Food Shelf Life Guide
Look up how long common foods last in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer. Based on food safety guidelines from the USDA and EFSA.
General shelf life reference
| Food | Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (raw in shell) | - | 3-5 weeks | 1 year (out of shell) |
| Cooked chicken | - | 3-4 days | 2-6 months |
| Raw ground beef | - | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Hard cheese (opened) | - | 3-4 weeks | 6 months |
| Milk (opened) | - | 5-7 days | 3 months |
| Canned goods (opened) | - | 3-4 days | 2 months |
| Dry pasta | 2 years | - | - |
| White rice | 4-5 years | - | - |
Sell-by vs. use-by vs. best before
- Sell-by: for retailer inventory management; food is safe to eat after this date
- Use-by: safety date; do not eat after this date for perishables
- Best before: quality date; food is safe but may have degraded in taste/texture
When in doubt: if it smells, looks, or tastes off, discard it, regardless of the date on the package.
UK labelling: Use By vs Best Before, a legally important difference
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) draws a clear and legally binding distinction between two types of date marks:
- Use By, a safety date. It is illegal to sell food past its Use By date in the UK. Do not eat food after this date even if it looks and smells fine, dangerous bacteria may be present at levels that cannot be detected by sight or smell (e.g. Listeria in soft cheese). This label applies to: fresh meat, fish, soft cheese, ready meals, chilled dips.
- Best Before, a quality date. Food is safe to eat after this date but may have deteriorated in taste, texture, or nutritional value. This applies to: dry pasta, rice, canned goods, frozen food, biscuits, bread. Retailers can legally sell food past its Best Before date (at a reduced price or donated to food banks).
Why the US "Sell By" system causes unnecessary waste
Unlike the EU and UK, the United States has no federal regulation governing date labelling on food beyond infant formula. Each US state has its own rules (or none), and the terms "Sell By", "Best By", "Best If Used By", "Expires On" are used inconsistently across manufacturers. A 2013 NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) report estimated that US consumers discard around USD 165 billion of food annually, partly due to confusion about these non-standardised labels. The FDA has been working to standardise "Best If Used By" as the universal quality label, but as of 2025 the system remains fragmented. In practice: a "Sell By" date is set for the retailer's inventory management, the food typically remains safe to eat for several days to a week after the Sell By date if properly stored.
UK-specific food safety notes
- Eggs: UK Lion Code eggs have a Best Before of 28 days from laying. The FSA advises eating them by the Best Before date. After that, the egg may still be safe if fully cooked (hard-boiled or scrambled), but not raw.
- Raw milk: Legal to sell in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (not Scotland). Has a very short shelf life (2-3 days) and carries listeria and E. coli risks. Labelled with an explicit health warning.
- Bagged salad: One of the most frequently implicated foods in UK foodborne illness outbreaks, Use By dates are strict and should be followed.
Sources: UK Food Standards Agency, EFSA, NRDC 2013 "The Dating Game". This tool provides general food safety guidance only.