[Kmchamplin]

http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple...676079,00.html


Surprising Expiration Dates
A handy, who-knew guide for 77 foods, beauty products, and household goods

KeateCertain items in your house practically scream “toss me” when their prime has passed. That mysterious extra white layer on the Cheddar? A sure sign it needs to be put out of its misery. Chunky milk? Down the drain it goes.

But what about that jar of olives or Maraschino cherries that has resided in your refrigerator since before the birth of your kindergartner? Or the innumerable nonedibles lurking deep within your cabinets and closets: stockpiled shampoo and toothpaste, seldom-used silver polish? How do you know when their primes have passed?

With help from experts and product manufacturers, Real Simple has compiled a guide to expiration dates. These dates are offered as a rough guideline. The shelf lives of most products depend upon how you treat them. Edibles, unless otherwise indicated, should be stored in a cool, dry place. (With any food, of course, use common sense.) Household cleaners also do best in a dry place with a stable temperature. After the dates shown, beauty and cleaning products are probably still safe but may be less effective.
Food

Beer
Unopened: 4 months.


Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.


Chocolate (Hershey bar)
1 year from production date


Coffee, canned ground
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated


Coffee, gourmet
Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container


Coffee, instant
Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month


Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)
Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date.
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.


Dried pasta
12 months


Frozen dinners
Unopened: 12 to 18 months


Frozen vegetables
Unopened: 18 to 24 months
Opened: 1 month


Honey
Indefinite shelf life


Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)
Unopened: 8 months from production date
Opened: 7 to 10 days


Ketchup
Unopened: 1 year (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)


Maple syrup, real or imitation
1 year


Maraschino cherries
Unopened: 3 to 4 years
Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated


Marshmallows
Unopened: 40 weeks
Opened: 3 months


Mayonnaise
Unopened: Indefinitely
Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)


Mustard
2 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)


Olives, jarred (green with pimento)
Unopened: 3 years
Opened: 3 months


Olive oil
2 years from manufacture date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)


Peanuts
Unopened: 1 to 2 years unless frozen or refrigerated
Opened: 1 to 2 weeks in airtight container


Peanut butter, natural
9 months


Peanut butter, processed (Jif)
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months


Pickles
Unopened: 18 months
Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft.

Protein bars (PowerBars)
Unopened: 10 to 12 months. Check "best by" date on the package.


Rice, white
2 years from date on box or date of purchase


Salad dressing, bottled
Unopened: 12 months after "best by" date
Opened: 9 months refrigerated


Soda, regular
Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from "best by" date
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected


Steak sauce
33 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)


Tabasco
5 years, stored in a cool, dry place


Tea bags (Lipton)
Use within 2 years of opening the package


Tuna, canned
Unopened: 1 year from purchase date
Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can


Soy sauce, bottled
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 3 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)


Vinegar
42 months


Wine (red, white)
Unopened: 3 years from vintage date; 20 to 100 years for fine wines
Opened: 1 week refrigerated and corked


Worcestershire sauce
Unopened: 5 to 10 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened: 2 years

For more information, see:
How to Protect Your Produce
How to Save an Open Bottle of Wine
Household Products

Air freshener, aerosol
2 years


Antifreeze, premixed
1 to 5 years


Antifreeze, concentrate
Indefinite


Batteries, alkaline
7 years


Batteries, lithium
10 years


Bleach
3 to 6 months


Dish detergent, liquid or powdered
1 year


Fire extinguisher, rechargeable
Service or replace every 6 years


Fire extinguisher, nonrechargeable
12 years


Laundry detergent, liquid or powdered
Unopened: 9 months to 1 year
Opened: 6 months


Metal polish (silver, copper, brass)
At least 3 years


Miracle Gro, liquid
Opened: 3 to 8 years


Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble
Indefinite


Motor oil
Unopened: 2 to 5 years
Opened: 3 months


Mr. Clean
2 years


Paint
Unopened: Up to 10 years
Opened: 2 to 5 years


Spray paint
2 to 3 years


Windex
2 years


Wood polish (Pledge)
2 years

For more information, see:
The Right Way to Throw Out Medicine, Paint, Batteries
Earth-Friendly Cleaning ProductsBeauty Products
All dates are from the manufacture date, which is either displayed on the packaging or can be obtained by calling the manufacturer's customer-service number.


