Studies show that families in the US throw away 25-30% of the food they buy every year. Of that, most of it is still edible! I want to give you some info that will help you understand package information, as well as storage guidelines for different foods. This will help you as you shop. While one of the goals of couponing is stocking up on something while it is at a rock-bottom price, you will waste your money if you buy more than you need and let it go to waste.

Many people look at a date on their products and toss it if it seems to be getting close (or just past) that date- and this is one of the biggest ways that people waste food. Much of what you toss is still safe and perfectly good to eat. Read up on the differences in these terms to help you understand when something needs to be tossed and when something is still good.

Use By (Or Best if Used By):
This means that the product will retain maxiumum freshness up until the date shown. After that, it will begin to slowly lose freshness and quality, but is still edible- and safe to eat.

Expiration Date:
This one is pretty clear- the food, once it reaches its expiration date, is no longer safe to eat and should be thrown out.

Sell By:
Manufacturers put these dates on products to tell stores when to pull the products because the quality will start to deteriorate. This does not mean that the product is no longer good- it is mostly the manufacturers covering themselves to make sure that you are receiving their best quality. Most of the stuff you find "marked down" or "clearanced out" is perfectly safe to consume. For example, milk is good for about 7 days past its sell-by date.

All of the terms refer to unopened packages. Once opened, items lose freshness and quality more quickly. Refrigeration will help in many cases to extend the life of your food.

-Write the date of purchase and/or when you open an item so that you won't have to guess at an item's age.
-Cans can be stored up to a year in a dark, cool pantry. If any can is dented or bulging, toss it- this often means that it has air in it, and if there is air, the food will spoil.
-Jarred items will keep even longer, but keep them out of the light (light can speed up natural chemical reactions).
-If your product is torn, leaking, or in any way compromised, don't buy it.
-To see food storage guideline for pantry items, including opened and unopened packages, go here.

There are many items that can be frozen that you wouldn't even think about. Freezing an item will halt the processes that spoli food, making it last longer. This can greatly increase the items you can stockpile that you never would have even considered!

-Milk: Milk can be frozen for up to a month, longer in a deep freezer. Keep in mind that milk will expand when frozen, and will turn kind of a yellow color. It is perfectly fine to use- we buy milk all the time when it goes on sale and freeze it, and my kids never complain. :)
-Margarine: Can be frozen for up to 12 months. Wrap well.
-Butter: Can be frozen for 6-9 months. Wrap well.
-Hard cheeses: Can be frozen for 6 months. Thaw in the refrigerator. Great for shredded cheese- blocks will crumble when you try to slice.
-Yogurt: Can be frozen for 1-2 months. The texture will change some.
-Ready-to-bake pie crust: 2 months.
-Cookie dough: 2 months.
-Bread: 3 months. Wrap well.
-Bread Dough: 1-2 months
-Muffins and quick breads: 1-2 months. Wrap well.
-Tortillas: 3 months. Wrap well.
-Angel Food and sponge cakes: 4-6 months.
-Layer cakes: 2-4 months. Buttercream freezes better than icing w/ eggs.
-Fruit pies (baked): 1 year. Wrap well, thaw in fridge. Bake at 375 for 15 mins.
-Egg whites: 1 year. Freeze in ice cube trays, then remove to plastic bags.
-Melons: 8-12 months. Wrap well.
-Hot dogs: 1-2 months.
-Lunch Meat: 1-2 months.
-Chili: 4-6 months.
-Broth-based soups: 4 months.
-Stock: 4-6 months. Freeze in 1-cup increments.
-Cooked meat: 3 months.
-Cooked chicken pieces: 4 months.
-Crackers: 3 months. Wrap well.
-Flour: 1 year.
-Nuts: 2 years.
-Tomatoes: 3-4 months. Use for cooking.

One thing that I am always wondering (and so I assume you are as well!) is how long you can keep meat. So, I figured I'd look it up and share it with all of you.

Ham:
-fully cooked, whole: Refrigerate for 7 days, 1 month in the freezer.
-fully cooked, half: Fridge for 3-5 days, 1-2 months in freezer
-fully cooked, slices: Fridge for 3-4 days, 1-2 months in freezer

Ground meats: 1-2 days in the fridge, 3-4 month in the freezer (remove from store packaging and store in freezer bags)

Beef, Veal, Pork, Lamb:
-Steak: 3-5 days in fridge, 6-12 months in the freezer
-Chops: 3-5 days in fridge, 4-6 months in freezer
-Roasts: 3-5 days in fridge, 4-6 months in freezer

Poultry (raw):
-Whole: 1-2 days in fridge, 1 year in freezer (keep in original packaging)
-Chicken or turkey pieces: 1-2 days in fridge, 9 months in freezer (wrap well)

Remember: Let your nose be the judge. If it smells rancid, throw it out.