There are a few factors that determine how long food will last after it is opened. They include the following:

• The quality of the food at the time it is opened
• The degree to which food is exposed to oxygen and moisture
• The degree to which food is exposed to heat and light

The quality of the food at the time it is opened:

The older food storage gets and the more it is subjected to fluctuating temperatures, meaning below freezing and above 80 degrees, the more deterioration has probably occurred to the food inside the container.

The degree to which food is exposed
to oxygen and moisture:

The moment the container is opened, the food is exposed to air. Air contains both oxygen and moisture. Many organisms require oxygen to survive. The higher the humidity (moisture content) of the air, the faster the product quality (nutrition and taste) deteriorates.

As a general rule, food stored in a #10 can or a bucket, depending on the above factors, may stay good up to one year after opening. Use your best judgment in deciding which food items to use. One way to determine if food is still of acceptable quality is to verify that it smells normal. Another way is to taste it or cook with it. If the quality of the finished product is satisfactory, continue to use it. Although food will lose nutritive value over time, old food retains some caloric and mineral value. It may have some life sustaining ability remaining. The information above are general guidelines intended to help make an educated decision. Each situation is unique due to many contributing factors.