How Long Baked Goods and Dry Ingredients Keep

When to Throw Away Food Stored in Pantries, Cupboards, and Freezers

Oct 18, 2008
Jennifer Copley

Most Cakes Keep 4-6 Months in the Freezer - Paolo Neo, Public Domain

Before beginning the Christmas cooking and baking, it's a good idea to check foods on pantry shelves, and replace anything that has been there longer than it should have.

Buying in bulk saves money, but even dry and canned foods won’t keep forever. The following guidelines can be used to determine when foods need to be thrown away, particularly those that have been bought from bulk bins and don’t have packaging with expiry dates.

Baked Goods

Ideally, baked goods should be stored at room temperature because they go stale faster in the fridge, with the exception of cheesecakes and other items containing dairy products (especially cream). Anything with fresh dairy must be refrigerated at all times.

Baked goods stored in cupboards and pantries usually go stale within a few days, though freezing can extend longevity. Baked goods stored in the freezer should keep for the following times:

Angel, sponge, layer, or cheesecake – 4-6 months
Bagels – 2 months
Baked cookies – 4-6 months
Bread - 3 months
Danishes, doughnuts – 3 months
Fruit pies (baked) – 1 year
Muffins, quick breads, rolls – 2-4 months
Nut pies – 6 months
Pumpkin or chiffon pies – 1 month
Unbaked cookie dough – 6 months
Unbaked pie shells – unopened 12 months, opened 2 months (these should be used within a day if transferred to the fridge)

Storing bread dough in the freezer is not recommended, as it may not rise as well afterward. Freezing custard-based pies is also not advisable.

Dry Foods

Whenever possible, check the expiry dates on dry foods that are stored at room temperature. However, if there isn’t a visible expiry date, the following guidelines can be used:

Bouillon cubes or granules – 2 years
Brown rice – 6 months in a tightly sealed container
Cereals – 6-12 months (but will likely go stale more rapidly once opened unless kept in a tightly sealed bag or container)
Crackers – 6 months (faster after opening)
Flavoured rice (i.e., with herbs) – 6 months in a tightly sealed container
Instant potatoes – 6-12 months
Noodles (containing dried egg solids) – 1-2 months
Pasta (without egg solids) – 1 year
Plain white rice – 2 years or more in a tightly sealed container
Popcorn – 1-2 years in a sealed container

Canned Meals and Snacks

Discard tins that are rusted, leaking, bulging, or giving off a bad odour, as these are signs of spoilage. Otherwise, assuming they’re not old when purchased, canned foods stored in a dry place should keep for the following times:

Canned fruit (including tomatoes) – unopened 12-18 months, opened 2-3 days in the fridge
Canned meals – unopened 2-5 years for low-acid items such as most pastas, stews, soups, and vegetables; 12-18 months for anything containing tomatoes, fruit, sauerkraut, or vinegar
Canned or bottled olives – unopened 1 year, opened 2 weeks in the fridge
Pickles – unopened 1 year, opened 3 months in the fridge

Cooking and Baking Ingredients

Store for the following times or until the expiry date if listed, whichever comes first:

Baking cocoa – unopened 8 months, opened 3-6 months
Baking powder and soda – 6 months after opening
Brown sugar – 4 months
Coconut (canned or shredded in an unopened package) – 1 year (refrigerate after opening)
Corn and canola oils – 18 months
Cornmeal – 12 months in a tightly sealed container
Cornstarch – indefinitely in a tightly sealed container
Dried fruit – 6 months
Flour, all types – 6-8 months
Gelatin – 18 months in original container or package
Honey – 12 months in a sealed container
Marshmallows – 2-3 months
Nuts in a vacuum can – 3 months (1 year refrigerated)
Nuts in the shell – 4 months (1 year refrigerated)
Olive oil – 24 months
Pancake mix – 6-9 months
Powdered or confectioner’s sugar – 18 months
Prepared cake, pudding, and biscuit mixes – 9-12 months
Semisweet chocolate – 18 months
Shortening (unopened) – 18 months (6-8 months after opening)
Chocolate syrup (unopened) – 2 years (refrigerate after opening)
Molasses – 12 months unopened, 6 months opened (refrigeration can extend life)
Vanilla extract – unopened 2 years, opened 1 year if tightly sealed
Vinegar – unopened 2 years, opened 1 year if tightly sealed
White sugar, brown sugar – 2 years (sugar doesn’t go off, but may change flavour)

Herbs and spices are highly variable. Generally, whole spices can last up to 4 years and ground spices up to 2, while ground herbs such as oregano will last for between 6 months and 2 years with proper storage. Herbs and spices should be stored in airtight jars in a cool, dark, dry place. If they no longer smell strongly, they are probably past their prime.

Dry Beverages

Like spices, dry beverages should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. For best flavour, don’t keep dry beverages beyond their use-by times:

Canned coffee – 2 years unopened
Instant coffee – 1-2 years (2 months after opening)
Whole bean coffee – 1-2 weeks
Tea bags – 18 months
Powdered tea – 3 years
Loose tea – 2 years

Condiments and Spreads

Most condiments and spreads must be refrigerated after opening. Always check the label, and throw condiments and spreads away when they have passed their expiry dates.

Jam and preserves – unopened 12 months, opened 6 months
Ketchup and chilli sauces – unopened 12 months, opened 1 month
Opened salad dressing – 3 months or expiry date – whichever comes first
Peanut butter – unopened 6-9 months, opened 2-3 months (will keep longer if refrigerated)
Prepared yellow mustard – unopened 2 years, opened 6-8 months
Syrup – unopened 1 year in pantry, opened 1 year in fridge

These guidelines assume that the food is not stale or old when purchased and that food products are sealed in their original airtight packaging. Improper storage will shorten the lives of dry goods so that they may go stale before their use-by dates. Storing in a cool, dry place in airtight containers helps to preserve the maximum lifespan of dry goods.