Kick off your spring cleaning in the kitchen this year! First stop—your pantry.

Though we may not want to admit it, we are all guilty of letting things sit…and sit…and sit in our kitchen pantries. Sometimes even for YEARS!

There are some common pantry staples that expire much before most of us get around to using them. Here are the things to consider tossing when spring cleaning your pantry this season.

1. Flour

Most people have the misconception that flour lasts seemingly forever. The reality is that flour really only lasts about six months. All-purpose flour lasts six to eight months in the pantry after opening. Whole wheat flour lasts four to six months.

TIP: Flour will last up to one year if stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

2. Spices

Spices suffer from the same everlasting reputation as flour. In reality, the spices that have been sitting in the cabinet for over a year must go. Spices only last between 6-12 months. After that time, they do not provide the same flavor to dishes and should be replaced.

3. Brown Rice

While white rice can last up to five years, brown rice has a much shorter lifespan.  Get rid of any brown rice that has been sitting on the shelf for 6-8 months. 

4. Oil

It can be tempting to go for the value deal and buy the large bottle of cooking oil, but remember to think twice about how long that bottle will last and what kind of oil it is. Olive oil lasts two to three years, but other oils will last only a couple of months.

• Grapeseed oil: 3 months
• Sesame oil: 6-8 months
• Truffle oil: 4-6 months

5. Sugar

Sugar has a permanent space on most pantry shelves, but how long has the same sugar been sitting there? Sugar lasts on the shelf for 18-24 months after opening.

Check to see if any of these items need to be spring cleaned out of your pantry today!