Here is a great little guide to remember where to store common pantry items, and how long they’ll last depending on where they’re stored. How long will your pasta last in the pantry? Questions like that and many more are answered in the post below.
There are three main storage places for our pantry essentials. Either the pantry, fridge or the freezer. Below you will find a suggestion on where to keep the food item and how long it may last.
Pantry Guide For Storing Dry Goods
For long term storage, many of these can be stored in mylar bags with desiccant bags, inside of a 5-gallon bucket. It should last many more years.
Most dried goods should be stored in an airtight container. If you live in a humid environment, it’s a good idea to add desiccant bags to keep out moisture.
- All-purpose flour – Pantry 1 year | Freezer 2 years
- Baking powder – Pantry 1 year or longer. Learn how to test baking powder or soda is still good for baking.
- Baking soda – Pantry 2 years for baking) however, it can be used for cleaning after expiration.
- Dried beans & peas – Pantry 2-3 years
- White rice – Pantry Indefinite Make sure to keep it in an airtight container with desiccant bags.
- Brown rice – Pantry 3-6 months | Freezer 12-18 months
- Brown sugar – Pantry 18 months
- Pasta – Pantry up to 3 years
- Cornmeal – Pantry 1 year | Freezer 24 months
- Dried fruit – Pantry 1 year | Freezer 2-3 years
- Powdered sugar – Pantry 2years
- Rolled oats – Pantry 1 year
- Steel-cut oats – Pantry 1 year
- Bread flour – Pantry 1 year
- Granulated sugar – Pantry 2 years
- Whole wheat flour – Pantry 8 months | Freezer 2 years
- Yeast – Fridge 1 year
Herbs & Spices
Herbs and spices can be stored in small jars. Bulk herbs and spices can be stored for long term in airtight containers with desiccant packs or you can vacuum pack them.
Most herbs and spices should last about 3 to 4 years.
Salt can last indefinitely if not exposed to moisture.
Oils, Nuts, and Seeds | Pantry Guide
- EVOO – Pantry 1 year (unopened) 3-4 month (opened)
- Natural nut butters – Fridge 6-9 months | Pantry 3-6 months
- Coconut oil – Pantry 2 years
- Nuts – Fridge 2 years | Most nuts do well in refrigeration and can last about or up to 2 years.
- Coffee grounds – Pantry 3-5 months | Freezer 1-2 years
- Whole coffee beans – Pantry 1 year (unopened) | Freezer 2-3 years
Condiments | Pantry Guide
- Soy sauce – Pantry 2-3 years
- Ketchup – Pantry 1 year (unopened) | Fridge 6 months opened
- Rice vinegar – Pantry indefinite
- Hot sauce – Pantry 5 years
- Red wine vinegar – Pantry Indefinite
- Apple cider vinegar – Pantry Indefinite
- Worcestershire Sauce – Pantry 3 years
- Mustard – Pantry 1 year (unopened) | Fridge 8 months (opened)
- Mayonnaise – Pantry 1 year (unopened) | Fridge 3 months (opened)
- Maple syrup – Pantry 2 years (unopened) | Fridge 1 year
- Honey – Pantry Indefinite
I’d love To Know what you think!… Leave me a comment!
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Oh wow, I saved this, I never am really sure how long pantry items last, this would be to hand on the wall by the pantry.
This is a very useful guide! Thanks for sharing this one 🙂
I still can’t believe how awesome this is.
This is awesome…the information will surely help us when checking our stuff at home 🙂
Thanks for sharing this great info.. I stock up too many items and often forget to use them
This is such an informative guide! I’d love to print it out and put it up inside one of the kitchen cabinets for easy access.
That’s a great idea!
This is awesome. I need to print this out and hang it in the kitchen. So helpful. Thank you!
I don’t have a cellar and I had no idea about it, it looks cool and interesting. I like your guide.
I have a little knowledge in the kitchen honestly, and this post is helpful for me since I am not checking the expiration dates. Got to save this one so that i have a reference when I moved on the new house.
this guide is so great!!
I definitely need a bigger pantry great tips thanks
This is a really handy guide to have on hand. I was very surprised to see that peanuts could be stored in the freezer. Don’t know why I never thought of that.
Right, it is a great idea to prolong their life!
I so need this guide! I am going to print this.
I wish I had a bigger pantry to store everything in. Although, I do like how my pantry is now. Thanks for this though!
I am the same way. I need a bigger pantry and a cellar for sure!
This is very helpful and I am so sharing this one here at home. My Mom tends to keep things almost forever. She seems to have sepanx with food so I always end up checking the expiration date just to be sure. And, when she is not looking – I do my own pantry spring cleaning.
I am glad you found it helpful!
Yes, thankfully we do – great info
this is really nice and good tip for someone who loves to store bought goods, sometimes i tend to forgot my condiments and they eventually get expired which is really sad and waste of money too
I know the feeling. I hate when stuff goes bad.
What a great list. Thank you so much for sharing.
This is great! I’m going to organize my pantry this week 🙂
Awesome!
Such a helpful post!! I love how it’s organized, and with expiration dates. Pinning now!
So glad you liked it! Thanks for sharing!
We have a cellar. We use it for a lot of storage mostly.
That’s nice. I wish I had one!
this is awesome will be sharing on facebook
Thanks Angie!
Thanks for sharing. Very useful info!
You’re welcome!
Wow! This is a fantastic guide, I’m going to print it out – very useful 🙂 Thank you!
You’re welcome!