If you’ve been a reader for any amount of time (a day or a year), you’ve probably heard us talk a bit (as in a lot) about stockpiling. That is the key to this whole fabuless world of couponing. We buy cheap, stock up and then shop from our pantries.
Lately, with the show Extreme Couponing airing, there has been much discussion on the fine line between stockpiling, wasting and hoarding. While we repeatedly encourage couponing with integrity & view hoarding with disdain, it is easy to accidentally be a wasteful couponer. Overestimating what your family will consume before a product expires is bound to happen. While we can’t help you estimate what your family will eat in any given period, we can help you with expiration dates!
Expiration Date Lingo:
- “Use by” date: When an item will pass its peak in quality, according to the manufacturer. If stored properly, most foods can be consumed a day after this date―some even longer.
- Date only: For example, “DEC 31.” Usually means the same as the “use by” date.
- “Sell by” date: Manufacturers recommend that stores move a product by this day. Don’t buy food with a date that has come and gone. If you already have such a product, eat it within one to two days (some foods will last longer).
- Coded dates: The alphanumeric hodgepodge on a container is a code the manufacturer uses for tracking. But if you look closely, some conceal a date: A common system assigns a letter to the month (A = January) and a number to the year (8 = 2008) that the item was packaged. The rest of the sequence signals the location of the packing facility, which is usually useful to know only if the product is recalled.
Common Expiration Dates:
Food:
Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moisture proof 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
Dried pasta
12-24 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
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 (Power Bars)
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 in a plastic bottle
Unopened: 3 months from “best by” date.
Opened: Doesn’t spoil, but it goes flat and taste is affected.
Soda in cans or glass bottles
Unopened: 9 months from “best by” date
Opened: Doesn’t spoil, but it goes flat and 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
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, non-rechargeable
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
Beauty 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 months
Mouthwash
3 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
Beauty Supplies Expiration Dates
Anti-aging and acne treatment
Three months to a year. Antioxidants are easily oxidized, so be on the lookout for any changes in color.
Bar soap
Up to three years.
Bath oil
One year.
Blush/Bronzer
18 months after first use
Body lotion
Two to three years, particularly if it’s in a pump container.
Concealer
12 months after first use
Creme eye shadow
6 months after first use
Creme blush
12 months after first use
Deodorant
Up to 2 years.
Eye and lip pencils
3-5 years. Sharpen them before each use as a way to preserve them and keep them clean.
Facial Moisturizer
12 months after first use
Foundation
About 2 years. Most bottles are designed to last that long.
Hairstyling products
3-5 years. Most are alcohol-based, which helps preserve the formula.
Lipstick and lip gloss
18 months after first use
Liquid eyeliner
3 months after first use
Liquid Foundation
6 months after first use
Mascara and liquid eyeliner
3-4 months. Make sure you’re diligent about replacing these items to prevent contamination and infections.
Nail polish
18 months after first use
Perfume
About 2 years. To get more mileage out of a perfume, stash it away in a cool, dark place.
Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel
About 3 years.
Shaving cream
About 2 years.
Skin care products
6 months after first use
Sunscreen
6 months after first use
Thanks Real Simple!
