Product Expiration Dates


75 Surprising Expiration Dates Maya Kukes & Lisa Smith Keate, RealSimple.com       http://yhoo.it/euCjj6 Top of Forhttp://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/505/77-surprising-expiration-dates/

A handy keep-or-toss guide to 75 foods, beauty products, and household goods.

Food

Brown sugar

Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moisture-proof 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
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)
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
Vinegar

42 months
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