shelf life
noun [ C ]
ukusthe length of time that a product, especially food and medicine, can be kept before it becomes too old to be sold or used:
a short/long shelf life
Vacuum packing gives the fish a shelf life of a couple of weeks.
The product would be expensive to make and have a limited shelf life.
the length of time that something remains useful, popular, successful, etc.:
Today's technology can have a brief shelf life.
Self-help books have a longer shelf life than other bestsellers.