Shelf Life of Food: When to Toss or Keep

Ever wonder if those canned items in your pantry have past their prime? Or when is it time to toss leftover Chinese food? How about eggs or deli meat? These are some foods I’ve always wondered about. Guest Nutritionist Toby Amidor, MS,RD, CDN wrote the following article on “Shelf Life of Foods”.

Know the Lingo
All the terms on food labels can make your head spin. Here are the most important ones to know:

• Best if Used By (or Before): For the highest quality and best flavor, buy the item before the suggested date. This date does not reflect on the food safety of the item. Foods can still be purchased after the date printed.
• Sell-By: The date determines how long the food can be displayed at the market for sale. Never purchase food if it’s past the Sell-By date.
• Use By: This date is determine by the manufacturer. It reflects the last date to use the product for the highest quality.

Here is a run-down of the shelf-life of common foods
Refrigerator
• Deli meats: Poultry deli meats like turkey should be used within 3 days, while red meat deli products like roast beef should be used within 5 to 7 days.
• Milk: Depending on the manufacturing date and conditions at the market, the shelf life of fluid milk (like skim milk) is between 8 to 20 days when stored at 40 degrees of below. It’s important to check the label for the sell by date.
• Eggs: Store eggs in their original carton. Use within 3 to 5 weeks of “pack date” listed on the label.
• Take-out: Nearly 40% of those who dine out take leftovers home. It’s important to label your food with the date of purchase and eat or discard within 3 to 5 days.

Freezer
• Ice cream and sherbet: Both are good for up to 2 months.
• Frozen fruit: Most can hang out in your freezer for up to 1 year like peaches, pears and pineapples.
• Pork chops: Uncooked are good for 4 to 6 months.
• Beef steaks: Uncooked are good for 6 to 9 months.
• Bacon: Can only be stored for up to 1 month.
• Fish: Lean varieties (like haddock, cod and flounder) can be stored for up to 6 months, while fatty fish (like tuna and salmon) can only be stored for up to 2 to 3 months.

Pantry
• Bottled water: Due to strict controls during manufacturing and packing and treatment of water, shelf life is between 1 to 2 years.
• Cold cereals: These boxed goodies are good for up to 1 year shelf. If opened, then the keep for 2 to 3 months.
• Spices: Ground spices can last up to 6 months, while whole spices have a shelf-life of 1 to 2 years.
• Baking soda: Can hang out in your pantry for up to 2 years
• Carbonated soft drinks (cans): Diet varieties have a shelf-life of 3 to 4 months, while regular varieties are good for 6 to 9 months.
• Instant coffee: Unopened contains are good for 6 months, if opened then they’ll last up to 2 weeks.
• Canned goods: Can be kept unopened for up to 12 months. Toss cans if you find dents, leaks, bulges, or rust.

Take home message:
Different foods have very different time spans they can remain fresh in your fridge, freezer or pantry.  Here is a full list of the shelf life of foods provided by the Virginia Corporative Extension. If you are ever in doubt of the quality of safety of a food, the best thing to do is just toss it out!

Toby Amidor, MS RD CDN  is a nutrition and food safety consultant. She is also the Nutrition Advisor for FitStudio.com (powered by Sears) and an Adjunct Instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University..