GUIDE FOR EXPIRATION DATES FOR FOOD

I came across this handy guide of expiration dates for

Food

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

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

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)

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.

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)

Tuna, canned 

Unopened: 1 year from purchase date

Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can

Vinegar 

42 months

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

By Maya Kukes and Lisa Smith Keate, RealSimple.com