Supplies
Expiration dates
Record when supplies expire so nothing goes bad on the shelf.
Last updated July 4, 2026
Supplies only count if they're still good when you need them. Adding expiration dates takes a few seconds per item and keeps your whole inventory honest.
Add an expiration date
Every item has an optional Expiration Date field. Fill it in when you add the item (it's printed on most packaging), or open an existing item and add it later. Copy the date straight from the can, bottle, or box.
Where expiration shows up
- In your Supplies tables. Add the expiration column with the Columns button and sort by it to see what's aging out first.
- In your printed Emergency Plan. The PDF export flags anything that's expired or expiring in the next 60 days, so a stale go-bag never surprises you. See Export your Emergency Plan.
Tip
Do a quick expiration pass twice a year. A good rhythm: when the clocks change, sort each category by expiration date, eat or replace what's close, and update the dates on anything you rotated.
"Best by" versus unsafe
Most shelf-stable food is still safe past its printed date; quality fades before safety does. Canned goods and freeze-dried food in particular often outlast their labels by years when stored cool and dry. Use the printed date as your tracking baseline, and use your judgment (and your nose) on the shelf.
Heads up
Medications are the exception. Treat expiration dates on medicine, infant formula, and anything medical as real deadlines.