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Good to know: food storage times

Best way to store different types of food [photo: frankschrader.us ; all rights reserved]
Best way to store different types of food [photo: frankschrader.us ; all rights reserved]

Storage Times for the Refrigerator and Freezer

These short but safe time limits for home-refrigerated foods will keep them from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat. The guidelines for freezer storage are for quality only. Frozen foods remain safe longer.

Food Type Refrigerator
(40 °F or below)
Freezer
(0 °F or below)
Salad Egg, chicken, ham, tuna, and macaroni salads 3 to 4 days Does not freeze well
Hot dogs Opened package 1 week 1 to 2 months
Unopened package 2 weeks 1 to 2 months
Luncheon meat Opened package or deli sliced 3 to 5 days 1 to 2 months
Unopened package 2 weeks 1 to 2 months
Bacon and sausage Bacon 1 week 1 month
Sausage, raw, from chicken, turkey, pork, or beef 1 to 2 days 1 to 2 months
Sausage, fully cooked, from chicken, turkey, pork, or beef 1 week 1 to 2 months
Sausage, purchased frozen After cooking, 3-4 days 1-2 months from date of purchase
Hamburger, ground meats and ground poultry Hamburger, ground beef, turkey, chicken, other poultry, veal, pork, lamb, and mixtures of them 1 to 2 days 3 to 4 months
Fresh beef, veal, lamb, and pork Steaks 3 to 5 days 4 to 12 months
Chops 3 to 5 days 4 to 12 months
Roasts 3 to 5 days 4 to 12 months
Ham Fresh, uncured, uncooked 3 to 5 days 6 months
Fresh, uncured, cooked 3 to 4 days 3 to 4 months
Cured, cook-before-eating, uncooked 5 to 7 days or “use by” date 3 to 4 months
Fully-cooked, vacuum-sealed at plant, unopened 2 weeks or “use by” date 1 to 2 months
Cooked, store-wrapped, whole 1 week 1 to 2 months
Cooked, store-wrapped, slices, half, or spiral cut 3 to 5 days 1 to 2 months
Country ham, cooked 1 week 1 month
Canned, labeled “Keep Refrigerated,” unopened 6 to 9 months Do not freeze

Canned, shelf-stable, opened

Note: An unopened, shelf-stable, canned ham can be stored at room temperature for 2 years.

3 to 4 days 1 to 2 months
Prosciutto, Parma or Serrano ham, dry Italian or Spanish type, cut 2 to 3 months 1 month
Fresh poultry Chicken or turkey, whole 1 to 2 days 1 year
Chicken or turkey, pieces 1 to 2 days 9 months
Fin Fish Fatty Fish (bluefish, catfish, mackerel, mullet, salmon, tuna, etc.) 1 – 3 Days 2 – 3 Months
Lean Fish (cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, sole, etc.) 6 – 8 Months
Lean Fish (pollock, ocean perch, rockfish, sea trout.) 4 – 8 Months
Shellfish Fresh Crab Meat 2 – 4 Days 2 – 4 Months
Fresh Lobster 2 – 4 Days 2 – 4 Months
Live Crab, Lobster 1 day . Not recommended
Live Clams, Mussels, Oysters, and Scallops 5 – 10 Days Not recommended
Shrimp, Crayfish 3 – 5 Days 6 – 18 Months
Shucked Clams, Mussels, Oysters, and Scallops 3 – 10 Days 3 – 4 Months
Squid 1 – 3 Days 6 – 18 Months
Eggs Raw eggs in shell 3 to 5 weeks Do not freeze in shell. Beat yolks and whites together, then freeze.
Raw egg whites and yolks

Note: Yolks do not freeze well
2 to 4 days 12 months
Raw egg accidentally frozen in shell

Note: Toss any frozen eggs with a broken shell
Use immediately after thawing Keep frozen, then
refrigerate to thaw
Hard-cooked eggs 1 week Do not freeze
Egg substitutes, liquid, unopened 1 week Do not freeze
Egg substitutes, liquid, opened 3 days Do not freeze
Egg substitutes, frozen, unopened After thawing, 1 week or refer to “use by” date 12 months
Egg substitutes, frozen, opened After thawing, 3 to 4 days or refer to “use by” date Do not freeze
Casseroles with eggs After baking, 3 to 4 days After baking, 2 to 3 months
Eggnog, commercial 3 to 5 days 6 months
Eggnog, homemade 2 to 4 days Do not freeze
Pies: Pumpkin or pecan After baking, 3 to 4 days After baking, 1 to 2 months
Pies: Custard and chiffon After baking, 3 to 4 days Do not freeze
Quiche with filling After baking, 3 to 5 days After baking, 2 to 3 months
Soups and stews Vegetable or meat added 3 to 4 days 2 to 3 months
Leftovers Cooked meat or poultry 3 to 4 days 2 to 6 months
Chicken nuggets or patties 3 to 4 days 1 to 3 months
Pizza 3 to 4 days 1 to 2 months

— reviewed: Sep 20, 2021; source: www.foodsafety.gov —

Note: all the information is about approximate storage times and actual time spans may be different depending on many factors. Always double-check freshness and treatment of food products. No warranties or guarantees given.

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