Items you store in the pantry can go bad sooner than you think.

There are the best pantry items to refrigerate to extend shelf-life.

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registered dietitian based in Westchester County, New York

So its important to knowhow to tell when foods gone offsincebest-buy datesarent necessarily the most-accurate indicator.

(Shocker, we know.)

14 best pantry items to refrigerate

1.

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So, use balsamic vinegar as a staple salad dressing and for drizzling over burrata and toast at home.

Nothing can live in that highly acidic environment.

Learn more about apples and other fiber-rich foods:

5.

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Lemons

Lemons are usually sold unrefrigerated, but dont let this fool you.

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6.

(FYI: Storing it in the freezer bumps it to six months after opening.)

Cropped shot of young woman shopping in the dairy section of a supermarket. She is reading the nutrition label on a container of fresh organic healthy natural yoghurt

registered dietitian based in Westchester County, New York

That timeline extends to a full year in the freezer.

Seeds

Much like with nuts, seeds have a similar shelf life.

will last longer in the fridge, says Schapiro.

Two cups with coffee and green tea on a beige background.

Whats more, refrigerating flour protects it from pesky invaders in search of a nibble.

Learn what a dietitian thinks about peanut butter:

13.

Ketchup

Opened, unrefrigerated ketchup will only last up to one month.

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If left in the fridge, however, ketchup can last up to six months, says Schapiro.

She recommends storing it in an airtight container inside a ziplock bag.

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