COLD STORAGE GUIDELINESThese short – but safe – time limits will help keep refrigerated foods from spoiling. Because freezing keeps foods indefinitely, recommended times are for quality. PRODUCT REFRIGERATOR (40˚F) FREEZER (0˚F) Eggs Fresh in shell 3 to 5 weeks Do not freeze Raw yolks and whites 2 to 4 days 1 year Hard-cooked 1 week Does not freeze well Liquid pasteurized eggs, substitutes, opened 3 days Does not freeze well unopened 10 days 1 year Mayonnaise Commercial, refrigerate after opening 2 months Do not freeze Frozen Dinners & Entrees Keep frozen until ready to eat 3 to 4 months Prepared salads Store - prepared or homemade egg, chicken, tuna, ham or macaroni salads 3 to 5 days Does not freeze well Processed Meats Hot Dogs – opened 1 week 1 to 2 months unopened 2 weeks 1 to 2 months Luncheon Meats – opened 3 to 5 days 1 to 2 months unopened 2 weeks 1 to 2 months Bacon 7 days 1 month Raw Sausage – 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 sticks 2 to 3 weeks 1 to 2 months Summer Sausage (labeled- keep refrigerated) opened 3 weeks 1 to 2 months unopened 3 months 1 to 2 months Canned Ham (labeled- keep refrigerated) opened 3 to 5 days 1 to 2 months unopened 6 to 9 months Do not freeze Fully cooked whole ham 7 days 1 to 2 months half ham 3 to 5 days 1 to 2 months Fresh meats All ground meats, ground meat mixtures, stew meats 1 to 2 days 3 to 4 months 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) 1 to 2 days 3 to 4 months Pre-stuffed, uncooked pork chops, lamb chops, chicken breasts 1 day Does not freeze well Soups and Stews Vegetable or meat added 3 to 4 days 2 to 3 months Fresh Poultry Whole chicken or turkey 1 to 2 days 1 year pieces 1 to 2 days 9 months Cooked Leftovers Fried chicken, plain pieces 3 to 4 days 4 months Poultry casseroles 3 to 4 days 4 to 6 months Chicken nuggets, patties 1 to 2 days 1 to 3 months Meat & meat casseroles 3 to 4 days 2 to 3 months Pizza 3 to 4 days 1 to 2 months Stuffing or dressing 3 to 4 days 1 month
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