Subj: {OHG} How long will this keep? From: tenzicut 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. For what it's worth, I'm not fully in agreement with it myself, but it's a good working hypothesis and I modify it by my personal experience which may vary from yours. 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 tenzicut