Type the amounts per serving. Print a Nutrition Facts panel in the FDA layout.
Free tool
Shelf Life Calculator
Pick the date made and the shelf life. Get the best-by date. The table shows typical shelf lives for home-made foods. Free, no account.
Results
- Best by
- —
- Best by (ISO)
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- Shelf life
- —days
- Days from today
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How does the shelf life calculator work?
It adds the shelf life in days to the date made and shows the result as a best-by date. Pick a food from the list to fill in a typical shelf life, or type your own number.
The typical values are general guidance for home-made food stored at room temperature in an airtight container unless the note says otherwise. They are not a rule. Your recipe, your climate, and your packaging change them. Test your own product.
How long do home-made foods last? Typical shelf life table
| Food | Typical shelf life | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Cookies, crisp | 14 days | Airtight container |
| Cookies, soft | 5 days | Airtight container |
| Brownies and bars | 5 days | Airtight container |
| Cake, unfrosted | 3 days | Wrapped |
| Cake with buttercream | 3 days | Covered. Cream cheese frosting needs refrigeration |
| Cupcakes | 3 days | Covered |
| Bread, yeast | 3 days | Bagged |
| Quick bread and muffins | 3 days | Wrapped |
| Pie, fruit | 2 days | Then refrigerate up to 4 days |
| Granola | 30 days | Airtight container |
| Candy, hard | 180 days | Dry, airtight |
| Fudge | 14 days | Airtight container |
| Caramels | 30 days | Wrapped |
| Chocolate, tempered | 90 days | Cool, dry |
| Jam and jelly, sealed | 365 days | Unopened, processed in a water bath |
| Dried fruit | 180 days | Airtight |
| Roasted nuts | 30 days | Airtight |
| Dry mix in a jar | 180 days | Depends on the shortest-lived ingredient |
| Spice blend | 180 days | Airtight, away from light |
| Popcorn, popped | 7 days | Airtight |
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a best-by date?
Add the shelf life in days to the date the food was made. If cookies keep for 14 days and you baked them on the 1st, the best-by date is the 15th.
Is a best-by date required on a cottage food label?
Most states do not require one. Texas requires the date made on foods that need refrigeration and on foods sold through a cottage food vendor. Check your state page. Many makers add a best-by date anyway because buyers ask.
What is the difference between best by, use by, and sell by?
Best by is about quality. Use by is about safety and is used on perishable food. Sell by is a note to the store. For home-made shelf-stable food, best by is the right phrase.
How do I know the real shelf life of my product?
Test it. Make a batch, store it the way a customer would, and taste it every day or two. Note the day it goes stale, soft, or dry. Set your shelf life a little shorter than that.
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