Foods That Will Keep for a Year
These are the shelf-stable items that will last at least a year in your pantry.
Applesauce Boullion Beans, dried (They will last longer than a year, but you might need to increase the cooking time since they get harder with age.) Brown rice Cake mix Chia seeds Cocoa Coffee, instant Condiments Flour (Freeze or refrigerate opened flour for longer shelf life.) Fruit, dried High-acid canned goods such as juices, fruit, pickles, sauerkraut, tomato soup, and foods in vinegar-based sauces can last up to 18 months. Jams and jellies Jerky Lentils Milk, condensed or evaporated Mushrooms, dried Nuts, canned or jarred Oats Olive oil, unopened (Use opened oil within 6 months for best quality.) Spices, unopened Spaghetti sauce, jarred
Foods That Will Keep 2 Years (or More)
You can count on these products to last for at least two years in your cool, dry pantry.
Gravy, dry or cannedHoneyLow-acid canned items (meat, poultry, fish, gravy, stew, soups, beans, carrots, corn, pasta, peas, potatoes, spinach) will be safe to eat well past the ‘use-by’ or ‘best by’ date as long as the can shows no dents, rust, or swelling.MolassesNondairy sauce mixesNonstick cooking sprayPasta, dryPeanut butter, unopenedPowdered drink mixesQuinoaRice, white or wildSugar (Sugar won’t spoil, but for best quality use within 2 years of opening.)Sugar substitutesTea bagsTextured soy proteinVegetable juice, shelf-stableVegetable oil (1 year opened)Vinegar
Foods You Shouldn’t Consume After Expiration
Some foods, ingredients, and baby formula should not be consumed after the “best by” date.
Baby food and formulaBaking powder and sodaYeast
If a can is damaged or the product has an off odor, bugs, or mold, toss it. According to the USDA, quality, not safety, is the reason manufacturers will recommend you refrigerate certain products after opening; by refrigerating a product, you can extend its shelf life. For specific items not listed here, you can search for it using the Foodsafety.gov’s FoodKeeper app.
