Regional Food Bank

DECODING DATE CODES: Examples: "EXPIRATION DATE" Look for it on: Baby food, formula, medicines, vitamins, yeast, baking powder What it means: Do NOT distribute after the expiration date! Yeast and baking powder work less well, but are safe to eat. "Expires 11/15/18" "Do not use after 1/15/18" "PACK DATE" Look for it on: Canned foods, crackers, "Packed on 03/01/20" cookies, spices. "22:5306412" What it means: This is the date the food "KL064" was packaged. Often displayed in a numerical code. Usually this food is of good quality and safe to eat for a long time past the date. "SELL BY" DATE Look for it on: Refrigerated foods such as milk, yogurt, eggs, lunch meat. What it means: The store must sell these foods before the code date listed. If the food has been handled properly it is still safe to eat and the quality is good. "USE BY" DATE Look for it on: Crackers, cookies, cold cereals, and other dry, shelf stable food. What it means: The manufacturer's recommendation for how long the food will be at peak quality. After this date, the food is still safe to eat but begins to lose nutrients and quality. "Sell by January 1, 2018" "Pull Date" "Best if used by 1/1/2018" "Use Before 1/1/2018" PROPER STORAGE TEMPERATURES: Refrigerator Freezer empireiceco .com Dry Storage i0.wp.com com freepngimg. Temperature should be between 32°F - 40°F Set refrigerator air temp at 39°F to maintain internal temperature of food at 41°F Leave space for air to circulate between items in the fridge Temperature should be 0°F Freezer can be as cold as -20°F if you have something like ice cream present. Temperature between 50° - 70°F. Rotate stock so that older foods are distributed first. TIPS on Storing Fresh Produce: Most fruits and vegetables have the best quality when kept refrigerated. There are, however some exceptions. Tomato taste best if not refrigerated. Cold storage can cause them to become grainy. Bananas should not be refrigerated unless fully ripe, and then they should be used within 1-2 days. Refrigeration will cause banana skin to blacken, but the fruit will not ripen while cold. If they are very fresh; apples, mangoes, and stone fruits (plums, peaches, etc.) can be stored at room temperature, but these items should be refrigerated as they ripen. Hardy vegetables like onions, garlic, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and winter squash can be stored in cool, dark places outside of the cooler. Store eggs in their original carton. WHAT NOT TO CONSUME: CANS & JARS Leaking or stained Swollen can Rusty Badly dented, crimped or pinched Container is cracked Foul odor Safety seals are broken or missing Lids are loose or missing Food exhibit changed color or odor--never taste suspicious foods! TIPS: BOXES Inside bag: Is torn or leaking Has moldy or foreign objects inside Seals are ripped W/out an inside bag: Is open or torn Has live or dead insects, webs, or droppings Is stained or wet Store cans and boxes off the floor, and 18 inches away from the wall. Store canned and boxed goods in a clean, dry, and cool area (below 85°F). Extremely hot (over 100°F) and cold (below 30°F) temperatures can damage canned goods and shorten shelf life. Always rotate your stock--First in-First out (FIFO)! Distribute or use older products before newer ones. PRODUCT SHELF LIFE: Condiments & Sauces Pantry Stored Refrigeration after opening Barbecue sauce (bottled) 1 year 4 months Jams, jellies and preserves 6-18 months 6-12 months Ketchup, cocktail, or chili sauce 1 year 6 months Mayonnaise, commercial 3-6 months 2 months Mustard 1-2 years 1 year Olives, black and green 12-18 months 2 weeks Pickles 1 year 1-3 months Salad dressing, commercial 10-12 months 1-3 months Salsa, picante and taco sauces 1 year 1 month Spaghetti sauce, in jars 18 months 4 days Vinegar 2 years Worcestershire sauce 1 year Baby Food After opening Pantry Tips Cereal, dry mixes 1 month, if pantry stored Should be discarded after use-by date Formula, prepared 1 hour, if pantry stored 1 day, if refrigerated Should be discarded after use-by date Jars or pouches 2-3 days, if refrigerated Should be discarded after use-by date Liquid concentrate or ready-tofeed formula 2 days, if refrigerated Should be discarded after use-by date Canned Foods Pantry Stored