Last week I was going through my pantry trying to make space for some bulk items I bought. There were bags of flour, unopened cereal boxes, and at least 8 cans of diced tomatoes. I realized that I had way too many canned goods and wondered if the flour and cereal were still good. Here are five things I learned about what can stay and what needs to go when cleaning out your pantry.
1. Flour needs to be in an airtight container and can last for up to a year. If it has been in your pantry that long make sure to check it for bugs or worms before using it.
2. Nuts don’t last long. On average nuts last no longer than six months. If they smell funky, throw them out.
3. Canned goods do have an expiration date. Sure, there are some that last way beyond the date, but you should definitely err on the side of caution and just chunk it if it is expired.
4. Cereal lasts for about 4- 6 months when it has been opened. If it is unopened it can be good for up to 8 months past the “best by” date.
5. Potato Chips don’t last long, even if they are unopened. Opened chips are good for about 5-7 days. Unopened chips can be good for at least 2 weeks and some can last for as long as 4 weeks.
Want to find out how long food lasts, check out EatByDate.com.
