SHELF LIVES OF SOME COMMON STORAGE FOODS

The chart given below has been adapted from a number of different shelf-life charts published by the cooperative extension services of several states.  It presupposes no special packagings other than the  way the food comes from the store.  The general assumption is that when a given foods' taste, appearance or texture begin to take on noticeable changes it has reached the end of its best marketable shelf life and should be rotated out.  This is not to say the food is no longer  edible, but it is losing nutritional content at the same time so  no purpose is served by keeping it for longer than is necessary to replace it with fresher stock. If it is a dry food then only dry utensils should be used to remove it from its container.  The less light, moisture, heat and oxygen it comes into contact with, the longer the food will keep.

         All of the below are for new, unopened containers.

                         RECOMMENDED
                         STORAGE TIME
FOOD                     AT 70 deg. F.                 STORAGE
TIPS                                               Keep the product:
======================================================================
=

Baking powder.................Till can date......Sealed & bone dry
Baking soda.....................2 years..........Sealed & bone dry
Biscuit, brownie, muffin mix....9 months.........Sealed, cool and dry
Bouillon, cubes or granules.....2 years..........Sealed, cool and dry
Cake mixes, regular.............9 months.........Sealed, cool and dry
            angel food..........1 year...........Sealed, cool and dry
Canned  metal can, non-acidic...2 years..........Cool
food,  metal can, acidic.....12-18 months.......Cool
        glass jars.............2-3 years.........Dark and cool
Chocolate, semi-sweet
   or  unsweetened.............18 months.........Cool and dark
Chocolate syrup.................2 years..........Cool & tightly sealed
Cocoa, powder or mixes..........8 months.........Sealed and cool
Coffee, regular.................2 years..........Cool, dry and sealed
        instant................1-2 years.........Sealed
Coffee creamers, powdered.......9 months.........Sealed and cool
Cornmeal........................1 year...........Guard against weevils
Cornstarch.....................18 months.........Dry
Crackers........................3 months.........Dry
Flour, white...................8-12 months.......Guard against weevils
       whole wheat.............6-8 months........Cool and weevil proof
Frostings, canned...............3 months.........Cool
           mix..................8 months.........Dry and cool
Fruits, dried..................6-12 months.......Cool & sealed
Gelatin, all types.............18 months.........Protect from moisture
Grains, whole...................2 years..........Dry and weevil proof
Hominy & hominy grits...........1 year...........Guard against weevils
Honey...........................1 year...........Sealed
Jellies, jams, preserves........1 year...........Refrigerate after use
Molasses & syrups...............1 year...........Sealed
Mayonnaise......................6 months.........Refrigerate after use
Milk, condensed or
      evaporated................1 year...........Turn over every 2 mos
      Non-fat dry...............6 months.........Bone dry and cool
Nuts, vacuum canned.............1 year...........Cool and dark
      other packaging...........3 months.........Cool and dark
      in shell..................4 months.........Cool, dry and dark
Pancake mix....................6-9 months........Dry and weevil proof
Pastas
(macaroni, noodles, etc).......2 years..........Guard against weevils
Peanut butter..................6-9 months........Sealed, cool, dark
Peas and beans, dry
(not soybeans).................2 years..........Dry and weevil proof
Potatoes, instant..............6-12 months.......Dry and weevil proof
Pudding mixes...................1 year...........Cool and very dry
Rice, white.....................2+ years.........Guard against weevils
     brown.....................3-6 months........Cool and weevil proof
     flavored or herb...........6 months.........Sealed & weevil proof
Salad dressings...............10-12 months.......Refrigerate after use
Salad oils......................6 months.........Sealed, dark and cool
Sauce and gravy mixes..........6-12 months.......Cool and dry
Shortening, solid...............1 year...........Dark
Soup mixes......................1 year...........Cool and dry
Sugar, brown....................6 months.........Airtight container
       confectioners...........18 months.........Dry and sealed
       granulated...............2+years..........Dry
Syrups (corn syrup based)......8-12 months.......Sealed and cool
Tea, bags......................18 months.........Sealed and dry
     instant....................3 years..........Sealed
     loose......................2 years..........Sealed and dry
Vegetables, dried...............1 year...........Cool and sealed
Vinegar.........................2+ years.........Sealed
Yeast (dry)...............Pkg expiration date....Cool and dry