Refrigeration after opening Beans 2-5 years 3-4 days Fish: salmon, tuna, sardines, 2-5 years 3-4 days Fruit 12-18 months 5-7 days Juices 12-18 months 5-7 days Meat: beef, chicken, pork, turkey 10-12 months 3-4 days Soups 2-5 years 3-4 days Tomato soup 12-18 months 5-7 days Vegetables 2-5 years 3-4 days mackerel PRODUCT SHELF LIFE: Baking & Cooking Pantry Stored Biscuit or Pancake mix 12 months Baking mixes (brownie, cake) 12-18 months Baking Powder 6-18 months 3-6 months pantry Baking Soda 2-3 years 6 months pantry Cornmeal, regular 6-22 months 2 years pantry 1 year refrigerated Cornmeal, stone ground or blue 1 month 2-4 months refrigerated Flour, white 6-12 months 6-8 months pantry 1 year refrigerated Flour, whole wheat 3-6 months 6-8 months refrigerated Frosting or icing 10-12 months 2-3 weeks refrigerated Oils, olive or vegetable 6-12 months 3-5 months pantry 4 months refrigerated Pudding mixes (shelf stable) 12 months 3-4 months pantry Shortening, solid 12-18 months 6-12 months pantry Spices, ground 6-18 months 2-3 years pantry Sugar substitutes 2-3 years Indefinitely pantry Sugar (brown, confectioners, 6-22 months 18-24 months pantry After Opening granulates) Bakery Pantry Stored Refrigerated after opening Stored frozen Commercial bread products (pan bread, flat bread, rolls and buns) 12 months 2-3 weeks 3-5 months Commerical cakes and muffins 3-7 days Cookies, crispy 4-6 months 8-12 months Cookies, soft 2-3 months 8-12 months Corn tortillas 7-10 days 6-8 weeks 6-8 months Flour tortillas 1 week 3-4 weeks 6-8 months Pita bread 2-4 days 4-7 days 4 months Pastries, Danish 5-10 days 14 months Do not freeze Tortillas 3 months 3 months 6 months Whole wheat tortillas 1 week 3-4 weeks 6-8 months 7-10 days 6 months PRODUCT SHELF LIFE: Refrigerated after opening 1-2 years frozen Beverages Pantry Stored Pantry stored after opening Coffee, ground (non-vacuum) 3-5 months 3-5 weeks Coffee, instant 1 year 2-3 months Coffee, whole beans 3-5 months 3-5 months 3-4 months Fruit juice in cartons, punch 3 weeks 7-12 days 8-12 days Juice, boxes Use-by date 8-12 days 2-3 days Soda (carbonated cola drinks, mixers, diet soda, bottles or cans) Soy or rice beverages Tea, bags 18-36 months Tea, instant 2-3 years Tea, loose* 2 years Water, commercially bottled* (including flavored) Indefinitely Dairy Products & Eggs Refrigerator Frozen Butter 1-2 months 6-9 months Buttermilk 1-2 weeks 3 months Cheese, hard (cheddar, Swiss, block parmesan) 6 months 3-4 weeks, if refrigerated after opening 6 months Cheese, processed slices 3-4 weeks Cheese, shredded (cheddar, mozarella, etc.) 1 month 3-4 months Cheese, soft (brie, bel paese) 1-2 weeks 6 months Coffee creamer, liquid refrigerated 3 weeks Cottage cheese, ricotta 2 weeks 1 week, if refrigerated after opening Cream cheese 2 weeks Cream, half-and-half 3-4 days 4 months Cream, heavy 10 days 3-4 months Cream, light 1 week 3-4 months PRODUCT SHELF LIFE: Dairy Products & Eggs cont. Refrigerator Egg substitutes, liquid 7 days 3 days, if refrigerated after opening Eggs, in shell 3-5 weeks Margarine 6 months 12 months Milk, plain or flavored 1 week 3 months Pudding Package use-by date 2 days, if refrigerated after opening Sour cream Package use-by date Whipped cream, aerosol can 3-4 weeks Whipped topping, aerosol can 3 months Whipped topping, tub 2 weeks 14 months Yogurt 1-2 weeks 1-2 months Deli & Prepared Foods Refrigerator Frozen Cooked Pasta 3-5 days 1-2 months Cooked Rice 4-6 days 6 months Fruit, cut Package use-by date 4 days, if refrigerated after opening Guacamole 3-4 days Hummus, commercial 3 months 7 days, if refrigerated after opening Hummus, traditional 7 days Leftovers, pizza 3-4 days 1-2 months Leftovers (without meat, fish, poultry or egg i.e. cooked vegetables, rice or potatoes 3-4 days 1-2 months Leftovers (with meat, fish, poultry or egg) 3-4 days 2-3 months Luncheon meat or poultry, pre-packaged 2 weeks 3-5 days, if refrigerated after opening 1-2 months Luncheon meat or poultry, store-sliced 3-5 days 1-2 months Main dishes or meals, hot or refrigerated 3-4 days 2-3 months Meats, covered with gravy or broth 3-4 days 6 months Frozen 3-4 months PRODUCT SHELF LIFE: Deli & Prepared Foods cont. Frozen Refrigerator Salads (containing meat, fish, poultry or eggs) 3-4 days Salads, vegetable 