Food Storage Shelf Life Guidelines For The Refrigerator and Freezer
Ever wondered about the shelf life of various food items after you put them in the refrigerator and freezer? So do I! I found this great chart from FoodSafety.gov that lets you know how long Aunt Jackie’s Turkey will stay good for. 🙂
Food 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 indefinitely.
| Category | Food | Refrigerator (40 °F or below) | Freezer (0 °F or below) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salads | Egg, chicken, ham, tuna & macaroni salads | 3 to 5 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 & Sausage | Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Sausage, raw — from chicken, turkey, pork, beef | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 months | |
| Hamburger & Other Ground Meats | Hamburger, ground beef, turkey, veal, pork, lamb, & mixtures of them | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
| Fresh Beef, Veal, Lamb & Pork | 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 | |
| Fresh Poultry | Chicken or turkey, whole | 1 to 2 days | 1 year |
| Chicken or turkey, pieces | 1 to 2 days | 9 months | |
| Soups & 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 |
Food Storage Times for the Refrigerator and Freezer
