How long do granola bars last?

FoodKeeper gives granola bars 6 to 12 months unopened, as a guide to quality. Once opened, it has no figure in FoodKeeper.

How to store it

Keep the box somewhere cool. Chocolate-coated bars melt in a warm car or a sunny pantry.

Keep it cool and dry. USDA says temperatures below 85°F are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the stove, under the sink, or in a damp garage or basement. Reseal opened packs, or decant them into something airtight.

What to look for

Oils in nuts and oats can go rancid, so a stale or bitter taste means they're past it. Throw out anything with mold or insects.

USDA says spoiled food develops an off odor, flavor or texture, and that if it has, you shouldn't eat it.

Worth knowing

Bars are wrapped one at a time, so an opened box doesn't matter much. FoodKeeper gives no opened figure.

Similar foods

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper doesn't tie this figure to the date of purchase, so count it from the day you bought the food, which is the cautious reading. Opened times start when you open the pack.

Where FoodKeeper gives no figure, we say so instead of guessing. The date printed on a package is the manufacturer's, and it's about quality except on infant formula.

Common questions

How long do granola bars last unopened?

6 to 12 months, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper doesn't tie this figure to the date of purchase, so count it from the day you bought the food, which is the cautious reading.

How long do granola bars keep once opened?

FoodKeeper gives no figure for an opened pack in the pantry. FoodKeeper gives no refrigerator figure.

Do granola bars go bad after the date on the package?

USDA says dates are about quality, except on infant formula. A product should still be safe if handled properly until spoilage shows, so check for an off smell, taste or texture.

What should I look for before using granola bars?