Buying Food in Bulk - How Long Will It Last? 

Donna L Montaldo at http://couponing.about.com/cs/grocerysavings/a/buyinginbulk.htm

1) Will you have adequate storage space to put everything you are buying?

2) Do you have a freezer large enough to store bulk food items?

3) How much will your family enjoy the products you are buying?

Recipe planning is a good strategy to use when buying food in bulk. By knowing what you have, how much you have & when you plan on cooking it will help deter the problem of food going bad before you have a chance to eat it.

MEAT & POULTRY- UNCOOKED

* Chicken & turkey - 9 mo.
* Steaks, beef - 6-12 mo.
* Chops, pork - 4-6 mos.
* Chops, lamb - 6-9 mos.
* Roasts, beef - 6-12 mos.
* Roasts, lamb - 6-9 mos.
* Roasts, pork and veal - 4-6 mos.
* Stew Meats - 3-4 mos.
* Ground meats - 3-4 mos.
* Organ meats - 3-4 mos.

DAIRY PRODUCTS:  

* Butter/margarine - 6-9 mos.
* Cheese, soft & spreads, dips -1 mo.
* Cheese, hard or semi-hard - 6 mos.
* Eggs in shell- Do not freeze
* Ice cream - 1 mo.
* Milk / Cream - 3 wks.

DRIED FOOD ITEMS -SHELF LIFE

* Baking powder/soda - 18 mos.
* Bread Crumbs - 6 mos.
* Cereals - 6 mos.
* Coffee creamer, dry - 6 mos.
* Flour/cake mixes - 1 yr.
* Gelatin/pudding mixes - 1 yr.
* Herbs/spices - 6-12 mos.
* Milk, nonfat dry - 6 mos.
* Pancake/pie crust mixes - 6 mos.
* Pasta/noodles - 2 yrs.
* Potatoes, instant - 18 mos.
* Rice, white - 2 yrs.
* Sugar, granulated - 2 yrs.
* Sugar, brown, confectioners'- 4 mos.

FRUITS & VEGETABLES

Commercially frozen fruits will last up to a year in your freezer. Commercially frozen vegetables have a life-span of only 8 MOS. Another option for storing these items for long periods is canning them. If you plan to buy these items in bulk, on a regular basis, it would be a good investment to consider purchasing a canning machine to insure the food is kept air-tight.

BEANS: Dried beans kept free from moisture can last for several years. This is an excellent way to stretch your money, plus beans are full of protein for healthy eating.
DRINKS: Most juices that you buy, such as apple juice, can last 3-5 years un-opened. If you are unsure of how long your juice will last, contact the mfgr. consumer phone number.

OPTIONAL ITEMS:
* Chocolate - unsweetened 18 mos.
* Coffee, vacuum pack - 1 yr.
* Milk, canned - 1 yr.
* Molasses - 2 yrs.
* Nuts - 8 mos.
* Oils/salad dressings - 3 mos.
* Peanut butter (unopened) - 6 mos.
* Sauces, condiments, relishes (unopened) - 1 yr.
* Shortening - 8 mos.
* Syrups - 1 yr.
* Tea - 18 mos.