77 Surprising Expiration Dates

A handy keep-or-toss guide to 77 foods, beauty products, and household goods.

 

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