- Common cooking staples that have a short shelf life include olive oil, spices, pasta and more.
- Sometimes it’s best to test baking powder, baking soda and yeast, despite expiration dates.
- Gourmet food gifts and souvenirs that are too lovely to open may have already expired.
If you’re anything like us, your kitchen pantry is probably bursting at its seams. We utilize every inch, nook and cranny to store everything from canned beans to seaweed snacks. Although we’d like to say that all our pantry items are fresh, the truth is we know there are some items that have gone bad or are past their expiration dates. Here are the nine types of items in our pantries—and probably yours—that should be thrown away.
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Cooking Oils
Cooking oils such as canola oil and olive oil don’t last as long as you might think. They last only about 4 months when stored unopened. However, they can degrade even faster when exposed to light, air or heat. To check if your oils are still good, take a whiff to see if you smell any off odors. If the oil smells stale, reminds you of chemicals, has a fermented funk or even smells like crayons, the oil is past its prime or may be completely spoiled. It’s time to toss that oil. Sometimes a tiny taste test may be the best route. If the oil smells OK but tastes sour, soapy or not quite right, get rid of it. Trust your senses. More than likely, when an oil is bad, you’ll know it.
Herbs & Spices
If you’re an adventurous home cook and like to try new recipes, you may be guilty of stockpiling dozens of dried herbs and spices that have only been used once or twice. Dried herbs and spices technically never go bad, but they will lose their flavor over time. Ground spices last about 2 to 3 years, while whole spices can last up to 4 years. Go through your spice drawer and throw out any that have been around for more years than recommended—they’re not doing your cooking any favors.
Flours
Are you a lifelong baker, or do you pick it up only when time permits? Either way, you likely have half-used bags of flour tucked away in your pantry. It may be time to throw those in the compost bin. Flour stays fresh for about 8 months when stored at room temperature. However, certain flours, like whole-wheat, gluten-free and nut-based flours, have a shorter shelf life due to their higher fat content. Depending on when you bought your flour, it might be time to throw it away. If it’s been less than a year since you purchased it, do a smell test. If it has a stale, sour or off aroma, throw it out.
Dry Rice & Pasta
Whether you’re a pasta fanatic who loses track of all the different noodle shapes in your pantry or you rarely touch the stuff, there are likely opened or lost bags of pasta or rice deep in your shelves. Rice and pasta can last years in the pantry, but it may be time to reorder them first-in, first-out style so you use the oldest packages first. When doing this, throw out any unsealed containers or pasta or rice that are misshapen, discolored or smell rancid.
Baking Powder, Baking Soda & Yeast
If you don’t bake regularly, chances are your leaveners have expired. Unopened baking powder has a shelf life of about 3 months, while baking soda can last up to 18 months. If opened, both should be used within 6 months. If you’re not sure how long your leaveners have been around, conduct a test. Add some baking soda to hot water with vinegar. If it starts to fizz, then it’s still good. Perform the same test with baking powder, but just use hot water.
For yeast, check the expiration dates on the packets and throw out any that have expired. If you have an open container of dry yeast that hasn’t been stored in the freezer, it’s probably time to toss that, too. Dry yeast lasts about 4 months in the fridge and up to a year when frozen. However, using it sooner is always best.
Nuts
Ever buy one too many pounds of a certain shelled or unshelled nut variety only to have them sit in your pantry basically untouched? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Sadly, nuts have a short shelf life due to their fat content. If more than 6 months have passed since you purchased your non-shelled nuts or more than 4 months for non-shelled (and they haven’t been stored in the freezer), there’s a good chance they’ve turned rancid. If you want to be 100% sure before you toss them, do a sniff and taste test. If they have an off odor or taste, chuck them.
Maple Syrup
If you’re not a big pancake-and-waffle household, you may have a container or two of opened maple syrup that needs to be thrown out. Unlike honey, maple syrup will go bad. Unopened pure maple syrup should be stored in the refrigerator and will last about a year. Unrefrigerated, opened maple syrup may grow mold. Check yours and toss it if you see any mold growing.
Food Gifts and Souvenirs You’ll Never Use
Gifting, buying and receiving gourmet food is something that brings us joy. But the truth is, sometimes we spend so much time admiring the product and packaging, and remembering the person or memory associated with it, that we never get around to using it. If something has been around unopened for more than 2 years, we say toss it. You are not likely to use it, and it’s likely gone bad or is at least past its prime.
Sprinkles
We love a festive baking project, especially if it includes seasonal sprinkles. But we hardly ever need an entire bottle for the bake. They’re often stashed on a high shelf and forgotten. Sprinkles are made mostly of sugar and can last much longer than their best-by date (sometimes even by years), but that doesn’t mean they never go bad. Along with sugar, sprinkles include food dyes, flavorings and other additives that can go rancid or lose their quality over time. If your last sprinkled baking project happened pre-2000, it might be time to toss the sprinkles. If you’re not sure, do a see-and-smell check. If they are discolored or have an off odor, it’s time to say goodbye to them.
The Bottom Line
If it’s been a while since you cleaned out your pantry, there’s a good chance you have a number of items that need to be thrown out. To avoid this situation in the future (and prevent further food waste from occurring), now may be the right time to organize your kitchen!
