Today for Stockpiling Saturday we are talking about Staples Shelf Life. Many people do not know shelf lives of their stockpile items. I was one of those people. I have used information I have found through the USDA and by the University of Missouri Extension Service. The best way to keep up with shelf lives is to pay attention to expiration dates. Expiration dates are not always easy to read! When I have an item I can not read I use my list to judge. I write the date on the box. I also write the date on every Ziploc bag that goes in my freezer! This helps so you do not waste your money!
Staples – Shelf Life
Baking powder – 18 months or date on package
Baking Soda – 2 Years
Bouillon Cubes – 2 years
Cereal Unopened – 6-8 months
Cereal Opened – 2-3 months
Hot Cereal – 6 months
Chocolate – 18 months
Chocolate Syrup unopened – 2 years
Chocolate Syrup opened – 6 months (refrigerate after opening)
Coffee: Coffee can be frozen, which extends shelf life!
Cans, unopened – 2 years
Cans, opened -2 weeks (my husband would beg to differ)
Instant, unopened – 1-2 years
Instant, opened – 2 months
Flour
White – 6-8 months
Whole wheat – 6-8 months
Gelatin – 18 months
Honey – 12 months (If it crystallizes, warm open jar in hot water)
Jelly or Jam – 12 months
Syrup unopened – 12 months – 6 months opened
Stockpiling 101 Series:
How to use the freezer to stockpile
As stay-at-home moms for eight years, Melissa and Shelley know what it takes to live a savvy lifestyle within a budget. Their passion for helping people has expanded their reach from Stockpiling Moms.com to also including speaking engagements, book authors (Savvy Saving Couponing Secrets from the Stockpiling Moms) and conference co-hosts. Melissa and Shelley are best friends who met through 
For serious stockpiling LDS.org has food storage info under Provident Living by the original stockpilers
Very good information here, thank you!!!