Cold Storage Chart

Product............Refrigerator (40 °F)..........Freezer (0 °F)

Eggs
Fresh, in shell....3 to 5 weeks............Don't freeze
Raw yolks, whites..2 to 4 days.............1 year
Hardcooked.........1 week..................Does not freeze well

Liquid pasteurized eggs &
egg substitutes
opened.........3 days....Does not freeze well

unopened......10 days....1 year

Mayonnaise
commercial, refrigerate after opening....2 months...... Doesn't freeze


Deli & Vacuum-Packed Products

Store-prepared (or homemade)
egg, chicken, ham, tuna, macaroni salads....3 to 5 days....Doesn't freeze well


Hot dogs & Luncheon Meats

Hot dogs,
opened package.......1 week........1-2 months

unopened package.....2 weeks.......1-2 months

Luncheon meats
opened package........3-5 days.....1-2 monthds

unopened package......2 weeks......1-2 month


Bacon & Sausage
Bacon...................7 days......1 month
Sausage, raw (chicken, turkey, pork, beef)....1 to 2 days....1 to 2 months
Smoked breakfast links, patties.........7 days...........1 to 2 months
Hard sausage (pepperoni, jerky).........2 to 3 weeks.....1 to 2 months

Summer sausage--labeled "Keep Refrigerated"
opened........3 weeks........1-2 months
unopened......3 months.......1-2 months


Ham, Corned Beef
Corned beef, in pouch with pickling juices..... 5 to 7 days....Drained, 1 month

Ham, canned--labeled "Keep Refrigerated"
opened..........3-5 days..........1-2 months
unopened........6-9 months........Do not freeze

Ham, fully cooked vacuum sealed at plant
undated, unopened..........2 weeks......1 to 2 months
Ham, fully cooked vacuum sealed at plant, dated
unopened......."use by" date on package.....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

Hamburger, Ground & Stew Meat
Hamburger & stew meat........1 to 2 days......3 to 4 months
Ground 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

Variety meats--tongue, liver, heart,
kidneys, chitterlings.......1 to 2 days......3 to 4 months

Pre-stuffed, uncooked pork or lamb chops,
or chicken breast stuffed with dressing......1 day.....Doesn't freeze well

Soup & Stews
Vegetable or meat added......3 to 4 days.....2 to 3 months

Meat Leftovers
Cooked meat and meat casseroles.....3 to 4 days ......2 to 3 months
Gravy and meat broth............1 to 2 days........2 to 3 months

Fresh Poultry
Chicken or turkey, whole......1 to 2 days......1 year
Chicken or turkey, pieces.....1 to 2 days......9 months
Giblets.......................1 to 2 days......3 to 4 months

Cooked Poultry
Fried chicken......................3 to 4 days.......4 months
Cooked poultry casseroles..........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


Pizza..............................3 to 4 days.......1 to 2 months

Stuffing--cooked...................3 to 4 days.......1 month

Beverages, Fruit
Juices in cartons, fruit drinks, punch
unopened................3 weeks..........8 - 12 months
opened..................7 to 10 days.....8 - 12 months

Dairy
Butter.........................1 to 3 months......6 to 9 months
Buttermilk.....................7 to 14 days.......3 months

Cheese, Hard (Cheddar, Swiss)
unopened.......................6 months..........6 months
opened ......................3 to 4 weeks........6 months

Cheese Soft (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 to 2 months
Cream, Aerosol can, real whipped cream....3 to 4 weeks...Doesn't freeze
Cream, Aerosol can, non dairy topping.....3 months.......Doesn't freeze
Cream, Half and Half......................3 to 4 days....4 months
Eggnog, commercial........................3 to 5 days....6 months
Margarine.................................4 to 5 months..12 months
Milk......................................7 days.........3 months
Pudding...........package date/2 days after opening......Doesn't freeze
Sour cream...............................7 to 21 days....Doesn't freeze
Yogurt...................................7 to 14 days....1 to 2 months

Dough
Tube cans of rolls, biscuits, pizza dough, etc....Use-by-date...Do not freeze
Ready-to-bake pie crust..................Use-by-date.........2 months
Cookie dough
unopened or opened..................Use-by-date.........2 months

Fish
Lean fish (cod, flounder, haddock, sole, etc.)....1 to 2 days...6 months
Fatty fish (bluefish, mackerel, salmon, etc.).....1 to 2 days...2 to 3 months
Cooked fish.......................................3 to 4 days...4 to 6 months
Smoked fish.....14 days or date on vacuum package.........2 months in vacuum package

Shellfish
Shrimp, scallops, crayfish, squid,
shucked clams, mussels and oysters........1 to 2 days......3 to 6 months

Live clams, mussels, crab,
lobster and oysters.......................2 to 3 days......2 to 3 months

Cooked shellfish..........................3 to 4 days......3 months

Note: These short but safe time limits will help keep refrigerated foods from spoiling or becoming dangerous to eat. Because freezing keeps food safe indefinitely, recommended storage times are for quality only. Storage times are from date of purchase unless specified on chart. It is not important if a date expires after food is frozen.

Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition