16 Pantry Items You’re Probably Keeping for Too Long
Updated: Apr. 28, 2023Out with the old! In with the new!
Should you toss these pantry items?
Quinoa
The shelf life of whole grains like quinoa and farro is largely dependent on their fat content. Heat, air, and moisture are the top three enemies of whole grains because the elements can negatively affect their healthy oils, which in turn can cause your grains to go rancid sitting in your pantry. “Grains should always look and smell faintly sweet or have no aroma at all,” states the Whole Grains Council. “If you detect a musty or oily scent, the grains have passed their peak.”
Turmeric
Your favorite ground spices like turmeric, paprika, and nutmeg generally lose their potency after about two to three years. Eating old spices isn’t harmful to your health, but they won’t add any flavor to your recipes anymore. Do a quick sniff and taste test to determine if your spice is still fresh. Do you know how to remove turmeric stains?
Baking powder
The same rules for ground spices apply to baking ingredients as well. Bags of baking powder and baking soda will lose their leavening power over time, which means a sad, flat cake for you. You can test their leavening power with this easy science experiment in your kitchen: Mix baking soda with vinegar and baking powder with hot water. If they foam up and bubble, it means the ingredients are still fresh enough for baking.
Graham crackers
You should always place an opened bag of graham crackers in an airtight container to prevent moisture from seeping in because no one likes to make s’mores with stale graham crackers. However, an unopened batch of graham crackers can still get stale in the bag they come in. According to foodsafety.gov, graham crackers will typically stay fresh in your pantry for up to nine months.
Nuts and seeds
You’ll want to eat un-shelled nuts like almonds and peanuts within a matter of a few weeks to a few months. “Nuts and seeds typically have a high amount of oil in them and that oil will start to go rancid after a couple of months in your pantry,” Tryg Siverson, chef and co-founder of Feel Good Foods, told INSIDER. Signs of rancidity on a nut or seed include a grassy or paint-like odor and dark or oily appearance. For optimal freshness and longevity, place the nuts and seeds in a clear freezer bag and pop them in your fridge for up to a year. Here’s why watermelon seeds are just one of the many food parts you should stop throwing in the garbage.
Cereal
After three months, an opened box of cereal will go stale from air exposure, but a sealed box should last up to a year. Then again, the shelf life can vary, especially if a cereal contains nuts, which are more prone to rancidity. “That said, if you eat cereal with rancid nuts or oils, you’re at very little risk,” Jennifer Kaplan, an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America, told TODAY Food. “The most common side effect will be an unpleasant taste.”
Candy
“If there are safety issues with candy, it’s usually a quality issue, not an issue of expiration date,” Fadi Aramouni, PhD, member of the Food Science Institute, told bestfoodfacts.org. “Generally, it is very difficult for candy to spoil, due to its low moisture content, but it depends on the candy.” Consult the National Confectioner Association for candy shelf-life guidelines. Much like candy, these are the 11 foods that will never expire.
Beer
Storing beer at room temperature isn’t necessarily bad for your beer, but it can spoil it faster. After around four months, heat, light, and air can seep through the bottle caps. “Non-refrigerated storage accelerates aging and development of off flavors,” Cicerone Certification Program, an education service for beer experts, said in a statement to craftbeer.com. “Refrigerated storage is best for all beers at all times.”
Tea
Your tea bags should be consumed within a year because the oils in the tea will go old and give your morning cup of tea a bad flavor. The same goes for your coffee beans and grounds. According to Isabel Maples, MEd, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist, you’re best off consuming beans and grounds within two to four weeks. Instant coffee lovers have a bit more time: about two months. Find out the kitchen items you need to finally throw out.
Canned vegetables
You may think that canned veggies can last a lifetime, but the longer they sit on your shelf, the more likely the can’s texture can break down and give your vegetables a metallic, tinny taste. For example, canned goods with a high acid content like pickles can last for 12 to 18 months, but canned vegetables with a low acid content like corn can last up to five years. But FoodSafety.gov states that canned items are typically safe to eat well past their “use-by” or “best-by” dates as long as they have no dents, rust, or bulging. “Use a first-in, first-out rotation to use up older pantry items first,” Maples told INSIDER.
Olive oil
Light and heat are not olive oil’s friends. You shouldn’t get sick from an old bottle of olive oil, but an opened bottle of the stuff can taste a bit off after six months. If you don’t use olive oil often, only buy a small bottle so you can use it before the flavor spoils.
Whole grain flour
Most people store their flour in the pantry, but you should actually store it in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresh longer. And does flour ever expire? Whole grain flour lasts up to eight months in the fridge and up to a year in the freezer. “Whole grain flours turn rancid before white flour does,” Maples said. “It doesn’t affect food safety but does affect food quality and taste.” Here are 11 frozen foods you’re probably storing wrong.
Potatoes
The spuds typically last up to two weeks in the refrigerator and two months in the pantry. You’ll know their time is up when they start growing sprouts and developing soft black spots on the skin.
Brown rice
Although brown rice is a slightly healthier alternative to white rice, it doesn’t last nearly as long on your pantry shelf. “With brown rice, there is oil in its bran layer,” Siverson told INSIDER. “When that oil goes rancid, it gives brown rice a shorter shelf life of about six months. You can store it in the freezer for up to a year.”
Garlic
The popular seasoning is best stored in a dark, cool pantry at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit for three to five months in mesh bags. “When stored for too long, the garlic cloves may shrivel or begin to sprout,” according to University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources. “Neither is harmful, but both are an indication that the garlic is no longer at its peak quality.” Now that you know which pantry items need to be retired, take a look at these pantry organization ideas for smarter storage.
Sources
- Oldways Whole Grains Council: “Storing Whole Grains”
- Foodsafety.gov: “Keep Food Safe”
- INSIDER: “8 pantry staples that don’t last for as long as you think”
- TODAY Food: “Is it safe to eat cereal that’s passed its ‘best by’ date? Here’s what the experts say”
- Best Food Facts: “How Long Does Halloween Candy Last?”
- Craft Beer: “Craft Beer Retailer Temperature Cheat Sheet”
- UC Food Safety: “Garlic: Safe Methods to Store, Preserve, and Enjoy”
