Cold and Frozen Food Storage
Do you know how long you can store dairy products or other food items in the refrigerator or freezer safely?
The following chart contains suggested safe time limits for keeping refrigerated foods from spoiling or becoming unsafe to eat. Because freezing can keep food safe indefinitely, the recommended storage times are for quality only.
Unless otherwise stated, the storage times are from date of purchase.
Product | Refrigerator (40°F/4.4°C) | Freezer (0°F/-18°C) |
---|---|---|
Bacon | 7 days | 1 month |
Beverages - Juices in cartons, fruit drinks, punch | 3 weeks unopened 7 to 10 days opened | 8 - 12 months |
Cheese - hard (e.g. Swiss) | 3 - 4 weeks | 6 months |
Cheese - soft (e.g. brie) | 1 week | 6 months |
Chops | 3 to 5 days | 4 - 6 months |
Cottage cheese | 1 week | Doesn't freeze well |
Fish - lean (cod, etc.) | 1 to 2 days | 6 months |
Fish - fatty (salmon, etc.) | 1 to 2 days | 2 to 3 months |
Dough - tube cans of rolls, biscuits, pizza dough | Use-by date | Don't freeze |
Dough – cookie | Use-by date | 2 months |
Eggs - fresh in shell | 3 to 5 weeks | Don't freeze |
Eggs - hard cooked | 1 week | Don't freeze well |
Egg substitutes – opened | 3 days | Don't freeze well |
Egg substitutes – unopened | 3 days | 1 year |
Ground hamburger, turkey, pork mixtures; stew meat | 1 to 2 days | 3 to 4 months |
Ham - fully cooked, whole | 7 days | 1 to 2 months |
Ham - fully cooked, slices | 3 to 4 days | 1 to 2 months |
Hot dogs - opened | 1 week | 1 to 2 months |
Hot dogs - unopened | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 months |
Leftovers – all kinds | 3 to 4 days | 2 – 3 months |
Luncheon meats - opened | 3 to 5 days | 1 to 2 months |
Luncheon meats - unopened | 2 weeks | 1 to 2 months |
Margarine | 4 - 5 months | 12 months |
Mayonnaise - commercial/refrigerate after opening | 2 months | Doesn’t freeze well |
Milk | 7 days | 3 months |
Poultry - fresh, chicken or turkey | 1 to 2 days | 6 months |
Sausage, raw | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 2 days 1 to 2 months |
Smoked breakfast sausage | 7 days | 1 to 2 months |
Steaks, roasts | 3 to 5 days | 6 - 12 months |
Yogurt | 7 - 14 days | 1 - 2 months |
How NSF Can Help You
Get in touch to find out how we can help you and your business thrive.
What’s New with NSF
Healthy People Living on a Healthy Planet: The Future We’re Working For
April 4, 2024On April 7, NSF honors World Health Day as a celebration that lies at the heart of our public health mission and honors our status as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.
Read the Story
American Meat and Egg Distributors Now California-Ready with NSF’s Prop 12 Certification
April 3, 2024A trusted name in the industry, NSF’s services will enable distributors in meeting regulatory requirements and consumer demands for quality meat and eggs.
Read the Story
2024 GFSI Conference - Meeting the Needs of our Evolving World
March 20, 2024NSF is proud to announce our sponsorship of the GFSI Conference, an annual event dedicated to advancing food safety and consumer trust.
Read the Story
NSF Acquires PSILab, Inc., an Advanced Plastic Pipe and Materials Testing Laboratory
March 18, 2024The acquisition extends NSF’s service offerings in the water industry, furthering its commitment to the quality, performance and safety of water products globally.
Read the Story