Category · 117 foods
Pantry Staples Storage Times
How long nuts, oils, canned goods, cereal and snacks last on the counter, in the fridge and in the freezer — opened and unopened. Sourced from USDA FoodKeeper, last verified November 2026.
117 of 117 foods · sorted A–Z
| Counter | Fridge (unopened) | Freezes well? | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Almond butter | 1 year | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Almond oil | 1 year | 2 years | — | Not listed | — |
 Almonds | 4 months | 8 months | — | 10 months | Yes |
 Almonds in the shell | 6 months | 16 months | — | 20 months | Yes |
 Applesauce | Not recommended | 7–10 days | 12–18 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Avocado oil | 6 months | Not needed | 2 years (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Bagged popcorn | 1–2 weeks | Not needed | 2–3 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Black pepper | 2 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Bottled nutrition shakes | Use-by date | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Bouillon | 1 year | Not needed | 1 year (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Bouillon base | Use-by date | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Breadcrumbs | 6 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Cajun seasoning | 1–2 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Canned beans | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned carrots | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned coconut cream | Refrigerate | 4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | 3 months | Yes |
 Canned coconut milk | Refrigerate | 4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | 3 months | Yes |
 Canned corn | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned food (high acid) | Not recommended | 5–7 days | 12–18 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned food (low acid) | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned fruit | Not recommended | 5–7 days | 12–18 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned fruit cocktail | 18 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Canned juice | Not recommended | 5–7 days | 12–18 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned nuts | 2–9 months | 4–6 months | 1 year (pantry) | 6–12 months | Yes |
 Canned pasta | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned peas | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned potatoes | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned seafood | Refrigerate | 1–2 days | 1 year (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned soup | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned spinach | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned stew | Not recommended | 3–4 days | 2–5 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned tomato soup | Not recommended | 5–7 days | 12–18 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Canned tuna | 3 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Canola oil | 1 year | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Capers | Use-by date | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Cashew butter | 3 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Cashews | 2–4 weeks | 6 months | — | 12 months | Yes |
 Cereal | 2–3 months | Not needed | 6–12 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Chia seeds | 18 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Chocolate syrup | Not recommended | 6 months | 2 years (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Chopped pecans | Not recommended | 12 months | — | 2 years | Yes |
 Cinnamon | 3–4 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Coconut oil | 3 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Corn syrup | 3 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Cracked black pepper | 2–3 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Crackers | 1 month | 3–4 months | 8 months (pantry) | 3–4 months | Yes |
 Croutons | 5–6 months | 5–6 months | — | 11–12 months | Yes |
 Cumin | 3–4 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Dried fruit | 1 month | 6 months | 6 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Dried mushrooms | 3 months | Not needed | 1–2 years (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Dry mustard | 6 months | Not needed | — | 1–2 years | Yes |
 Evaporated and condensed milk | Refrigerate | 4–5 days | 12 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Flaxseed (ground) | Not recommended | 12 months | — | 12 months | Yes |
 Flaxseed (whole seed) | 2 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Fruit snacks | 6–9 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Garlic powder | 3–4 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Graham cracker/animal cracker | 6–9 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Granola | 6–9 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Granola bars | 6–12 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Grapeseed oil | 1 year | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Grits | 12 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Imitation bacon bits | Refrigerate | Use-by date | 1 year (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Instant breakfast drinks | 6 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Instant mashed potatoes | 6–12 months | Not needed | 10–15 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Macadamia nuts | 2–4 weeks | 12 months | — | 24 months | Yes |
 Maple syrup | 4 years | Indefinitely | — | Not listed | — |
 Maple syrup (plastic bottle) | 2 years | 18–24 months | — | Not listed | — |
 Marshmallow crème | 1 month | Not needed | 2–5 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Marshmallows | 1 month | Not needed | 1 year (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Microwave popcorn | 1–2 days | Not needed | 6–12 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Molasses | 6 months | Not needed | 1–2 years (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Natural peanut butter | Refrigerate | 3–4 months | 12 months | Not listed | — |
 Nutella (hazelnut spread) | Use-by date | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Nutmeg | 3–4 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Oatmeal | 6–12 months | Not needed | 12 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Onion powder | 3–4 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Pancake syrup | Refrigerate | 6 months | 1 year (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Peanut butter | 2–3 months | Not needed | 6–24 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Peanuts | 4 weeks | 12 months | — | 24 months | Yes |
 Peanuts in the shell | 4 months | 12 months | — | 24 months | Yes |
 Pecans | 2–4 weeks | 9 months | — | 24 months | Yes |
 Pecans in the shell | 2–4 weeks | 12 months | — | 24 months | Yes |
 Pectin | 1 month | Not needed | Use-by date (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Pickled beets | Refrigerate | 1–2 months | 1 year (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Pine nuts | 2–3 weeks | 3 months | — | 9 months | Yes |
 Pistachios | 3 weeks | 12 months | — | 24 months | Yes |
 Polenta | Refrigerate | 5–7 days | Use-by date (pantry) | Not recommended | No |
 Popcorn kernels | 1 year | Not needed | 2 years (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Pork rinds | 4 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Potato chips | 1–2 weeks | Not needed | Use-by date (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Pretzels | 3 weeks | Not needed | 4–9 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Pudding mix | 3–4 months | Not needed | 1 year (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Pumpkin seeds | 6 months | 6 months | — | Not listed | — |
 Pumpkin seeds in the shell | 6 months | Not recommended | — | Not listed | — |
 Roasted edamame | 12 months | 6 months | — | Not listed | — |
 Roasted nuts | 1–2 weeks | 4 weeks | Use-by date (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Roasted pumpkin seeds | 6 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Roasted pumpkin seeds in the shell | 6 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Roasted red peppers | Not recommended | 4–6 months | — | Not listed | — |
 Roasted sunflower seeds | 3–4 months | 7–8 months | 12 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Salt | Indefinitely | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Salted sunflower seeds in the shell | Use-by date | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Sauerkraut | Not recommended | 5–7 days | 12–18 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Sesame oil | 6 months | Not needed | 2 years (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Sesame seeds | 5 years | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Shelf-stable milk | Refrigerate | 5–7 days | 6–12 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Stabilized peanut butter | 2–3 months | 3–4 months | 12 months | Not listed | — |
 Stuffing mix | 9–12 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Sun-dried tomatoes | 3–6 months | 3–6 months | 1 year (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Sunflower oil | 1 year | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Sunflower seeds | 12 months | Not needed | — | Not needed | — |
 Tapenade | 9 months | 9 months | — | Not listed | — |
 Toaster pastries | 1–2 weeks | Not needed | 6–12 months (pantry) | Not needed | — |
 Tomato paste | Refrigerate | 5 days | 27 months (pantry) | 2–3 months | Yes |
 Tuna pouches | Refrigerate | 3–4 days | 18 months (pantry) | Not listed | — |
 Ultra-pasteurized milk | Refrigerate | 7–10 days | 1–3 months | Not listed | — |
 Walnuts | 2–4 weeks | 9–12 months | — | 24 months | Yes |
Can you freeze… pantry staples?
21 answers, A–Z
Does… go bad?
Signs of spoilage for every pantry staples item
Left out overnight
The 2-hour rule, food by food
Numbers on this page come from USDA FoodKeeper and FSIS guidance. Last verified November 2026. How we verify our data · Report a wrong number