Your pantry clean out might turn up a few surprises.
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If youre notregularly cleaning out your pantry, its time to change all that.
It turns out they might have reached their deadline long ago.
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For these and all the pantry rules you never knew you needed, read on.
Spices
Expiration dates matter for spices, too.
But they wont go bad necessarily.
Instead, youll see diminished flavor and aroma when extended beyond the recommended shelf life.
Whole spices will hold onto their flavor and aroma for about two to four years, according toUSDA.
The range for ground spices is slightly shorter at two to three years.
Nuts
Nuts should be consumed anywhere from two weeks to four months of purchase, according toFoodSafety.gov.
If you purchased grits 12 months ago or longer, its time to toss them.
Instead, make a run at use canned tomatoes 12 to 18 months from the date of purchase.
According to FoodSafety.org, whole grain oats should be consumed within four months of purchase.
