Peanut butter is a great high-protein ingredient to add to many sweet and savory recipes, but given that it’s something you use infrequently you’re probably wondering if peanut butter goes bad.  Let’s unpack that and find out.

Quick Answer

According to the National Peanut Board, commercial peanut butter should be stored in the pantry or cupboard and should last 6-24 months if unopened or 2-3 months once opened.  After storing in the pantry, you can shift your peanut butter to the refrigerator, extending its life by an additional 3-4 months. Peanut butter is primarily made of peanuts and doesn’t like fluctuating temperatures, so the more stable the environment the longer your peanut butter will last. read more

Cooking with bacon grease can be a great way to add that smoky flavor to your savory cooking, but you’re probably wondering if bacon grease goes bad.  Let’s find out.

Quick Answer

Bacon grease, which is a byproduct of bacon, can go bad.  Stored safely, however, it should last anywhere from a month or two on your counter to six months in your refrigerator or freezer.  As long as your bacon grease smells fresh, it’s safe to eat. If it doesn’t smell fresh, it should be thrown away.

While bacon grease is great to cook with, you want to be sure it’s fresh or it will make whatever you’re cooking taste bad.  Keep reading to learn how to properly store your bacon grease. read more

Yogurt is great on its own or in baking as a replacement for sour cream, butter, or buttermilk, but since it’s a dairy product you’re probably curious to know if yogurt goes bad.  Let’s figure that out.

Quick Answer

Yogurt is a dairy product and is good for a limited amount of time.  Yogurt is marked with a “sell by” or an expiration date.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, yogurt should be eaten within a week or two of purchase and should be stored in the refrigerator. Yogurt that has passed its expiration date should be thrown away and not eaten. read more

Coffee is a popular drink for many reasons. Whether hot or cold, Coffee is a great way to start any day. It helps keep people alert and can increase awareness. Coffee beans can be conveniently stored in any container and have a long shelf life. If you have coffee beans sitting in your cabinet you may be wondering, how long do they last?

Quick Answer

An unopened container of coffee beans has a long shelf life and can last for up to 6 months in its original packaging.  Ground coffee will begin to lose its freshness after two weeks if opened. Unopened coffee beans can last up to six months in the pantry. In the fridge, it can last for up to 6 months unopened. Opened coffee beans will stay fresh for 2 weeks in the freezer. read more

Donuts are surgery treats that can be enjoyed day or night, all year round. Most people prefer their donuts in the morning, but they can be a great late-night snack as well. Have you ever opened a fresh box of donuts and asked, how long do they last.

Quick Answer

Donuts do not have a long shelf life and will keep about five days in their original packaging. Kept in the pantry, donuts can last for 3-5 days. In the fridge, donuts will stay fresh for about 5 days. Freezing donuts is best for long-term storage, and they can stay good in the freezer for 2 weeks. read more

Distilled water is great to have on hand. It is safer to drink than tap water because contaminants such as bacteria and pesticides are filtered out. Bottled water can be stored and consumed later. If you have distilled water on hand, you may wonder about its shelf life.

Quick Answer:

Unopened distilled water will last for 2 years past its expiration date and still be safe.  Unopened distilled water will last two years if stored in the pantry. Opened distilled water is good for one week in the fridge. Unopened distilled water can last 2 years in the freezer. read more

Powdered sugar is a great sweetener for any desert. It has a long shelf life and can be stored almost anywhere. The convenience of powdered sugar makes it a must-have ingredient for any cabinet. However, there are instances where your confectioners’ sugar is not safe to use. Read on to find out more.

Quick Answer

Unopened powdered sugar has a long shelf life and can last a few years past its expiration date. Once opened you can store the confectioner’s sugar in the fridge for about a week.  Freezing the sugar is fine as long as a freezer bag is used. It can stay frozen for up to 2 years. read more

Olives come either in brine or oil and the better the quality, the more expensive they are.  In addition, most recipes call for a small number of olives, so you often have leftovers. You are probably wondering how long do olives last and if they go bad. Let’s see.

Quick Answer

Olives purchased in a can or jar from the grocery store can be stored on the pantry shelf until ready to use and should be good for 18-24 months.  Once opened, olives should be refrigerated and as long as they remain covered with the liquid in the jar or brine, they should be good for up to three weeks.  Olives purchased at the deli counter at your local supermarket should be stored in the refrigerator and are good for up to three weeks. read more

With so many delicious uses, almost every kitchen keeps chicken broth on hand. Most of us will find a dusty can of it that is already past its “best by” date and wonder, does chicken broth ever really go bad?

Unopened store-bought chicken broth can stay fresh in a pantry for at least 1 year after the best-by date has passed. Store-bought and unopened, or properly frozen homemade chicken broth can technically stay safe to consume indefinitely, but it will degrade in taste over time. Opened and refrigerated, including homemade broth or leftovers, can only last for up to 5 days. read more