Clean Sweep
By Elizabeth Stevenson
We scoured the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Food Storage Guidelines to help you decide what to keep, what to toss and when.
| Beverages | Shelf life | Freezer |
| Coffee, instant | 2 weeks (opened); 6 months (unopened) | Yes |
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| Coffee, vacuum-packed | 1 year | No |
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| Coffee, canned | 2 weeks (opened); 2 years (unopened) | 6 months |
| Boxed Foods/Pastas | Shelf life | Freezer |
| Pasta | 2 years | No |
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| Crackers | 3 months | No |
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| White rice | 1 year | No |
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| Brown rice | 6 months | No |
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| Breads and Baked Goods | Shelf Life | Freezer |
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| Bread | 5-7 days in original package | 3 months |
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| Dinner rolls, unbaked | 2-3 weeks (refrigerated) | 1 month |
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| Canned Foods | Shelf life | Freezer |
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| Tuna | 1-2 days (opened, refrigerated); 1 year (unopened) | Yes (in plastic freezer bags) |
| Condiments | Shelf life | Freezer |
| Maple syrup | 1 year | No |
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| Ketchup | 6 months (opened, refrigerated); 1 year (unopened) | No |
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| Peanut butter | 2-3 months (opened) | No |
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| Mayonnaise | 2-3 months | No |
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| Honey | 1 year | No |
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| Jellies and jams | 1 year | No |
| Dairy | Shelf life | Freezer |
| Eggs | 3-5 weeks | No |
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| Hard-boiled eggs | 1 week | No |
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| Liquid eggs opened | 3 days | No |
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| Liquid eggs unopened | 10 days | No |
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| Margarine | 4-5 months | 12 months |
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| Butter | 1-2 months | 9 months |
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| Buttermilk | 2 weeks | No |
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| Hard natural cheeses (such as cheddar or Swiss) | 3-4 weeks (opened): 3-6 months (unopened) | 6 months |
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| Cottage cheese | 1 week | 3 months |
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| Cream cheese | 2 weeks | No |
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| Sour cream | 2 weeks | No |
| Fruits and Vegetables | Shelf life | Freezer |
| Peaches | 5 days (refrigerated) | 1 year |
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| Strawberries | 3 days (refrigerated) | 1 year |
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| Citrus fruits | 2 weeks (refrigerated) | No |
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| Avocados | 5 days (refrigerated) | No |
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| Bananas | 5 days (refrigerated) | No |
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| Oils, vinegars, etc | Shelf life | Freezer |
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| Vinegar | 1 year (opened) | No |
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| Vegetable oil | 1-3 months (opened) | No |
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| Salad dressings | 3 months (opened) | No |
| Pantry Staples | Shelf life | Freezer |
| Ground spices | 6 months | 1-2 years |
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| Whole spices | 1-2 years | 2-3 years |
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| Herb/spice blends | 1-2 years | No |
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| Extracts | 1 year | No |
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| Vanilla extract | 1 year (opened) | No |
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| Baking powder | 18 months | No |
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| Baking soda | 2 years | No |
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| Bouillon products | 1 year | No |
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| Cocoa mixes | 8 months | No |
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| Flour | 6-8 months; 1 year (refrigerated) | 1-2 years |
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| Confectioner’s sugar | 18 months | No |
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| Brown sugar | 4 months | No |
| Proteins | Shelf life | Freezer |
| Luncheon meat | 3-5 days (opened); 2 weeks (unopened) | 1 month |
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| Ground beef | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
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| Fresh veal | 1-2 days | 4-6 months |
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| Ground lamb | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
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| Fresh pork chops | 2-3 days | 4-6 months |
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| Fresh poultry | 1-2 days | 1 year |
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| Lean fish (cod, flounder, haddock) | 1-2 days | 6 months |
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| Fatty fish (salmon, bluefish, mackerel) | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
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| Bacon | 1 week (opened, refrigerated); 2 weeks (unopened, refrigerated) | 1 month |