food shelf life

Food Shelf Life

It is important to know the shelf life of food so that the nutrition of food is preserved. In this article we are going to discuss the shelf life of different foods.

We all make our monthly or weekly trips to the grocery store to replenish on food supplies. Stocking up on food stuff is something that every household does. However knowing the shelf life of food is very important if you want to keep your food fresh and nutritious. Many times we store food, longer than advisable and end up with rancid or spoiled food. So it is essential to know the shelf life of food as well as its best storing technique. Dry food stuff like cereals, grains and pulses as well as flour and dry pasta last longer than perishable ones like fresh produce. Canned food and other food that has preservatives in it needs to be stored in the refrigerator once it has been opened. The shelf life of cooked food is of course much less than uncooked food. Here we are going to discuss the shelf life of different types of food. Chart for Shelf Life of Different Food For the purpose of food safety, having a list of food shelf life comes in very handy. Following proper food storage guidelines will help you to extend the life of the food stuff. Many dry food as well as packaged food and dairy products comes with an expiration date. Always consume these products within the expiration date to avoid falling seriously ill. Dry food like flour, pasta, rice, cereals and other legumes should be stored in air tight containers in a cool and dark place like the pantry. Fresh produce, meat, fish and dairy products should always be stored in the refrigerator. Given below is a chart for shelf life of different foods.
Food Item Pantry (70°F) Refrigerator (37-40°F) Freezer (0°F)
Pantry Items
Flour 2-3 months 6-8 months 1 year
Baking Powder 18 months - unopened 6 months - opened - -
Bread Crumbs 4 months 6-8 months 1 year
Ready-to-eat Cereals 6-12 months - -
Cake Mix 9-12 months - -
Cocoa 24 months - -
Coffee instant 12-24 months, unopened 2 months, opened - -
Coffee, whole beans 1-2 weeks - -
Pasta, dry 24 months - -
Pudding mixes 6 months - -
Rice, white 24 months - -
Olive oil 24 months - -
Tea, bags 18 months - -
Tea, loose 24 months - -
Vinegar 24 months - -
Sugar, granulated 24 months - -
Brown sugar 4 months - -
Powdered sugar 18 months - -
Vegetables
Asparagus - 3-5 days 8-12 months
Celery - 1 week 8-12 months
Lettuce - 1 week should not be frozen
Carrots - 1 week 8-12 months
Bell Peppers - 1-2 weeks 3-4 months
Tomatoes - 3-5 days 3-4 months
Green onions - 3-5 days should not be frozen
Cabbage - 1 week should not be frozen
Radish - 2 weeks -
Mushrooms - 1-2 days 8-12 months
Cauliflower - 1 week 8-12 months
Squash 3-6 months - -
Fruits
Apples - 3-5 months -
Bananas 2-3 days - -
Apricots - 3-5 days 6 months
Grapes - 1-2 weeks -
Melon - 1 week 8-12 months
Guava - 1-2 days -
Limes 1 week 1-2 weeks -
Cranberries - 3-4 weeks 8-12 months
Plums - 3 -2 days 6 months
Peaches - 3 -5 days 6 months
Oranges 3-4 days 5-6 weeks -
Watermelon 3-4 days, uncut 6-8 days -
Dairy Products
Butter - 1-3 months 6-9 months
Parmesan cheese - - 1-2 months
Cheddar cheese - 6 months, unopened 3 to 4 weeks, opened 6 months
Cottage cheese - 1 week -
Cream cheese - 2 weeks -
Buttermilk - 1 week 6-9 months
Canned milk - 3-5 days -
Ice cream - - 1-2 months
Fresh milk - 7 days 1 month
Cream - 3-4 days 4 months
Yogurt - 7-12 days 1-2 months
Sour cream - 7-21 days -
Sorbet - - 1-2 months
Bread
Fresh bread 3-5 days - 3 months
Unbaked dough - 1-2 days 1 month
Pancakes - 2 days 1-2 months
Dounuts - 1-2 days 3 months
Muffins - 3 days 1-2 month
Meats, Fish and Poultry
Bacon - 7 days 1 month
Sausage - 1-2 days 1 month
Hotdogs - 7 days 1-2 months
Whole ham, cooked - 7 days 1-2 months
Corned beef - 4-7 days 1 month
Ground Beef - 1-2 days 3-4 month
Lamb chop, veal chops - 3-5 days 3-4 months
Steak - 7 days 6-12 months
Chicken or turkey, whole - 1-2 days 12 months
Turkey giblets - 1-2 days 3-4 months
Fried chicken - 3-4 days 4 months
Chicken in broth or gravy - 1-2 days 6 months
Fatty fish - 1-2 days 2-3 months
Lean fish - 1-2 days 6 months
Crab, cooked - 1-2 days 2 months
Lobster, shrimp, raw - 1-2 days 6 months
Fish sticks - - 18 months
Shellfish cooked - 3-4 days 3 months
This was a chart on the shelf life of different types of food. Shelf life of canned food is about a year if the cans are unopened and 1-2 months when kept in the freezer. Shelf life of spices is 1-2 years for whole spices and 3-4 months for ground spices when stored in air tight containers. Frozen food shelf life is generally indicated on its package as "best by date". It is not a good idea to exceed this date as it might lead to food poisoning. It is important that you know and follow the shelf life of food so that you consume nutritious and healthy food.

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