| Table 1: Storage times for breads, pastries and cakes. | |||
| Product | Refrigerator (35-40 degrees F) |
Freezer (0 degrees F) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbaked rolls and bread Partially baked cinnamon rolls Baked quick breads |
3-4 days 1-2 weeks * |
1 month 2-3 months 2-3 months |
Longer storage inactivates yeast, weakens gluten. |
| Baked muffins Baked breads(no preservatives) Waffles |
* 2-3 weeks 1-2 days |
2-3 months 2-3 months 1 month |
Store in refrigerator to inhibit mold growth. |
| Unbaked fruit pies Baked fruit pies Pumpkin or chiffon pies |
1-2 days 2-3 days 2-3 days |
2-4 months 6-8 months 1-2 months |
|
| Baked cookies Cookie dough |
2-3 weeks 3-4 days |
6-12 months 3 months |
|
| Frosted baked cakes Unfrosted baked cakes Angel cakes |
* * * |
1 month 2-4 months 6-12 months |
|
| Flour: white or whole wheat | 6-8 months | 12 months | Keep in airtight container |
| * Not necessary to refrigerate unless product cannot be used within 4-5 days or time recommended on package. | |||
| Table 2: Storage times for eggs and products containing eggs. | |||
| Product | Refrigerator (35-40 degrees F) |
Freezer (0 degrees F) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs, in shell, fresh Eggs, fresh yolks or whites |
3 weeks 4 days |
NR 12 months |
To freeze, break eggs out of shell; stir until yolk is well blended with white (or other yolks). Add small amount of salt, sugar or corn syrup to improve keeping quality. |
| Eggs, in shell, hard-cooked Eggs, liquid pasteurized eggs or egg substitutes, opened |
1 week 4-5 days |
NR 1 year |
Decorated Easter eggs: if you intend to eat them, keep refrigerated. If eggs are at room temperature for more than 2 hours, do not eat them. |
| Egg-containing products; Custards, custard sauces, puddings, custard-filled pastries and cakes: Canned puddings, opened: |
1-2 days 1-2 days |
NR NR |
|
| NR: Not recommended. | |||
| Table 3: Storage times for dairy products. | |||
| Product | Refrigerator (35-40 degrees F) |
Freezer (0 degrees F) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter Buttermilk |
2-3 months 1-2 weeks |
12 months NR |
Freeze in original carton, overwrap with plastic freezer
bag Check date on carton. Will keep several days after date. |
| Cheese: cottage, ricotta cream cheese |
5-7 days 2 weeks |
1 month 1 month |
Freezing changes texture of soft cheeses Becomes crumbly when frozen; can be used in cooking when creaminess is not important. |
| Natural, aged cheeses (cheddar, swiss, brick, gouda, mozzarella,
etc.)--large pieces, packaged or wax coated; slices or opened packages; |
2-3 months 2-3 weeks |
6-8 months |
Natural and processed cheeses can be frozen. Defrost in refrigerator--cheese will be less likely to crumble. Use soon after thawing. |
| Parmesan, Romano (grated) Pasteurized process cheese |
12 months 3-4 weeks |
6-8 months |
|
| Coffee whitener (liquid) | 3 weeks | See package | |
| Cream, light or half & half (UHT processed-unopened) (UHT processed-opened) Cream, heavy or whipping |
1 week 4 weeks 1 week 1 week |
3-4 weeks NR |
Whipping cream will not whip after thawing. Whipped cream may be frozen and stored for 1-2 weeks. |
| Dip, sour cream: commercial homemade |
2 weeks 3-4 days |
NR NR |
|
| Margarine | 3 months | 12 months | Leave in original foil and carton, overwrap in plastic bag for freezer storage. |
| Milk: evaporated, opened fluid whole or low-fat reconstituted nonfat dry sweetened, condensed, opened |
3-5 days 1 week 1 week 3-5 days |
1-3 months 1-3 months 1-3 months 1-3 months |
