How long does food last?

How to read this

These are estimates for unopened items in typical home storage, counted from the day you bought them. Opening something usually shortens it, which is why SeePantry recalculates the date when you mark an item opened. “Not suitable” means the location is wrong for that category rather than that it expires immediately: raw meat left on the counter is a food safety problem, not a short shelf life.

Treat these as planning figures, not a safety standard. Trust the printed date where there is one, and trust your senses over any chart.

Common questions

How long does milk last in the fridge?

Dairy keeps about two weeks refrigerated, and roughly three months frozen. On the counter it is not suitable at all. Once opened, use it sooner than the chart suggests.

Does freezing food make it last forever?

No. Freezing stops most spoilage but not quality loss, so the chart gives a window after which texture and flavour degrade even though the food remains safe. Meat and poultry sit around four months; bread about three.

Why does the same food have different times in different places?

Temperature is the main driver of spoilage, so where you keep something matters as much as what it is. That is why SeePantry asks for a storage location when you add an item, and recalculates the date if you move it.