For Keeps
UNOPENED
OPENED
BEAR IN MIND
Argo Cornstarch
Baking soda
Bread crumbs (dried)
Chocolate chips (milk chocolate)
Chocolate chips (semi-sweet, unsweetened)
Chocolate bars (baking)
Cocoa powder
Cornmeal (generic)
Crisco shortening (can)
Crisco shortening (sticks)
2 years
2 years
6 months
16 months
24 months
1 year
1 year
1 year
indefinite
18 months
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Julian date code on top of box
Not indefinite!
1 year
6 months
Extracts
24 months
6-12 months
Flour (generic)
6-8 months
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Marshmallow cream
Oil (vegetable)
Oil (canola)
Sugar (confectioner’s)
3-4 months
2 years
18 months
3 years
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Bouillon cubes
Coffee (instant)
Peanut butter (generic)
Ragu pasta sauces (jar)
Rice (generic, unprepared)
Rice (flavored, unprepared)
Star-Kist Tuna (canned)
Star-Kist Tuna (foil pouch)
1 year
1 year
6-9 months
1 year
2 years
6 months
5 years
3 years
3 months
1-2 weeks
2-3 months
10 days
Sugar substitutes
Tea (bags)
Tea (loose)
2-3 years
18 months
2 years
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Cake mixes (generic)
Country Time Lemonade Mix
Gravy mixes (generic)
Hamburger Helper (unprepared)
Jell-O (unprepared)
Kool-Aid (unprepared)
Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix
Quaker Instant Oatmeal
1 year
2 years
6-12 months
1 year
2 years
18-24 months
12-15 months
2 years
18 months
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2 months
FRIDGE DOOR
Chocolate syrup
Contadina Pizza Squeeze
French’s Yellow Mustard
Rose’s Grenadine and Rose’s Lime Syrup
Sun of Italy Spanish olives
2 years
18 months
1 year
1 year
1 year
6 months
Hormel canned meats
Honey
Salt (non-table)
Sugar (granulated)
Vinegar (distilled)
MIXES
STAPLES
BAKING INGREDIENTS
THE PRODUCT
INDEFINITES
This shelf-life chart includes generic and brand-name pantry items you’re likely to have around
that do not sport straightforward freshness dates; they are marked with codes that indicate the
date of manufacture. Tips and contact information are provided where noteworthy. An extra
fun fact: Since this is a leap year, Julian codes for products made in 2004 will extend to 366.
SOURCE: WASHINGTON POST RESEARCH
***DIFFERENCE IN SHELF LIFE IS NEGLIGIBLE BETWEEN UNOPENED AND OPENED PACKAGE, IF STORED PROPERLY
Best if stored in a cool, dry place
Keep tightly closed
No need to refrigerate; year is first
number in date code
Keep tightly closed to preserve
volatile oils
Keep in airtight container; refrigerate
whole wheat flour
Refrigerate to extend shelf life
1 year
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Keep tightly covered, year is second
number in embossed code on bottom
of box
May refrigerate after opening
Keeps longer if refrigerated
Keep tightly closed
Year is last letter of date code; the
letter J was the year 2000
Year is second number in date code
Year listed first in date code
Year listed first in date code
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6 months
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May get cloudy after 1 year
Year is last number of date code
Keep tightly covered, away from sun
Stored in glass container with non
metal cap