Freezing affects flavor and/or appearance; use for cooking. Same as for evaporated. |
| Sour cream | 2-3 weeks | NR | Sour cream will separate if frozen |
| Whipped topping: in aerosol can prepared from mix frozen carton (thawed) |
3 weeks 3 days 2 weeks |
NR NR NR |
|
| Yogurt | 1 month | NR | Yogurt will separate if frozen. |
| NR: Not recommended. | |||
| Table 4: Storage time for fruits. | |||
| Product* | Refrigerator 35-40 degrees F |
Freezer 0 degrees F |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apples Apricots, cranberries Avocados |
1-3 weeks 1 week 3-5 days |
8-12 months 8-12 month 4-6 months |
|
| Bananas Berries/cherries |
1-2 days, unpeeled 1-2 days |
4-6 months 8-12 months |
Peel, dip in lemon juice, tray freeze; store in freezer bag. |
| Grapes, peaches, pears, plums, and rhubarb | 3-5 days | 8-12 months | |
| Canned fruits, opened Citrus fruits |
3-5 days 3 weeks |
1-2 months 4-6 months |
Texture will be softer after freezing. Refrigerate in glass or plastic
to avoid metallic taste. Wrap cut surfaces to prevent loss of Vitamin C. |
| Dried fruit, uncooked Dried fruit, cooked |
6 months 3-5 days |
12 months 4-6 months |
|
| Juices: canned, bottled, frozen concentrate | 1 week | 12 months | Transfer canned juice to glass or plastic container after opening. |
| Melons | 1 week | 8-12 months | Wrap cut surfaces to prevent loss of Vitamin C and spread of odors. |
| * Freeze all fruits in moisture- and vapor-proof containers. Follow recommended procedures in fact sheet 9.331, Freezing fruits. | |||
| Table 5: Storage times for poultry. | |||
| Product | Refrigerator 35-40 degrees F |
Freezer 0 degrees F |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh Chicken and turkey (whole) Chicken (pieces) Turkey (pieces) Duck and goose (whole) Giblets |
1-2 days 1-2 days 1-2 days 1-2 days 1-2 days |
12 months 9 months 6 months 6 months 3-4 months |
|
| Cooked Canned poultry, opened Cooked poultry dishes Pieces (covered with broth) Pieces (not in broth) Fried chicken |
1-2 days 3-4 days 1-2 days 3-4 days 3-4 days |
NR 4-6 months 6 months 1 month 4 months |
Quick-cool meat and broth separately in shallow containers,. Add ice cubes to concentrated broth to speed cooling and to aid fat removal. |
| Table 6: Storage times for miscellaneous perishable items. | |||
| Product | Refrigerator 35-40 degrees F |
Freezer 0 degrees F |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby food | 2-3 days | See comment | Store covered. Do not feed baby from jar. Reheat only enough for one feeding. Freeze homemade baby food in ice cub trays, covered, use in 2-4 weeks. |
| Soups, stews Sandwiches Casseroles |
2-3 days 2-3 days 1-2 days |
4-6 months 1 month 1 month |
|
| Ground spices Candies Salad dressings, opened |
6 months* 6 months 6 months |
6-12 months 6 months NR |
Can be stored in cupboard. Chocolates may discolor. |
| NR: Not recommended * Refrigeration is not necessary, but will help keep flavor fresher. | |||
| Table 7: Storage times for meats. | |||
| Product | Refrigerator 35-40 degrees F |
Freezer 0 degrees F |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh | Meats may be left in the supermarket packaging for refrigerator storage or for very brief freezer storage. For frozen storage beyond two weeks, rewrap in moisture- and vapor-proof wrap or freezer bags. | ||
| Roasts: beef veal or pork lamb |
2-4 days 2-4 days 2-4 days |
6-12 months 4-8 months 6-9 months | |
| Steaks, beef Chops: pork, veal lamb |
2-4 days 2-4 days 2-4 days |
6-12 months 4-6 months 6-9 months | |
| Ground beef, stew meat, ground pork, turkey, veal, lamb | 1-2 days | 3-4 months | |