3-5 days Soups, stews 3-4 days 2-3 months Food Purchased Frozen Frozen Bread, bagels 3 months Chicken, nuggets/patties 2 months Desserts, frozen baked goods 3-4 months Desserts, frozen cream pies 1-2 months Desserts, frozen fruit pies 6-8 months Dough, commercial (bread or cookie) 6 months Egg substitutes 7 days, if refrigerated after opening 12 months frozen Fish, breaded 18 months Fish, raw but headed and gutted 6 months Frozen potato products (fries, hash browns, tater tots) 6-12 months Fruits 4-6 months Ice Cream 2-4 months Ice pops 9 months Juice concentrates 1-2 years Pancakes, waffles 2 months Sausages, precooked 1-2 months Sausages, uncooked 1-2 months Soy meat substitutes 12-18 months TV dinners: pies, casseroles, shrimp, ham, pork, or sausage 3-4 months TV dinners: beef, turkey, chicken, or fish 6 months Vegetables 8 months TIPS: Keep food frozen, it will last much longer than if it exposed to changing temperatures. Keep all frozen food at 0 F or below. Leave meat, poultry, and seafood in the original packaging PRODUCT SHELF LIFE: Grains, Beans & Pasta Pantry Stored Pantry stored after opening Beans, dried 1-2 years 1 year Lentils, dried 1 year 1 year Pasta, dry (without egg) 2 years 1 year Pasta, dry (egg noodles) 2 years 1-2 months Peas, dried split) 1 year 1 year Rice, brown 1 year 6 months, if refrigerated after Rice, white or wild 1 year 6 months, if refrigerated after Meat & Fish/Seafood, fresh Refrigerator Stored Frozen Beef: roasts, steaks Pork: roasts, chops Lamb: roasts, steaks/chops 3-5 days 4-12 months Crab, canned 6 months unopened 5-7 days opened Crab, legs 3-5 days 9-12 months Fatty fish (bluefish, catfish, mackerel, mullet, salmon, tuna, etc.) 1-2 days 2-3 months Ground meats (beef, pork, lamb, or poultry 1-2 days 3-4 months Lean fish (cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc. 1-2 days 6-10 months Lean fish (pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout) 1-2 days 4-8 months Lobster tails, raw 4-5 days 6-9 months Poultry: chicken or turkey, whole cuts 1-2 days 12 months Shrimp, raw 2 days 9 months Scallops, raw 1-2 days 3-6 months Meats should be completely frozen, and stored at 0°F or lower. Do NOT leave meats at room temperature unnecessarily! Do not freeze Prepared foods should be kept refrigerated. These foods are perishable, and leaving them at room temperature will shorten their shelf life. PRODUCT SHELF LIFE: Meat & Fish/Seafood, smoked or processed Bacon Refrigerator Stored Frozen 1 week 1 week, if refrigerated after opening 1 month Chicken nuggets/patties 1-3 months Chicken, fried or rotisserie 3-4 days Ham 1 week Hot dogs 2 weeks 1 week, if refrigerated after opening Sausage, hard/dry/sliced (pepperoni) 2-3 weeks 1-2 months Sausage, raw bulk type or patties 1-2 days 1-2 months Sausage, fully cooked smoked links/kielbasa 1 week 1-2 months Shelf Stable Foods Pantry Stored 4 months 1-2 months Pantry stored after opening Refrigerated after opening Not recommended 7-10 days Almond milk, shelf stable 1 month Applesauce, commercial 12-18 months Bacon, fully cooked 6 months 5-14 days Canned chicken 5 years 3-4 days Cereal, cook before eating (oatmeal) 12 months 6-12 months Chocolate syrup 2 years Not recommended 6 months Coconut milk, shelf-stable 1 month Coffee creamer, liquid shelf-stable 9-12 months Crackers 8 months 1 month 3-4 months Fruits, dried 6 months 1 month 6 months Ham, shelf-stable cans 6-9 months Juice, bottle shelf-stable 9 months Milk, canned evaporated or condensed 12 months Milk, shelf-stable UHT 6 months Meat products, canned 5 years Nuts, jars or cans 1 year 5-14 days 4-5 days 3-4 days 2-9 months 4-6 months PRODUCT SHELF LIFE: Shelf Stable Foods cont. Pantry Stored Pantry stored after opening Refrigerated after opening Nutritional aid supplements (Boost, etc.) 1 year Peanut butter, commercial 6-24 months 2-3 months Popcorn, commercially popped in bags 2-3 months 1-2 weeks Popcorn, dry kernels in jar 2 years 1 year Popcorn, microwave packets 6-12 months 1-2 days Potato chips Use-by date 2 months 1-2 weeks Potatoes, instant 10-15 months 6-12 months Powdered milk 2-10 years Pretzels 4-9 months 3 weeks Pudding mixes 1 year 3-4 months Soup mixes, dry bouillon 1 year 1 year Syrup 1 year Toaster pastries 6-12 months 6 months 1-2 weeks