COLD STORAGE GUIDELINES

These 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