Storing Food

To save on money, you need to know how to store your food and for how long.  Always check the ’sell by’ and the ‘use by’ dates so you know when the food should be eaten and/or used…and check out the information below for some other pointers on keeping your food safe.  Breads, coffee cakes, muffins, rolls, etc. can be stored at room temperature for 5 to 7 days.  Store in a tightly closed container and refrigerate in hot and humid temperatures.  You can store these items in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days and in the freezer 2 to 3 months.

Butter should not be left out at room temperature and can be stored up to 2 weeks after opened in the refrigerator, and up to 2 months in the freezer.

Cakes can be stored up to 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer if unfrosted and 2 to 3 months if frosted.  Because cakes have eggs in them, they should not be stored at room temperature.

Canned foods can be stored up 1 year.  Make sure you check the dates and use the oldest ones first.

Cereals can be stored, at room temperature, 4 to 6 months if they are the ready-to-cook kind (such as oatmeal) and check the package dates for the ready-to-eat cereals (boxed cereals).  Either put ready-to-eat cereals in an airtight container or make sure your fold the bag tightly that is in the box.

Cheesecakes can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days and in the freezer 4 to 5 months.

Chocolate syrup needs to be stored in the refrigerator after opening and needs to be used within 3 months of opening.  If it has not been opened yet, you can keep it for up to 2 years.

Crackers need to be used within 8 months of opening and stored at room temperature.

Dairy Foods (milk, cheese, yogurts, etc) use by the package dates no matter if you freeze it or keep it in the refrigerator.

Dressings, refrigerate after opening and use by the date on the bottle.

Eggs (raw and in the shell) store up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator and do NOT freeze.  Eggs cooked can be stored up to 1 week in the refrigerator and do NOT freeze.

Flour (all-purpose) can be stored up to 15 months at room temperature.  Whole wheat flour can be stored 6 to 8 months at room temperature.  Keep them in airtight containers.  You can refrigerate and/or freeze, just make sure you bring the flour to room temperature before using.

Honey can be stored at room temperature for 1 year.

Jams and Jellies can be stored for one year and then stored in the refrigerator for 1 year after opening.

Pasta (dried) can be stored for 1 year if stored in the original package or in an airtight container.  Fresh pasta can be stored in the refrigerator only until the date on the package and in the freezer for 3 months if opened and 9 months if not opened.

Peanut Butter can be stored, unopened, for about 9 months and if opened for 2 to 3 months.  This doesn’t matter if you store this on the counter or in the refrigerator.

Pickles need to be used within 1 year and then refrigerated after opening, and then they need to be used within 2 months.

Rice, Brown or wild, can be used within 6 months and 1 year for white rice.  The seasoned rices need to be used within 6 months.

Syrups need to be used up in 1 year and stored in a cool place

Sugar (brown or powdered) use in 4 months and stored in an airtight container.  Regular sugar can be used up to 2 years if stored in an airtight container.  Do not store sugars in the refrigerator or freezer.

Vegetable oil, unopened, use within 6 months if it has been stored in a cool, dark place.  If opened, use within 1 to 3 months.