Why tracking expiry dates saves real money
Households routinely throw away food simply because nobody remembered it was in the fridge until it had already gone off, and studies on household food waste consistently point to poor visibility of what's on hand as one of the leading causes. This tracker addresses that directly: every item you add is sorted automatically by how soon it expires, so the things that need eating first are always at the top of the list, not buried behind items with a longer shelf life.
Because the list is saved locally in your browser using your device's storage, it stays available between visits without needing an account or app install — add items as you shop or unpack groceries, and check back whenever you're planning a meal.
How the colour-coded status works
Items are marked in red once they have two days or fewer left, amber between three and six days, and green for anything with a week or more of shelf life remaining, giving an at-a-glance sense of what's becoming urgent without reading every date individually. Items already past their expiry date are clearly marked 'Expired' so they can be checked and discarded safely.
This kind of simple visual urgency system mirrors what many professional kitchens use for stock rotation — first in, first out — applied to a home fridge and pantry.
Making the most of this tracker
Add items right after grocery shopping while the packaging (and its printed date) is still in hand, since retroactively remembering exact expiry dates is unreliable. For items without a clear printed date, a reasonable rule of thumb — like one week for fresh dairy or three to five days for cut vegetables — is better than skipping the item entirely, since an approximate reminder still beats no reminder at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is my tracked list stored?
Directly in your browser's local storage on this device — it is not sent to any server, which also means it won't appear if you open this tool on a different device or browser.
Will my list disappear if I clear my browser data?
Yes, clearing your browser's site data or using private/incognito mode will remove the saved list, since it relies on your browser's local storage.
Can I track items without an exact date, like 'use within a week'?
Yes, simply estimate a specific date based on your best guess — the tracker needs a specific date to calculate days remaining, but an approximate one is perfectly fine.
Does 'best before' mean the same as 'expired' for safety purposes?
Not always — 'best before' dates are about quality, while 'use by' dates are closer to a safety cut-off; when in doubt about a specific food's safety, follow official food-safety guidance rather than this tracker alone.