Salt (table, plain, or iodized) keeps about Indefinitely in the pantry.
No measured window to draw — Salt (table, plain, or iodized) is published as “Indefinitely”, not as a number of days.
| Situation | Keeps for |
|---|---|
| Unopened · pantry | Indefinitely |
Air and warmth are what shorten an opened item's life — the right container buys back the days the packaging gives up once the seal's broken.
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About Indefinitely, according to USDA FoodKeeper v128, stored as follows: cool, dry pantry away from heat and light.
Salt (table, plain, or iodized) is shelf-stable at room temperature: cool, dry pantry away from heat and light. Refrigerating it mainly preserves quality rather than safety.
Look for: A rancid, paint-like, or musty smell; Bulging, leaking, deeply dented, or rusted cans; Insects or webbing in dry goods; Mould or discoloration. Those are the general signs for pantry staples — USDA FoodKeeper v128 publishes no spoilage note for Salt (table, plain, or iodized) specifically. Never taste something to test it — when in doubt, throw it out.