Surprising Expiration Dates

Written by Maya Kukes and Lisa Smith

 

A handy, who-knew guide for 77 foods, beauty products and household goods. 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?
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.
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Brown sugar Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container
in a cool, dry place.
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Chocolate (Hershey bar)1 year from production date.
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Coffee, canned ground Unopened: 2 years. Opened: 1 month refrigerated.
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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 toconsume.)
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Ground: 1 week in sealed container.
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Coffee, instant Unopened: Up to 2 years. Opened: Up to 1 month.
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Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles) Unopened: 3 months from
"best by" date. Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.
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Dried pasta 12 months.
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Frozen dinners Unopened: 12 to 18 months.
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Frozen vegetables Unopened: 18 to 24 months. Opened:1 month.
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Honey Indefinite shelf life.
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Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)
Unopened: 8 months from production date.
Opened: 7 to 10 days.
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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.).
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Maple syrup, real or imitation 1 year.
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Maraschino cherries Unopened: 3 to 4 years. Opened: 2 weeks at room
temperature; 6 months refrigerated.
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Marshmallows Unopened: 40 weeks.
Opened: 3 months.
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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.).
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Mustard 2 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
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Olives, jarred (green with pimento) Unopened: 3 years.Opened: 3 months.
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Olive oil 2 years from manufacture date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.).
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Peanuts Unopened: 1 to 2 years unless frozen or refrigerated Opened:1 to 2 weeks in airtight container.
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Peanut butter, natural 9 months.
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Peanut butter, processed (Jif) Unopened: 2 years.Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months.
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PicklesUnopened: 18 months.
Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft.
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Protein bars (PowerBars)Unopened: 10 to 12 months. Check "best by" date on the package.
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Rice, white 2 years from date on box or date of purchase.
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Salad dressing, bottled Unopened: 12 months after "best by" date.Opened: 9 months refrigerated.
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Soda, regular Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from "best by" date.
Opened:Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.
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Steak sauce 33 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected,but product is still generally safe to consume.).
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Tabasco 5 years, stored in a cool, dry place.
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Tea bags (Lipton) Use within 2 years of opening the package.
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Tuna, canned Unopened: 1 year from purchase date.Opened: 3 to 4 days,
not stored in can.
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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.).
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Vinegar 42 months.
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Wine (red, white) Unopened: 3 years from vintage date; 20 to 100 years for fine wines.
Opened:1 week refrigerated and corked.
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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.