Bar soap
18 months to 3 years


Bath gel, body wash
3 years


Bath oil
1 year


Body bleaches and depilatories
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 6 months


Body lotion
3 years


Conditioner
2 to 3 years


Deodorant
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 1 to 2 years
For antiperspirants, see expiration date


Eye cream
Unopened: 3 years
Used: 1 year


Face lotion
With SPF, see expiration date. All others, at least 3 years


Foundation, oil-based
2 years


Foundation, water-based
3 years


Hair gel
2 to 3 years


Hair spray
2 to 3 years


Lip balm
Unopened: 5 years
Used: 1 to 5 years


Lipstick
2 years


Mascara
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 3 to 4 months


Mouthwash
Three years from manufacture date


Nail polish
1 year


Nail-polish remover
Lasts indefinitely


Perfume
1 to 2 years


Rubbing alcohol
At least 3 years


Shampoo
2 to 3 years


Shaving cream
2 years or more


Tooth-whitening strips
13 months


Wash'n Dri moist wipes
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: Good until dried out

For additional information, see:
Long-Lasting Beauty Solutions
Best Nail-Polish Removers
Written by Maya Kukes and Lisa Smith
March 2004

[CokeBaby]

Very helpful info!!
I was suprised about this one
Bleach
3 to 6 months

I cant show this to DH he will say I have to back off on the stockpileing

[HollyHobby]

Originally Posted by Kmchamplin

Mayonnaise
Unopened: Indefinitely
Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

I am not sure I agree with this. I just through out a bunch of Mayo last month that was really lumpy. Unopened and stored in a cool place.

[CokeBaby]

I agree I am not trusting that one

[HollyHobby]

When to Toss Beverages

soda, regular. Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from “best by” date. Opened: Doesn’t spoil, but taste is affected.
diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles). Unopened: 3 months from “best by” date. Opened: Doesn’t spoil, but taste is affected.
coffee, canned ground. Unopened: 2 years. Opened: 1 month refrigerated.
juice, bottled (apple or cranberry). Unopened: 8 months from production date. Opened: 7 to 10 days.


When to Toss Condiments

ketchup. Unopened: 1 year.* Opened: 4 to 6 months.*
maple syrup, real or imitation. Unopened or opened: 1 year.
soy sauce, bottled. Unopened: 2 years. Opened: 3 months.*

(*After these times, color or flavor my be affected, but the product is still generally safe to consume.)

When to Toss Sandwich Fillings/Spreads

peanut butter, processed. Unopened: 2 years. Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months.
tuna, canned. Unopened: 1 year from purchase date. Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can.
mayonnaise. Unopened: Indefinitely. Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchased by” date. (After this time, color or flavoring may be affected, but the product is still generally safe to consume.)

When to Toss Face Cosmetics

lipstick. Unopened/Opened: 2 years.
mascara. Unopened: 2 years. Opened: 3 to 4 months.
foundation, oil-based. Unopened/Opened: 2 years from date of manufacture.
foundation, water-based. Unopened/Opened: 3 years from date of manufacture.

When to Toss Salad Dressings

salad dressing, bottled. Unopened: 12 months after “best buy” date. Opened: 9 months refrigerated.
olive oil. Unopened/Opened: 2 years from manufacture date. (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but the product is still generally safe to consume.)
vinegar. Unopened/Opened: 42 months

When to Toss Surface Cleaners

windex. Unopened/Opened: 2 years.
metal polish. Unopened/Opened: at least 3 years.
wood polish (Pledge). Unopened/Opened: 2 years

[Fohrenburger]

Certain items in your house practically scream “toss me” when their prime has passed. That mysterious extra white layer on the Cheddar? A sure sign it needs to be put out of its misery. Chunky milk? Down the drain it goes.

