13 pantry items you’re probably keeping for too long

The shelf life of whole grains, especially quinoa and farro is largely dependent on their fat content. Heat, air and moisture are the top three enemies of whole grains because the elements can negatively affect their healthy oils, which in turn can cause the grains sitting in your pantry to go rancid. “Grains should always look and smell faintly sweet or have no aroma at all,” states the US Whole Grains Council. “If you detect a musty or oily scent, the grains are passed their peak.”

Spices such as turmeric, paprika and nutmeg generally lose their potency after about two to three years. Eating old spices isn’t harmful to your health, but they won’t add any flavour to your recipes. Do a quick sniff and taste test to determine if your spice is still fresh.

You’ll want to eat un-shelled nuts like almonds and peanuts within a matter of a few weeks to a few months. “Nuts and seeds typically have a high amount of oil in them and that oil will start to go rancid after a couple of months in your pantry,” chef Tryg Siverson told INSIDER. Signs of rancidity on a nut or seed include a grassy or paint-like odour and dark or oily appearance. For optimal freshness and longevity, place nuts and seeds in your fridge where they’ll last up to a year.

Nuts are a healthy high-fat food. Here are another 10 healthy fat foods that you should be eating.

After three months, an opened box of cereal will go stale from air exposure, but a sealed box should last up to a year. Then again, the shelf life can vary, especially if a cereal contains nuts, which are more prone to rancidity. “That said, if you eat cereal with rancid nuts or oils, you’re at very little risk,” Jennifer Kaplan told TODAY Food. “The most common side effect will be an unpleasant taste.”

Storing beer at room temperature isn’t necessarily bad for your beer, but it can spoil it faster. After around four months, heat, light and air can seep through the bottle caps.  According to Cicerone Certification Program, an education service for beer experts, “Non-refrigerated storage accelerates ageing and development of off flavours. Refrigerated storage is best for all beers at all times.”

Your tea bags should be consumed within a year because the oils in the tea will go old and give your morning cup of tea a bad flavour. The same goes for your coffee beans and ground coffee. According to dietitian Isabel Maples, it is best to consume beans and grounds within two to four weeks. Instant coffee lovers have a bit more time: about two months.

An opened bag of raw sugar tends to dry up and harden from exposure to the air after four months in your pantry. Pour the sugar into an airtight container to keep it soft and make it last longer.

You may think that canned veggies can last a lifetime, but the longer they sit on your shelf, the more likely the can’s texture can break down and give your vegetables a metallic, tinny taste. For example, canned goods with a high acid content like pickles can last for 12 to 18 months, but canned vegetables with a low acid content like corn can last up to five years. But FoodSafety.gov states that canned items are typically safe to eat well past their ‘use-by’ or ‘best-by’ dates as long as they don’t have any dents, rust or bulging. “Use a first-in, first-out rotation to use up older pantry items first,” Maples told INSIDER.

Light and heat are not olive oil’s friends. To ensure you’re buying quality extra virgin olive oil, always choose oil that comes in a tinted glass bottle. You shouldn’t get sick from old olive oil, but an opened bottle of the stuff can taste a bit off after six months. If you don’t use olive oil often, only buy a small bottle so you can use it before the flavour spoils.

Now discover 21 amazing health and beauty benefits of olive oil.

Although most people store their flour in the pantry, to prevent weevils taste.com.au advises to transfer new flour from the packaging into an airtight container and clearly label with the expiry date before storing in a cool, dark place like your kitchen cupboard or pantry. However, as whole grain flours turn rancid before white flour, place it in an airtight container and store in the fridge or freezer. Whole grain flour lasts up to eight months in the fridge and up to a year in the freezer. “Whole grain flours turn rancid before white flour does,” Maples said. “It doesn’t affect food safety but does affect food quality and taste.”