During the holidays, many people stocked up on baking essentials, including flour, sugar and spices. According to RealSimple.com, here are storage guidelines on some baking items:
Baking mixes such as brownie and cake mixes: 1½ years.
Baking powder: 6 months (unopened), until the use-by date (open).
Baking soda: 1½ years (unopened), until the use-by date (open).
Bread crumbs: 6 months (dried), 2 months (panko).
Chocolate, for baking: 6 months.
Chocolate chips: 1 year.
Cornstarch: Indefinitely if kept in a dry place.
Corn syrup: 3 years.
Flour, white: 1 year.
Shortening: 1 year (if open, keep in a cool, dark place).
Spices: 3 years (whole, such as nutmeg and cloves), 2 years (ground).
Sugar, brown: 4 months (tightly wrapped).
Sugar, confectioners: Indefinitely if kept in a dry place (unopened); 2 years (open).
Sugar, granulated: Indefinitely.
Vanilla, pure extract: Indefinitely.
Yeast, active: Until the use-by date (unopened).
— Tara McAlister
Charlotte Observer