Although most pop tarts will have a relatively long shelf life, they do eventually go bad. That's why it's important to look for an expiration or u0022sell byu0022 date on the packaging. This is a good indicator of how long it will stay fresh, although you can often consume pop tarts that are just a few days past their expiration date. Sell by date is another story, with the product lasting several weeks past the date listed on the package.