Pillar
How Long Does Food Actually Last?
See how long food lasts and how much food waste is really costing you each year.
Quick answer: Shelf life depends heavily on whether food is in the fridge or freezer and on the food type - a printed date label is usually about peak quality, not a safety cutoff. Use the Food Shelf Life Calculator below for realistic timeframes by food type.
Tools
Storage & Waste calculators
Food Shelf Life Calculator
Food shelf life calculator with realistic fridge and freezer times for common foods, based on USDA cold-storage guidance.
Open toolFood Waste Cost Calculator
Food waste cost calculator estimating what wasted food costs your household per year, based on EPA data - see your dollar loss and how to cut it.
Open toolFood Recall Checker
Check grocery products against FDA Enforcement Reports by product name and state. The tool shows ongoing recalls by default and can include completed or terminated records.
Open toolFreezer Inventory & Use-By Planner
Keep a private browser-based freezer list with portions and target use dates so older food gets used first.
Open toolFAQ
Storage & Waste questions, answered
How much does food waste cost the average household a year?
Household cost depends on what you buy and how much you discard. Enter your own grocery spending and estimated waste in the calculator instead of applying a national food-supply percentage directly to one household.
What are the real signs food has gone bad?
Smell, appearance, and texture cannot detect every food-safety hazard. Follow USDA or FoodSafety.gov storage windows, refrigeration guidance, recall notices, and when in doubt, throw the food out.
How long does food last in the fridge versus the freezer?
It varies widely by food type - the freezer generally extends shelf life by months, while fridge life is often measured in days. The Food Shelf Life Calculator gives realistic windows by food type.