MyListResortHow long do dates last?
The estimated quality window for dates is about 12 months in the fridge.
| Pantry | 2 months |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 12 months |
| Frozen | 1 to 2 years |
Storage tips
- Keep dates refrigerated and sealed to hit the window above.
- Frozen, dates keep about 1 to 2 years, well past the window above.
- Keep it in the crisper drawer, and do not wash it until you use it. Surface water is what turns leaves and berries slimy days early.
- Store fruit and vegetables that give off ethylene, such as apples and bananas, away from those sensitive to it, such as leafy greens and broccoli.
How can you tell if dates have gone bad?
- Sliminess or a mushy, breaking-down texture.
- Mold, or an off smell that was not there when you bought it.
More on produce shelf life and storage.
Common questions
How long do dates last in the fridge?
The estimated quality window for dates is about 12 months in the fridge. The USDA FoodKeeper lists no separate after-opening window for them, so treat this as the storage life and follow the label and official guidance.
How else can you store dates?
Estimated quality windows are about 2 months in the pantry, about 12 months refrigerated, about 1 to 2 years frozen. Storage and handling can shorten them, so follow the label and official guidance.
Track it in your list
The average American family of four throws away about $1,500 of food a year, per the EPA, and most of it is opened items nobody remembered.
Add dates to a MyListResort grocery list and set your own reminder for the window above, free. Or scan its barcode to add it without typing.
Track this for free← All foodsSee how freshness tracking works, read the guide to tracking once-opened food, or see what a shared grocery list does for a household.
Shelf-life windows come from the USDA FoodKeeper, published by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (public domain); we vendor the FSIS FoodKeeper dataset and refresh it in place. These are quality estimates, not food-safety determinations or guarantees: actual condition depends on storage and handling, and harmful bacteria may not have obvious signs. Follow package and official guidance; when in doubt, throw it out. See our food safety notice and terms.