Cakes, purchased 1-2 days If butter-cream, whipped cream or custard frostings, fillings, refrigerate. Cake Mixes angel food 9 months 12 months Keep cool and dry. Casseroles, complete or add own meat 9-12 months Keep cool and dry. Cookies homemade packaged 2-3 weeks 2 months Put in airtight container. Keep box tightly closed. Crackers 3 months Keep box tightly closed. Frostings canned mix 3 months 8 months Store leftovers in refrigerator. Hot-Roll Mix 18 months If opened, put in airtight container. Pancake Mix 6-9 months Put in airtight container. Pie Crust Mix 8 months Keep cool and dry. Pies and Pastries 2-3 days Refrigerate whipped cream, custard, and chiffon fillings. Potatoes, Instant 6-12 months Keep airtight package. Pudding Mixes 12 months Keep cool and dry. Rice Mixes 6 months Keep cool and dry. Sauce and Gravy Mixes 6-12 months Keep cool and dry. Soup Mixes 12 months Keep cool and dry. Toaster Pastries 2-3 months Keep in airtight packet. CANNED AND DRIED FOODS FOOD RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F HANDLING HINTS Canned Foods, all (unopened) 12 months* Keep cool. Canned Fruit Juices 9 months Keep cool. Canned Foods, (opened) baby foods fish and seafood fruit meats pickles, olives poultry sauce, tomato vegetables 2-3 days 2 days 1 week 2 days 1-2 months 2 days 5 days 3 days All Opened Canned Foods - Refrigerate and cover tightly; to avoid metallic taste, transfer foods in cans to glass or plastic storage containers, if kept more than one day. Fruits, Dried 6 months Keep cool, in airtight container; if possible, refrigerate. Vegetables, Dried 1 year Keep cool, in airtight container; if possible, refrigerate. SPICES, HERBS, CONDIMENTS, AND EXTRACTS FOOD RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F HANDLING HINTS Catsup, chili sauce unopened opened 12 months* 1 month Refrigerate for longer storage. Mustard, Prepared Yellow unopened opened 2 years* 6-8 months May be refrigerated. Stir before using. Spices and Herbs whole spices ground spices herbs herb/spice blend 1-2 years 6 months 6 months 6 months Store in airtight containers in dry places away from sunlight and heat. Check aroma; if faded, replace. Whole cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon sticks maintain quality beyond two year period. Vanilla unopened opened 2 years* 12 months Keep tightly closed; volatile oils escape. Other Extracts (opened) 12 months Keep tightly closed; volatile oils escape. Vegetables, dehydrated flakes 6 months OTHERS FOOD RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F HANDLING HINTS Cheese, Parmesan- grated unopened opened 10 months* 2 months Refrigerate after opening. Keep tightly closed. Coconut, Shredded- canned or packaged unopened opened 12 months* 6 months Refrigerate after opening. Meat Substitutes- textured protein products (imitation bacon bits) 4 months Keep tightly closed; for longer storage, refrigerate. Metered-Caloric Products, instant breakfast 6 months Keep in can, closed jars or original packets. Nuts in shell nutmeats packaged   vacuum can other packaging nutmeats (opened) 4 months* 1 year* 3 months* 2 weeks Refrigerate after opening. Freeze for longer storage. Unsalted and blanched nuts keep longer than salted. Peanut Butter unopened opened 6-9 months* 2-3 months Refrigeration not needed. Keeps longer if refrigerated. Serve at room temperature. Peas, beans-dried 12 months Store in airtight container in cool place. Popcorn 2 years Store in an airtight container. Vegetables, Fresh onions potatoes white sweet 2 weeks 2-4 weeks 1-2 weeks Keep dry and away from sun. For longer storage, keep about 50 degrees F. Don't refrigerate sweet potatoes. Whipped Topping (dry) 12 months Keep cool and dry. Yeast (dry) expiration date on package *Total time "unopened" product can be stored at home. If recommendation is for "opened" product, subtract this time from the total home storage or "unopened" time.