But what about that jar of olives or Maraschino cherries that has resided in your refrigerator since before the birth of your kindergartner? Or the innumerable nonedibles lurking deep within your cabinets and closets: stockpiled shampoo and toothpaste, seldom-used silver polish? How do you know when their primes have passed?

Expiration Dates

[justfluffyme]

I believe some of your "best by" dates may be affected on where you store your stockpile and what region you live. What the heck is killing the bleach in 3 months? It's BLEACH! How does it go bad?

Now I'm afraid

I am joking about being afraid of what is killing the bleach, it's a joke

[Alexdur85]

I saw the bleach thing too.. I was like.. man.. I never remember to put bleach in..so ours lasts a very long time..

And what's with the rubbing alcohol only lasting 3 years? When the nail polish remover lasts forever?

[couponmama62]

Yea, the bleach got me too..i just rotate my stock pile. but bleach??

[schatz]

glad this was bumped..I was looking for it I found a bottle of baby shampoo that exp in 07 I figured it would still be ok though

[SeaBean]

Chunky milk? i use this in baking! i made some pretty good pancakes with some bad milk!
One thing I did toss recently -- a jar of roasted red peppers that had only been opened in the fridge maybe 2 weeks. I went to use the rest and they were FIZZING. Then I saw the fine print on the jar that said use within 7 days.

[icollectcokestuff]

Interesting info that will definately be put to some good use! Thanks, OP!

[stefani1]

OK - so I literally just threw away like 5 jars of salad dressing that the best buy date was Nov 08 - Dec 08. I'm assuming from reading this that I should take them out of the garbage as they are still good??? They aren't open yet. Now I wonder - once I open them - how long will they be good for in the fridge if they are already opened past their best buy date???

[Kmchamplin]

Once you open them, they have the same shelf life as any other bottle expired or not.

[elena_398]

what about cereal? Unopened.

[Mof3]

Originally Posted by elena_398

what about cereal? Unopened.

If it is not stale we eat it until the box is empty!!!!

[tdmr25]

Thanks so much this was real helpful especially to have all the information in one place.

[Ashlei]

Laundry detergent goes bad that quick? I've had some of my detergents for well over a year now & they seem to work just fine.....?

[ar0827]

this is really helpful. i am always worried that the food i have has gone bad!!

[anne_cady]

Yes this is helpful info. I've always wondered about salad dressings. however, some of this stuff I can't keep up with to remember the life and when to refrigerate and such. Oh well... no one has been sick at my house yet!

[chimpmandee]

Wow, that's a very interesting list! I wonder why such odd time frames on some of the items - like marshmallows - 40 weeks? That's the same amount of time it takes to grow an entire human!

And why 42 months for vinegar? What happens in month 43?

[mattjesshicks]

Thank you this was very useful, I was really big into stockpiling until I wasted a lot of money throwing things away because of bad expiration dates. Now, I can be aware of when things are bad.
-------------------------------------------------
Jessica
Mom to Matthew (19m) , Avonleigh (2m)
Married to the Airforce ::

[firewarrior]

DAIRY PRODUCTS...

It is the law that these are safe to eat for SEVEN DAYS AFTER the expiration date.
(I learned that working at the grocery store)

[ClippityShop]

Wow! What great information! I have often wondered about a lot of items on this list, now I know. Thanks very much!

[cherrymelon78]

This was an amazing post!! When you clean your fidge out it makes you wonder how long things stay good. I hate throwing out food that is only maybe a week old. Hubby won't eat lunch meat after it's ben open 6 days and throws out milk 2 days before expiration date. You really answered a lot of my food questions. Thanks.