Shelf Life & Best-By Date Calculator
Figure out what best-by date to put on your cottage food labels. Select your product type, storage conditions, and packaging, and this tool will suggest a shelf life range and calculate a best-by date from your made-on date.
Recommended shelf life
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Suggested best-by date
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Best by: —
Disclaimer: Shelf life estimates are general guidelines, not a food safety guarantee. Always follow safe food handling practices and your state's cottage food labeling regulations.
Moisture content, fat type, and frosting all change how long a baked good stays safe and fresh. Cream cheese frosting and other dairy-based fillings require refrigeration because they support bacterial growth at room temperature. Airtight packaging slows staling and moisture loss, while vacuum sealing extends shelf life further by limiting oxygen exposure. Freezing pauses most spoilage processes, which is why frozen shelf life estimates are much longer than room-temperature ones.
Need the rest of your label too?
Quickly Cottage handles your full compliant label — ingredients, allergens, net weight, and your state's required disclosures — not just the best-by date.
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