Log what's in your fridge, freezer, and pantry with the date on the label. The list sorts by soonest date and color-codes anything past or close to its date, so you know what to use first.
This tool runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is never sent anywhere.Your input is never sent anywhere.
DetailsAdd an item
Item name
Stored in
Date type
A quality date for flavor and texture. It is not a safety date.
Date
Quantity (optional)
Notes (optional)
Items tracked
0
Past date
0
Next 3 days
0
4–7 days
0
No items yet
Add an item above, or load a few sample items to see how the list works.
Your list is saved in this browser only. It is not shared with other devices or browsers.
Know what's expiring in your fridge, freezer, and pantry
Food pushed to the back of the fridge or pantry is easy to forget, and you often find it weeks after its date. A written list takes a few seconds per item and shows what to cook or eat first.
Log each item with its name, where it is stored, and the date on the label. The list sorts by soonest date and color-codes each item: past date, next 3 days, 4 to 7 days, or 8 or more days away.
Your list is saved in your browser's local storage on this device. The tool does not send it to a server, so it is not synced to other devices.
When a food expiry list helps
After a grocery run
Log what you bought while you unpack. Later you can check what is due soon without opening the fridge.
Before you plan meals
The list already sorts by soonest date, so the first items shown are the ones to build this week's meals around.
Leftovers and opened packages
These have no new printed date. Enter a date you set yourself, such as 3 to 4 days out for cooked leftovers, and note "opened" in the notes field.
Stocking the freezer
Log meat, bread, or meals you freeze with the date you plan to use them by, so they do not sit in the freezer for months.
How to log food and see what to use first
- Enter the item name, choose where it is stored (fridge, freezer, or pantry), and pick the date type that matches the label.
- Set the date from the package. For items without a date, such as leftovers, use a quick button like +1 week.
- Add a quantity or a note if you want, for example "opened Oct 3".
- Select Add item. The list re-sorts by soonest date. Tap the check circle when you have used something up, or the trash icon to delete it.
Note: Your list is saved in this browser only and is not sent anywhere.
Before you rely on it: storage and accuracy notes
- Your list is saved in your browser's local storage, so it is not shared or synced with other devices or browsers.
- Clearing your browser's site data or cache also clears the list.
- The colors compare the date you enter with today's date on your device. They show how close a date is, not whether a food is safe to eat.
- Cooked leftovers and opened packages have no printed date. Enter a date you choose yourself, and see the storage chart below for common times.
Fridge and freezer storage times (USDA cold storage chart)
Selected foods from the USDA cold storage chart, to help you choose a date for items that have none. If a package has its own instructions, follow those.
| Food | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Eggs, raw in shell | 3 to 5 weeks | Do not freeze in shell |
| Eggs, hard-cooked | 1 week | Does not freeze well |
| Ground beef and other ground meats | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Steaks (beef, veal, lamb, pork) | 3 to 5 days | 4 to 12 months |
| Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Hot dogs, opened package | 1 week | 1 to 2 months |
| Soups and stews | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Most cooked leftovers | 3 to 4 days | — |
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Cold Food Storage Chart (foodsafety.gov). The refrigerator should be at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F or below. Food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe, so the freezer times are for quality only. For foods not listed, see the full chart at foodsafety.gov.
Best by, use by, sell by, freeze by: what each date means
U.S. date labels describe quality, with one exception. Here is how to read them.
Best if used by: a quality date
A best if used by (or best before) date tells you when a product will have its best flavor or quality. The USDA says it is not a purchase or safety date. The USDA recommends this wording on labels because it is the easiest for shoppers to understand.
Use by and sell by
A use-by date is the last date recommended for using the product at peak quality, and it is usually not a safety date. A sell-by date tells the store how long to display the product for inventory purposes. It is also not a safety date.
Freeze by
A freeze-by date shows when to freeze a product to keep its quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. If you cannot use the food by then, freeze it before the date and log the new date in the tracker.
Dates and food safety
Apart from infant formula, date labels are not safety indicators and are not required by federal law. Infant formula is the exception, because federal rules require a use-by date on it, so follow that date. A product left out for several hours may not be safe even before its date passes, so storage matters as much as the label. If you are unsure about an item, throw it out.
Common mistakes that lead to wasted food
Throwing out food that is only past its best-by date
A best-by date describes quality, so food just past it may still be fine, yet it often gets tossed on the spot.
💡 See the solution▼
Forgetting items at the back of the fridge
Items pushed behind newer groceries get missed, and you find them long after their date.
💡 See the solution▼
Buying in bulk during a sale
A big pack costs less per unit, but if you cannot use it in time, you end up throwing part of it out.
💡 See the solution▼
Not tracking opened packages and leftovers
Once you open a package or cook a meal, the printed date no longer tells you much, and there is no date at all on leftovers.
💡 See the solution▼
Assuming frozen food stays good forever
Food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe, but it can still lose texture and flavor over time, so the freezer times in the USDA chart are for quality.
💡 See the solution▼
Food date and tracker FAQ
Q.What is the difference between best by and use by?
A. A best-by (or best if used by) date shows when a product will have its best flavor or quality. A use-by date is the last day the manufacturer recommends using the product at peak quality. According to the USDA, neither is a safety date, with one exception: infant formula, where federal rules require a use-by date. Sell-by dates are for store inventory, and freeze-by dates show when to freeze a product to keep its quality.
Q.Is food safe to eat after the best-by date?
A. Often it is, if it was stored properly. The USDA says that, apart from infant formula, date labels are not safety indicators and are not required by federal law. Food can still spoil before its date if it was handled badly, for example left out for several hours. Check how the food was stored and how it looks and smells, and throw it out if you are unsure.
Q.How long can leftovers stay in the fridge?
A. The USDA says to use most cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days. Leftovers have no printed date, so enter a date you set yourself, for example 3 or 4 days after you cooked them. The "+3 days" quick button does this in one tap.
Q.Where is my list saved, and can I use it on my phone and laptop?
A. Your list is saved in your browser's local storage on the device you are using, and the tool does not send it to a server. It works in the browser on a phone, tablet, or computer, but each browser keeps its own list, so a list on your phone does not show up on your laptop. Clearing your browser's site data also clears the list.
Q.Do I need to track frozen food?
A. It helps. The USDA says food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe, and the recommended freezer times are for quality only. Logging the date you froze something, or the date you want to use it by, helps you eat it before the texture and flavor decline.
Q.How does the tracker color-code my items?
A. The tracker compares each item's date with today's date on your device. Red means the date has passed, orange means 0 to 3 days left, amber means 4 to 7 days left, and green means 8 or more days left. The list always sorts by soonest date, and you can filter by location or by these four groups.
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