Cupboard Storage Chart

STAPLES
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F	HANDLING HINTS
Baking Powder	18 months or expiration date on can	Keep dry and covered.
Baking Soda	2 years	Keep dry and covered.
Bouillon Cubes or Granules	2 years	Keep dry and covered.
Cereals ready-to-eat (unopened) ready-to-eat (opened) cooked (before preparation)	6-12 months* 2-3 months 6 months	Refold package liner tightly after opening.
Chocolate premelted semi-sweet unsweetened	12 months 18 months 18 months	Keep cool.
Chocolate Syrup unopened opened	2 years* 6 months	Cover tightly, refrigerate after opening.
Cocoa Mixes	8 months	Cover tightly.
Coffee cans (unopened) cans (opened) instant (unopened) instant (opened)	2 years* 2 weeks 1-2 years* 2 months	Refrigerate after opening. Keep tightly closed, use dry measuring spoon.
Coffee lighteners (dry) unopened opened	9 months* 6 months	Keep lid tightly closed.
Cornmeal	12 months	Keep tightly closed.
Cornstarch	18 months	Keep tightly closed.
Flour white whole wheat	6-8 months 6-8 months	Keep in an airtight container. Keep refrigerator. Store in airtight container
Gelatin, all types	18 months	Keep in original container.
Grits	12 months	Store in airtight container.
Honey	12 months	Cover tightly; if crystallizes, warm jar in pan of hot water.
Jellies, Jams	12 months	Cover tightly. Storage life lengthened if refrigerated after opening.
Molasses unopened opened	12 months+* 6 months	Keep tightly closed. Refrigerate to extend storage life, remove any light surface mold and use.
Marshmallow Cream (unopened)	3-4 months	Cover tightly. Refrigerate after opening to extend storage life. Serve at room temperature.
Marshmallows	2-3 months	Keep in airtight container.
Mayonnaise (unopened)	2-3 months	Refrigerate after opening.
Milk condensed or evaporated (unopened) non-fat dry (unopened) (opened)	12 months 6 months* 3 months	Invert cans every two months. Store in airtight container.
Pasta (spaghetti, macaroni, etc.)	2 years	Once opened, store in airtight container.
Pectin, liquid (opened)	1 month	Recap and refrigerate.
Pectin, liquid or dry	1 year or exp. date	Recap and refrigerate.
Rice white flavored or herb	2 years+ 6 months	Keep tightly closed.
Salad Dressings bottled (unopened) bottled (opened) made from mix	10-12 months* 3 months 2 weeks	Refrigerate after opening. Refrigerate prepared dressing.
Salad Oils unopened opened	6 months* 1-3 months	Refrigerate after opening.
Shortenings, solid	8 months	Refrigeration not needed.
Sugar brown confectioners granulated sweeteners	4 months 18 months 2 years+ 2 years+	Put in airtight container. Put in airtight container. Cover tightly.
Syrups	12 months	Keep tightly closed. Refrigerate to extend storage life, remove any light surface mold and use.
Tea bags instant loose	18 months 3 years 2 years	Put in airtight container. Cover tightly.
Vinegar unopened opened	2 years+ 12 months	Keep tightly closed. Slightly cloudy appearance doesn't affect quality. Distilled vinegar keeps longer than cider vinegar.
MIXES AND PACKAGED FOODS
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F	HANDLING HINTS
Biscuit, Brownie, Muffin Mix	9 months	Keep cool and dry.
Cakes, purchased	1-2 days	If butter-cream, whipped cream or custard frostings, fillings, refrigerate.
Cake Mixes angel food	9 months 12 months	Keep cool and dry.
Casseroles, complete or add own meat	9-12 months	Keep cool and dry.
Cookies homemade packaged	2-3 weeks 2 months	Put in airtight container. Keep box tightly closed.
Crackers	3 months	Keep box tightly closed.
Frostings canned mix	3 months 8 months	Store leftovers in refrigerator.
Hot-Roll Mix	18 months	If opened, put in airtight container.
Pancake Mix	6-9 months	Put in airtight container.
Pie Crust Mix	8 months	Keep cool and dry.
Pies and Pastries	2-3 days	Refrigerate whipped cream, custard, and chiffon fillings.
Potatoes, Instant	6-12 months	Keep airtight package.
Pudding Mixes	12 months	Keep cool and dry.
Rice Mixes	6 months	Keep cool and dry.
Sauce and Gravy Mixes	6-12 months	Keep cool and dry.
Soup Mixes	12 months	Keep cool and dry.
Toaster Pastries	2-3 months	Keep in airtight packet.
CANNED AND DRIED FOODS
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F	HANDLING HINTS
Canned Foods, all (unopened)	12 months*	Keep cool.
Canned Fruit Juices	9 months	Keep cool.
Canned Foods, (opened) baby foods fish and seafood fruit meats pickles, olives poultry sauce, tomato vegetables	2-3 days 2 days 1 week 2 days 1-2 months 2 days 5 days 3 days	All Opened Canned Foods - Refrigerate and cover tightly; to avoid metallic taste, transfer foods in cans to glass or plastic storage containers, if kept more than one day.
Fruits, Dried	6 months	Keep cool, in airtight container; if possible, refrigerate.
Vegetables, Dried	1 year	Keep cool, in airtight container; if possible, refrigerate.
SPICES, HERBS, CONDIMENTS, AND EXTRACTS
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F	HANDLING HINTS
Catsup, chili sauce unopened opened	12 months* 1 month	Refrigerate for longer storage.
Mustard, Prepared Yellow unopened opened	2 years* 6-8 months	May be refrigerated. Stir before using.
Spices and Herbs whole spices ground spices herbs herb/spice blend	1-2 years 6 months 6 months 6 months	Store in airtight containers in dry places away from sunlight and heat. Check aroma; if faded, replace. Whole cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon sticks maintain quality beyond two year period.
Vanilla unopened opened	2 years* 12 months	Keep tightly closed; volatile oils escape.
Other Extracts (opened)	12 months	Keep tightly closed; volatile oils escape.
Vegetables, dehydrated flakes	6 months
OTHERS
FOOD	RECOMMENDED STORAGE TIME AT 70° F	HANDLING HINTS
Cheese, Parmesan- grated unopened opened	10 months* 2 months	Refrigerate after opening. Keep tightly closed.
Coconut, Shredded- canned or packaged unopened opened	12 months* 6 months	Refrigerate after opening.
Meat Substitutes- textured protein products (imitation bacon bits)	4 months	Keep tightly closed; for longer storage, refrigerate.
Metered-Caloric Products, instant breakfast	6 months	Keep in can, closed jars or original packets.
Nuts in shell nutmeats packaged vacuum can other packaging nutmeats (opened)	4 months* 1 year* 3 months* 2 weeks	Refrigerate after opening. Freeze for longer storage. Unsalted and blanched nuts keep longer than salted.
Peanut Butter unopened opened	6-9 months* 2-3 months	Refrigeration not needed. Keeps longer if refrigerated. Serve at room temperature.
Peas, beans-dried	12 months	Store in airtight container in cool place.
Popcorn	2 years	Store in an airtight container.
Vegetables, Fresh onions potatoes white sweet	2 weeks 2-4 weeks 1-2 weeks	Keep dry and away from sun. For longer storage, keep about 50 degrees F. Don't refrigerate sweet potatoes.
Whipped Topping (dry)	12 months	Keep cool and dry.
Yeast (dry)	expiration date on package
*Total time "unopened" product can be stored at home. If recommendation is for "opened" product, subtract this time from the total home storage or "unopened" time.