Are you always asking yourself how long that item will last in your stockpile? Take advantage of our storage guidelines resource to get the most out of your stockpile. The following safe storage guidelines will help keep refrigerated and frozen foods from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat. Storage times are from date of purchase unless specified, it is not important if a date expires after food is frozen.
Maintaining a food’s quality depends on several factors: the quality of the raw product, the procedures used processing, the way the food is stored, and the length of storage. The recommended storage time takes these factors into consideration.
Food Storage Category Quick Links
- Food item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
Bread & Cereal Products
|
Baked quick breads |
4-5 days
|
1-2 weeks
|
2-3 months
|
|
Bread |
5-7 days
|
1-2 weeks
|
2-3 months
|
|
Bread crumbs and croutons |
6 months
|
|
|
|
Cereals, ready-to-cook |
6 months
|
|
|
|
Corn meal |
1 year
|
18 months
|
2 years
|
|
Doughnuts |
4-5 days
|
|
3 months
|
|
Flour, all-purpose, white |
6-8 months
|
1 year
|
1-2 years
|
|
Flour, whole wheat |
|
6-8 months
|
1-2 years
|
|
Pasta |
2 years
|
|
|
|
Pies and pastries |
|
3 days
|
2-3 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 item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
Packaged Foods & 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
|
|
|
- Food item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
Spices, Herbs, Condiments, & Extracts
|
Catsup, chili, and cocktail sauce |
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
|
|
|
- Food item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
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, pre-melted |
1 year
|
|
|
|
Chocolate syrup |
2 years
|
6 months*
|
|
|
Chocolate, semisweet |
2 years
|
|
|
|
Chocolate, unsweetened |
18 months
|
|
|
|
Cocoa mixes |
8 months
|
|
|
|
Coconut, shredded |
1 year
|
|
|
|
Coconut, shredded |
6 months*
|
8 months
|
1 year
|
|
Coffee cans |
3-5 months
|
|
1-2 years
|
|
Coffee, instant |
2-20 years
|
|
indefinite
|
|
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 |
6-9 months
|
4-6 months
|
|
|
Popcorn |
1-2 years
|
2 years
|
2-3 years
|
|
Pectin |
1 year
|
|
|
|
Salad dressings, bottles |
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 item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
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 months
|
|
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 |
|
5-7 days
|
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
|
3-5 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 item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
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
|
|
|
Canned fruit |
1 year
|
2-4 days*
|
|
|
Canned fruit juices |
1 year
|
3-5 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
|
|
Fruit, pre-cut, fresh |
Until ripe
|
2-4 days
|
1 year
|
|
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 item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
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
|
3 months
|
|
Ice cream and sherbet |
|
|
2 months
|
|
Hard natural cheese ( i.e. Cheddar, Swiss) |
|
3-6 months
|
6 months
|
|
Eggs |
|
3-4 weeks*
|
1 year
|
|
Processed cheese |
|
3-4 weeks
|
6-8 months
|
|
Soft cheese (i.e. 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 item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
Beef, Bison, Pork, Veal, & Ham
|
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 |
|
3-5 days
|
4-6 months
|
|
Fresh lamb chops |
|
3-5 days
|
6-8 months
|
|
Fresh veal |
|
1-2 days
|
4-6 months
|
|
Fresh ground meat (i.e. beef, bison, veal, lamb) |
|
1-2 days
|
4-6 months
|
|
Cooked meat |
|
2-3 days
|
2-3 months
|
|
Ham, whole |
|
1 week
|
1-2 months
|
|
Ham, canned |
|
6-9 months
|
|
|
Ham, cook before eating |
|
1 week
|
|
|
Ham, fully cooked |
|
2 weeks
|
|
|
Ham, dry-cured |
1 year
|
1 month
|
|
|
Ham salad, store prepared or homemade |
|
3-5 days
|
|
|
Bacon |
|
|
|
- Food item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
Fish & Shellfish
|
Lean Fish (Cod, Haddock, Flounder) |
|
1-2 days
|
6 months
|
|
Fatty Fish (Salmon, Mackerel) |
|
1-2 days
|
2-3 months
|
|
Cooked Shellfish |
|
3-4 days
|
3 months
|
|
Cooked Crab |
|
1-2 days
|
2 months
|
|
Lobster Tails Raw |
|
|
3 months
|
|
Shrimp, Crawfish, Squid, Mussels Raw |
|
1-2 days
|
3-6 months
|
- Food item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
Poultry
|
Chicken or Turkey |
|
1-2 days
|
1 year
|
|
Chicken Turkey Pieces |
|
1-2 days
|
9 months
|
|
Chicken Nuggets, Patties |
|
1-2 days
|
2-3 months
|
- Food item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
Eggs
|
Fresh In Shell |
|
3-5 weeks
|
|
|
Raw Whites |
|
2-4 days
|
1 year
|
|
Hard Cooked Eggs |
|
1 Week
|
|
|
Liquid pasteurized eggs, egg substitutes |
|
3 days (opened), 10 days (unopened)
|
1 year
|
- Food item:
- Pantry |Room Temperature
- Refridgerator|33°F-40°F
- Freezer|32°F
Wild Game
|
Whole Duck |
|
1-2 days
|
1 year
|
