The Problem We’re Solving
Every year, over 1 billion tons of food are thrown away — much of it still perfectly edible. The main reason? Confusion. People don’t know how long food lasts after opening, freezing, or cooking it. Labels like “best before” and “use by” dates often cause more uncertainty than clarity.
Food Shelf Life was built to solve this problem — by providing clear, research-backed information about how to store every type of food, from milk and vegetables to leftovers and frozen meals.
How We Help You Every Day
- 🧊 Accurate shelf life times — instantly check how long food lasts in the fridge, freezer, or pantry.
- 🥗 Safe storage recommendations — know whether to refrigerate, freeze, or store at room temperature.
- 🍞 Signs of spoilage — detect when food is unsafe to eat (color, smell, texture).
- 🧠 Practical kitchen guidance — learn the science behind freshness, bacteria growth, and preservation.
- 🌍 Waste reduction & sustainability — use data to keep food fresh longer and reduce your carbon footprint.
Real-Life Examples of Usage
Our users rely on Food Shelf Life every day — from families planning weekly meals to students organizing their fridges. Here are a few examples:
- Example 1: You bought chicken on Sunday and aren’t sure if it’s still good by Wednesday. Search “chicken breast” and instantly see: “Fridge — 1–2 days. Freeze if not used.”
- Example 2: You froze homemade soup and forgot when. The app tells you: “Freezer — up to 3 months” and how to defrost it safely.
- Example 3: You’re meal prepping vegetables and need to know how long chopped onions or cooked rice last in the fridge.
Whether you’re cooking, storing, or shopping, we make food decisions faster and safer.
Our Data Sources & Accuracy
All data on Food Shelf Life comes from official, science-backed references such as:
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Verified food safety databases and international public health organizations.
Each entry is cross-checked and reviewed to ensure the highest level of accuracy and reliability.
Our Mission
We believe that food knowledge should be free and accessible. Our mission is to empower people to store food wisely, save money, and make sustainable choices — without sacrificing safety or quality.
Our Community
Thousands of people contribute to Food Shelf Life by suggesting new foods, improving descriptions, and sharing real-world insights. Together, we’re building the largest open knowledge base of food shelf life and storage data.
You can join too — by suggesting a new food or correcting a detail on any existing page. Every contribution helps make food safety knowledge more accessible for everyone.
Contact Us
Have suggestions, corrections, or collaboration ideas? We’d love to hear from you! Visit our contact page to get in touch.