Determing stockpiling amounts based on shelf life

[undertuscansun]

I have learned so much from everyone in this website community. I began stockpiling in Nov 08, and already went through a lot of my small inventory. I've been taking advantage of the new year's bargains, and my husband thinks I've gone off the deep end with buying 10 Sunday papers when there are fantastic circulars. The amount of soup and cereal has him concerned LOL. I think he is finally starting to come around when he came with me to SuperK double coupons, and getting $30 g/c when bringing a competitor's transfer pharmacy coupon from RiteAid. I had gotten $110 worth of groceries and still have $20 left on the g/c. Woohooo!

I found this list to help me set an inventory limit with my stockpiling efforts.

Ever wonder how long you can keep things in your pantry? Here is a guide to shelf lives for common foods.

Baking powder and soda: 1 year
Cake, frosting, and cookie mixes: 1 year
Canned meats, vegetables, fruits, soups, milks, gravies: 1 year (unopened); refrigerate after opening and use promptly
Cereals: 6 months
Chocolate (chips and baking): 1 year
Coffee: 1 year; refrigerate after opening
Flour: 1 year
Frosting (canned): 8 months
Fruit (dried): 6 months
Gelatin (unflavored): 18 months
Herbs and spices (ground): 1 year; keep in a cool place; refrigerate red spices such as paprika
Honey, molasses, syrups: 1 year
Jelly and jam: 1 year; refrigerate after opening
Milk (nonfat dry): 6 months
Oils: 3 months; refrigerate if not using promptly after opening
Packaged crackers, cookies, bread crumbs: 2 to 4 months
Pancake and piecrust mixes: 6 months
Pasta and macaroni: 1 year; store airtight after opening
Peanut butter: 6 months
Pickles and olives: 1 year; refrigerate after opening
Puddings and gelatin mixes: 6 months
Rice (white): 2 years
Root vegetables such as white and sweet potatoes, onions, squash: 1 week at room temperature; store with plenty of air circulation in a dry, dark place
Shortening (solid): 8 months
Spices (whole): 1 year
Sugar (granulated): 2 years
Tea (instant): 1 year
Tea (loose and bags): 6 months
Vinegars: 1 year
Yeast (active dry): follow package date; for longer shelf date, refrigerate

[loladooder99]

I got that list in my email from goodhouse keeping

[hiding57]

I'd say most of those are underestimated some of them are shorter than the expiration dates and nothing actually goes bad by expiration dates (under normal conditions), but especially shelf goods.

[enginerd]

I have been stockpiling a long time and the only thing I really pay much attention to on the expiration dates is stuff like cereal, crackers, taco shells, and stuff like that that gets an "off" taste when it gets old. Most of the canned and bottled stuff is good way beyond the expiration date. We usually use this stuff quickly enough that I don't worry about it.

[thickbluebug]

yeah, most of what I am buying now says 2010. Like spaghetti sauce, canned food, peanut butter, condiments, even my candy says next yr.

For my boxed items like ritz crackers, cheez it's...the longest I could find was june09. The nabisco products I buy do go bad at the date, sometimes the month b4 they taste too bad for us.

I'd say most of those are underestimated some of them are shorter than the expiration dates and nothing actually goes bad by expiration dates (under normal conditions), but especially shelf goods.

[MomE]

Honey never goes bad.

[PMFan]

there was an entire thread at HCW dedicated to shelf life. not sure where it is now...

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I can personally vouch that tea bags, if stored in an air tight container do not go bad for a LONG time. I have had a container of Lipton tea bags (big rubbermaid container) that I have had and have been using since the first year I stockpiled. (5 years ago)