| Sausage: pork, beef, turkey Bratwurst, fresh Bratwurst, precooked |
1-2 days 1-2 days 5-7 days |
1-2 months 2-3 months 2-3 months | |
| Variety meats (tongue, liver, brains, heart, kidneys) | 1-2 days | 3-4 months | |
| Cooked | |||
| Canned meat, opened Cooked meat and meat dishes |
2-3 days 3-4 days |
NR 2-3 months |
Quickly refrigerate all cooked meats and leftovers, use as soon as possible. Cut large roasts into halves to cool in refrigerator. |
| Gravy and meat broth | 1-2 days | 2-3 months | Fats tend to separate in homemade gravies, stews, and sauces, but usually recombine when heated. Cool leftover gravy and broth quickly, in shallow containers, in the refrigerator. |
| Processed and Cured | |||
| Bacon | 5-7 days | 1 month | Keep packaged meats in original package. For best quality, use within one week of "sell by" date. |
| Corned beef, in pouch with pickling juice Corned beef, drained and wrapped |
5-7 days 5-7 days |
NR 1 month | |
| Frankfurters | 7 days* | 1-2 months | Frozen, cured meats lose quality rapidly; use as soon as possible. |
| Ham: whole half canned (unopened) |
7 days 3-5 days 8-12 months |
1-2 months 1-2 months NR |
Small pieces of canned ham (opened) may be frozen for 4-6 weeks. |
| Luncheon meats | 3-5 days* | 1-2 months | |
| Sausage, smoked Dry and semi-dry sausage |
7 days 2-3 weeks |
1-2 months 1-2 months |
|
| NR: Not recommended. * Storage time after vacuum-sealed package is opened. Unopened package may be kept two weeks or according to date on package. | |||
| Table 8: Storage times for wild game and seafood. | |||
| Product | Refrigerator 35-40 degrees F |
Freezer 0 degrees F |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Game Venison Rabbit, squirrel Wild duck, pheasant, goose (whole) |
2-4 days 1-2 days 1-2 days |
6-12 months 6-12 months 6 months |
|
| Seafood Canned fish, seafood, opened Clams, oysters (shucked) and scallops |
1 day 1-2 days |
NR 3-4 months |
Store in coldest part of refrigerator. Do not use if liquid is frothy. |
| Crab Shrimp Lobster (shelled or not) Fresh water fish, cleaned |
1-2 days 1-2 days 1-2 days 1-2 days |
2 months 6-12 months 6-12 months 6-9 months |
|
| Fillets: cod, flounder, haddock, pollack (lean): mullet, ocean perch, sea perch, sea trout, striped bass (fatty): |
1-2 days 1-2 days |
4-6 months 2-3 months |
|
| Salmon steaks Cooked fish Smoked fish |
1-2 days 1-2 days 1-2 weeks |
2 months 1 month 4-5 weeks |
|
| Table 9: Storage times for vegetables. | |||
| Product | Refrigerator 35-40 degrees F |
Freezer* 0 degrees F |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asparagus Beans, green or wax; celery Beets, cabbage, carrots, turnips |
2-3 days 1 week 1-2 weeks |
8-12 months 8-12 months 8-12 months |
|
| Broccoli, Brussels sprouts Cauliflower Corn, in husks without husks |
1 week 1 week 1-2 days 1-2 days |
8-12 months 8-12 months 8-12 months NR | |
| Cucumbers Lettuce, other salad greens Mushrooms |
1 week 1 week 1-2 days |
NR 8-12 months |
Store in bag or lettuce keeper. Do not wash before refrigerator storage. |
| Okra Onions, green Onions, mature |
3-5 days 3-5 days 1-2 weeks |
8-12 months NR 3-6 months |
|
| Peas, lima beans, unshelled Peppers Radishes |
3-5 days 1 week 2 weeks |
8-12 months 8-12 months NR |
Store unshelled in refrigerator until used. |
| Tomatoes: Fresh, ripe Canned, open |
5-6 days 1-4 days |
8-12 months | Refer to fact sheet 9.341, Canning tomatoes and tomato products. |
| NR: Not recommended * Blanch fresh vegetables and freeze in moisture- and vapor-proof materials. Refer to fact sheet 9.330 Freezing vegetables. | |||