What opening costs

• Nutrition supplement drinks912 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 days open in the fridge)
• Gravy, jars and cans912 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 days open in the fridge)
• Red wine608 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry against at best 3 days open in the fridge)
• Meat products, canned456 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 4 days open in the fridge)
• Coconut cream, canned456 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 4 days open in the fridge)
• Canned chicken456 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 4 days open in the fridge)
• Anchovies, canned456 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry against at best 4 days open in the fridge)
• Refried beans365 times shorter once open(at best 3 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 days open in the fridge)
• White wine243 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry against at best 3 days open in the fridge)
• Seafood, canned182 times shorter once open(at best 1 year in the pantry against at best 2 days open in the fridge)
• Coconut water180 times shorter once open(at best 12 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 days open in the fridge)
• Tomato paste162 times shorter once open(at best 27 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 5 days open in the fridge)
• Thai red curry paste146 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 5 days open in the fridge)
• Spaghetti sauce, in jars135 times shorter once open(at best 18 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 4 days open in the fridge)
• Pesto, jarred60 times shorter once open(at best 6 months in the fridge from purchase against at best 3 days open in the fridge)
• Applesauce54 times shorter once open(at best 18 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 10 days open in the fridge)
• Nacho cheese, store bought52 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 weeks open in the fridge)
• Cranberry sauce52 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 weeks open in the fridge)
• Olives39 times shorter once open(at best 18 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 weeks open in the fridge)
• Soy sauce or teriyaki sauce36 times shorter once open(at best 3 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 1 month open in the fridge)
• Toaster pastries26 times shorter once open(at best 12 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 weeks open in the pantry)
• Coffee24 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 1 month open in the fridge)
• Powdered milk20 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry against at best 3 months open in the pantry)
• Tahini17 times shorter once open(at best 1 year in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 weeks open in the fridge)
• Vegan Cheddar Cheese17 times shorter once open(at best 4 months in the fridge from purchase against at best 7 days open in the fridge)
• Frosting or icing17 times shorter once open(at best 12 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 weeks open in the fridge)
• Caviar, fresh, in jar14 times shorter once open(at best 4 weeks in the fridge from purchase against at best 2 days open in the fridge)
• Pretzels13 times shorter once open(at best 9 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 weeks open in the pantry)
• Hummus13 times shorter once open(at best 3 months in the fridge from purchase against at best 7 days open in the fridge)
• Salsa12 times shorter once open(at best 1 year in the pantry from purchase against at best 1 month open in the fridge)
• Marshmallows12 times shorter once open(at best 1 year in the pantry from purchase against at best 1 month open in the pantry)
• Dry egg noodles12 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 months open in the pantry)
• Lime juice9 times shorter once open(at best 18 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 months open in the fridge)
• Lemon juice9 times shorter once open(at best 18 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 months open in the fridge)
• Peanut butter8 times shorter once open(at best 24 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 months open in the pantry)
• Diet powder mixes and drink mixes8 times shorter once open(at best 24 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 months open in the pantry)
• Salad dressing6.4 times shorter once open(at best 6 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 4 weeks open in the fridge)
• Cheese6.4 times shorter once open(at best 6 months in the fridge from purchase against at best 4 weeks open in the fridge)
• Yeast, packaged6.1 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 4 months open in the fridge)
• Textured soy protein (TSP)6.1 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 4 months open in the pantry)
• Chutney6.1 times shorter once open(at best 1 year in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 months open in the fridge)
• Baking soda6.1 times shorter once open(at best 3 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 6 months open in the pantry)
• Marshmallow crème5 times shorter once open(at best 5 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 1 month open in the pantry)
• Potato chips4.3 times shorter once open(at best 2 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 weeks open in the pantry)
• Sesame oil4 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 6 months open in the pantry)
• Pickles4 times shorter once open(at best 1 year in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 months open in the fridge)
• Molasses4 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 6 months open in the pantry)
• Chocolate syrup4 times shorter once open(at best 2 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 6 months open in the fridge)
• Salad dressings, commercial, bottled4 times shorter once open(at best 12 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 months open in the fridge)
• Jerky4 times shorter once open(at best 12 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 months open in the fridge)
• Cereal4 times shorter once open(at best 12 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 3 months open in the pantry)
• Black bean sauce4 times shorter once open(at best 24 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 6 months open in the fridge)
• Melons3.5 times shorter once open(at best 2 weeks in the fridge from purchase against at best 4 days open in the fridge)
• Kefir, fermented milk3.5 times shorter once open(at best 1 week in the fridge from purchase against at best 2 days open in the fridge)
• Balsamic vinegar3.4 times shorter once open(at best 5 years in the pantry from purchase against at best 18 months open in the fridge)
• Barbecue sauce3 times shorter once open(at best 1 year in the pantry from purchase against at best 4 months open in the fridge)
• Yuzu juice3 times shorter once open(at best 12 months in the fridge from purchase against at best 4 months open in the fridge)
• Tea3 times shorter once open(at best 36 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 12 months open in the pantry)
• Mayonnaise, commercial3 times shorter once open(at best 6 months in the pantry from purchase against at best 2 months open in the fridge)
• Horseradish, in jar3 times shorter once open(at best 12 months in the fridge from purchase against at best 4 months open in the fridge)

How this list is built

These 60 foods lose the most when the seal is broken. Each figure is the life before opening divided by the life after opening, a comparison the FoodKeeper data supports but never makes.

KeepsUntil is an independent reference built on public USDA data. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration. Storage times are reproduced from USDA FoodKeeper as published; when in doubt, follow the FDA and USDA FSIS guidance linked on every food page.