Shelf life of molasses: storage times from NDSU Extension

Pantry staples lose quality over time. Storage times help decide how much to buy and when to replace it.

North Dakota State University Extension publishes a food storage chart for staples. The chart lists a time for unopened and opened packs.

Unopened molasses keeps 1 to 2 years and opened molasses keeps 6 months. The sheet advises to keep it tightly covered, and says refrigerating extends storage life.

Limits of this figure

The chart says foods stored longer than the recommended time may change in quality, colour and flavour.

Source

North Dakota State University Extension, Food Storage Guide (FN579, reviewed January 2023). Address: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/food-storage-guide-answers-question. Checked 17 October 2026.