About BestByDates

BestByDates is the most comprehensive food shelf life database — designed to answer one question instantly: how long does this food last?

Our sources

• USDA FoodKeeper App — the United States Department of Agriculture's authoritative shelf life database
• FDA Food Storage Guidelines
• FoodSafety.gov
• USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

Why we built this

Existing food shelf life resources are scattered across dated websites, government PDFs, and inconsistent blog posts. BestByDates brings the canonical data into one fast, searchable database.

Important note

The times we list are best quality periods, not absolute safety limits. Many foods are still safe past these times if stored properly. When in doubt — smell, look, and trust your senses. If something seems off, throw it out.