Cold Storage Chart: View All Categories
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Select a food category to view the USDA's recommended refrigerator and freezer storage time limits. The listed time limits will help keep refrigerated food (40°F) from spoiling and provide safe food protection. Because freezing (0°F) keeps food safe for long periods of time, the recommended storage times for the freezer are for quality only. |
| Bacon and Sausage | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Sausage, raw from pork, beef, chicken or turkey | 1-2 days | 1-2 months |
| Smoked breakfast links, patties | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Hard sausage - pepperoni, jerky sticks | 2-3 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Summer sausage labeled "Keep Refrigerated" - unopened | 3 months | 1-2 months |
| Summer sausage labeled "Keep Refrigerated" - opened | 3 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Beverages, Fruit | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Juices in cartons, fruit drinks, punch - unopened | 3 weeks | 8-12 months |
| Juices in cartons, fruit drinks, punch - opened | 7-10 days | 8-12 months |
| Dairy | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Butter | 1-3 months | 6-9 months |
| Buttermilk | 7-14 days | 3 months |
| Cheese, hard (such as Cheddar, Swiss) - unopened | 6 months | 6 months |
| Cheese, hard - opened | 3-4 weeks | 6 months |
| Cheese, soft (such as Brie, Bel Paese) | 1 week | 6 months |
| Cottage Cheese, Ricotta | 1 week | Doesn't freeze well |
| Cream Cheese | 2 weeks | Doesn't freeze well |
| Cream - Whipped, ultrapasteurized | 1 month | Doesn't freeze |
| Cream - Whipped, sweetened | 1 day | 1-2 months |
| Cream - Aerosol can, real whipped cream | 3-4 weeks | Doesn't freeze |
| Cream - Aerosol can, non-dairy topping | 3 months | Doesn't freeze |
| Cream, Half and Half | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Eggnog, commercial | 3-5 days | 6 months |
| Margerine | 4-5 months | 12 months |
| Milk | 7 days | 3 months |
| Pudding | package date or 2 days after opening | Doesn't freeze |
| Sour cream | 7-21 days | Doesn't freeze |
| Yogurt | 7-14 days | 1-2 months |
| Deli & Vacuum-packed Products | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Store-prepared (or homeade) egg, chicken, tuna, ham, macaroni salads | 3-5 days | Doesn't freeze well |
| Dough | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Tube cans of rolls, biscuits, pizza dough, etc. | Use By Date | Don't freeze |
| Ready-to-bake pie crust | Use By Date | 2 months |
| Cookie dough | Use By Date | 2 months |
| Eggs | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh, in shell | 3-5 weeks | Don't freeze |
| Raw yolks, whites | 2-4 days | 1 year |
| Hardcooked | 1 week | Doesn't freeze well |
| Liquid pasteurized eggs or substitutes - unopened | 10 days | 1 year |
| Liquid pasteurized eggs or substitutes - opened | 3 days | Doesn't freeze well |
| Ham, Corned Beef | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Corned beef in pouch with pickling juices | 5-7 days | drained, 1 month |
| Ham, canned, labeled "Keep Refrigerated" - unopened | 6-9 months | Doesn't freeze |
| Ham, canned, labeled "Keep Refrigerated" - opened | 3-5 days | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked vacuum sealed at plant, undated, unopened | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked vacuum sealed at plant, dated, unopened | Use By Date | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked, whole | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked, half | 3-5 days | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked, slices | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
| Hamburger, Ground and Stew Meat | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Hamburger and stew meat | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Ground turkey, veal, pork, lamb and mixtures of them | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Hot Dogs and Luncheon Meats | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Dogs, unopened package | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Hot Dogs, opened package | 1 week | 1-2 months |
| Luncheon meats, unopened package | 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Luncheon meats, opened package | 3-5 days | 1-2 months |
| Mayonnaise, Commercial | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerate after opening | 2 months | Doesn't freeze |
| Meat (Beef, Veal, Lamb & Pork) | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Steaks | 3-5 days | 6-12 months |
| Chops | 3-5 days | 4-6 months |
| Roasts | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Variety meats (tongue, kidneys, liver, heart, chitterlings) | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Pre-stuffed uncooked pork chops, lamb chops, or chicken breasts stuffed with dressing | 1 day | Doesn't freeze well |
| Meat Leftovers | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked meat and meat casseroles | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Gravy and meat broth | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
| Pizza | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
| Poultry, Cooked | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Fried chicken | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Cooked poultry casseroles | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Pieces, plain | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Pieces covered with broth, gravy | 1-2 days | 6 months |
| Chicken nuggets, patties | 1-2 days | 1-3 months |
| Poultry, Fresh | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken or turkey, whole | 1-2 days | 1 year |
| Chicken or turkey, pieces | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Giblets | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
| Seafood, Fish | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Lean fish (cod, flounder, haddock, sole, etc) | 1-2 days | 6 months |
| Fatty fish (bluefish, mackerel, salmon, etc.) | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
| Cooked fish | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Smoked fish | 14 days or date on vacuum package | 2 months in vacuum package |
| Seafood, Shellfish | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Shrimp, scallops, crayfish, squid, shucked clams, mussels and oysters | 1-2 days | 3-6 months |
| Live clams, mussels, crab, lobster and oysters | 2-3 days | 2-3 months |
| Cooked shellfish | 3-4 days | 3 months |
| Soups and Stews | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable or meat added | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Stuffing | Refrigerator (40°F) | Freezer (0°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked stuffing | 3-4 days | 1 month |