Crisco shelf life

[faif2d]

I really need to store more of this but have no idea how long it would be good for. I have read that the plastic buckets will not last and it is no longer available in the metal cans so about all I am left with is the 3 packs in metal foil packages. The ones that I have show a use by date of about 1 year but I think the actual time is much more. They do say to use it within 6 months after opening so the use by date sounds bogus. I have done some Google search and it appears that 2 years from manufacture is the accepted time. There are several that say for longer than that up to and including forever. I will try 3 years (in about 2 years and see what I have. The Crisco web site was written by lawyers.

[WolfBrother]

I think that Crisco goes to an off smell/taste sooner that I remember it doing about 30 years ago.

The use by date for what you have is only if the entire packaging is undamaged or unopened. Once the pack is open, then each stick is exposed to the air and will go to the off smell/taste due to oxidation.

[arbilad]

The sell by date is more of a marketing date. It frequently doesn't have much to do with when the food actually goes bad. It merely indicates when the company would like you to throw away the old stuff and buy more.
That said, my mother used to be on a prep list that has since died away. One of those people wrote to a shortening company (might have been Crisco, but I don't know) asking about if shortening went bad. A representitive wrote back saying that the shortening does not support life. They meant microbial life, mold, etc. But the point is that nothing bad will grow in the shortening. The taste may go off, but it takes a very long time to go bad.

[waif69]

30 years!?!? Wow! That is great.

[phylm]

Have stored it for years. It seems to keep indefinitely if it is kept fairly cool. l prefer to cook with vegetable oil for most things, but rancidity isn't a problem with the solid fat.

[Noahs ARK]

My Crisco in the cans (except they're made out of cardboard or something now) have lasted for years. I know I've used it when it was at least 5 years past the "sell by" or "best if used by" dates.

Once opened, I put in the frig.

[mirkwood]

I've opened old Crisco with no ill result.

The more interesting storage has been the cooking oil that I have stored. I have 5+ year old bottles we are using and they are just fine.

[Earthling]

I also have 5+ year old bottles of canola oil that are fine. I have stored them in a cool dark place. Good to know Crisco lasts that long as I got a deal on a few 3 lb cans a few years ago that I haven't touched yet.

[jennvan40]

Crisco has hydrogenated oils that are not good for you. A great substitute is coconut oil. Its good for you. Its an oil that is solid at room temperature so it stores for a long time.

[faif2d]

Thanks for all the input. I have some olive oil that is in the freezer, about 5 gal, and wanted to store some more Crisco but it will have to go on the shelf. The shelf is in an air conditioned space so it is around 75 or so year round. From all the input here I think that 5 years would not be out of line so I will buy some more.