ShelfLife
Rice, grains, beans and pasta: storage times
Tap a food for how to store it, how to tell it has gone bad and whether it freezes well.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast cereal | — | — | 6–12 monthsfrom purchaseOpened: 2–3 months |
| Cereal and granola bars | — | — | 6–12 months |
| Cooked rice | 4–6 days | 6 months | — |
| Uncooked white or wild rice | —Opened: 6 months | — | 2 yearsfrom purchaseOpened: 1 year |
| Uncooked brown rice | —Opened: 6 months | — | 1 yearfrom purchaseOpened: 1 year |
| Dried beans | — | — | 1–2 yearsfrom purchaseOpened: 1 year |
| Dried lentils | — | — | 1 yearfrom purchaseOpened: 1 year |
| Oatmeal and rolled oats | — | — | 12 monthsfrom purchaseOpened: 6–12 months |
| Whole grain oats (groats) | — | 8 months | 4 months |
| Cooked pasta | 3–5 days | 1–2 months | — |
| Fresh pasta, homemade or loose | 1–2 days | 2 months | — |
| Dry pasta (without egg) | — | — | 2 yearsfrom purchaseOpened: 1 year |
| Uncooked quinoa | — | — | 2–3 yearsfrom purchase |
| Cooked quinoa | 6–7 days | 6–12 months | — |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
- CerealPantry: 6–12 months
- Cooked riceFridge: 4–6 days
- Dried beansPantry: 1–2 years
- OatsPantry: 12 months
- PastaFridge: 3–5 days
- QuinoaPantry: 2–3 years
Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.