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MsDoodahs
08-16-2007, 07:10 PM
Thought I would share it here since I've already typed it out.

It's stuff I pulled from my copy of "making the best of basics" as a sort of jumping in place for someone who wants very much to start storing some things for her family...

Anyway, here it is:
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Some general storage info from Making the Best of Basics that I thought might help with your planning. I've found that a LOT of products do not list their "expiration date" anymore. This book gives the general "use by" for ... damn near everything, lol.

I'm only doing the most common grocery store stuff because that's easiest to get.

Estimated shelf life for various stuff in months:

Commercial ground cornmeal: 60

Commercial ground wheat flour: 6 - 12 (if you buy the wheat berries and grind it yourself, the berries themselves have an indefinite storage life)

White enriched rice: 24 - 48

noodles (mac/lasagna/spag) 18 - 24

oatmeal 12

Nonfat instant powdered milk 24 - 48

dehydrated butter 60 - 96

dehydrated cheese 60 - 96

buttermilk powder 24 - 36

non dairy creamer 24 - 36

dehydrated eggs 60 - 96

evaporated milk 24 - 36

condensed sweetened milk 24 - 36

white, brown, powdered sugar indefinite

corn and maple syrup indefinite

iodized, pickling, ice cream salt indefinite

vegetable shortening 12

liquid vegetable oil 12 - 24

olive oil 12 - 24

baking soda 18 - 24

baking powder 6 - 9

baking chips 18 - 24

cocoa powder 18 - 24

cornstarch 12 - 24

arrowroot 12 - 24

hominy/hominy grits 12

ready to eat dry cereal (corn, rice, shredded wheat) 12

Fruit, canned - all EXCEPT citrus 12 - 18; citrus 6 - 12

Fruit cocktail 12 - 18

Dried potatoes 36 - 48

Dried beans: 60+

Canned veggies:

Beans (green/pinto/kidney/red/yellow/peas) 24 - 36

Beets 12 - 24

Carrots 24 - 36

Corn (whole kernel or creamed) 24 - 36

Potatoes 24 - 36

Canned soups/chili 24 - 36

Canned spag/sauce 12 - 24

Peanut butter 12 -24

unshelled raw nuts 12 - 24

roasted canned shelled nuts 12 - 24

crackers 6 - 12

graham crackers 12 - 24

black pepper indefinite

vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce indefinite

flavorings/extracts 12 - 24

Mixed Italian, Mexican blended herbs 12 - 18

Jerky 6 - 9

canned corned beef 12 - 24

canned deviled meats, vienna sausage 12 - 24

canned chicken/turkey 12 - 24

canned shrimp/tuna/mackerel/halibut 12 - 24

canned salmon/sardines 24 - 36

canned and bottled fruit juices, all 12 - 24

cake mixes 12 - 24

candy bars 12

Chips 12 - 18

Pudding mixes 24 - 36

:)

angelatc
08-16-2007, 07:35 PM
Twinkies?

B964
08-16-2007, 07:42 PM
Beer?
I know for a fact that pretzels last forever, local bar still has ones from the Taft administration in the bowl.

angelatc
08-16-2007, 07:43 PM
Why in the world would you need to know the shelf life of beer?

MsDoodahs
08-16-2007, 07:45 PM
Twinkies?

be....quiet. :)

B964
08-16-2007, 07:51 PM
Why in the world would you need to know the shelf life of beer?

Beer has played a major role in the making of America. Just ask Sam Adams, he even made his own beer, using illegal immigrants to pick the hops.

ShaneC
08-16-2007, 07:52 PM
Why in the world would you need to know the shelf life of beer?

because, as a drunkard myself, its important to know the shelf life of these things.

For example:

The "average Brew" (Bud/Miller/Coors/etc) spoils.

Home Brew and some Macro Brews continue to ferment in the bottle, aging, and staying fit for consumption while actually getting better with Age. (ie. Russian Imperial Ale can take a good 10 months or more to reach maturity).

Douplebocks (sp?) were developed by monks to be both filling and nutritious while they were fasting.

foofighter20x
08-16-2007, 07:53 PM
Why in the world would you need to know the shelf life of beer?

Because he's stocking up for Armageddon... You know, just in case. ;) :D

B964
08-16-2007, 07:57 PM
Sorry, I am going to climb into my pj's, go down into my bomb shelter and not come out untill Paul wins , or 5:00 am.

aravoth
08-16-2007, 08:46 PM
Brew your own beer. Start now. I do.

Original_Intent
08-16-2007, 08:49 PM
Twinkies?

Like cockroaches, are completely indestructible.

PennCustom4RP
08-16-2007, 08:52 PM
Why in the world would you need to know the shelf life of beer?

What I think this poster meant was, why worry about the shelf life of beer, this will be the 1st thing consumed:D
After that, I'm with Aravoth, will be making my own, or some kinda hooch.

Syren123
08-17-2007, 01:05 AM
Twinkies?

The beauty of the Twinkie is it's UNLIMITED shelf life! You can find a Twinkie, still sealed in its package, in the glovebox of your parents' 1971 VW bug and it's still as fresh as the day in 5th grade you put it in there!