Expiration Dates

I recently found this site, and I think it's amazing! Unfortunately, not all products have expiration dates on them, so sometimes you don't know when something will go bad.

Certain 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 (http://www.realsimple.com/) 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: Starts to lose flavor after 110 days.
It’s best to store bottles in boxes, and then in dark place.
Stronger alcohol and higher levels of hops might extend the shelf life of a beer.
One example is Michelob Craft Specialty beers, which are often at their peak with 180 days.
(Source: Budweiser support)

*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 (Power Bars)
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, non-rechargeable
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

Beauty Supplies Expiration Dates

*Anti-aging and acne treatment
Three months to a year. Antioxidants are easily oxidized, so be on the lookout for any changes in color.

*Body lotion
Two to three years, particularly if it’s in a pump container.

*Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel
About three years.

*Bath oil
One year.

*Sunscreen
Check the package for an expiration date.

*Mascara and liquid eyeliner
Three to four months. Make sure you’re diligent about replacing these items to prevent contamination and infections.

*Eye and lip pencils
Three to five years. Sharpen them before each use as a way to preserve them and keep them clean.

*Lipstick and lip gloss
Two to three years.

*Foundation
About two years. Most bottles are designed to last that long. And if you don’t use it, chances are you didn’t love it to begin with.

*Perfume
About two years. To get more mileage out of a perfume, resist the temptation to display a pretty bottle on your vanity. Instead, stash it away in a cool, dark place.

*Nail polish
One year.

*Hairstyling products
Three to five years. Most are alcohol-based, which helps preserve the formula.

*Bar soap
Up to three years.

*Shaving cream
About two years.

*Deodorant
Up to two years.