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- Storage times for food in the refrigerator and freezer
Read the charts below to find out how long you shouldkeep certain foods in the refrigerator or freezer.
Bacon and sausage
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
| Sausage, raw - from pork, beef, turkey | 1-2 days | 1-2 months |
| Smoked breakfast links, patties | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Hard sausage | Opened: 3 weeks. Unopened: indefinitely | 1-2 months |
| Summer sausage labeled "keep refrigerated" | Opened: 3 weeks. Unopened: 3 months | 1-2 months |
Deli and vacuum-packed products
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Store-made or homemade egg, chicken, tuna, ham, macaroni salads | 3-4 days | Don't freeze well |
| Pre-stuffed pork & lamb chops, chicken breasts stuffed with dressing | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Stuffed pork chops | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Chicken breasts | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Store-cooked convenience meals | 1-2 days | Don't freeze well |
| Commercial brand vacuum-packed dinners with USDA seal | Unopened: 2 weeks | Don't freeze well |
Eggs
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh eggs in shell | 3-5 weeks | Don't freeze |
| Eggs, raw yolks or white | 2-4 days | 1 year |
| Hardcooked eggs | 1 week | Don't freeze well |
| Liquid pasteurized eggs or egg substitute | Opened: 3 days. Unopened: 6 weeks | Don't freeze |
| Cooked egg dishes | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
Fish and shellfish
See Also
How Long Can You Keep Meat in the Freezer?Big Breakfast Sausage and English MuffinBest Ways to Cook Sausage and EggsJimmy Dean Heat 'N Serve Turkey Sausage Patties| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh fish and shellfish | 1-2 days | 3-6 months |
| Cooked fish | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Smoked fish | 14 days | 2 months |
Ham, corned beef
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Corned beef - in pouch with pickling juices | 5-7 days | Drained, wrapped: 1 month |
| Ham, canned - labeled "keep refrigerated" | Opened: 3-5 days. Unopened: 6-9 months | Don't freeze |
| Ham, fully cooked - whole | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked - half | 7 days | 1-2 months |
| Ham, fully cooked - slices | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
Hamburger, ground and stew meats - fresh
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Hamburger | 1–2 days | 3–4 months |
| Ground turkey, veal, pork, lamb, and mixtures of them | 1–2 days | 3–4 months |
| Stew meats | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
Hotdogs and lunch meats
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Hotdogs | Opened package: 1 week. Unopened package: 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
| Luncheon meats | Opened package: 3-5 days. Unopened package: 2 weeks | 1-2 months |
Mayonnaise
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial, refrigerate after opening | 2 months | Don't freeze |
Meat - fresh
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Steaks, beef | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Chops, pork | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Chops, lamb | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Roasts, beef | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Roasts, lamb | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Roasts, pork and veal | 3-5 days | 4-12 months |
| Variety meats - tongue, brain, kidneys, liver, heart, chitterlings | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
Meat - cooked, leftovers
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked meat and meat dishes | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
| Gravy and meat broth | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
Poultry - fresh
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken or turkey, whole | 1-2 days | 1 year |
| Chicken or turkey parts | 1-2 days | 9 months |
| Giblets | 1-2 days | 3-4 months |
Poultry - cooked, leftovers
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Fried chicken | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Cooked poultry dishes | 3-4 days | 4-6 months |
| Pieces | 3-4 days | 4 months |
| Pieces covered with broth, gravy | 3-4 days | 6 months |
| Chicken nuggets, patties | 3-4 days | 1-3 months |
Soups and stews
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetable or meat-added | 3-4 days | 2-3 months |
Frozen meals, commercially prepared
| Product | Refrigerator (40 F) | Freezer (0 F) |
|---|---|---|
| Keep frozen until ready to serve | - | 3-4 months |
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (March 2018).Refrigerator and freezer storage chart.
- Foodsafety.gov. (2018).Foodkeeper.
Recommended resources
- Utah State University.A Guide to Food Storage for Emergencies.
William Schafer, emeritus Extension specialist; Kathy Brandt, Extension educator; Suzanne Driessen, Extension educator; andLou Ann Jopp, former Extension educator
Reviewed in 2021
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