- Food Expiration Cheat Sheet Printable
- Food Expiration Cheat Sheet Template
- Food Expiration Code
- Food Expiration Cheat Sheet Sets
- Food Expiration Cheat Sheet Template
Cheat Sheet for Sketchy Food Expiration 'Codes' – Consumerist FDA Food Code adoptions by States. Adoption of the Food Code represents a successful federal/state/local partnership in improving food safety. State Retail and Food Service Codes and Regulations. Most canned foods are safe to use for two years from the date of purchase, even. . Clean your refrigerator regularly to reduce food odors. Remove spoiled foods immediately so decay cannot pass to other foods. Store foods at cool temperatures. From 34 to 40 F is best. Perishable foods stored at temperatures above 40 F spoil rapidly. Check temperatures with a refrigerator thermometer or an outdoor thermometer. How do you know if you can eat the older food in your refrigerator? We checked with the Federal Department of Agriculture to get the latest food expiration guidelines. Print this handy cheat sheet out and stick it on your fridge to keep your family safe.
Expiration Date Cheat Sheet I just came across an interesting piece from the CBC entitled “Is my food still safe after the ‘best before’ date?” It is filed under Food Safety: Recession Tips. Cheat Sheet for Sketchy Food Expiration 'Codes' 12.30.08 2:00 PM EDT By AlexJarvis. Cheat sheet helpful rotting Expiration Codes gross hero TOP food. Brian, you are the man. After seeing yesterday.
Here's a pantry food storage chart listing the shelf life of common food items kept in your pantry or cupboard, to make sure you're eating your food in the time period you should.
After I've listed the information here on the page scroll down for a free printable version as well, which you can print and keep for reference somewhere, such as your household notebook.
Food Expiration Cheat Sheet Printable
Shelf Life Of Common Pantry Foods
Food Item | Storage Time | Packaging |
---|---|---|
Baking powder | 1 year | |
Baking soda | 2 years | |
Beans and peas, dried | 18 months | |
Biscuit mix | 12-18 months | |
Bread crumbs | 2-4 months | |
Cake, brownie and cookie mixes | 1 year | |
Canned fruit | 1 year | Unopened |
Canned meats and gravies | 1 year | Unopened |
Canned vegetables | 1 year | Unopened |
Cereals, ready to eat | 6-12 months 2-3 months | Unopened Opened |
Cereals, hot | 1 year | |
Chocolate chips, semi-sweet | 1 year | |
Chocolate, unsweetend | 18 months | |
Cocoa powder | 2 years | |
Coconut, grated | 1 year | Unopened |
Coffee, ground | 3-5 months (after printed date) 3-5 months | Unopened After Opening |
Coffee, instant | 2 years | |
Coffee, whole bean | 6-9 months (after printed date) 6 months | Unopened Opened |
Cookies, packaged | 2-4 months | |
Cornmeal | 1 year | |
Cornstarch | 18 months | |
Crackers | 6 months | |
Croutons | 6 months | |
Flour, cake | 6 months | |
Flour, white | 10-15 months | Opened, in air tight container |
Flour, whole wheat | 6-8 months | Opened in fridge |
Frosting, canned | 8 months | Unopened |
Fruit, dried | 6 months | |
Gelatin | 12-18 months | |
Grits, instant | 8 months | |
Grits, regular | 10 months | |
Honey, molasses, and syrup | 1 year | |
Hot chocolate mixes | 6-12 months | |
Infant formula | 12-18 months | |
Jelly, jam and preserves | 1 year 8 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
Juice, canned citrus | 6 months | Unopened |
Juice, canned non-citrus | 1 year | Unopened |
Ketchup, barbeque sauce | 1 year 5 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
Marshmallows | 3 months | |
Mayonnaise | 4 months 2 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
Milk, evaporated | 1 year | Unopened |
Milk, non-fat powdered | 1-2 years | |
Milk, sweetened condensed | 1 year | Unopened |
Mustard | 2 years 1 year | Unopened Opened in fridge |
Nuts, unshelled | 8 months | |
Oils (canola, corn and vegetable) | 1-2 years 6-8 months | Unopened Opened |
Oil, olive | 2 years | |
Onions | 4-6 weeks | Dry dark place with lots of air circulation |
Pancake mix | 6 months | |
Pasta, dried | 2 years | Once opened keep in air tight containers |
Peanut butter | 6-9 months | |
Pickles, olives, relishes | 1 year 3 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
Popcorn, unpopped kernals | 1-2 years | |
Popcorn, microwaveable | 6-8 months | |
Potatoes, white or sweet | 3-5 weeks | Dry dark place with lots of air circulation |
Potatoes, instant | 1 year | |
Pudding mixes | 8-12 months | |
Rice, brown | 1 year | |
Rice, mixes | 6 months | |
Rice, white | 2 years | |
Salad dressing | 10 months 3 months | Unopened Opened in fridge |
Salt | Indefinitely | |
Sauces, condiments | 1 year | Unopened |
Shortening | 8 months 6 months | Unopened Opened |
Soft drinks | 6-9 months | Unopened |
Spices and herbs, dried and ground | 1-2 years | Airtight containers, discard when scent fades |
Spices, dried and whole | 2-3 years | Airtight containers, discard when scent fades |
Sports drinks, bottled | 9 months | |
Stuffing mix | 6 months | |
Sugar, brown | 4 months | |
Sugar, granulated | 2 years | |
Sugar, powdered | 18 months | |
Tea, bags and loose | 6-12 months | |
Tea, instant | 1 year | |
Vinegar (balsalmic, cider, rice, red wine, white, and white wine) | Indefinitely | Do not store in metal |
Yeast, active dry | Follow package date |
These Guidelines Are Only Estimates
![Sheet Sheet](/uploads/1/1/9/3/119342963/304326391.jpg)
The estimates provided are that, only estimates. Read all information on packaging regarding expiration and use by dates, and how long the item is safe to consume after opening. If a date on a package is shorter or longer than the dates listed, rely on the dates on the package instead.
These listed dates are for pantry shelf-life of foods, and if it states “unopened” for the packaging column, there is typically a shorter shelf life once the item is opened, and in addition it may need to be refrigerated. Look at the packaging for details. You can find out more about refrigerated food storage guidelines here.
Also, use your senses of sight and smell to be sure food is safe to eat. Even if it says it’s within the expiration date periods, if it smells or looks funny throw it out!
For more information about food safety, check out my article with 5 food storage safety tips, plus visit FoodSafety.gov.
Printable Pantry Food Shelf Life Chart {Cheat Sheet}
Click here to get your Cheat Sheet (4 pages) (opens into PDF)
I've created a printable version of this information for you so it is easier for you to reference when cleaning out your pantry as part of the Organize Pantry & Spices Challenge.
This cheat sheet will help you both know when to throw certain foods out and also when to plan to eat them while they'll taste their best.
In addition, check out the articles about fresh fruit storage tips and fresh vegetable storage tips, to learn more about the fruits and vegetables that can be stored at room temperature, instead of in the refrigerator.
Food Expiration Cheat Sheet Template
Other Printable Forms You May Like
Here are some additional printable forms about food storage, including other cheat sheets with storage times for food, that you may find helpful.
![Sheet Sheet](/uploads/1/1/9/3/119342963/353804679.jpg)
Freezer Storage Times {Cheat Sheet} | Refrigerated Food Storage Guidelines {Cheat Sheet} | Pantry Inventory Form |
Food Expiration Code
Share Your Comments, Tips & Ideas
Food Expiration Cheat Sheet Sets
I would love to hear from you, sharing your thoughts, questions, or ideas about this topic, so leave me a comment below. I try to always respond back!