Food

How to Store Snacks, Baked Goods, and Crackers

Wonder if that homemade piecrust in the back of the freezer is still good? Review our food storage guidelines and find out. (The answer is probably "No.")

By

Elizabeth Passarella

Updated on September 18, 2022

We consulted the USDA, food scientists, food manufacturers, and other experts to establish these storage guidelines. The first consideration was safety but, for optimum freshness, we chose a conservative storage time.

Baked Goods

Whether you're keeping baked goods at room temperature or freezing them, make sure they're tightly wrapped or in an airtight container, with the following exceptions:

Refrigerate dairy-based cakes and pies (such as cheesecake and lemon cream pie) and cookies with uncooked dairy fillings (like whipped cream or cream cheese).
Keep bakery-style breads and baguettes in their original packaging (an airtight bag turns crusts soggy) and, if freezing, transfer to a resealable freezer bag.

Bagels

Pantry - 2 days
Freezer - 3 months

Baguette

Pantry - 1 day
Freezer - 3 weeks

Biscotti

Pantry - 2 weeks
Freezer - 6 months

Biscuit Dough, store-bought in a can

Refrigerator - Until use-by date.
Freezer - Do not freeze.

Bread, bakery loaf

Pantry - 2 days
Freezer - 3 weeks

Bread, sandwich loaf

Pantry - 4 days
Refrigerator - 2 weeks
Freezer - 3 months

Brownies - bakery, homemade, and supermarket

Pantry - 5 days (bakery and homemade) or 2 weeks (supermarket)
Refrigerator - 1 month
Freezer - 3 months

Cakes - bakery, homemade, and supermarket

Pantry - 2 days (bakery and homemade angel and sponge), 3 days (bakery and homemade pound, chocolate, and yellow), or 4 days (supermarket)
Refrigerator - 1 week
Freezer - 3 months (When possible, freeze cake unfrosted.)

Cookie Dough - homemade and store-bought

Refrigerator - 5 days (homemade) or until use-by date (store-bought)
Freezer - 2 months (store-bought) or 3 months (homemade)

Cookies - bakery, homemade, and supermarket

Pantry - 1 week (bakery and homemade), 1 month (supermarket, opened), or 2 months (supermarket, unopened)
Refrigerator - 2 weeks (bakery and homemade)
Freezer - 3 months (bakery and homemade) or 6 months (supermarket)

English Muffins

Pantry - 5 days
Refrigerator - 2 weeks
Freezer - 3 months

Muffins

Pantry - 3 days
Refrigerator - 1 week
Freezer - 2 months

Piecrusts - homemade and store-bought (refrigerated and frozen)

Refrigerator - 3 days (homemade) or until use-by date (store-bought)
Freezer - 2 months (store-bought) or 3 months (homemade)

Pies - fruit and dairy (such as Key lime pie, banana cream pie, or cheesecake)

Pantry - 2 days (fruit only).
Refrigerator - 4 days (dairy) or 1 week (fruit).
Freezer - Do not freeze.

Pita Bread

Pantry - 5 days
Refrigerator - 1 week
Freezer - 3 months

Tortillas - refrigerated and shelf-stable

Pantry - 1 week (shelf-stable only)
Refrigerator - 1 week (refrigerated) or 2 weeks (shelf-stable)
Freezer - 3 months

Crackers and Snacks

Any crackers or snack foods that don't disappear in a couple days will stay fresh longer in an airtight container or bag. Recommendations here are for pantry storage only.