Topic
Storage and shelf life
Storage times are about quality as much as safety. USDA FSIS and NCHFP publish guidance for frozen, canned and dried food; freeze dried shelf life numbers come from makers.
- Home canned (NCHFP)
- best quality within 1 year
- Frozen at 0 F (FSIS)
- safe indefinitely, quality fades
Food kept constantly at 0 F stays safe indefinitely according to USDA FSIS; the published freezer times are for best quality. Vacuum sealing helps hold that quality by limiting freezer burn.
NCHFP advises using home canned food within a year for best quality, stored in a cool (50 to 70 F), dark and dry place. Remove screw bands, check seals and discard any jar with a bulging lid, leaks or spurting liquid.
Freeze dried food packed in mylar with an oxygen absorber is sold with long life claims. Those are manufacturer claims, not USDA figures. See the storage life table for each method side by side.
Common mistakes
- Storing canned jars in a hot garage or above the stove.
- Reading a maker's shelf life claim as a safety guarantee.
- Labeling bags and jars without a date.
Pages on this topic
- Vacuum sealed bags vs mylar with oxygen absorbersVacuum seal vs mylar bags: oxygen and light barrier, puncture risk, and which pairing suits freeze dried food, dry goods and freezer storage.Comparison
- Oxygen absorber size chart by containerHow many cc of oxygen absorber to use for jars, mylar bags and buckets, how to work it out from air space, and how to handle absorbers so they do not go dead.Explainer
- How to store freeze dried foodHow to store freeze dried food: mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, jars and buckets, how to seal and label them, and where to keep them so food stays dry.How-to
- How long does vacuum sealed meat last in the freezer and fridge?How long vacuum sealed meat lasts in the freezer and fridge by USDA FSIS times, and why sealing improves quality but does not replace refrigeration.Explainer
- How long does freeze dried food last?How long home freeze dried food lasts, what makers claim, why packaging matters most, and what moisture, oxygen, heat, light and fat do to quality over time.Explainer
- How long do home canned foods last?How long home canned foods last: NCHFP's one year best quality guidance, the right storage temperature, and the signs that mean a jar should be thrown out.Explainer
- Freezer burn: what causes it and how to stop itWhat freezer burn is, whether freezer burned food is safe, and how to prevent it with airtight packaging, vacuum sealing, a steady 0 F freezer and faster freezing.Fix