surprising expiration dates
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple...676079,00.html
Surprising Expiration Dates A handy, who-knew guide for 77 foods, beauty products, and household goods KeateCertain items in your house practically scream “toss me” when their prime has passed. That mysterious extra white layer on the Cheddar? A sure sign it needs to be put out of its misery. Chunky milk? Down the drain it goes. But what about that jar of olives or Maraschino cherries that has resided in your refrigerator since before the birth of your kindergartner? Or the innumerable nonedibles lurking deep within your cabinets and closets: stockpiled shampoo and toothpaste, seldom-used silver polish? How do you know when their primes have passed? With help from experts and product manufacturers, Real Simple has compiled a guide to expiration dates. These dates are offered as a rough guideline. The shelf lives of most products depend upon how you treat them. Edibles, unless otherwise indicated, should be stored in a cool, dry place. (With any food, of course, use common sense.) Household cleaners also do best in a dry place with a stable temperature. After the dates shown, beauty and cleaning products are probably still safe but may be less effective. Food Beer Unopened: 4 months. Brown sugar Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place. Chocolate (Hershey bar) 1 year from production date Coffee, canned ground Unopened: 2 years Opened: 1 month refrigerated Coffee, gourmet Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Ground: 1 week in sealed container Coffee, instant Unopened: Up to 2 years Opened: Up to 1 month Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles) Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date. Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected. Dried pasta 12 months Frozen dinners Unopened: 12 to 18 months Frozen vegetables Unopened: 18 to 24 months Opened: 1 month Honey Indefinite shelf life Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry) Unopened: 8 months from production date Opened: 7 to 10 days Ketchup Unopened: 1 year (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Maple syrup, real or imitation 1 year Maraschino cherries Unopened: 3 to 4 years Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated Marshmallows Unopened: 40 weeks Opened: 3 months Mayonnaise Unopened: Indefinitely Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Mustard 2 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Olives, jarred (green with pimento) Unopened: 3 years Opened: 3 months Olive oil 2 years from manufacture date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Peanuts Unopened: 1 to 2 years unless frozen or refrigerated Opened: 1 to 2 weeks in airtight container Peanut butter, natural 9 months Peanut butter, processed (Jif) Unopened: 2 years Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months Pickles Unopened: 18 months Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft. Protein bars (PowerBars) Unopened: 10 to 12 months. Check "best by" date on the package. Rice, white 2 years from date on box or date of purchase Salad dressing, bottled Unopened: 12 months after "best by" date Opened: 9 months refrigerated Soda, regular Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from "best by" date Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected Steak sauce 33 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Tabasco 5 years, stored in a cool, dry place Tea bags (Lipton) Use within 2 years of opening the package Tuna, canned Unopened: 1 year from purchase date Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can Soy sauce, bottled Unopened: 2 years Opened: 3 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Vinegar 42 months Wine (red, white) Unopened: 3 years from vintage date; 20 to 100 years for fine wines Opened: 1 week refrigerated and corked Worcestershire sauce Unopened: 5 to 10 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.) Opened: 2 years Household Products Air freshener, aerosol 2 years Antifreeze, premixed 1 to 5 years Antifreeze, concentrate Indefinite Batteries, alkaline 7 years Batteries, lithium 10 years Bleach 3 to 6 months Dish detergent, liquid or powdered 1 year Fire extinguisher, rechargeable Service or replace every 6 years Fire extinguisher, nonrechargeable 12 years Laundry detergent, liquid or powdered Unopened: 9 months to 1 year Opened: 6 months Metal polish (silver, copper, brass) At least 3 years Miracle Gro, liquid Opened: 3 to 8 years Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble Indefinite Motor oil Unopened: 2 to 5 years Opened: 3 months Mr. Clean 2 years Paint Unopened: Up to 10 years Opened: 2 to 5 years Spray paint 2 to 3 years Windex 2 years Wood polish (Pledge) 2 years Beauty Products All dates are from the manufacture date, which is either displayed on the packaging or can be obtained by calling the manufacturer's customer-service number. Bar soap 18 months to 3 years Bath gel, body wash 3 years Bath oil 1 year Body bleaches and depilatories Unopened: 2 years Used: 6 months Body lotion 3 years Conditioner 2 to 3 years Deodorant Unopened: 2 years Used: 1 to 2 years For antiperspirants, see expiration date Eye cream Unopened: 3 years Used: 1 year Face lotion With SPF, see expiration date. All others, at least 3 years Foundation, oil-based 2 years Foundation, water-based 3 years Hair gel 2 to 3 years Hair spray 2 to 3 years Lip balm Unopened: 5 years Used: 1 to 5 years Lipstick 2 years Mascara Unopened: 2 years Used: 3 to 4 months Mouthwash Three years from manufacture date Nail polish 1 year Nail-polish remover Lasts indefinitely Perfume 1 to 2 years Rubbing alcohol At least 3 years Shampoo 2 to 3 years Shaving cream 2 years or more Tooth-whitening strips 13 months Wash'n Dri moist wipes Unopened: 2 years Opened: Good until dried out Written by Maya Kukes and Lisa Smith March 2004 www.realsimple.com For a subscription to Real Simple magazine please call 1-800-881-1172 or go to www.realsimple.com/subscriptions © 2005 Time Inc. All rights reserved |
Informative....I guess.
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Soda, regular
Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from "best by" date Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected uh, wow, that is just .. disgusting. |
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