|
Since product
dates aren�t a guide for safe use of a product,
consult this chart and follow these tips. These
short but safe time limits will help keep
refrigerated food 40� F (4� C) from spoiling or
becoming dangerous.
Purchase the product before
�sell-by� or expiration dates.
Follow handling
recommendations on product.
Keep meat and poultry in its
package until just before using.
If freezing
meat and poultry in its original package longer
than 2 months, overwrap these packages with
airtight heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap, or
freezer paper, or place the package inside a
plastic bag.
Cook foods to the required
minimum cooking temperatures:
165� F. - Poultry, poultry stuffing, and stuffed
meat
158� F. - Ground Beef, fish, and seafood
150� F. - Pork and food containing pork
Because
freezing 0� F (-18� C) keeps food safe
indefinitely, the following recommended
storage times are for quality only.
|
Product |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
|
Eggs |
|
|
| Fresh, in shell |
4 to 5 weeks |
Don't freeze |
|
Raw yolks, whites |
2 to
4 days |
1
year |
|
Hardcooked |
1
week |
Doesn't freeze well |
|
Liquid pasteurized eggs or egg
substitutes, opened |
3
days |
Don't freeze |
|
Liquid pasteurized eggs or egg
substitutes, unopened |
10 days |
1
year |
Mayonnaise, commercial
Refrigerate after opening |
2
months |
Don�t freeze |
| |
|
Product |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
TV
Dinners, Frozen Casseroles
Keep frozen until ready to heat |
|
3 to
4 months |
| |
|
Deli &
Vacuum-Packed Products |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| Store-prepared
(or homemade) egg, chicken, tuna,
ham, macaroni salads |
3 to 5 days |
Don�t freeze well |
| Pre-stuffed pork
& lamb chops, chicken breasts
stuffed w/dressing |
1 day |
Don�t freeze well |
| Store-cooked
convenience meals |
3 to 4 days |
Don�t freeze well |
| Commercial brand
vacuum-packed dinners with USDA
seal, unopened |
2 weeks |
Don�t freeze well |
| |
| |
| Raw Hamburger,
Ground & Stew Meat |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| Hamburger & stew
meats |
1 to 2 days |
3 to 4 months |
| Ground turkey,
veal, pork, lamb |
1 to 2 days |
3 to 4 months |
| |
|
Ham, Corned Beef |
Refrigerator
|
Freezer
|
| Corned beef in
pouch with pickling juices |
5 to 7 days |
Drained, 1 month |
| Ham, canned,
labeled �Keep Refrigerated,�
unopened |
6 to 9 months |
Don�t freeze |
| Ham, canned,
labeled �Keep Refrigerated,� opened |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
| Ham, fully
cooked, whole |
7 days |
1 to 2 months |
| Ham, fully
cooked, half |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
| Ham, fully
cooked, slices |
3 to 4 days |
1 to 2 months |
| |
|
Hot Dogs and Lunch
Meats |
Refrigerator
|
Freezer (in freezer wrap) |
| Hot dogs, opened
package |
1 week |
1 to 2 months |
| Hot dogs,
unopened package |
2 weeks |
1 to 2 months |
| Lunch meats,
opened package |
3 to 5 days |
1 to 2 months |
| Lunch meats,
unopened package |
2 weeks |
1 to 2 months |
| |
|
Soups
and
Stews |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
|
Vegetable or meat-added & mixtures
of them |
3 to
4 days |
2 to
3 months |
| |
|
Bacon
and
Sausage |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| Bacon |
7 days |
1 month |
| Sausage, raw from
pork, beef, chicken or turkey |
1 to 2 days |
1 to 2 months |
| Smoked breakfast
links, patties |
7 days |
1 to 2 months |
| Summer sausage
labeled �Keep Refrigerated,�
unopened |
3 months |
1 to 2 months |
| Summer sausage
labeled �Keep Refrigerated,� opened |
3 weeks |
1 to 2 months |
| |
|
Fresh Meat (Beef,
Veal, Lamb
and
Pork) |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| Steaks |
3 to 5 days |
6 to 12 months |
| Chops |
3 to 5 days |
4 to 6 months |
| Roasts |
3 to 5 days |
4 to 12 months |
| Variety meats
(tongue, kidneys, liver, heart,
chitterlings) |
1 to 2 days |
3 to 4 months |
| |
|
Meat Leftovers |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| Cooked meat &
meat dishes |
3 to 4 days |
2 to 3 months |
| Gravy & meat
broth |
1 to 2 days |
2 to 3 months |
| |
|
Fresh Poultry |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| Chicken or
turkey, whole |
1 to 2 days |
1 year |
| Chicken or
turkey, parts |
1 to 2 days |
9 months |
| Giblets |
1 to 2 days |
3 to 4 months |
| |
|
Cooked Poultry,
Leftover |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| Fried chicken |
3 to 4 days |
4 months |
| Cooked poultry
dishes |
3 to 4 days |
4 to 6 months |
| Pieces, plain |
3 to 4 days |
4 months |
| Pieces covered
with broth, gravy |
1 to 2 days |
6 months |
| Chicken nuggets,
patties |
1 to 2 days |
1 to 3 months |
| |
|
Fish
and
Shellfish |
Refrigerator |
Freezer |
| Lean fish |
1 to 2 days |
6 months |
| Fatty fish |
1 to 2 days |
2 to 3 months |
| Cooked fish |
3 to 4 days |
4 to 6 months |
| Smoked fish |
14 days |
2 months |
| Fresh shrimp,
scallops, crawfish, squid |
1 to 2 days |
3 to 6 months |
Canned seafood
Pantry, 5 years |
after opening
3 to 4 days |
out of can
2 months |
|
