When you buy new items for the pantry, use a felt tip marker to mark the tops (or fronts) of all items. The expiration date is given on lots of items and that is what I put in LARGE numbers as a felt tip label. Then it is much easier to rotate your food items.
(For items with no expiration date given, put felt tip labels on for the date purchased.)The felt tip marking only takes a few minutes and it is kind of fun to rearrange all the items.(This has greatly reduced the throw it in the pantry and never see it again syndrome.)

Keep the column and the hints coming.

David R
Sedro Woolley, WA

Baking powder: Store in airtight tins in a cool, dry place and
replace every 6 months.

Baking soda: Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place
for about 6 months.

Beans: Once a package is opened, dry beans should not be
refrigerated but stored in an airtight container in a cold, dry,
dark place. They will keep for about 1 year.

Brown Sugar: Store in a tightly covered container for up to 4
months.

Chocolate: Store chocolate for no longer than 1 year. It should
be kept in a cool, dry place with a temperature range of 60 to
75F. If the storage temperature exceeds 75F some of the cocoa
butter may separate and rise to the surface, causing a whitish
color to the chocolate called “bloom”.

Dried Fruit: Store unopened packages of dried fruit in a cool,
dry place or in the refrigerator. Store opened packages in an
airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer for 6 to 8
months.

Flour: Store in a clean, tightly covered container for up to 1
year.

Garlic: Should be stored in a dry, airy place away from light.

Granulated sugar: Should be stored in a tightly covered container
for up to two years.

Nuts: For optimum freshness and shelf life, nuts should be
stored, preferably unshelled, in a tightly covered container in
the refrigerator or freezer and shelled as needed. (the shell
and the cool temperature keep the nut from turning rancid.)

Potatoes and other root vegetables: Keep in a dark, cool place,
preferably a cellar. Store them in a dark brown paper bag.

Shredded coconut: Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight
container. Don’t store in the refrigerator.

Yeast: Store in the freezer of refrigerator in a closed plastic
bag.

Yuska

Manuela